Sigma 18-50 f2.8 EX DC?

[dogbert]

I am very close to buying this lens as my walk around zoom for my

300D. There does not seem to be much else around that provides full

time f2.8, in this zoom/price range. I have searched the threads

and can only find a couple of opinions on it which are pretty

positive, but this is still not enough to convince me. So do any

users have opnions they would like to share? (Of course I would

like a canon one, but if canon made one it would cost around $1000,

so I probably would still not buy it.)

[mike_smith2]

And if you care to look 3 questions further down today's postings to the one by Jory Smith you will see exactly the same topic covered......

 

Try Fredmiranda.com

[dogbert]

Thanks Mike for your useless reponse. If you read the post further down (which I did) or my question for that matter, then you would realise I am after opinons from users on a specific lens, not a general discussion comparing all the possible normal walkaround zooms one could consider. I have read these to death.

 

You would also realise that that thread contained only two references to the lens I am considering and neither seem to have actually used it. I find it hard to believe that you value your time so much that this question annoys you. If it did you should not bother reading photonet in the first place.

[dogbert]

Mike

 

I've re-read my post and I apologise for flaming you a bit too much as you were probably only trying to help, but you will see Jory's post has not elicited any opinions of the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 EX DC. It has wandered of into a discussion on wideangle lenses. And no it is not on fredmiranda.com (I looked before hand).

 

I guess the fact that their are few actual user opnions sugests that not many people are using this lens. Though it does seem to fit an obvious hole in Canon's lineup.

[edward_h]

I've used it for a day on a 10D and love it. I would buy one too if I wasn't planning on buying a 1d2 (1.3x).

[leonard_richmond7]

Plenty of reviews and samples mentioned at www.dpreview.com, Forums, Canon SLR Lens Talk. Just use the Search.

<p>

Here are a couple of links with 100% comparison crops from posts there:

<p>

<a href="http://www.jasonlivingston.com/sigma-review/">http://www.jasonlivingston.com/sigma-review/</a>

<p>

<a href="http://people.freenet.de/stauber/sigma/">http://people.freenet.de/stauber/sigma/</a>

[yakim_peled1]

Search for Sigma 18-50 in this site and you'll see 16 hits. Is that enough?

 

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

[dogbert]

Thanks Leornard, one of those reviews I had not seen before.

 

Thanks also Yakim, 16 hits would have been plenty if most of them had actually discussed the lens in any detail. If you go through all the hits, most of them are references from people who are thinking of buying it, or just mentioning it as an option. There are very few first hand reports from users. I have been searching photonet and other sites for weeks before posting this question, and I was unsatisfied because there seems to be insufficent opinions from users on this lens, espcially from anyone with a track record.

 

As I said, the few reviews are pretty positive, but because it is only a few it doesn't really satisfy me on the issue of Sigma's quality control.

 

Now I agree that "should I buy this lens?" questions get pretty tedious, but there are far more of them on canon's very common lenses, than this one which is a lot more obscure.

[charlie_vigue]

I'm starting to see it actually offered for sale, I hope it drops in price a little soon, once the new wears off.

[borek_lupomesky]

BTW, does this lens have metallic or plastic barrel?

[klfi]

Hi Geoff,

 

Joe at pbase has an interesting review on his site at

http://www.pbase.com/joemama/sigma_1850__28

 

He has some samples and a direct comparison with his EF 35/1.4L which is an awesome lens. Seems the 18-50 holds up pretty well.

 

I have the Tamron 17-35 which is fantastic. I think it compares well to the 17-40L. Mike Johnston gave it a great review in his SMP column a while back.

 

I have read many good reports about the 18-50. I will be getting one myself soon. I am confident it will give me results as good as my 17-35. It is the same price as the Tamron 17-35 - faster, better range but does not work on full frame.

 

Please post your opinion on the lens once you have got one.

 

Cheers

Kev