Sigma 17-35mm on 400D

[matt_bennett3]

Has there been any problems with the old (2001 era) Sigma 17-35mm HSM lens when used in conjunction with the

Canon 400D? I am about to sell my lens to my brother and since I've only been using film bodies to date I didn't want

to unknowingly give him a dud lens for his digital. Thanks.

[jimstrutz]

Can you try it out first? Some older Sigma lenses don't work with newer Canon bodies. Usually results in an error code, and often is tied with stopping the lens down.

 

This has been an ongoing problem, and every few years there are claims that Sigma has finally gotten a handle on things and it won't ever happen again... ...but then it does. On the other hand Sigma has been very good about "re-chipping" or "re-flashing" existing lenses as long as they are current versions. Unfortunately, the Sigma 17-35 was updated some time after 2001, so yours is no longer current, and may not be upgradable if it needs it. It may not need anything though. I had an early Sigma 17-35 and it worked fine with a Digital Rebel.

[paul_russell1]

I had the most recent and now discontinued incarnation of this lens the EX HSM DG. I may have had a bad sample but it lasted me a week before going back to the shop. I found it soft unless the focus distance was within around 2 meters, at all apertures and at all focal lengths. It exhibited what appeared to be ghosting or motion blur despite the my shutter speed being pretty high.

 

Conversely on my EOS 3 it behaved itself a lot better, but I use the 400 more so I opted for the canon instead (as was my orginal plan, but I got seduced by the price).

 

In defence of sigma I have other lenses of thiers, the 10-20 DC which I really can't fault and the 70mm macro which I think is an absolutley superb lens, so I'm not a brand snob, just my experience wasn't very good with the 17-35 on digital.

[matt_bennett3]

Thanks guys, unfortunately Jim, he's living on the other side of Australia at the moment so I have to post it over. Guess I can only try and see - can always give the money back :-)

[mark u]

I'm sure you could find someone with a current DSLR to test it on before you send it off.

[andy_gulati3]

My (2001 era) Sigma 17-35 worked fine on my 400D. But, I didn't care for the image quality, particularly around 17-28. And the yellow cast was noticeable. Its not a terrible lens on the 400D, just not ideal.