snakeman1982

The eye controlled focus on the EOS 3 is suppose to be 8 times faster than the ecf of the A2e (EOS 5). A lot of people used the eye controlled focus on the older cameras (A2e and Elan IIe) so they dismiss it as a hassle or an option that isn't used much. But I think that if people tried it with the newer Elan 7e or EOS 3 they would like it more. Plus you can always just turn it off. I don't see the purpose for having more than one focusing point if you have to take your eye out of the viewfinder and take time to program which focusing point you want to use. By the time you do that your subject will be gone (atleast in nature photography). Unless you are really good at predicting where you are going to be focusing. Otherwise you might as well just have one focusing point and just "reframe" all the time. With eye controlled focus you just look at different parts of the scenery and it focuses automatically and quickly.

I have the new 28-70 F/2.8 lens and love it. My photos have come out very clear and focusing is always fast (especially with my EOS 3). My only grief with it is that the thing is a little noisy. They have HSM motors on 17-35 f/2.8-4 and the 70-200 f/2.8. Did some one at Sigma forget about the 28-70 that was just recently updated from the older 28-70? I would have bought the 24-70 if it would have had the HSM.

 

Besides that I have had no problems. The lens is relatively light weight (compared to the tokina and Canon versions of this lens) and looks great on my cameras. The lens itself looks a lot nicer than the other lenses. If any of you have seen the lens hood of the 28-70L you know why. Also I think the Tokina lenses look too old fashioned. I like all-manual cameras and everything but not on hightech autofocus cameras. If you have a nice EOS 3 or Elan 7e(something new and improved as far as looking and performing) you want something to match the camera. Not something that belongs on your AE-1. Plus the metal Tokina's seem quite a bit heavier and when you already have a heavy bag to carry around, you need lighter gear.

 

The slight grey instead of solid black look is a slight drawback to the Sigma but it isn't that different in color.

 

To see some of the photos I have taken with my Sigma check out www.snakeman1982.com . There is a Timber Rattlesnake photo on the homepage that was taken with it. The website isn't photo quality but you can tell the colors are excellent and accurate.

I have used my Elan 7e out in some rain with my Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 and didn't worry at all about water exposure. There were no problems. I also have been splashed with water and a little rain while using the 28-70 f/2.8 with my EOS 3 and haven't gotten close to having problems. I believe both cameras are excellent in water and dust resistence but it is probably better to use the EOS 3 in the rain rather than the Elan 7e, just in case. I have used the EOS 1V and 3 together and I choose the 3 any day of the week. Both have excellent resistance to water and dust but the 3 has eye control focus and a better feel. The 1V I used seemed slower than the 3, so I bought the 3. Both are too loud though so I use an Elan 7 for close up nature photography.