Sigma lens on Canon body... yes or no?

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Originally Posted by coffee_mon

I've been using the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 and I love it. As far as how good they are is subjective to who you talk to. I was talking to one of the sales people at Calumet and he stated that Tamron is the best of the three with sigma next and tokina last, but that is his thoughts? I'm looking hard at the sigma 30mm f1.4 as my next len's.
Mike

I used the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 for about 1 month. It was a fantastic lens. Very sharp, fast focusing and a constant 2.8 were great assets. I sold it however, because ended up with several lens covering the same range. I still have a Tamron 28-300 which I've had for over 5 years and it still works very well also. I find that the two Sigma's are sharper for the overlapped range, so I only use it for the 200-300 range.

When I was shopping for the 18-125 range, I looked at the Tamron 18-200, Sigma 18-200 and Sigma 18-125. Based on the tests I saw, it was the best of the three, so that was the one I bought. Keep in mind, however, that the Sigma 18-125 was only for the 1.6 crop factor cameras, and won't work on a full frame camera.

Cheers,
rfs

[Toad]

I've been reading some pretty good reviews on the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Telephoto for Canon EOS. It looks like this lens is meant more for the film camera instead of a digital, which means that with my 1.4 crop factor (I think that's what the Rebel XT is) it'd behave like a 98-420mm lens. Which for the prices I'm seeing on this lens, seems like a pretty good deal.
Toad

[isaiahbrink]

Originally Posted by Toad

I've heard both good things about Sigma lenses, and bad things about putting a Sigma lens on a Canon body. So what's the real story?
Are Sigma lenses any good?
And are the stories about Sigma lenses causing the camera to throw error codes true?
I have a Rebel XT, and I am looking at telephoto zoom lenses.
Toad

Hey Toad,
While I shoot film, with a Nikon, and I'm not trying to start a Nikon versus Canon debate here, I do have some input on Sigman lenses. I have a 35 - 135 Sigma manual focus lense. The only differance I know of is (other than AF/manual focus) between the Nikon and Canon versions is just the mount. I've noticed that the Sigma lense gives a bit lower contrast than my Nikkor lenses and isn't quite as sharp. While obviously I can't comment on the error messages, due to the fact that I don't have an AF Sigma or Canon camera, but thought that this might be pertinant information that you could use.

Isaiah

[racket4life]

When I was shooting Canon, I used a Sigma 70-200 f2.8, and a 24-70 f2.8 on everything from a Canon D30 to a D1. I NEVER had any problems in low light--including poorly lit soccer, football, baseball, softball......etc., games when working for our local paper. I know first hand that the longer of the two that I used mentioned above was far lighter to hand hold for longer periods of time than the Canon versions of the same length and speed. Both lenses went with me to two wars and documented them without a hitch...both in sand, BTW....I would buy higher end Sigma lenses all day long without any fear of bad images or poor quality.....IMO....

[racket4life]

And I will concur with Isaiah...Nikkor rocks for quality....that is in part why I swithced....but like Isaiah...I will not start a debate....Sigma is quality stuff for the money.

[FrankD]

It all depends on which lens you buy.

I use the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 and absolutly love it, compared it to the Canon 28-70L and hold tight to the Tamron

I also have the Sigma 15-30EX and see no reason to sell this one for a Canon counterpart.

On the other hand I tried the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and bought the Canon 70-200f2.8 IS L USM because it was wickedly sharp and superb in color/contrast.

Every suplyer has superb lenses, and if you can try it you can buy whatever fits your budget.

On the other hand, Canon is of course much more value steady for resale.

[RVMD]

I have an older 14 that works really well. That said, it won't work on newer Canon odies.

R

[bc_shutterbug]

I picked up the Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG and have been completely happy with this lens. So far, in almost all lighting, it focuses well and gives me excellent results (when I do my part proplerly that is!). If you look at my post (http://www.glamour1.com/forums/photo...-seamless.html) you will see some examples that are pretty much right off the Sigma 70-200 EX DG. #4, 5, and 6 from the Original post are shot with the Sigma, as are the 2 that I added in down the page.

I had a Tamron 28-75 2.8. I can't say that I had any problems with the Tamron... it was quick, and the images were very sharp and looked great, but I was offered too good a deal to trade up to a Canon 24-70 2.8L . I do find that the color is a little better on my 24-70. Not 3 times better mind you, but certainly worth the small difference that I paid on the deal.

Over the years, I've had a fair share of Tamron and Sigma lenses, and have never been dissapointed for the price!

Best

[PhotoDave1]

All,

This thread surfaces about every 3 to 4 months and the Canon v Nikon debate is revived yet again. I have used both Canon and Nikon and they both have their pros and cons. I want to address a few comments here and hopefully help my fellow G1 members as they have helped me so many times in the past.

I recently switched from Nikon to Canon and so far I am very happy. I used Nikon AF for ten years and bought a Nikon digital body when they came out. I switched to Canon because I got tired of being ignored by the powers that be at Nikon who decide what useability and features go into their products and Nikon is famous for this. They produce and sell what they want the public to buy and if you don't like it their attitude is "too bad".

One example, pretty much every body that Canon makes has a grip as an option while 90% of the bodies made by Nikon do not have grips as an option. I like to put most of my money into a great body and have a mid to low end as a back-up and for me with my large hands and use of long lenses a grip is mandantory.

Since switching to Canon I have come up with a few gripes such as my finding out that a lot of the mid priced Canon Digital bodies do not support the faster write speeds of the newer Compact Flash cards and to me this is a serious flaw on the part of Canon but oh well, what can you do so there is good and bad all around.

Mr. Toad, as far as the Sigma lenses, they are good lenses. The error messages come from the fact that a lot of the Sigma lenses are reverse engineered and the engineers don't always get it right. The Canon lens "talk" electronically to the bodies about focusing while the Nikon bodies do not "talk" to their lenses they simply turn a "screw" to rack the lens in and out.

The good news is that most of the Sigma lenses can be re-chipped at no cost. The bad news is you will be without the lense for 6 to 8 weeks. There is a Sigma facility in Chandler, AZ and also one in New York state somewhere. I have their email addresses and if you will PM me I will provide them to you.

I used a Sigma 28 - 70mm F2.8 EX ASP lens on a Nikon F5 for years and the Nikon purists shunned me but it was a great lens at a great price and it was a little soft but I was doing portrait and prom photography so the softness was actually a blessing.

I am now looking to buy some big glass for my Canon bodies and I will probably go with the Tokina 28 - 70mm F2.8 Pro ATX SV lens because it is a good, affordable lens.

I am also looking at Mr. Frederick-Smith's favorite lens, the Sigma 70 - 200mm F2.8 HSM lens. With Sigma shifting all of their lenses over to the DI format you can get the prior generation lenses at great prices and for me, I want the prior generation lenses because I still shoot film and will until the day I die and I want my lenses to be able to go both ways.

Lenses are very much a matter of personal preference and how you use a lens can make a huge difference. There are good and bad lenses everywhere. If you are doing portrait work a little softness is not a bad thing. If you want to tighten the lens up shoot at F11 or F16, I do agree with the comments about getting a 30 day trial period and please don't wait until the 28th day to try the lens.

Well, I hope that I have been able to help at least one person with my response. I am sure the lens debate will resurface soon and I will be ready to go bad in with guns blazing but until that time keep shooting guys!

[racket4life]

When I was shooting with a Canon 1D, I used the 70-210 2.8 for sports and it was a fast seeking lens--even in low-lit soccer games. I never had a problem with any of my Sigma lenses. Honestly, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina--all make good products. I would suggest getting to a pro shop and holding them in your hands, attaching them to the body you will use, etc. If you are in doubt about a lens--get to a shop and hold one in your hand....