Sigma APO 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM

[Vin]

Any Canon bros using this lens? Your opinions on the pros and cons.

Thanks.

[JediForce4ever]

I dont own this lens, but I tried it out briefly at CP.

From my few mins of experience with this lens;
1.Sharp
2.Good and creamy bokeh
3.warm colors
4.Fast focussing, cannot compare to usm(20D)
5.Zoom ring in the opposite direction of EF lenses.
6.Internal zooming
7.LIGHTWEIGHT(woohoo!!)

[thw]

Front focusing for targets between 1 m (minimum focusing distance) and 5 m. Is especially bad at the 150 mm end.

So, what else is new for Sigma lens? Sigh....

[kcuf2]

Originally Posted by thw Front focusing for targets between 1 m (minimum focusing distance) and 5 m. Is especially bad at the 150 mm end. So, what else is new for Sigma lens? Sigh....

if sigma scrap away their EX exterior stupid "innovation", i will get their lens. It always puzzles me that they use the EX as something worth mentioning and advertising..

Same as Nikon, wats the big deal with G lens? its a downgrade not an upgrade..

[Vin]

Originally Posted by thw Front focusing for targets between 1 m (minimum focusing distance) and 5 m. Is especially bad at the 150 mm end. So, what else is new for Sigma lens? Sigh....

Oh oh! Does it happen on all copies or most copies have this problem?

[kayheem]

I used to have a 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG lens that back-focused. Once calibrated, it was fine.

However, I upgraded to a Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L (non-IS) and it front-focused at the 70mm, but was spot on at 200mm. I had to send it in for calibration as well.

Moral of the story, check for such issues on all lenses, be they 1st or 3rd party lenses, consumer grade or pro grade.

[thw]

Originally Posted by Vin Oh oh! Does it happen on all copies or most copies have this problem?

Extent varies from one copy to another. Problem occurs for BOTH Nikon and Canon mounts.

[thw]

Originally Posted by kayheem Moral of the story, check for such issues on all lenses, be they 1st or 3rd party lenses, consumer grade or pro grade.

You are right. I too share the same experience with the Canon 17-85 IS lens which focuses perfectly at 85 mm but always front focuses at 17 mm. Problem was perfectly remedied by Canon.

My biggest concern with Sigma is this: can their calibration technicians be trusted to get the job done? Tamron does not have service center in Singapore, only distribution center, so it's a cause for concern. I know Cathay Photo takes care of Tokina lenses but I do not know how effective they are.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by thw Extent varies from one copy to another. Problem occurs for BOTH Nikon and Canon mounts.

So it's more of an QA issue rather than design. It can be resolved by sending it in for calibration if problem do occur. Hope I don't get a lemon copy if I were to get one

Originally Posted by kayheem Moral of the story, check for such issues on all lenses, be they 1st or 3rd party lenses, consumer grade or pro grade.

Seems that producing lenses with good consistent quality is an difficult task for 1st and 3rd party lens makers.

[holeinone]

Originally Posted by thw You are right. I too share the same experience with the Canon 17-85 IS lens which focuses perfectly at 85 mm but always front focuses at 17 mm. Problem was perfectly remedied by Canon. My biggest concern with Sigma is this: can their calibration technicians be trusted to get the job done? Tamron does not have service center in Singapore, only distribution center, so it's a cause for concern. I know Cathay Photo takes care of Tokina lenses but I do not know how effective they are.

Someone told me that sigma provides quite good service for lens calibration too. I have not tried them out for myself, would certainly do so one of these days. Have quite a few sigma lenses

[Vin]

Tried the lens and it really has front focusing problem at 150mm. "F2.8" is the focusing point.

150mm f2.8


50mm f2.8

[thw]

Originally Posted by Vin Tried the lens and it really has front focusing problem at 150mm. "F2.8" is the focusing point.

From what I understand the minimum focusing distance should be 1.5 m, NOT 1 m. That is, if you shoot with 150 mm f/2.8 at a target 1.5 m away, the focusing error is almost absent... in a good copy. Since the Singapore market is rather small, I am afraid most of the copies we get are probably defective, just like the SIX copies of Sigma 10-20 lens I tried in various shops (ALL suffered from right side blur).

[Vin]

Originally Posted by thw From what I understand the minimum focusing distance should be 1.5 m, NOT 1 m. That is, if you shoot with 150 mm f/2.8 at a target 1.5 m away, the focusing error is almost absent... in a good copy. Since the Singapore market is rather small, I am afraid most of the copies we get are probably defective, just like the SIX copies of Sigma 10-20 lens I tried in various shops (ALL suffered from right side blur).

You mean there is an error in the Sigma website? It states 1m for minimum focusing distance.

[look4raymond]

At 150mm, for a normal human head to fill the entire viewfinder (landscape orientation), how far is the lens from the human subject?

[thw]

Originally Posted by Vin You mean there is an error in the Sigma website? It states 1m for minimum focusing distance.

No. I think instead of forcing the minimum focusing distance at 1.5 m, Sigma decided to 'allow' the lens to focus at 1 m... something the lens simply cannot achieve.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by thw No. I think instead of forcing the minimum focusing distance at 1.5 m, Sigma decided to 'allow' the lens to focus at 1 m... something the lens simply cannot achieve.

Get what you mean. Thanks!