Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Macro question

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

07/01/2006 04:59:53 PM · #1

What is the difference between the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro lens and the Sigma Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS? I was reading some of the reviews for the first one and someone mentioned that there seemed to be a problem with some focus and exposure problems using it with the Canon 20D. Is the second lens a newer more suited one for the 20d? Do all of the Sigma lenses have compatibility problems with the 20D? I'm thinking about getting a faster walk around lens than my 17-85 f/4-5.6. Right now I'm looking at:

1. Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX DG Lens
2. Tamron AF 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di LD
3. Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX DC
4. Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
(or) 5. Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
6. Tokina Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF 28-80mm f/2.8 AT-X 280AF Pro
7. Tamron SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF
8. Tamron SP AF 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II LD

Any info or advice would be much appreciated! (I'm also looking at the 50mm f/1.4 in addition to one of these.

k4rp

Nikon D200

07/01/2006 05:21:35 PM · #2

Tamron 17-50 because I love wide-angle and it's pretty much the digital version of the 28-75.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/01/2006 05:36:36 PM · #3

I have the Sigma 24-70 EX GR f/2.8 Macro. There is NO compatibility issue with 20D. It has worked flawlessly and has focused perfectly for hundreds of shots. The photos are very sharp. I tested side-by-side this lens and the Canon "equivalent. Other than the cannon costing about $1000 more, I found in all zoom ranges, indoor and out and various other settings, the Sigma game a better strtaight from the camera photo about 80% of the time. That is why I went with the Sigma, photo quality not just cost factor.

I recommend you take your camera to a store, mount the various lenses and take the same shots with several. Go home and compare. Don't always believe what others say, even me. Good luck.

07/01/2006 06:03:18 PM · #4

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

I recommend you take your camera to a store, mount the various lenses and take the same shots with several. Go home and compare. Don't always believe what others say, even me. Good luck.

That's a good idea. I've read SO many reviews on all of them that my brain feels totally fried. About the time that I think I've decided on one of them over another one, I'll read something else that makes me drop that one and consider a different one instead.

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

07/01/2006 07:29:20 PM · #5

Which is better though, between the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro and the Sigma Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS? Is the EX Aspherical one a newer better one?

scarbrd

Leica M10

07/01/2006 07:37:43 PM · #6

Originally posted by pianomom:

I just got the Tamron SP AF 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II LD (#8 on your list) The upcoming Flower challenge is the first entry done with this lens. I am impressed so far. I like the range bette than the 28-x zooms. It is replacing the really average lens that came with the 20D kit.

Message edited by author 2006-07-01 19:38:21.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

07/01/2006 07:55:49 PM · #7

I'll add my experience with the 17-50 on your list. While its a good range. I ordered one and had it less then a week and was very unhappy with it. The one that I had was soft and even seemed to backfocus. I sent it back to B&H as a return. I replaced it with the 28-75 Tamron 2.8. I am very happy with this lens and since I dont use wide much I am much happier with it.

MattO

07/01/2006 09:07:52 PM · #8

Thanks for the info! The Tamron 28-75 seems to be a popular one. I looked the 17-50 up on Fred Miranda but they haven't reviewed it yet. The Tamron 28-75 was rated at 8.7. They had the Sigma 24-60 rated at 9.2. Course the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 was rated at 9.5. I would probably get that one if it wasn't so darn expensive.

Prof_Fate

07/01/2006 09:35:17 PM · #9

Originally posted by pianomom:

1. Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX DG Lens
2. Tamron AF 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di LD
3. Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX DC
4. Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
(or) 5. Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
6. Tokina Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF 28-80mm f/2.8 AT-X 280AF Pro
7. Tamron SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF
8. Tamron SP AF 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II LD

you have an 18-50 now - you will find 24 or 28 NOT wide engough for many things, expecially indoors, on a 1.6x crop camera like a 20D. So you should skip #s 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

This leaves sigma 18-50 2.8 EX and the tamron 17-50 2.8 SP, or perhaps the canon 16-35 2.8L or 17-40 f4 L (the 2.8 is costly, the other is one stop slower).

I have the sigma 18-50 2.8 EX and it's a nice lens. From f3.5 and up it sharp and form 5.6 or so up its very sharp (comparable to the canon 17-40 f4 from what tests i've seen/read etc).
//www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tamron_17-50_review.html is a pretty thourough review of the tamron and it seems about the same as the sigma.

Today i'd buy the tamron as i prefer tamron's lenses, but i'm not bothering to change from the sigma to the tamron myself, so perhaps go with the one you can get for the lower price. You might find the sigma version used more easily as it's been around longer (a bit over a year)