Cost and versatility

Lens flare when using digital body

I recently switched from Minolta to Canon and then from film to digital. This lens worked well enough on my EOS 1N film camera, delivering acceptable results. As has been previously noted, it is a bit soft at times and with light fall-off and distortion at the extremes. The easy fix? Don't shoot at the extremes :) With a lens in this price range, don't expect perfection and learn to live with the short-falls. That being said, this lens has proven to be less than adequate on my 10D. The flare is almost uncontrollable, causing me to leave it in my bag most of the time. I am a Sigma fan but in this case, I am trading it in on a Canon 28-135mm IS. I like this focal length as my carry lens and I need something with higher quality.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

None

compact size. Macro and Good Zoom Range.

Slow focusing cannot focus in dark (compare to Canon EF, I have)

I have purchased this first Sigma lens in my life. I was a little worried about the quality of the lens first. but when I shoot the Images, the quality is much better than I thought. Surely no comparison with Canon L Series, but the image sharpness and colour balance is very good.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-135 IS USM Canon 28-105 USM

Nice zoom range. Good Color.

Distortion at either end of the zoom.

I'm always happy with the results of this lens. Those who complain about the build quality are comparing it to lens costing 100's of dollars more. For the price it's plenty strong. I had no problems with the lens and it was the only one I took with me for the year I was in Kuwait and Iraq. I never had any mechanical problems and this was when it was exposed to sand and dust everyday. It's a very versitile zoom range. I took pictures of everything over there and rarely did I wish that I had brought other lenses. The main problem I had was in shooting some of the palaces in Iraq. There is noticable dostortion at either end of the zoom. Still that can be somewhat corrected on the computer. Other than that the pictures are snappy and great. If you need a light system- this lens and an slr do the trick. This lens is the reason I looked at other Sigma products.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200mm zoom, Tamron 28-80mm zoom

Good for general purpose lens.

Will not take any abuse.

After reading the reviews posted here I bought the lens and used it on a Canon D60. It worked fine and was good for a general purpose lens. However, it and my D60 fell 2'2" from my desk to the carpeted floor and the lens broke. Actually the lens became dislocated at the zoom junction. The seperation was wide on one side and no seperation on the other side. The zoom or focus would no longer work. It was jammed tight. I did have insurance on it and was able to purchase another lens.

Customer Service

Did not use it.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 70-200 f2.8 Sigma 300 f4 Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Canon 75-300 f4-5.6 III Canon 28-70 f3.5-4.5

- versatile zoom range - macro is handy (at 135 only) - IF - handy lens hood - performance can be good stopped down - a good general photography zoom lens

- soft wide-open, in the corners, and at 135 - distortion at both ends - light fall-off in corners wide-open - some flare - not the greatest bokeh - build quality (lots of plastic, significant zoom creep, and has started making "stretched metal spring" noises when zooming) - heavy, slow AF

A capable consumer grade lens with versatile zoom range. There is distortion at either end, it's soft in the corners and at the long end, and there's light fall-off in the corners wide-open. But the glass produces nice pictures when stopped down, and if you're into people pictures, the softness and distortion may not be an issue. Build quality is a little weak, but it's seen a lot of use and considering its low price, it's been an overall good value.

Customer Service

haven't tried

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 28-80 3.5-4.7, Pentax 28-70 2.8

Compact One lens fits all affordable Good range IF

slight distortion at edges at wide angle

I have been using this lens for over a year now and I have no regrets in purchasing it.It's not as good as my primes but what zoom is? There is minor distortion at the edges on a few pics (at wide angle) but nothing I can't live with This is one of the best all around lenses tha I have used. After reading the reviews on this sight I noticed that the people having the most trouble with this lens are using it on Canon products I am using it on Pentax products. Maybe These reviews should be separated into different areas. Maybe not.

Customer Service

?????

Similar Products Used:

pentax zooms and primes sigma zooms and primes nikon primes

Useful focal legnth. Decent contrast.

Distortion, fuzzy, zoom creep. Sigma told the engineer to stay home on R&D day.

I've used this lens for about a year now and is an average lens for the price. Note that I said average...this lens is NO bargain. To begin with, the progressive zoom creep makes 20 degree angle shots difficult. The condition degraded over the years and the lens spends more time off the camera then on. To make a long story short, I've found distortion at nearly every focal legnth and even tripod shots are unacceptably fuzzy. If you want a lens to shoot an occasional birthday, or to take quick snapshots for 4X6 prints, then this is your lens. If you want a lens to capture wall prints, keep looking.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Various Canon and Minota products

Feels solid. The Macro is a nice touch. Not expensive at all.

Everything else ! And especially lacks sharpness.

All I wanted was an affordable "decent" zoom. And all these nice reviews convinced me. What a mistake. I know this will sound like science-fiction but I have sharper and better results with both the Canon 28-80 f4-5.6 and the Canon 75-300 f4-5.6 which have been trashed everywhere on the net. My guess is that my lens has a manufacturing problem. But frankly I don't understand all the good reviews, I know it's not supposed to be anything close to a professional lens but still...

Customer Service

I should contact them to check if something is wrong with this lens...

Similar Products Used:

None.

1. Moderate AF speed 2. PRICE is RIGHT! 3. Fairly durable (dropped mine and it came through like a champ! 4. Nice zoom range. 5. A little weak at 128mm and at 28mm - find the sweet spot around 50mm to 80mm. 6. Comes with nice hood.

1. Slow AF 2. Lesser grade optics but still suitable for 90% of applications 3. Zoom creeps! 4. Plastic feel but nothing too bad.

Look back up at the price. Good! Now, think about it - will this lens fit the needs of 90% of SLR users? Sure will. I bought this lens a couple of years ago and have a pleasant expereince with it ever since. Range, optics, build are all suitable for the beginner, intermediate, and even experts! I have used this lens to capture spot news, aviation subjects, railroad subjects, animal portraits...and have sold well over 15 of these images commercially. Now I have enough money to upgrade, but why? This lens produces and I can't see a reason to change, yet. No, this isn't even close to L glass, but neither is my budget.

Customer Service

None needed to date.

Similar Products Used:

1. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM 2. Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM AF 3. Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus 4. Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 USM

Size, Range & Price

May not be good for newer Canons

I have some Nikon and Canon AF bodies. I tried this lens and I liked the focus speed, range and images it produced. I wanted to get it in a Canon mount.....but it was not clear on the Sigma web-site if this lens is compatible with the newer Canon bodies. (Elan 7e and newer Rebels) So I went for the Nikon mount and dusted off some older Nikon bodies that I haven't used in a while. Great lens for the money. Bargain priced. I teach photography to to younger students....so I don't get to concerned when they use this lens. They have captured some great shots with this lens. It's not a pro lens...but the images come pretty close. Great all-around lens instead of the 28-80 that seems to be today's standard. Just be careful if you have a newer Canon.

Customer Service

Sigma converted some older lenses for my Elan 7e. No charge and returned in less than one week. OK by me.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200, Tokina 35-300