Under the right conditions, the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG lens can provide absolutely incredible images. I'm a semi-pro photographer, shooting mostly weddings and portraiture (about 10 a year or so). Not wanting to invest a ton of cash into a fast wide angle from Canon's L line up (since I'm only semi-pro) I spent some time researching what lens might suit my needs. After REALLY enjoying my 50mm f/1.4 (also from Sigma), I decided to give the 28mm a shot. I should note - I shoot stills on a Canon 5D, video on an EOS-M, so I can only use EF lenses that work for both full frame and APS-C. This lens works for both. I don't want to bore you too much so I'm going to get to the point on the most notable of observations: AUTOFOCUS Let’s get the bad out of the way. Autofocus is the one area that is lacking on this lens. It’s noisier than my 50mm 1.4, and noticeably so. In poor light, I also find it searches for a focal point a little bit longer than other lenses I have used too. On my EOS-M, it’s too noisy to be used for autofocus during video, which I don’t use but some people may so it’s worth keeping in mind. In normal and good lighting conditions however, the AF is snappy and 95% of the time right on point. The manual focus override clutch takes a little getting used to, but it’s handy every now and then. IMAGE QUALITY Now, on to what I love about this lens. The image quality is really quite excellent - better than I could have expected. I don’t want to blow things out of proportion by comparing it to an L lens, however the IQ is remarkable for a lens of this price (I bought mine for around $250 used). It certainly matches that of my old 17-35mm 2.8L (from the early 2000’s), particularly stopped down to around f/2.2. Even at f/1.8, the quality is pretty great, but f/2.2 seems to be the sweet point for my lens. Bokeh is lovely - as good as Canon’s 85mm 1.8 albeit a little different in "shape”. Colors and contrast (under the right lighting conditions of course) are rich without being overstated. I used this lens at a recent wedding, and was a little bit apprehensive to see what my shots were going to look like on-screen. I was absolutely delighted - the lens exceeded all of my expectations! From group shots to bridal portraits, outdoor shots to the dimly lit reception hall - the lens handled every scene I could throw at it, and provided sharp images nearly every single time. My girlfriend (I was second-shooting) was using the Canon 24-

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Sharp, sharp well made design price

I must change the AF sensor for low light focusing

I bought this lens for my Canon 300D/Rebel. Usually I used the cental AF point to focus, and I noticed, that this lens is wonderful from f/4-16. It's sharp sharp. But at f/2 has serious front focus problem, the picture was totally unsharp. At f/2,8 the focus was better, but not sharp enough. Because I bought this lens as a wide low light lens, I was not satisfied with it. So I made tests, and I saw, that if I use another AF sensor from the 7 possible to focus, I have anoder focus result for each. Now I know, that the nearest AF sensor on the right side from that central (nr. 2 from right) works the best. At f/2 I have the sharpnes of the f/4 central AF sensor focusing.

Customer Service

Here in Hungary not good (I had a rechip problem and they could not solve the problem)

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Canon 28/1,8 Canon 5/1,4 Sigma 75-300 APO Macro

Superb color and saturation in lower light. The images are very strong. Sharp enough, with a very usable f2. Even at the new price this lens is a bargain.

1.8 is slightly soft on mine and seems to have a some front focus at shorter distances at 1.8. I'm considering this lens an f2 and am very pleased with the performance. Soft at 1.8 is a realative thing too - it is still usable, it is just not superb at that aperture is all.

I got this lens on EBay while I decide if I want to break the bank and get the Nikon 1.4. This is really a nice lens and I think think I'll hang on to my money now and stick with this for now. It is a little soft at 1.8, but 2.0 is just fine, 2.8 and above is excellent. I feel this lens is best in lower light conditions, and bright sun photos had weak saturation. Well, a polarizer fixed that. When the light drops this lens starts to really perform with wonderful colors and saturation on my D70. It is very sharp, probably near the best Nikon zooms but not as sharp as the best Nikon primes. I'm sure the Nikon 1.4 would be sharper, and it has an extra stop, but it is also 8-10 times the price. For regular low light pictures, the D70 can use ISO 1000 and above just fine, so f2 gets you a long way. I took some pictures with available light inside a very dimly lit hotel using f2 at 1/20 sec hand held and they came out really nice. That's the wonderful thing about the 28mm prime - the ability to handhold at slow shutter speeds. Depth of field is also very good with this focal length, and the hotel shots were well focused throughout the room even at f2.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 18-70, 70-200 VR, 85mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8

Excelent sharpness F1,8 very brigth Not so expensive build

Well some would say build?

This lens is a great performer when closed down to F8-11, Wide open it has a nice soft focus effect but it becomes very difficult to focus since the DOF is so shallow. Find the Sigma SD9 not being able to focus correctly at infinity correctly and usaly go manual focus when used wide open. The lens startes to lose sharpness a bit when closed more down then F11 but still very usable.

Customer Service

Never

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-70mm F2,8 Sigma 20-40mm F2,8 Sigma 50mm Macro Sigma 70-300mm F4-5,6 Sigma 28-80mm F3,5-5,6 Sigma 24-70 F3,5-5,6 HF Sigma 17-35mm F2,8-4

Just received this lense. Have a 10d and was very disappointed with the performance of the lense on my camera. I’m sitting in my office snapping some pictures and there is no sharpness. Grabbed my canon 24-70l, and old canon 1.8 50mm and both significantly outperformed the sigma at same f-stops. I wanted a wide angle for 10d given the 1.6 factor so I purchased this. Im returning this in the morning, after reading the solid reviews im wondering if I received a lemon.significantly outperfromed the sigma at sam f-stops. I wanted a wide angle for 10d given the 1.6 factor. Im returning this in the morning, after reading the solid reviews im wondering is i got a lemon.

Sharpness, contrast, clarity.

Do not even try to switch to 'MF' by lens barrel with F4, the motordrive of camera's AF system can be broke down.

More even over it's 20 and 24 brothers. Not the same as Nikon 281,4, but very good, takes the second position.

Customer Service

Have never used.

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Almost all of Nikkors ever made.

1.8 Max. opening! Optics are on a level with Nikon, mechanics are OK as far as I''ve had experience with this lens. Much better than the old style Sigma''s. Hood and nice case included.

Finish is not as pretty as Nikon''s. Tricky AF/MF switch. Manual focusing not super smooth, so: leave it on AF and enjoy it.

Excellent value for money, great optics, OK mechanics, although MF/AF switch is a hassle. If you want something like the 1.4/28 original from Nikon but not willing to pay the obscene price for that great lens, this is the one to go for.

Customer Service

none needed so far

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 2.8/28 mm AF, Tokina 3.5-4.5/20-35 AFII

-Aperture range of f/1.8-f/22
-Macro feature is closer than 3" from the edge of the lens.
-Aspherically corrected

A bit heavy, also hard to reach polarizing filter with the "Perfect Hood" attached.

Nothing beats a fixed lens. The image quality is excellent with both color and black and white film. It's a great wide angle lens and since it has the low F of 1.8, this lens is versatile in very low light. I could talk about this lens forever, but i won't. This is the newest series of Sigma lenses and every photographer should at least give it a shot!

Customer Service

I have never needed any.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro,
Sigma 28-200mm F3.5-5.6 DL Aspherical HSM, Vivitar Series 1 19-35AF.