Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro 35mm Zoom
Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro 35mm Zoom
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[Jul 06, 2000]
Randal Ford
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
light, cheap, good for the price, macro setting,
Weakness:
cheap, not very durable, lense gets stuck sometime this is A great buy for 80-90 bucks and the macro is cool and works good, but the lense feels somewhat plasticky and kinda cheap. takes good pics for the price though! Customer Service none yet Similar Products Used: nikon lenses and canon 28-105, and 28-80 |
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[May 26, 2000]
Christopher Johnson
Expert
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
Light weight. Inexpensive. Surprising quality for the price.
Weakness:
Does not feel physically sound. Feels like the front element housing is not solidly in place. Pretty slow aperture for its range. I bought this with a new camera body as my normal lens. I went to Europe with it shortly thereafter, and was pleasantly surprised by the results. Nice contrasty and sharp pictures. The physical construction of the lens leaves me a bit cold. It feels like it is not built to last. The front housing feels like it will loosen with time. But, for the price, it can just about be considered a "disposeable" lens! I think its worth more than I paid for it - but will probably get a lens I am a bit more comfortable handling in the not too-distant future. Customer Service None. Similar Products Used: None |
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[May 25, 2000]
k r
Casual
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
cheap, lightweight, 1:2 macro
Weakness:
flare, short focus throw, flare, lacks sharpness, flare This lens is cheap, and that is both a good thing and a bad thing. Surprisingly, though, the zoom ring feels pretty slick, but the focus ring, as noted, is really loose. If it felt like the zoom ring, it would be OK. Another thing is the flare. REALLY bad flare. Sharpness is so-so, too, but I guess you shouldn't really expect much from a lens that sells for >$100. It's good for a beginner. Customer Service no experience (all fingers crossed) Similar Products Used: Canon EF 28-70 f/3.5-4.5 II, EF 35-70 f/3.5-4.5, Sigma 28-70 FD-mount |
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[May 21, 2000]
Andrew Tham
Casual
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
Price & weight are a boon for the traveller. If damaged, affordably replaceable. When travelling up steep slopes, you'll appreciate its weight. 28-80mm should cover most travel needs. Close-ups are surprisingly good for it's price. Also, a short focussing ring means faster focus with an AF body. A good lens for the beginner and those short on cash. Surprisingly better than the Nikon 28-80mm.
Weakness:
You'll need the skill and precision of a plastic surgeon when used as a manual lens, the focus ring is very loose and shifts about when tilting camera body. Therefore almost impossible to use with a polarizing filter in the manual mode. Sharpness drops dramatically below f/8. A lens to buy for the casual & travel photographer. Good value for its cheap price. Don't expect razor sharpness. Strictly for AF bodies. Customer Service No experience Similar Products Used: Nikon AF 35-70 f/3.3-5.6; Nikon 105 f/2.5; Nikon 50 f/1.4 |
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[Apr 27, 2000]
Andrew Babel
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
Cheap. Good quality for the price
Weakness:
Don't even think about focusing manually. Lense feels very cheap. Lense flare is a big problem! Good lense to get in the field with. If you destroy it, you can buy another one. You get what you pay for. If you want tack sharp, buy a prime lense. If you want something you don't have to worry about hiking up a mountain with, and you still want to get good pictures... this lense will do the job. Customer Service haven't needed it Similar Products Used: Nikon lenses. |
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[Apr 17, 2000]
Erik Stiegler
Casual
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
Cheap. 1:2 "macro". Cheap. Focuses quickly. Did I mention it's cheap?
Weakness:
Quick focus achieved by an extremely short focus throw. But for $90, I have no complaints. Who is going to focus this thing manually? The day after I ordered this lens, I was thinking "What have I done? I've ordered a $90 zoom! What was I thinking?" The day I got my first set of prints back, I strained my shoulder patting myself on the back over what a great deal I'd gotten. Yeah, it's still a $90 lens, but it does a fine job on 8x10 prints. The photos are sharp & clear. If you want Canon "L" quality, buy a Canon "L" lens. If you want a good lens, at a good price, this Sigma is worth a look. $90? It's a steal. If you're looking for a basic 28-80 zoom, your lens is ready! Customer Service No experience. Similar Products Used: "Promaster" 28-70 zoom, prime lenses. |
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[Jan 04, 2000]
Peter Spiro
Expert
Model Reviewed:
28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. Mini Zoom Macro
Strength:
A cheap way to get 1:2 macro magnification. It is reasonably sharp when stopped down to f/8 or f/11.
Weakness:
Flare is a serious problem. You should make sure you keep the sun behind you when using this lens, or you will get very poor contrast. Very loose focussing ring makes it hard to hold precise focus when focussing manually. A good deal for what you get, as long as you remember its limitations. Similar Products Used: Pentax 28-70 f/4. This is a much better lens overall, especially for flare control, but is more expensive and does not |
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[Sep 18, 2000]
Werner Fragner
Intermediate
Strength:
Cheap, produces sharp pictures with f/8, good focus ring, macro function is excellent.
Weakness:
Focus ring is quite loose, plastic feel, Never ever go to beaches or sandy conditions with it, you may end up trying to fix the lens. Is a nice indoor lens producing good quality pictures, but for outdoor use a bit to itty bitty. Still better then any Minolta lens. Customer Service okay, but don't expect miracles from them Similar Products Used: Minolta 28-70. |
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[Sep 29, 2000]
Ramses
Casual
Strength:
Cheap, light and a good focus range. Good price quality.
Weakness:
Unsharp below f8 and corners curl up. flaw colors when not enough light. Used once for astrophotgraphy, not reccomended. It's a nice lens for the snapshooter. But when you want to make quality pictures: Buy an other lens! Similar Products Used: None |
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[Dec 13, 2000]
Eddie Y
Beginner
Strength:
Inexpensive. Feels OK. Color richness is similar to the Nikon 28-80 lens I tried before. Great macro feature.
Weakness:
Fair sharpness on portrait. When used with flash, it only allows 1/60 shutter speed instead of the camera's allowed 1/125; thus, I need to use a tripod to avoid hand vibration. I tested several rolls of film after I purchased the lens with my Minolta XTsi. There should be better 28-80 lens out there, but they are too expensive. I decided to keep this. Customer Service n/a Similar Products Used: Nikon 28-80 lens |