Sigma 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC

[andylim]

I'm thinking of upgrading from a Canon S50 to a Canon EOS 300D, but am a little discouraged by the short zoom range of its bundled lens (18-55mm which translates to a 28-80mm range) as well as its reported quality and other shortcomings like rotating front element when changing focus.

I'm probably not the only one who wished there was a compact lens with a more versatile zoom range. I think this new Sigma lens (18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC) was designed to answer this need, with its 7x zoom range (translating to a 27-187.5mm).

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0403/04031601sigmalenses.asp

It seems to provide an answer to the problems with Canon's 18-55mm.

Only question is, how sharp is this lens compared to Canon's 18-55mm?

[wintoid]

Thanks for that, I may well look into it. We've been discussing something similar here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27826 in case you're interested.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Andy,. the Sigma lens is very new,. and it is one of there lower cost lenses. If you can swing it,. you may want to look towards the Canon 28-135mm in conjunction with the "kit" lens 18-55mm.

[andylim]

CyberDyne,
A 28-135mm would translate to 44.8-216mm. Ideally, I'd like a single lens that covers from 28mm to 105mm. I'd prefer not to change lenses within this range.

[MrChad]

Now that I've had my Rebel-D for a bit I'm looking for some new glass. For the 1.6x wide side. I didn't buy the kit lens with the Rebel, I never liked it's build or short over all length.

I'm looking for a nice general lens not "L" quality hear. Anyone using this lens still like it for what it is? I'm looking for something as good or slightly better then the kit lens.

So if you got it, do you still like it?

I was looking at the 17-85mm IS but if I had the current cash for that I'd likely own some L glass :D.

[alan sh]

I thought the same and bought one. I was not satisfied with the quality (putting it mildly) and ended up with 2 lenses to cover the range I want. Changing lenses is not that hard and the results justify the effort.

Alan

[Hellashot]

I'm about to buy a Sigma 24-135 f2.8-4.5. It's not a digital only so it'll work on film or bigger sensors than the current sensor sizes unlike the Sigma 18-125. You get wider appetures for about $40 more. And the 24mm will give you 38mm which isn't that bad.

[MrChad]

Well if I wanted the 24-135, I like the Tamron version better, much better build quality, bull metal-even the shell.

If I needed the 24-xx, I'd likely do the Canon 24-85mm with the ring USM.

Well, I guess I'll just keep using my 28-105 EF until a better sub $300 ultra wide shows up.

[br3w0k]

well i have it for sometimes this Sigma 18-125. I am not satisfied with the quality i sold it and i bought Sigma 12-24 .. so far i dont have any walkaround lense...

[megaweb]

I own this sigma 18-125mm DC and I like it very much. Of course you cannot compare the quality of this lens to Canon L and Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. It is good for candid and travel photography. If you want to get a small or consumer digital camera like IXUS, A95, G6, Pro1 for travelling, do consider to use your DSLR w/o grip and this sigma lens. I believe it gives much better quality.

see my recent travelling shots taken by Sigma 18-125mm DC.

http://megaweb.clubsnap.org/20d/ho_chi_minh/

http://megaweb.clubsnap.org/20d/malacca/

[MrChad]

Is the build quality of this Sigma 18-125 that bad?

I mean the kit lenses from Canon, could there be a cheaper lens?
I have the 24-105 f4-5.6 kit and I can't believe the Sigma is worse.

Is the picture sharpness worse then the 18-55 Canon kit lens?

[megaweb]

Is the build quality of this Sigma 18-125 that bad?

I mean the kit lenses from Canon, could there be a cheaper lens?
I have the 24-105 f4-5.6 kit and I can't believe the Sigma is worse.

Is the picture sharpness worse then the 18-55 Canon kit lens?

I think Sigma 18-125mm DC has better build quality than kit lens 18-55mm.

[MrChad]

I think Sigma 18-125mm DC has better build quality than kit lens 18-55mm.

What about the optical quality? Is it about the same?
So far the alternatives I have seen are nearly double in price.

[megaweb]

What about the optical quality? Is it about the same?
So far the alternatives I have seen are nearly double in price.
I have no kit lens to compare the quality but I can tell you my 20D + Sigma 18-125mm DC is so much better than any digital camera. If you dun do print > 6R size, I think this lens does give super quality.

[MrChad]

I have no kit lens to compare the quality but I can tell you my 20D + Sigma 18-125mm DC is so much better than any digital camera. If you dun do print > 6R size, I think this lens does give super quality.


Thanks, Popphoto (what ever that's worth) rated the lens pretty good to 11x14" size since 8x10, A4 is the biggist my Canon i860 can print I don't think I'll have too many prints bigger then that. Maybe I'll give this lens a second look. At ~$270 bucks, it looked to be a good bargain of a general carry around lens.

[sjprg]

I question the percieved problem with the kit lens build quality. Sure the body is plastic, but so what, so are new airplanes. The optics are good and the price is right so even if you drop it the replacement price won't kill you. And if you do drop it you deserve the loss. Pro shooting where the assistant is changing lens rapidly and speed is of essence may need the better builds but for most of us with a little care in use, the cheaper built lens will last for years. I still have a couple of my 40 year old cameras that look almost pristine. So my opinion is buy for the optics and quit worrying about the "build quality". My Bigma lens is over a year old now. It gets used about 90% of the time with my 20D and I have about 6000 images with it and it still looks like it was just removed from the box. My 70-200 L f/2.8 has been back to Canon three times, the last time for a cracked objective lens due to the internal set screw being overtightened. So much for the vaunted "L" glass. Bottom line is most of the available lenses are better than we are.

http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/galleries

[Hellashot]

Well if I wanted the 24-135, I like the Tamron version better, much better build quality, bull metal-even the shell.

If you want to pay more than double the price for the Tamron and get an f3.5-5.6 instead of an f 2.8-4.5. Sometimes price of a lens is part of the quality of your purchase. (performance&build divided by price)

[MrChad]

If you want to pay more than double the price for the Tamron and get an f3.5-5.6 instead of an f 2.8-4.5. Sometimes price of a lens is part of the quality of your purchase. (performance&build divided by price)


The Tamron's ~$360 and the Sigma is ~$320? I guess I thought the price was fairly good for both? Both appear to be great large zoom range glass, but a friend of mine uses the Tamron 24-135 on his D30 and I think it's a pretty nice lens. But I still think the wide anlge is not wide enough on the 1.6x crop factor. Just my taste.

I currently don't own the kit lens for the Drebel. I did get the kit lens for my Elan 7N (28-105) and I really hate my kit lens the most of all my glass. The micro-scopic focus ring can be a pain, the zoom ring is not very fluid over time. Since I hated the Elan kit lens so much I figured why own 2 of the same quality.

I started looking at the Sigma 18-50mm variable zoom. But for not a ton of cash more I could look at the 18-125mm which I figured looked to be that much better of a lens for the cash. One that might even be a great general light carry around lens.

Sorry if I offended anyone, my last few reply were a bit snippy in hind site-must have been tired or something :) just wanted to know if anyone else grabbed an 18-125mm in the mean time since the original post. The Sigma 24-135mm f2.8-4.0 has some good numbers from what I've seen but I want to have a lens with more wide angle view in my bag.

I barrowed a friend's Tamron 28-20mm0 ver. 2 lens for a weekend once on my Elan 7N and I really enjoyed it, the second gen was a bit large for a plastic lens but it sure was fun to have the sure all lens. Just thought such a lens, if not complete junk would be fun on the Drebel.

Plus I liked the idea of a Digital designed lens that would fit on any Canon 1.6x crop factor body. I just wanted to be sure it was as good opitically as the 18-55mm EFS lens before I plunked down my cash. I figured the 18-125mm would pair well with my 75-300 IS USM for a good duo. This way I could get by with this glass on my digital until I started to save up down the road for some L glass.....one day :D