Quick one:Sigma 17-35 EX HSM f28-4 (82mm) v Sigma 18-50 f3.5-5.6

[antaine]

Sigma 17-35 EX HSM f28-4 (82mm) v Sigma 18-50 f3.5-5.6

I have the opportunity to buy either of these today - no material difference in money. I will be shooting mainly landscape type photos on a 10D.

Anyone use either of these? I know the EX should be better, but the 18-50 is a bit longer and a lot lighter (makes it better for travel?).

thanks for any advice

Antaine.


... from a very wet Ireland today.

[kevin_c]

I have the 17-35 EX HSM and so far (only had it 2 weeks!) I am very pleased.
It is a bit soft 'wide-open', but that is to be expected with any lense at this price.
It is a large (fat!) lense but build quality is pretty good for the price (typical EX finish).
I assume you mean the f2.8 version of the 18-50mm? the f3.5-5.6 is a real 'cheapie'.
I went for the 17-35 because it will also fit a standard EOS body (The 18-50 is digital only) and it has the HSM for near-silent focusing.

[antaine]

Kevin, it was actually the cheap version of the 18-50 I was talking about - I don't want to spend a lot as I wont be using it too much (I may save for a 17-40 in 6 months time). They are both going for about £60 - £100 (actually the 17-35 is due to finish on ebay in 3 hours time, so it will probably rise - but I wont offer much more than £100).
thanks.

[kevin_c]

Sorry... I assumed you meant new prices - the 18-50 f2.8 and the 17-35 f2.8-4 are about the same price new.
Obviously the 17-35 is a better spec lense, but being an older one it will not be the 'DG' version - It has recently been 'updated' to make it more compatible with digital. (better coatings I believe).
I think the 18-50 you are after will be a fairly new lense as I don't think it has been in production that long (I may be wrong here though)

Good luck with the auction(s)!!

[antaine]

yes, it is the EX HSM version but not DG version - has an unusual 82mm filter size - so my uv filter will be expensive. - I'll let you know how I get on.

thanks, A.

[kevin_c]

Yes... the 'new' one has a 77mm filter thread (a bit cheaper to buy filters for)

regards