Are Sigma compact zooms a good value?

[Ken Fong]

Hello all,

I'm tempted to buy those Sigma (28-200) or (28-300) compact zooms for a trip to China. I realize something has to go when you have a compact zoom at a low price. I'm aware that if I use the full zoom, I will have a very slow lens, but what else am I giving up? Edge distortions might not bother me since I don't have a full frame sensor anyway (D60).

I realize that these lenses have poor optical ratings, but is it poor throughout the full range, or only poor as you move to the extremes?

I would like to leave the more expensive 2.8 Sigma at home, and maybe this purchase can prevent me from bringing the more expensive Canon 28-135. Are these low cost Sigmas appropriate for this trip? I still want nice pictures, but at least if they get stolen, I won't feel as bad than if they were the Canon equivalents. This line of reasoning probably reveals what level of a photographer I am 8)

Any thoughts and insights are appreciated,
Ken

[photography By Evangelos]

Well lets try not to offend any one uesing Sigma. As a pro sigma is not as good as canon. Thats my view point I have tryed a few of the new models of the Sigma HSM/APO and do not find they are as sharp as canon brands. Aslo HSM is a long way off from canon's USM the sigma's HSM Clicks alot and makes alot of fuss. If you have a limited $$ Green go for sigma. If you want the best and $$ green is not as important as performance and Quality Go for the canon. There is no value in somthing that is almost as good. Bowth sigmas that gave me problems are 17-35 F2.8 HSM and the 50mm macro lens. I sold bowth and got the canon 17-35F2.8 L and the canon EF 50mm f2.5 macro. And have never second guess the preformance as I did with the sigmas which failed on the job when I needed them most. I have never had to send in any canon lens to date for failure and some are very old EOS lenses. I hope this helps and good luck with your choice.

[DVWarrior]

If you compair the price of say 70-200 f2.8 Sigma £619 v Canon @ £1499 value for money will go on the Sigma.
Also in my experiance pro photographers gofers are not the most delicate handlers of lenses which could account for some rough handling v lens breaking down.
Quite a number of pros in my neck of the woods use Sigma and remember at well over half the price of the Canon you could afford to replace it 2.6 times more than the Canon during it's lifetime.
Hey I had a duff D60 but a great Sigma 20mm F2.8 lens.
Sigma lenses are made in Japan and use the same Aspherical glass techniques as Canon and Nikon, you will always find people who have had duff Sigma, Canon in my case etc. but don't be put off. Try before you buy most good retailers will let you shoot a few shots to allow you to assess the lens plus most have a 7 day refund policy...keep it like new take lots of pics for 3-4 days if you don't like it return it for a refund or they will gladly exchange it for a Canon equivelant.
I would love to endorse Canon as "THE ONLY LENS TO BUY" but their prices for faster better made lenses is outdated and is marketed at the pro market who can afford such inflated price lenses.
Sigma are realisic priced lenses and have caught up with the Canons and Nikons in all ways... look at the number of pros using them today...it must tell you something.

[redbutt]

I've got the new Tamron 28-300 XR for my D30. It is great, and in the price range you are talking about. It is a fantastic travel lens and takes great pictures. It's got a better rating than the Sigma does I think.

[dmcc]

I've got a sigma 17-35 EX HSM Aspherical and a canon 28-105 and canon 28-135 IS as well as other canon telephotos. Initially I was happy with the sigma. That was until I compared the shots against the canon lenses. The canons look a lot sharper. Another negative is the lens feels flimsy compared to the canon lenses, that and the fact that the zoom and focus ring go in opposite directions to the canon lenses. Another negative was that with the canons you can override the focus by moving the focus ring without changing to manual focus. Try and do that with the sigma and you be at the camera shop getting it repaired. After all this whinging though, the price difference from canon to sigma for a lens like this was about 2.5 times and when I think on all the images I'd hvae missed saving up for the canon I'm glad I got the sigma instead of nothing. So the sigma has served me well for 2 years but I'm factoring in a trade up to a canon lens.

[PacAce]

ken fong wrote:
I'm tempted to buy those Sigma (28-200) or (28-300) compact zooms for a trip to China. I would like to leave the more expensive 2.8 Sigma at home, and maybe this purchase can prevent me from bringing the more expensive Canon 28-135.

Okay, let me get this straight. You already have good (and expensive) lenses for your D60 but, because you're afraid that they'll get stolen on your trip to China, you're going to leave them at home and buy a cheap Sigma instead?????

So, are you telling me that your D60 is cheaper than your Canon 28-135 so you're not that worried about the D60 being stolen? Or were you planning to take a cheaper camera instead of the D60 to go along with the cheap Sigma you want to buy????

Just wonder.

[hook]

sigma lens or any other brand besides cannon are not gaurenteed to work with digital cannon cameras.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ken,

There just happens to be an extensive thread on this subject here;

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11765

...t was started by yours truly nearly a year ago when I was praising the beninfits of the Sigma 28-300mm

As the thread goes on you get both sides of the story,. advantages and disadvantages,.. including my own eventual education through expeirence with better optics. :)

I lifted this quote;
Having now used some top shelf glass... I can not recomend a "hyperzoom" as a first lens.

Only get a lens like this if you know and understand the compromises it will require.

..which sort of sums up my own feelings on these lenses now with a little more expeirence to judge.

[nosquare2003]

Buy "insurance" and use the 28-135.

[iwatkins]

Ken,

I have the Sigma 28-300 Compact for my 10D. It isn't a good lens, in fact, it is the worst I have.

However, it does still take an ok/good shot and with the range available is a handy one lens solution. Much of my early shots with the 10D were with this lens and it suited me fine.

But I can't help thinking that if I ever took a trip to China I would want the best gear I own with me. Trip of a lifetime and all that. :)

As above, get some good insurance and take your best gear. You wouldn't want to be kicking yourself after the event because you only took a lesser lens.

Cheers

Ian

[RichardtheSane]

If you take you D60 with a superzoom on the front then I suspect you will get dissapointing results if you are used to having some decent glass. Sure you can post-process to get better results from it but it is just not the same! Spend the money you would have spent on the superzoom and get some decent insurance and a couple more CF cards :D :D :D

I don't know China too well, so I am sure someone who does will correct me if I'm wrong - but when I think of countries where theft is a possibility from tourists China is not one that springs to mind.

[pradeep1]

I've found that Sigma makes good lenses. They may not be as good as original Canon, but acceptable. You have to see what is acceptable for you.

I agree with previous posters....take best equipment for once-in-a-lifetime photo ops and buy insurance. Anything else would be foolish.