New Sigma 24-70 2.8 and need help?

[lost]

I just got my Sigma 24-70 2.8 refused to Manual Focus. >:( I was ready to send back to B&H when I realized the focus ring moves back and forth to engage Manual Focus.

I felt like such an idiot. I know, I know read the f'in manual. :lol:

Ok this is my first non canon lens, and I have one question. Can you use the manual focus over the auto focus like the USM Canons. I don't think so but I have to ask.

I will post pictures later this evening but I have one question for people who own this lens. Is you zoom ring VERY stiff? (insert joke here) I find it very difficult to zoom in and out. Especially out to the wide end.

Thanks for the help

[Nightcrawler]

I think that I have heard that it is common for the zoom ring to be stiff. How is the focusing on the 20D. Does it have any front or back focusing problems? I am thinking about getting this lens in a week. How do you like it?

[lost]

Two issues so far. The zoom is VERY stiff. So stiff I have a hard time keeping my subject in frame while zooming.(which may be a deal breaker) I will shoot this weekend and decide if I need to ship back to B&H. And zoomed all the way out the flash is useless.

[LightRules]

I've got quite a bit of info and test shots with this lens at my site. It is one stellar lens given a good copy. I've owned and used 2 Canon 24-70Ls and 2 Tamron 28-75s in addition and this is the one I ultimately kept for various reasons.

http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/lenstests

As for the zoom ring, it loosens with time, just like many other standard zooms. Best wishes.

[jarod]

Is this the Macro version?

[lost]

Yes. 24-70mm 2.8 EX DG Macro

[snapper27]

does this lens have internal focusing????

[snapper27]

how is this lens different(better or worse)than the sigma 28-70 f2.8, (aside from 4mm).

Also, is there a difference between the 24-70 dg 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 dg df
ie; if the box does not say df, did sigma change the lens in the last few months (i was looking at one on ebay)

[lost]

Here are some initial shots.

http://www.btoups.com/host/IMG_6413.jpg


http://www.btoups.com/host/IMG_6415.jpg


http://www.btoups.com/host/IMG_6424.jpg

http://www.btoups.com/host/IMG_6430.jpg

http://www.btoups.com/host/IMG_6362.jpg

[Nightcrawler]

Have you done any focus tests on your new lens?

[lost]

No, I have never done one. Do my pictures seem oof?

My only beefs with the lens are the Noisy AF and VERY stiff zoom.

[Nightcrawler]

No, they look great. Did you use AF or MF on those pics. This Sigma lens has the reputation of often having a front/back focusing issue, but if you don't notice it, everything is probably fine. How does the sharpness compare to your 70-200 f4L?

[lost]

I used AF on all of them. I find the 70-200L somewhat sharper but not a night and day difference. But that may be more a sign of the photographer than the lens.

But I still need to know from owners of this lens how stiff the Zoom ring is for them!!

[lost]

Come on, someone must have this lens. Help me out pleases.

[MrChad]

I was researching this and other Sigma fast normal zooms for some time the zoom ring is said to be stiff at first for some time. I think popphoto has a review online.

I knew a few wedding photogs shooting this exact lens as the 28-70 EX macro model before this one came out. They shot it in N*k*n format, they used the lens exclusively in manual focus mode because of the AF noise.

My Sigma 18-125 DC is quite the noisy AF'er, it doesn't sound cheap though, just like a robocop lens or something. I've learned to live with Man. focus for quite occations.

I must admit after using a buddies Canon 28-70 f2.8L I may have to hold out for the 24-70L one day, it's just so quite w/o the AF/M clutch system. If the zoom ring really gets to you, you may want to look at the Sigma 24-60 EX DG instead, about the same price I think, but you loose the Macro.

[fortinaa]

I do not own this lens, but got to play with a friends about a month after he purchased it. The zoom ring seems to loosen a bit with use, as I found his looser than my Tamron 28-75 which I use quite a bit. The front element of the lens does move as you zoom (if anyone was curious). The only Sigma lenses that have full time manual focus are those with HSM. This isn't one of those lenses. Optically, I think Sigma has some excellent performers, but I am not a fan of the clutch for MF.

[COKE CAN]

Mine used to be stiff. It'll loosen up with a few drinks. :lol:

[htbyron]

It loosens up fairly quickly (or you get used to it -- hard to tell which it is). I've had mine about 6 weeks & shot around 1,000 pics with it (I'm at the office & don't have the data to be sure exactly how many). I no longer notice the stiffness while zooming. I do still get confused by the "backward" (N*konic?) zoom ring -- it's opposite the Canon convention & I still find myself zooming in when I want to zoom out or vice versa. Those considering this lens who are concerned about this issue might want to try to get their hands on the Sigma 24-60 f/2.8 -- it's smaller & it has the zoom ring going the other ("right") way. From the MTF charts, it looks like corner performance suffers a bit with the 24-60, but I'm not sure how significant that is on a 1.6x crop sensor. Anyway, I'm fairly satisfied with the image quality & flexibility (zoom range & large aperture), which were the reasons I bought this lens. And I was not willing to spend three times as much for the Canon L version (which fixes the usability issues, though it's debatable whether it also gives that much jump in image quality). Enjoy your new purchase.

Tom

[htbyron]

Ok this is my first non canon lens, and I have one question. Can you use the manual focus over the auto focus like the USM Canons. I don't think so but I have to ask.


Not if you have CFn-4 set to the default (0), so that the shutter release button activates AF. BUT, if you set CFn-4 to 1 or 3, so that the * button activates AF, then you have control over when the lens uses AF & you can switch the focus ring to M on the fly (leaving the switch set to AF) when you need it -- just don't hit the * button & it won't try to re-focus. This is what I do, and I find myself getting used to the push-pull M/AF focus ring, which I first thought was a bit weird. It takes a bit of practice, but not much if you are already used to using the * button for AF.

Tom

[lost]

Thanks everyone, I guess I will keep it and spend the extra money on a 10-22. I think the zoom is starting to get looser already.