sigma 70-200 2.8 EX HSM

[nycks1]

I there`anyone using this lens with the D60, If so let me know what you think of it I think I want to buy it. Thanks Inadvance.

[leineweber]

i just bought the sigma 120-300 EX HSM...
using Canon D30

Can i help you?

[Me an Mo]

I use one every day. What's not to like. Solid, fast, looks cool, works great, and fair money. I have always used Sigma. So far have not found a reason not to.

[Boldor]

Hi,

I'am using this lens and (sometimes) the 2x TC from Sigma on my D30 and 10D with a lot of fun and great results. I can recommend this couple.
On the 10D the AF works as point, press button and AF locked.

[rodbunn]

I'm using it with the 10D and love it! Great sports lense. Have not shot any sports with it yet with my 10D but can't wait to..... Very fast focus on this lense.

Good luck...

[mattchase]

I have been looking at a longer 2.8 lens for shooting sports and concerts with, and was fortunate enough to have both the Sigma 70-200 and Canon 70-200 L lenses available for testing. I used a 10D for all the tests, done in the studio in low light handheld and in good light (actually tripoded shots, done with studio strobes) and found little of any real difference. They both focus about as fast (which is pretty fast, too), both appear to be as sharp and contrasty, both are about the same length and weight. So I ended up buying the Sigma, since it is about $500 less. I have not yet had the chance to use it in the field, but have a couple of shoots this weekend that I will be using it at.

The only differences I noted are in the physical aspects of the lens. The Sigma is black, Canon is white. The tripod colar / foot on the Sigma is a bit closer to the barrel of the lens, and the knob is about 90* clockwise from the foot. On the Canon, there is enough room to fit my fingers between the tripod foot and lens, and the knob is directly next to (attached) the foot itself. In the end, I decided this wasn't much of an issue either way, just depends on what you get used to.

Another difference is that the manual focus ring and zoom ring are closer together on the Sigma, with the focus ring actually being larger than the focus ring on the Canon. This is kinda nice, as it is less of a stretch to go from the zoom ring to the focus ring, but again not that big of a deal.

And finally, the Sigma zooms backwards compared to Canon. That is, you turn clockwise to zoom in, where on the Canon you turn counterclockwise. So it goes 200mm-75mm on the Sigma, and 75mm-200mm on the Canon.

[topeju]

I've been testing the 70-200/2.8 with my new 10D tonight, and at least at 200 mm I get constant front focus. I've used the test referred to in article http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10198

Also, when I start auto focus from the infinity downward (the test image has been approximately 2.5 m away), AF stops after running for just a short time. Then, when I depress the shutter halfway again, it goes a bit further, then stops. Etc, until it finally reaches somewhere between 3 to 4 m, where it usually starts to be able to find the actual target (and overshoots it somewhat :-( ).

From the minimum distance upward, AF finds the same front focus fairly easily.

My Canon lenses (a couple of rather low-end lenses: the 28-80/3.5-5.6 USM and 100-300/5.6) work relatively well with the 10D, at least the 0 target is within DOF.

I made a quick test with my EOS 5, with which the Sigma works perfectly (at least it appears to - I haven't used film so I can't really tell if it front or back focuses, but it doesn't look like it is, judging from the view finder view). It's fast and accurate.

I also put an external flash on the 10D (SpeedLite 380EX), which improved focus with the Sigma. Apparently the external AF assist light helps here. I'll have to test this further tomorrow in better light, but for the moment I'm feeling a little low. :-(

[topeju]

topeju wrote:
I also put an external flash on the 10D (SpeedLite 380EX), which improved focus with the Sigma. Apparently the external AF assist light helps here. I'll have to test this further tomorrow in better light, but for the moment I'm feeling a little low. :-(


Now that it's daylight (well, cloudy but anyway), I shot a few dozen frames but there still was a strong front focus present. I also tried the external AF assist light, and again it seemed to improve the situation somewhat, although I'm not 100 % certain there anymore. In line with all of Murphy's Laws, the flash on my flash unit broke so I'm not even 100 % sure the AF assist lamp worked properly either, although I did see it blink a few times.

Any ideas whether I should contact Canon or Sigma?

[jduncan]

this is interesting for queries about 70-200 ex hsm

http://goinside.com/03/4/10dt.html

james