What to buy for APS-C Canon? Sigma 30mm ART or Sigma 18-35mm ART?

kakegawa wrote in post #17460970
Ok ... what do I like to photograph ... hmmpphhh ...

Some of the following:

1. People (babies, newborn, toddler, people in general really)
   
2. Food
   
3. Ambient light photography for the 2 above ... without the need to bump up the ISO
   

Mainly those 2: people & food.

I like to capture their expression when they laugh, cry, smile, giggles ....

You want the zoom, then.

Of what I know of those two options I would definetly go with the 18-35. I would have picked it up when I had my 60D if I didn't plan to go full frame. So I chose the 35A instead.

As far as a photo table with a bunch of people, I'd just use my iPhone for a snapshot of that. The DSLR is for more serious stuff that should be hung on walls.

I just bought one to go with my Canon T5i to replace my efs 24mm f/2.8. I also shoot with the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8. I am thoroughly impressed with the IQ from this lens. It is a big honking lens though, with great build quality. The f/1.8 was the big selling point for me as well as my need for a wide zoom. I do recommend getting the dock and planning on spending some time to adjust the focus settings.

Love my 18-35mm Art. Very sharp lens, very fast, good range. If you're going to stay with APS-C for a while, it's the way to go. And it will work on a FF from about 24mm out to 35.

M_Six wrote in post #17461133
And it will work on a FF from about 24mm out to 35.

Oh dear, I did NOT need to hear that. My GAS was all happy with not being able to use it effectively on my cameras despite it being a really good option for some other cameras I use F mount lenses on. Now you tell me this?

My 18-35 lives on my camera. It is a very good range for crop. All the talk about large and heavy is really over blown. Compared to my 35 f2 it is large and heavy, but compared to my 70-200, 300 f4, or 400, it is not. If all you ever use is one small lens, then you will think it is big and heavy. But if you have any other bigger zoom, it is no big deal. It is much smaller than carrying a 18, 20, 25, 28, 30 and 35mm prime.
The image quality and range make it worth it.

troehr wrote in post #17461726
My 18-35 lives on my camera. It is a very good range for crop. All the talk about large and heavy is really over blown. Compared to my 35 f2 it is large and heavy, but compared to my 70-200, 300 f4, or 400, it is not. If all you ever use is one small lens, then you will think it is big and heavy. But if you have any other bigger zoom, it is no big deal. It is much smaller than carrying a 18, 20, 25, 28, 30 and 35mm prime.
The image quality and range make it worth it.

Agreed completely. It's not that big or heavy. Mounted on my SL1 it still makes a nice, lightweight rig.

smythie wrote in post #17461411
Oh dear, I did NOT need to hear that. My GAS was all happy with not being able to use it effectively on my cameras despite it being a really good option for some other cameras I use F mount lenses on. Now you tell me this?

I'll go mount it on my 6D and grab some shots to demonstrate. I'm pretty sure I found 24mm to be the point where the vignetting is gone.

UPDATE: Ok, I was off a bit. Looks like around 26-27mm is the sweet spot. Here's one at 25mm and again at 29mm. These are SOOC and reduced to 800px wide. Sorry for the poor quality. I just noticed the WB was still set for tungsten. Oops.

25mm@f4

Cool, thanks for that. Something to think about

Here's a heavily cropped photo showing IQ.

T5i, Sigma 18-35 f/1.8, 24mm@f/2.2, 1/250, ISO3200

Great shots, peeps !

That low-light concern pics are awesome too ... it does say that this lens performs really well in low-light situation.

When you got your 18-35 brand new from the warehouse/shop, do you have to adjust the focusing of this lens via the USB docking?

Those pictures are really good ... crisp & sharp.

Yes, definitely buy the dock. Once I had things dialed in, the detail from this lens is truly comparable to primes of similar focal lengths. In very low light concerts, I find the Sigma to focus equally as well as my 85mm f/1.8.

PaulieM wrote in post #17462389
Yes, definitely buy the dock. Once I had things dialed in, the detail from this lens is truly comparable to primes of similar focal lengths. In very low light concerts, I find the Sigma to focus equally as well as my 85mm f/1.8.

Tell me this Paulie .... is it very easy to fine tune the Sigma lens via USB dock?

How's it done at a high level?

Not hard, just time-consuming. There are adjustments for 4 focal lengths at 4 distances.

kakegawa wrote in post #17458981
Hi Fellas,

It's good to be back to POTN after a while.

I noticed the fresh look on the web too! excellent choice!

Ok, to cut the long story short, I have now sold my 24-105 f4 Canon and wanted to purchase new lens for my 7D.

Which of these 2 Sigma lenses would you recommend?

Image sharpness/crispiness?
Low light photography?
Colour intensity?

From my amateur perspective and my friend's opinion, prime lenses are usually a bit sharper compared to zoom lenses but I also heard that this Sigma 18-35 ART zoom lens is one of the exception. I heard a very good review out there on the web but wanted to hear directly from you guys.

I had the opportunity to experience Sigma 50mm f1.4, which I felt a bit too long for my liking. When I'm on the other end of a narrow table, I need to distance myself a bit before I can take a portrait shot of someone on the opposite side of table. Although, optical wise it is very sharp and crisp but f1.4 is very ... very bokeh .. .sometimes I think it's too bokeh.

+ 4 on the Sigma 30mm 1.4 non-art

it has sharpness, crispiness and "colour intensity" and good in low light

and it's only $200 (used)

60D
Sigma 30mm 1.4 non-art