80D; 70-200 f2.8 and Sigma 18-35 or ?? (HELP!)

I am having a hard time pulling the trigger on the Sigma 18-35mm f1/8. I've heard and seen so many good things about it, but I'm worried about the focal reach. I have an 80D; Canon 70-200mm f2.8, Canon 24mm f2.8 Pancake (LOVE THIS LENS), and the surprisingly sharp Canon 18-135mm kit lens.

I don't want the need to bring my kit lens around with me but I'm worried if I get the Sigma, I will have too much of a focal gap. Should I be looking at the Canon 17-55mm f2.8 instead? Or a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 (Canon version too far out of budget)?

I used to shoot Portraits allot (and full frame), but lately that's what I am shooting the least. I'm more focused on creative photos of random things. Flowers, faucets, dinner, landscapes, etc.

HELP!

I had the lens, when I had a 7D2, and also for potential use with my C100, so this is my feedback:

- the lens is heavy - as such, i would highly encourage you to go to a store, mount it on your camera, and see if it is something that you will use
- the 80D is a very useful video camera so, if this is in your calculations, I like the idea of IS lenses better
- while the lens is sharp, if is much better at F2 than at F1.8 so I never used it at F1.8 - it is even better, materially so, at F2.2 - so that is how I thought of this lens - a multiple, very heavy, 18-35 F2.2 set of Primes
- I own the Sigma 24-105 F4 OS lens, that I use on my full frame cameras, and that Sigma never, ever misses focus - I did not find that about the 18-35, at least on the 7D2 and its AF pts (if used in liveview it never missed or even on the A7Rii is never missed - but that wasn't true on the Canon using the Optical Viewfinder)

As such, given the weight, and not 100% consistent focus, and also without IS, I found this lens less useful that the excellent sharpness reviews would suggest.


I might offer another lens, that is almost never mentioned, as a great everyday, very useful crop lens, to pair with your Canon 70-200 - and that is the Tamron 17-70 F2.8-F4 OS Macro Lens. This lens doesn't get spoken about much, but I bought it for my brother in law for a christmas present one year, and he really likes it. The ability to zoom to 70mm, and its close focus macro ability, makes it very good for close-up portraits, the OS is excellent, the macro is useful when needed, and you get up to about 24mm? at F2.8 so it works for indoor family type events.

wallstreetoneil wrote in post #18392533
... the Tamron 17-70 F2.8-F4 OS Macro Lens. This lens doesn't get spoken about much, but I bought it for my brother in law for a christmas present one year, and he really likes it. The ability to zoom to 70mm, and its close focus macro ability, makes it very good for close-up portraits, the OS is excellent, the macro is useful when needed, and you get up to about 24mm? at F2.8 so it works for indoor family type events.

I think you mean the Sigma 17-70?
If so, I agree that it's an excellent "going beyond kit level lens".
However, I'm not sure how much extra value it brings when the OP already has the focal length covered and has the pancake.

sorry - yes Sigma 17-70 - my apologies

JPepus wrote in post #18392497
I'm worried if I get the Sigma, I will have too much of a focal gap.

Use your 18-135 for a while and just skip the 36-69mm range. If you don't miss it then the 18-35 might be a good choice. If you do miss it then the 18-35 is a bad choice.

Personally it's the 50-70mm range that I would miss. Thats why I used the sigma 50-150 with the 18-35. Great two lens combo.

The Sigma 18-35 is without a doubt the sharpest lens you will find for your camera. I owned and loved it. I used it alongside a Canon 85 1.8 and almost never missed the focal range between the two lenses. Since then I have sold it, because I felt the Canon 15-85 would suit me better when on vacation. It's lighter and more compact and the extra wideangle is something I like (rather than the extra reach on the long end). I feel comfortable combining it with the 24 pancake lens for extra sharpness (and a lightweight combo) when I need it.

wallstreetoneil wrote in post #18392533
I had the lens, when I had a 7D2, and also for potential use with my C100, so this is my feedback:

- the lens is heavy - as such, i would highly encourage you to go to a store, mount it on your camera, and see if it is something that you will use
- the 80D is a very useful video camera so, if this is in your calculations, I like the idea of IS lenses better
- while the lens is sharp, if is much better at F2 than at F1.8 so I never used it at F1.8 - it is even better, materially so, at F2.2 - so that is how I thought of this lens - a multiple, very heavy, 18-35 F2.2 set of Primes
- I own the Sigma 24-105 F4 OS lens, that I use on my full frame cameras, and that Sigma never, ever misses focus - I did not find that about the 18-35, at least on the 7D2 and its AF pts (if used in liveview it never missed or even on the A7Rii is never missed - but that wasn't true on the Canon using the Optical Viewfinder)

As such, given the weight, and not 100% consistent focus, and also without IS, I found this lens less useful that the excellent sharpness reviews would suggest.


I might offer another lens, that is almost never mentioned, as a great everyday, very useful crop lens, to pair with your Canon 70-200 - and that is the Tamron 17-70 F2.8-F4 OS Macro Lens. This lens doesn't get spoken about much, but I bought it for my brother in law for a christmas present one year, and he really likes it. The ability to zoom to 70mm, and its close focus macro ability, makes it very good for close-up portraits, the OS is excellent, the macro is useful when needed, and you get up to about 24mm? at F2.8 so it works for indoor family type events.

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll definitely look into the Sigma 17-70 a little more. LOVE the idea of having Macro focusing but worried about f/4 at thew longer ranges. That is part of the reason I am trying to use the 18-135 less. But at least f/4 is a little more tempting that 5.6.

gremlin75 wrote in post #18392860
Use your 18-135 for a while and just skip the 36-69mm range. If you don't miss it then the 18-35 might be a good choice. If you do miss it then the 18-35 is a bad choice.

Personally it's the 50-70mm range that I would miss. Thats why I used the sigma 50-150 with the 18-35. Great two lens combo.

Good idea! I can start by going through Lightroom and seeing how much I have used that range up until now as well. Thanks!

RobinSchouten wrote in post #18393253
The Sigma 18-35 is without a doubt the sharpest lens you will find for your camera. I owned and loved it. I used it alongside a Canon 85 1.8 and almost never missed the focal range between the two lenses. Since then I have sold it, because I felt the Canon 15-85 would suit me better when on vacation. It's lighter and more compact and the extra wideangle is something I like (rather than the extra reach on the long end). I feel comfortable combining it with the 24 pancake lens for extra sharpness (and a lightweight combo) when I need it.

I also have the 15-85, it is a lens that I found for the c100 as the FL is just perfect for almost everything - and a great travel lens. I mentioned the Sigma 17-70 F2.8 - F4 as likely a better choice since it is much faster at F2.8 at the wider end and thus can be very useful, including the macro ability, as an all-rounder - but the 15-85 is maybe the best travel type lens for a crop because of the 15mm - and the lens is very sharp.

Can anyone here help looking at this picture and comment if that would affect image quality? There is a small scratch at the rear element of this Sigma 18-35 lens. ߘ

https://flic.kr/p/LhDA​​FQ (external link)