Sigma 17-70 Lens

If you are worried about getting a good copy I think Jessops is a good call. You can always return the item within 30 days with full refund, no questions asked. Some shops also do price matching if you give them a print from another UK based retailer (including internet based sellers). I got mine from Warehouse Express because no one else had it at the time.
I have to confirm this is not a true macro lens. Does medium sized flowers nicely but insects could pose a challenge. I see you are not into insects anyway
All the best with your studies.

adysko wrote in post #2197446
If you are worried about getting a good copy I think Jessops is a good call. You can always return the item within 30 days with full refund, no questions asked. Some shops also do price matching if you give them a print from another UK based retailer (including internet based sellers). I got mine from Warehouse Express because no one else had it at the time.
I have to confirm this is not a true macro lens. Does medium sized flowers nicely but insects could pose a challenge. I see you are not into insects anyway
All the best with your studies.

Thanks!

Nah insects ive shot before but not really my thing! love flower macro;s though!

Yeh I might try n get a good price at a uk shop. Might be a bit risky getting it from my usual HK based site.

Ive never hada problem before though!! grr! lo

Thanks for all your help

Hey Sarah,

I can highly recommend the 17-70, its very sharp & has very few problems, you said you might get rid of your 100mm macro lens? if I were you I would keep it for now, while the 17-70 can do macro its not a "True" macro lens, its not capable of 1:1 macro, just much closer than normal zoom lenses, but it is great as a lens that you can keep on your camera pretty much all the time, it does great wideangle stuff, the 70mm provides quite a bit of reach & you can even take closeups, all without changing the lens!

I find that AF has problems focussing at anything closer than about 2" away from the front element, or the UV filter in my case, but the lens can focus closer than that if you go into MF, you can then touch an object on the front UV at 70mm & its perfect focus, although as usual DOF is VERY shallow.

There are a few problems you should be aware of though as its not all rosey, wide open at 17mm there is some vignetting, but nothing that cant be corrected if you shoot in raw & use the vignetting removal feature of ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), its also a little softer at F2.8, but again its about the same as other lenses, where the lens REALLY begins to get razor sharp is F5.6 - F11

I have uploaded a few images which I have recently taken with the 17-70, nothing really stunning but it might give you an idea of what it can do:

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Nick_C wrote in post #2197526
Hey Sarah,

I can highly recommend the 17-70, its very sharp & has very few problems, you said you might get rid of your 100mm macro lens? if I were you I would keep it for now, while the 17-70 can do macro its not a "True" macro lens, its not capable of 1:1 macro, just much closer than normal zoom lenses, but it is great as a lens that you can keep on your camera pretty much all the time, it does great wideangle stuff, the 70mm provides quite a bit of reach & you can even take closeups, all without changing the lens!

I find that AF has problems focussing at anything closer than about 2" away from the front element, or the UV filter in my case, but the lens can focus closer than that if you go into MF, you can then touch an object on the front UV at 70mm & its perfect focus, although as usual DOF is VERY shallow.

There are a few problems you should be aware of though as its not all rosey, wide open at 17mm there is some vignetting, but nothing that cant be corrected if you shoot in raw & use the vignetting removal feature of ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), its also a little softer at F2.8, but again its about the same as other lenses, where the lens REALLY begins to get razor sharp is F5.6 - F11

I have uploaded a few images which I have recently taken with the 17-70, nothing really stunning but it might give you an idea of what it can do:

If you want to have a look at some photos that havent been resized, I have uploaded 2 full sized images below:

17mm:
http://www.network201.​plus.com/Tests/sigma17​.JPG

70mm:
http://www.network201.​plus.com/Tests/sigma70​.JPG

If you want to know anything more about the lens just shout

Nick

Wow thanks Nick!

Ive not come across Adobe camera raw....i just use the one that came with my camera for converting raw.
Is this adobe one better?

I think Adobe RAW costs $$$
Have you tried Adobe LightRoom. its free at the moment cause its beta

Luckie8 wrote in post #2197556
I think Adobe RAW costs $$$

which i dont have! lol

Not really better no, just different, I also use the Canon raw converter (DPP) & its perfectly ok, its just ACR does have some other features, it can remove any vignetting as well as CA, although to be honest I havent had to use those features since getting the 17-70, I very rarely shoot at 17mm wide open, so vignetting isnt an issue & I havent seen any CA on my photos yet.

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2197559
which i dont have! lol

you gonna have it once you sell me that 100 Macro... he..he..

Luckie8 wrote in post #2197567
you gonna have it once you sell me that 100 Macro... he..he..

id rather buy shoes!

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2197572
id rather buy shoes!

I can trade you with some shoes.. My g/f has a closet full of them.. What size do you wear? j/k..

Luckie8 wrote in post #2197578
I can trade you with some shoes.. My g/f has a closet full of them.. What size do you wear? j/k..

I have 2 full! and a large drawer as well!

I dont wear half of them!

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2197559
which i dont have! lol

I cant remember the last time I had any decent amount of cash, this photography lark has sucked my bank balance dry!

You are not missing anything special by not having the Adobe Raw converter, infact whenever I shoot landscapes I prefer to use DPP as it has the landscape picture style which really does bring a landscape to life.

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2197588
I have 2 full! and a large drawer as well!

I dont wear half of them!

Whats with you ladies and shoes.. I mean you only have 1 pair of feet.. Why would you need so many pair of shoes? lol

Nick_C wrote in post #2197593
I cant remember the last time I had any decent amount of cash, this photography lark has sucked my bank balance dry!

You are not missing anything special by not having the Adobe Raw converter, infact whenever I shoot landscapes I prefer to use DPP as it has the landscape picture style which really does bring a landscape to life.

uh i know! I need to win the lottery!

Luckie8 wrote in post #2197610
Whats with you ladies and shoes.. I mean you only have 1 pair of feet.. Why would you need so many pair of shoes? lol

we need them to match all our different outfits!