Thinking of buying new lens (SIGMA Lens 18-125 F/3.5-5.6 DC)

Thinking of buying tis lens SIGMA Lens 18-125 F/3.5-5.6 DC for my 350D.

anyone got one of these oe any views on it?

Cheers JET

I think it is an Ok buy for the money based on images I saw from a guy who posted a few weeks back. I don't know anything else about it though. What do you want to use it for exactly and what's your budget as there may be other options.

I have one for my 20D. I bought it instead of the kit lens based on many reviews praising it as one of the best starter lenses. Very strange to see it at the bottom of the Top 10 list in this forum when it was the clear winner in a couple other forums. Anyway, I find it to be a decent walk around lens. My current task is deciding what to buy next.

I thought choosing a camera was tough, but it was simply compared to all these lenses!

Your welcome to view my PBase Galleries using the 350D/XT and Sigma 18-125mm DC Lens: Just click this link to view them

Its a very good lens & I am very happy with my copy. Check nightshots & watrefall gallery at my pbase account www.pbase.com/blue_sta​r.
My images are not good compared to bluedog but thats because of my poor skills, not the lense
Bottomline - You wont regret buying this lens.

I agree for the price its a fine lens ... Raj thanks for the compliments but your images are very good indeed.

hahaha... "I thought choosing a camera was tough, but it was simply compared to all these lenses!"

Well said, Compared to me picking out lenses, It took me what feels like little time before i was able to decide which DSLR i wanted. I always had a little brand tendancy towards canon, I just like their stuff, very innovateve products and features.

I spend hours more time looking at lenses ater i got this camera. I spend too much time on these forums... All you need to know is, good stuff aint cheap, and cheap stuff aint good.

I have the 18-125mm DC, optically it compares very well to the kit lens. However, everything I hated about the kit lens is missing from this lens. I hated the kit lens build so much!

Pros:
Great built (for a consumer lens)very low price IMO.
Long length
Non rotating front lens, great for filters
Included lens hood.
optically as good as any Canon consumer lens from my results.

Cons:
Noisy AF
f5.6 on the long end.

Else for the money I really like this lens, I chose this over the 17-85mm IS simply because I felt optically they compared very well to each other, however the money saved by skipping IS could go alot further for me personally. And Canon not including the hood was just one more reason to look at the Sigma. This is a great lens to just leave on your camera and always be in the ready.

I've gone on trips before where this was my only lens...no complaints.

Based on FM this is a very good walkaround lens for 1.6x cameras.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Wanting this lens just for a day to day walkabout, by the looks of Bluedog_XT and Raj's photos it would do just the job..

Is there any other lens i might want to consider in that price range ? (seen it on E-Bay for £161 inc postage from HK)

Don't forget you may pay VAT and Duty and collection fee's. Factor in 25% on top of the topline cost and P&P and then shop around for best UK price. There is nothing much you will get to beat it at that price and to cover the same all around useful range

I've taken the chance a couple of times now with buying from HK,
I'll have to ask them if they will put it through as a gift and take the chance (sorry if this is wrong)

I already have my credit card ready to get this lens. Now i'm just waiting for Amazon US to have a price drop (happens frequently).

I hear you about spending too much time on these forums. I periodically have to remind myself that this is supposed to be fun! I could live with the "you get what you pay for" idea. The hard part is figuring out what my needs are and the best way to meet them.

A tip for use with the Sigma 18-125mm: using a Circular Polarizer on the wide end try not to go below 21mm on the zoom to avoid vignetting in the corners that shows up at 18mm. However the photo results can be easily edited in any Photoshop application.