Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC

Review Date
October 30, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
misterg , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
Have used this lens for a few weeks now and am very impressed. It is tack sharp at all but the widest aperture (still good at f2.8) and focuses quickly and accurately. Very well made and an absolute bargain. 95% performance of pro glass at less than one third of the price!! If you have a full frame dslr then maybe something better would be apropriate but for those of us using aps sized sensors , it ticks all the boxes...get one!

Strengths
sharp
well made
quick focus

Weaknesses
slightly soft at f2.8

Similar Products Used
sigma 18-70
nikon 18-70

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Review Date
October 2, 2008

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
Claudiu , Intermediate

Price Paid
$480.00 at online

Photography Experience
0-1 years , Outdoor

Summary
I bought this lens because I've seen many good reviews and very good pictures taken with it. I also saw some bad reviews, but I thought I can't be that unlucky to get a bad copy.
Well, I was that unlucky. It had bad front-focus, it was extremely soft on the top-right corner too and even from day one I noticed some dust particles inside it.
Fortunately the shop that sold it to me (online shop) is replacing it with a Canon 17-40 L F4 and I am paying the difference. I'm not willing to go over several lenses just to find a good copy, so I'm betting on Canon L glass this time.

All in all, this isn't a lens you want to order online. Be sure you test it before paying for it, or check the return policy of the shop.

Strengths
- F2.8, but if you aren't lucky enough to get a good one, it will be soft at 2.8
- good focal range
- relatively small and easy for- macro, even if it isn't true macro (1:1). It's just 1:3 magnification.
- polarizing filter can be used since focusing doesn't rotate the front element
- the build is pretty good, it feels solid; the zoom ring feel comfortable in using too; the finish gives it a classier look
- even with all the problems I mentioned, at smaller apertures it produced good images; for as long as the subject was in DOF it worked pretty well

Weaknesses
- Sigma has bad QC, especially with this model it seems (heard other users complaining about it)
- bad front-focus
- top-right corner very soft
- AF behaves erratically especially in low light, but it might be because the above problems
- AF isn't HSM, thus it's a bit noisier and slower
- Focus ring moves while using AF
- Focus ring has a very small rotation angle, making it impossible to use Manuel focus
- if you want manual focus, you need to switch to it

Similar Products Used
Canon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 (Canon 400D kit lens)

Customer Service
Extremely bad service in Romania: there is a dealer but they won't help you unless you bought the lens from them; International Warranty has no meaning here it seems.

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Review Date
December 29, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
gilliamhome , Professional

Price Paid
$400.00 at Adorama

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
Excellent - fast, perfect zoom range, and quality of image with this zoom lens speaks volumes. Reasonably priced. 18mm-50mm range is a perfect "Default" lens for quick shooting. A super alternative to more pricey Zuiko lenses.

Strengths
Good auto focus and manual focus relationships to the Evolt camera. 2.8 provides a speedy lens that is less prone to noise or slow shutter speed issues in low light situations. Built like a rock! Sturdy and dependable. A tribute to Sigma's keeping up with the 4/3 format camera needs.

Weaknesses
some potential for vignetting with 18mm setting and lens hood. Careful composition can prevent this.

Customer Service
Not necessary - this quality, may never have to return for repair.

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Review Date
November 24, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.60 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
Axle , Intermediate

Price Paid
$634.00 at Henry's

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
I promised myself I wouldn't buy anything big at the Camera show, man did I break that one. I was wandering around the show and happened to stop by the Sigma demonstration booth, a couple friends had purchased Sigma products before and both seemed happy about it. Using my Nikon D70s I started trying out lens, and a sales rep came over to me and suggested I try this latest offering that they had. I slapped on the lens and took it over to where a model was standing to give it a shot. Man I couldn't be happier. I walked right over to the Henry's table and bought one.

I have since used it in the two primary fields I shoot in, events, and architecture. It performed admirably in both. If you're looking for a replacement for a kit lens, this is it. It gives you a fast lens (f/2.8) at a price under $1,000. It's a fast sharp lens, plus has good Macro capabilities as well.

Anyone with a dSLR, still using just a kit lens, should get this one to replace it, hands down. (Comes in multiple mounts Canon, Pentax, Sony, Nikon). The money you save can be put towards a 50mm f/1.8.

Strengths
- Sharp, razor sharp
- Fast lens
- Good Price

Weaknesses
- Slow on Auto focus
- AF motor Noise
- only zooms to 50mm

Similar Products Used
Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm (Kit)

Customer Service
None required

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Review Date
May 18, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.25 of 5, 8 votes

Reviewed by
jsendicott , Intermediate

Price Paid
$386.00 at 47th Street Photo

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
I have the Nikon D70 camera and most frequently use the Nikon 18-70mm lens. While I've been pretty happy with this lens, I've often wondered if there wasn't something a little shaper and a little faster out there in a price range that I could afford. After reading several highly positive reviews of the Sigma 18-50 I decided that this was the lens for me.
To tell you how impressed I am with this lens, after shooting a "test roll" and carefully viewing the pictures in Aperture, I'm putting my 18-70 on Ebay and getting rid of it.
This lens delivers everything it promises. It's incredibly sharp, focuses just as fast as the 18-70, and I'm also amazed at how small the minimum focusing distance is.
Yeah, if you shoot at a brick wall at the 18mm end the distortion is significant, but nothing that can't be fixed with the latest software.

Strengths
Sharpness!!! WOW. I can't overstate this enough. This lens is really sharp.
Contrast - nice and punchy.
Ability to open up to f2.8.
Fast focusing.

Weaknesses
Focusing noise is slightly louder than the Nikon 18-70.
Distortion at 18mm.

Similar Products Used
Nikon 18-70mm AFS

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