Better than the Canon 24-105 L

I run several systems in parallel and'm zooming excessively pretty well prepared, but what I was missing so far was a standard zoom for the 5D MkII. While there are many zoom starting with 24mm and are quite bright, but if you want to also cover the Portrait range (85-105mm), only two lenses are available, the Canon 24-105mm f4 L and the new Sigma 24 -105mm f4 kind. In a photo comrades, who just replaced his L by Sigma Art, the former has not yet been sold at the time, I had the opportunity to test the two zooms up to today. After a short photo tour and the subsequent evaluation of the images was clear that it will be the Sigma.

Build quality and handling

In direct comparison with the Canon, the Sigma feels noticeably heavier. The extra weight is not by chance, it is due to the better handling. At the 5D MkII it feels the weight distribution perfectly, there is neither front nor back heavy. The type looks better than L, provided that plays a role in a photographic tool. When operating the zoom and the focus ring you can clearly see, the Sigma has not spared the processing inside the lens. Both rings can be rotated evenly and gently, but are not smooth and can not be adjusted unintentionally. Included are a quiver and a lens hood.

AF and OS

To the forums like discussed fehlfokus at Sigma lenses I can not at all comprehend with my copy. Also the lens of what is known has brought into focus accurately and quickly on both his and my camera. A contrast to the Canon 24-105 I could see neither the speed nor in accuracy. Was slightly better stabilized The OS of the Sigma, reported the Internet as here and elsewhere, I've also noticed. The difference is maybe a stop, but nailed me not it fixed, it could be a bit more or less. So exactly I have not checked.

Imaging performance

First, I would note that both Canon and Sigma have delivered pretty decent image quality for 4x zoom. In direct comparison, the Sigma from Wide worked until shortly before the telephoto end sharper. To 105mm, the two were virtually equally good. With regard to CA, vignetting and distortion, the Sigma was the wide angle slightly better with telephoto for the Canon. On the whole, there is in terms of aberrations between the two lenses tie. But since you can CAs, let vignetting and distortion out expected at the PC, additional resolution and sharpness but can not be included as well, was that for me the decisive factor.

Finally, I would just like to the Sigma in any single discipline to say that much better than the Canon. But what makes the difference are the many small to medium-sized benefits of nature and the fact that it even this is slightly cheaper than the Canon. In this respect, I would recommend anyone to watch both lenses and possible to make necessary with two images, instead of immediately buying the Canon, just because there is a L.