Selection criteria front of the lens purchase:
- Fast aperture zoom lens
- Focal length coverage of WW to Telebreich (in my case 17 o 18 -. To about 85mm)
- Good image quality and sharpness
- Good workmanship
- Suitable lens for landscape, architecture, and nature photography
after careful consideration and a number of test reports, a lot of choice on the following lenses:
- Tamron 17-50 2.8 (non-VC / VC)
- Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 OS HSM
- Sigma 24-70 2.8 EX
- Canon 17-85 (the Canon because of its faintness and the strong distortion in Weitwinkelbreich for me rather quickly eliminated, the 17-55 2.8 exceeded simply my budget)
Now still remained three good lenses and are spoiled for choice.
The Tamron is often praised for the transmitted light intensity and excellent sharpness. KO point for me was ultimately too small focal length (in addition, the Canon 60D come in the new year and into the house as it seems with the VC version of the lens and the cross-type sensors to be problems)
The Sigma 24-70 difference ultimately also. It is true that this lens delivers outstanding imaging performance and the continuous illumination of 2.8 was attractive, but I had 24mm on a crop camera ultimately just a little too long.
Thus the Sigma 17-70 OS HSM landed in my electronic shopping cart and a few days later as a nice Amazon parcels outside my door.
The first impression:
When much immediately unpack me on the weight of the lens. Man photographing otherwise only with a 50mm 1.8 and give the kit lens the weight difference is quite noticeable.
However, I feel this not as a hindrance or too heavy. On the contrary, the camera is very calm and balanced after a short familiarization phase in his hand.
The excellent processing falls in this objective positively - here rattles nothing, the materials feel valuable and also the switch for the Locktaste, OS button and AF / MF feel valuable and not give the impression as if they were want to adopt the same.
OS Power:
The image stabilization works great on my Sigma, he is barely audible, and thus also for the films with DSLR's quite usable.
Even in darker situations, it is possible for me to achieve without a tripod even sharp images. (At 18-55 IS is because often times a bit blurred)
HSM Performance:
For my application areas perfectly adequate. The focus is rapid and low noise in most cases. Every now and then it misses the lens right away and again must refocus and the focus is once next (which has, however, also the 18-55 IS and even the jerky 50mm 1.8 never done better).
Note: Who but a lot of sports - or Wildlife Photography operates, which should perhaps set a faster lens, here the 17-70 OS HSM will surely soon reach its limits.
Imaging performance / Focus:
From the imaging performance and the sharpness I am pleasantly surprised by Sigma. Here, the lens can really be proud of and must not be in front of the direct competitors of Tamron hide or even behind the much more expensive Canon.
A bright fixed focal length, it obviously can not displace all the equipment, but in the everyday photo situation, the Sigma is sure of good service. My kit lens, it has certainly displaced already!
Vignette I could virtually no or very little notice at 17mm so far (additional testing refute this, I will adjust the review)
Adjustment regarding Vignette:. After the first real outdoor photography, the lens but slight vignetting recognizable shows at 17mm focal length. It does not disturb me, however, and should it indeed, can all be removed with a few mouse clicks.
Macro Capability:
Of course, everyone should be clear that the Sigma can not replace a full-fledged macro lens, but I feel the macro capability as quite useful to shoot now and then a few interesting close-ups of insects and plants. The Tamron and the Canon lacks this feature completely. How do I find, for amateur photographers or beginners who do not yet have the full overview of lens options, an interesting feature.
Backfocus and front focus issues:
In advance I have read much about such problems at Sigma, and have therefore used a little to the lens ultimately to appoint me.
From backfocus problems I can not report on my copy and I'm also from Fronfokusproblemen largely spared.
The focus is located at 80-90% of my shots with pinpoint accuracy. Only in the Makrobreich at 70mm has my lens on a light front focus of 0.5 cm. For me still tolerant if I'll visit the Sigma Service adjustment for the purpose, will, I think, show only after lengthy tests and photo tours. For now, the lens stays with me.
Even if is was significantly lower with me the front focus than other owners, there is this one point deduction (After all, you pay a few hundred euros to get a working lens after purchase - without having to first send it for adjustment must).
Sigma - Warranty:
For me, an encouraging offer by Sigma. Anyone who registers his lens after purchase within the next eight weeks the manufacturer who gets an extended warranty for 3 years and the. At no extra cost to the user
Conclusion:
All in all I am very satisfied after the few days of testing with the lens. The image quality is very good and sharp images you get with the lens sufficiently. As a little extra, there is for the amateur photographer a very useful macro function to it.
When "Always top" the Sigma is thus actually the perfect companion for me to travel and long photo tours. Speaking the quality finish, the well-chosen focal length range, the picture Lies Tung and focus for the lens.
If that is not enough, the need to (unfortunately) to dig deeper into their pockets and look around at Canon (eg 17-55 2.8 or 24-70L).
A star, there was less of me, since my copy has a lightweight (yet verschmerzbaren) Front focus. Here Sigma really should rework. Then I am sure that this was not the final objective of this manufacturer.
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