Sigma 17-35 F2.8-4 EX Aspherical  reviews

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 3 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: leon3536   review date: July-19-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 16-50 F2.8

price paid:

125 USD (E+)

positive:

-Sharp wide open. Peaks at F8
-Wide angle

negative:

-Back focusing problem
-Long MFD
-Soft at corners
-Ridiculous filter size

comment:

I got this lens for my A580. Initially I thought this lens is very soft at F2.8 on the wide end. But a quick focus test shows it has a severe back focusing problem. Fortunately, A580 can compensate this with Focus Check (or contrast detection focus). And by turning on Focus Check this lens is quite sharp even at F2.8, making it an acceptable lens for landscape and portraits on A580. The shutter lag of Focus Check does diminish the value of this lens though.

Overall, excellent value for what I paid for.

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: derekw   review date: February-17-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 17-35 f2.8-4 D
Sigma 15-30

price paid:

130 (GBP) mint

positive:

Sharpness
Colour
Compact

negative:

Filter size

comment:

Very good lens. Better than Minolta, Sigma 15-30 just to big for focal length (to carry around)

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 3 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: superx2won   review date: December-13-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tokina 17mm/3.5
Kit lens

price paid:

250 USD (Used)

positive:

fast focusing, light weight, low cost

negative:

big hood

comment:

This lens give big lens hood. 82mm.. wow.
This lens can't use with build in flash as the hood will block the part of the flash.

Zoom ring is a bit close to body, sometime is a bit hard to zoom.

i give build rating as 3 because of above 2 reason.

beside this, everything is good. Sturdy build and deliver good image.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: 5thElefant   review date: December-06-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

18-70mm kit (aps-c)
28-135mm

price paid:

L120

positive:

Wide
Fast at 17mm

negative:

Sigma colours

comment:

Not quite up to the better Minolta lenses, but is a different league to the 18-70 kit and the build is excellent. A useful addition to my lineup.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: sync172w   review date: August-18-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 24-85mm f3.5~4.5
Minolta 20mm f2.8 RS
Sigma 24mm f1.8

price paid:

220USD(used)

positive:

Light weight.
Very useful range.
Fast focus.
Fast for all condition.

negative:

82mm

comment:

Compare to Minolta 20mm f2.8, this lens is not sharp enough when wide open. Not critical. As a zoom lens, it produces decent quality. Very useful on a Alpha 700.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Remko   review date: April-27-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 20mm f/2.8
Minolta 24-50mm f/4
Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8
Konica Minolta 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6
Minolta 28-135mm f/4-4.5
CZ 24-70 f/2.8
CZ 16-35 f/2.8

positive:

great wide angle, especially on A900 and sildes.

negative:

82mm filter
else none

comment:

Performs great. Does even equal CZ 16-35/2.8 for range/quality of picture at A900.

I love it's color performance on both slides and FF/24mp. Performs great on KM 5d as well.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 3 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: unib   review date: February-02-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

L180ish used

positive:

Sharp at f/9 - f/16
Good colour

negative:

82mm filter thread
bit flimsy build

comment:

I was a bit worries about this lens, I bought it whilst in Scotland, I needed something wide for my a900 and this was all ffordes had, as I'd heard far from positive things about it (in fact the chap in the shop didn't seem mad convinced about it!) I thought I'd use it for a few days and then maybe get rid. Having used it now for a month or so I've got to say it's surprisingly good.

Being a landscape photographer I never use a lens wide open, normally sticking to between f/9 and f/16 - between these apertures it's sharp, no fringing issues and the colours are good.

so I thought it was going to be a temporary purchase until I got something better but now it's a keeper, a bargain wide angle for full frame.

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 3 

user: chych   review date: September-25-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 24-70/2.8, KM 50/1.7

positive:

Wide on APS-C, decent build, sturdy

negative:

Slowish AF, 82mm filters, some flare issues

comment:

I grabbed this lens to get a wide angle lens again, as I've had some encounters where the 24-70 just wasn't wide enough. Well it certainly is nice and wide, with some barrel distortion at 17mm (~2%), but not terrible.

Sharpness is okay; not the greatest, but not terrible either. AF seems to be a bit slow, and the moving focus ring is a negative. Build is good, and the hood is sturdy; however sometimes the lens does exhibit flare, especially when using wireless flash. CA is low and overall image quality is good. Overall it does its job, but isn't anything to be amazed with, nor to be disappointed with.

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: makky   review date: August-10-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 24-85/3.5-4.5

price paid:

250 USD (used)

positive:

UltraWide on a film camera.

negative:

comment:

It is very good for landscape stopped down.

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: pnaciona   review date: August-07-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

The only other wide-angle zoom I have is the Minolta 24-105 f/3.5-4.5D.

price paid:

240 USD (used)

positive:

Pretty sharp for this type of a wide-angle lens.
Not too expensive.
Fairly rugged

negative:

Minimum focusing distance isn't all that impressive.

comment:

I got this lens for my trip to Switzerland last September. My copy didn't come with a front filter and the front element was covered with dust (from the inside). I bought it anyway thinking I can clean the dust out. After cleaning it up, I was pleasantly surprised with the improvement in sharpness (whoever tells you that dust doesn't affect picture quality doesn't really know what they're talking about). The lens is a little soft on the corners specially at 17mm, but this is typical of most wide-angle zooms. The sharpness improve substantially at f/5.6 and maybe peaks at f/8. I haven't tested this lens much at f/11 and smaller apertures so I can't really be sure if sharpness falls off after f/8 or not. I do know it's noticeably sharper at f/8 at all focal lengths. It is sharp but maybe not quite as sharp as my Minolta 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5D (between 24-35mm). I haven't fully tested distortion (barrel or pincushion) but I didn't notice any strong distortion one way or another. As for colors, it seems to render skin tones warmer than usual (in my eyes) although I find it very pleasant. Contrast is quite good--not too high, not too low. I haven't fully tested for flare resistance but it seems to be OK. I don't know how it compares to the KM or Tamron 17-35's but I'm happy with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for this type of lens (although they should take the time to compare these lenses, if they can).

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: colorsound   review date: March-06-06  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

positive:

superb color, pretty sharp for a wide, nice solid build and finish, fast at 17mm

negative:

f4.0 at 35mm, cap cannot be removed with hood in place, no longer 17-35 on a digital 7D

comment:

i had the sigma 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 and thought i was getting away with spending a little and getting a lot...boy was i wrong!...i have done comparisons, this lense is SO MUCH SHARPER than the sigma 18-35 and color saturation is so much more pure and pretty...my style of photography demands a wide lense and i think she's going to go a long way with me...i wish it was constant f2.8, but i haven't seen any wide lenses that are...this is a very solid build and finish, unlike the 18-35mm...another sign of getting what you pay for...

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 3 

distortion: 2 

flare control: 3 

user: william_01   review date: February-24-06  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 28, Sigma 18, Tamron 28-200, Minolta 28-135

positive:

Light and compact. Easy to use. I found the lens to be an excellent performer. Good to excellent sharpness closed down.

negative:

Corner softness and vignetting at wide open. AF can be bit inaccurate indoor condition.

comment:

Ok, not many people like Sigma but if the lens does 95% of what you need, then I say its good enough.

Very good focal length, 17-35 and a 28-135 lens in your bag solves 99% of all photography opportunities. 17mm * 1.5 is still quiet wide enough to capture what you want.

Outdoor, you are mostly like to close down at least f8 or more, then you do not need to worry about sharpness. From corner to corner, it is an excellent performer.

I highly recommend this lens.

sharpness: 3 

color: 3 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 2 

user: Claude67   review date: October-02-05  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

18-50 EX sigma

positive:

value for money 5 years ago

negative:

KM or tamron better and above all I recomande the new 18-50 2.8

comment: