Customer Reviews

Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG IF HSM Aspherical Super Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I debated for a while wether to spend the money on the Canon L series 16-35mm, 17-40mm, or this lens. The 17-40mm was almost triple the price and the 16-35mm is 10x the price. So I went to the store and held each one and took some test shots on a tripod at the same settings and outside the store onthe side of the road in Atlanta, GA. The cityscape made a very nice test subject. Okay, to compare the three and explain my decision let me start out with build quality. The Canons feel like they belong on a tank, solid gigantic hunks of metal, very sturdy. But after using them for a little while the weight does wear on you. They don't just look heavy, they are heavy. The sigma is much lighter and a little shorter. The construction is very nice with a beautiful black surface finish. It looks and feels like it will be very rugged. I wouldn't want to drop any of the three on the pavement but I do think the canons would probably survive the experience. But I baby all my gear so I wasn't so worried about the possibility of a drop. But If I had to haul the canons in a pack all day or on the camera I would get very tired, I do alot of walking/exploring shooting and I use the 5D which is already heavy enough with the battery grip and flash attached. So the sigma won out for usability and portability. Now here comes the big surprise, when I got home and looked at the pictures side by side the Sigma was sharper across the board than the 17-40mm and on par with the 16-35mm. The color depth was a tiny bit better from the 17-40mm versus the other two but I could easily get the other two to that point with a quick fix in photoshop.Some people might say well the sigma is a veriable f2.8-f4 aperture lens where the 17-40mm is a fixed f4 and the 16-35mm is a f2.8 fixed and i say to them that I mainly use the 17-35mm range for landscapes and you never use your lens at f2.8 on landscapes nothing will be in focus. I regularlr stop my lens down to the F16-F22 all the time. So I would never need a fixed aperture. plus at 17mm at F4 you can still hand hold at 1/20th of a second and at say iso 800 that is plenty enough to take band pics in a deemly lit bar with some very interesting and pleasing effects. So I would say if you are going to be shooting in a war zone or the Sahara get the canon 16-35mm it really is the best pro ultra wide there is, but if you want the quality of the canon for a 10th the price and you aren't in a extreme environment get the sigma, it is a diamond in the rough and an asset to my camera bag. I would also recommend getting a good UV protective filter for the front of the lens. Any little speck or scratch on the front optic is very visible because of the wide angle.

This lens in just ok. It is a little soft at the edges and at wide apertures. After using it for a few months I sold it to buy a Canon 17-40 f/4 L. The Canon is a stop slower and a couple hundred dollars more, but the images are sharper and it is weather sealed. I would invest the extra money in a Canon lens.

Quite a sharp lens, did some very good shots until I replaced it with Canon 16-35 f/2.8. Overall I was very happy with it, the tiny little problem it is a very fragile lens (like most of Sigma lenses), and it needs a very special treatment, also the size of the filter is very big, makes it very expensive to buy 82mm C-PL for example.

I have a Canon 5D and this lens works perfect with it. It's quickly, not so heavy and you can do the best indoor and landscape pictures of your life. It's also good for creative pictures. I'm really happy!!!

Outstanding lens, Sharp all the through. I was concrened about mid level reviews but chose to get this lens anyway. buy it at this price it's a no brainer.

Long story short, avoid this lens. I went through two copies in two weeks. Both had focus errors on my Mark IIn and my brother 40D.
Sorry, just not worth it.

I love being able to get wide angle shots, and I had high hopes for this lens. However, I have yet to get a crisp, sharp image out of it. I've had it on both auto focus and manual focus, on a tripod using a remote shutter release and mirror lockup, and still only ever get slightly hazy or blurry pictures. I'm not sure if I have a bad unit, or it's a problem with the design, or I'm just not using it right. And, alas, it's too late to send the lens back.

good lens that that didn't cost a arm & a leg. gets the job done.

I bought this lens new on a whim as the price was too good to pass up. I now use this lens in most of my photography, automobile racing, nature and some landscape. A favorite next to my 28-135mm Canon. I really like the quality of Sigma lenses for my Canon 20Ds.

This is a great lens. I really have nothing to add here from what the guys before e said. All I want to say is I picked this up for $280, right here on Amazon. Don't let this joker get you for $937. What a joke. You could get the Canon for $400 less than that.