Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC IF Aspherical Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002CNYL8
• Item model number: B0002CNYL8
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

This Sigma AF 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC zoom lens was exclusively designed for use with digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras and has 6.9 times high magnification zoom ratio. Image circle is designed to match the size of the image sensor of digital SLR cameras. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and two pieces of aspherical glass elements produce high levels of optical performance through the entire zoom range. This has resulted in a compact, lightweight lens. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 50cm (19.6in.) at all focal lengths and is equipped with an inner focusing system. Since the front of the lens does not rotate, a Petal Shaped Hood and a circular polarizing filter can be easily attached and used. This lens is also equipped with Zoom Lock Switch that eliminates Zoom Creep. Specifications: Lens Construction: Groups: 14 Elements: 15 Angle of View (diagonal): 69.3deg. - 11.4deg. Minimum Aperture: 22 Minimum Focusing Distance: 50/19.7cm Magnifications (Macro): 1:5:3 Filter Size: 62 Dimensions (Diameter x Length): 2.7 x 3 in. Fully Extended Length: 129.5mm/5.1 in.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars f/ quality (if good sample); 1 star f/ Sigma repairs, April 8, 2005

By 

J. Morris (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC IF Aspherical Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is one of those "it's great BUT ..." reviews. If you don't care about the BUT part, feel free to add a star or two to my rating above.

First, a little background. I'm been an amateur photographer for almost 20 years, 80% of which was spent with SLRs. The 300D is my first digital SLR, but my 5th SLR and my 8th or 9th camera. Currently, I have 4 other lenses for my 300D, all holdovers from when I used my 35mm Canon Elan. The lenses are 50 1.8, 70-210 3.5-4.5, 28-105 3.5-4.5, and an 85 1.8.

Now to the Sigma. The user posts at dpreview's forum and elsewhere say it's pretty sharp IF you have a good sample. Those with bad samples report that this lens tends to front-focus, i.e. the actual focus point is closer than the desired focus point.

There wasn't really any lens in its price range that had the reported sharpness, and if I received a bad sample, I could have Sigma fix it, so why not, right? After all, owners of this lens reported it's sharper than the 300D kit lens, and while not quite as sharp as the Canon 17-85, it's less than 1/2 the price. (I bought mine before the Tamron 18-200 came out.)

When I received my 18-125, I was very happy with the build quality. It's a solid lens with smooth zooming action, and an included removable hood. The lens doesn't have Canon's nice USM's silent and ultra-quick focusing, and the Sigma's focus ring moved when focusing so watch where you leave your fingers, but otherwise no complaints.

But first, I had to make sure my sample didn't have the front-focusing issue. Since the DOF is narrower the closer the focus distance, I did all of my focus/DOF tests in the house and of nearby subjects outdoors. The focus point did seem closer than the desired subject but not closer enough to knock the subject outside the DOF so I accepted it. After all, the pictures were nice and sharp, even wide open, if you don't look too closely at the corners. So I was happy.

Then a month after I got the lens, my wife was in an "adventure race", where I shot hundreds of photos, all with this lens. Most were sharp but the ones of my wife far away (>50m) were noticeably less sharp. Looking more closely, I see that intermediate objects, e.g. the grass, in tele shots with the Sigma appear sharper than my wife. Rats! Does my sample have the front-focusing problem or did my 300D somehow focused on the closer objects?

ASAP after we got home, I took my Sigma out for some controlled tests, along with my 70-210 set at 125mm f5.6. Dozens and dozens of shots later, it's clear my Sigma has the front-focusing problem, but only noticeable with shots of subjects beyond ~50 meters, getting worse and worse with distance.

I pack it up and send it to Sigma's repair center, along with a note detailing the problem and how it only is apparent with tele shots of distant subjects. The lens comes back unrepaired with a sentence on the repair ticket saying the focus and DOF tests passed "ok", and a reference to the included CD. I load it and there are only 2 pics of 2 different test patterns, apparently indoors and only a few meters from the camera.

I call Sigma service, talked to a bunch of people, finally got routed to the head of the repair center, an apparently very busy man who implies it's my camera that's faulty and also that I didn't provide enough info to let them know the problem, i.e. I should have included sample pics. I mention I included a detailed explanation and his reply is, I kid you not, the techs are busy and don't have time to read people's letters!

Getting nowhere with them on the phone, I go home and shoot about 50 photos of a carefully selected scene with the Sigma and my Canon lens above, burned them all to a CD, write a more detailed letter, and send everything to Sigma.

2 weeks later, the lens comes back. Unrepaired. Again. The note says "infinity" focus and DOF tests passed "ok" and to see the pics on the included CD. I look at the 6 photos on the CD - 3 at 18mm and 3 at 125mm - and, unbelievably, the subject was a Sigma sign mere meters from the photographer, with distant trees in the background out of focus, of course.

Clearly we have a disagreement on what "infinity" or even "distant" means.

I will send the lens in a 3rd time but this experience has been so horribly frustrating, I know I will never buy another Sigma lens again.

If you buy this lens, make sure to immediately test the lens with close AND distant subjects as above, and return it immediately to the retailer if you have a bad sample. Good luck!

66 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I like it at the wide end, October 8, 2004

By 

Henry (Newton, Morocco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC IF Aspherical Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

For comparison I've used the Canon 28-135 IS, the Tokina 24-200 (I know, junk), the Canon 28/2.8, Canon 50/1.8, and Canon 18-55 EFS.

The Sigma 18-125 is very good at the wide end, much better color and sharpness than the Canon 18-55, in my opinion (but that's not saying so very much either).

At the telephoto end, there is not as much contrast as you would hope, but the colors and sharpness are pretty good.

I like this lens at the wide angle, and that's what I use it for. I find I don't use telephoto so much any more, and I'm not sure I'd use this lens if I did. The 28-135 with its IS system is much better.

The 28-135 was not wide enough for me, plus it is heavy and large, so the 18-125 is my current walk-around lens. I trade off between it and the 28/2.8.

My next lens will probably be the Sigma 18-50/2.8.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lens / versitility / good all around lens, June 6, 2005

By 

Thomas Betress - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC IF Aspherical Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I got the lens a little over a week ago and think it is a great lens. A lot of people don't compare apples to apples. You can't compare a lens in this price range / class to one that is hundreds more (or lesser priced either).

Take a look at comaprisons of the Tamron 18-200 and the Sigma 18-200 and judge for yourself. In class and cost it is a very good lens I believe (my opinion).

both are not 'L' lenses / IS lenses / usm / etc. It is much better than a lot of 'kit' lenses and the price is reasonable for most and the pictures I have taken are rich in color and contrast and are not as soft as some say. Almost every review I have read on all lenses except the professional very expensive and very good glass lenses say the reviewed lenses are soft at this range or that range, better at this range or that range.

You need to decide what you really want for carry around (and price obviously). What ranges are good, are you willing to accept some differences at both ends of the lens range to be able to cover all the ranges in one lense. If not you should look at purchasing multiple lenses.

To me it is like a tool when repairing a car, an adjustable wrench will do most jobs for you and do them well, but if you use the exact size box/open end wrench it will probably be much better. If the adjustable is more versitile / acceptable go for it.

Others I have shown my pictures to say the photos are clear and vibrant. I have used Tamron lenses for a long time (over 30 years) and like them, but after reading reviews and seeing examples of pictures on the web I am very pleased and happy that I purchased the Sigma 18-200 lens and would recommend it.

Again these are all MY opinions and everyones eye, needs, and requirements are different.