Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009XVVG
• Item model number: 633-101
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

This lens comes into its own when active people need a lens that can keep up with them. The min. focusing distance is 50cm. Aspherical lens elements are used for excellent correction of distortion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good lens at a great price, February 11, 2006

By 

Technology Guy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I was searching for an inexpensive but fast 24mm or 28mm wide angle lens primarily for shots of the night sky when I found this. For about $85 including shipping, this lens turned out to be much better than the standard Canon kit lens -- sharper, working better in low light conditions and giving you a wider field of view. And this is much cheaper than a 28mm prime lens. I've gotten some fairly sharp photos from this lens and was surprised to find it allows moderately fast auto-focusing in even dim lighting. The lens also allows you to get within two feet of the subject.

There are a few drawbacks, however. This Sigma is extremely susceptible to lens flare requiring much more care than you may be used to. The lens hood is attached to the staionary lens body and isn't at all useful at the lens' widest settings where the front of the lens is at it's most the forward position within the hood. Minor drawbacks also include that when the lens hood is reversed, zoom isn't accessible. The focusing motor is also louder than my other Canon and Tamron lenses.

All in all, though, I'd say this lens is a real bargain for $85. Note that I'm using the lens with a 35mm Canon EOS Rebel Ti (non-digital).

Post script - After using the lens quite a bit over the past weeks, I've really come to appreciate its ability to work in darker locations than typical inexpensive zoom lenses. In bright sunlight, however, lens flare still remains a major problem and shielding the lens with my hand has more than once lead to fingers framing my photos.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good lense for everyday stuff :), January 14, 2008

By 

Leo Koach (Peoria, AZ - USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I am very very low budget photographer at this point, where ever I can squeeze money for something bit better stuff than I have, I buy it, but I read about it first. Sigma 28-70 has not much going on review wise and I don't know why. Even with little review, I took my chance and purchased it because of a job I got. I have a Canon Rebel XT Digital and first impression with this lens, horrible (!). I took some samples compared with my 50 mm 1.8 Canon lens, 18-55 kit lens and results were not that good. I put it back into box and was ready to return. When the job day arrived, I thought I should give it a try in real life and maybe it works better in real life than tests and start shooting with it all night under fluorescent lights. Unfortunately my kit lens wasn't fast enough and 50 mm was not wide enough for the job, I basically didn't have other option.

After I got home, and saw the results, I totally changed my mind about the lens and decided to use it as my prime. With ISO 800 and around 2.8-3 stops I had pretty good shutter speed for fast moving kids around in not so lid location.

I am posting a few photos of my son that I took, and you be the judge. I think you wouldn't believe those images came from this lens. If you are not so picky and low budget, this is a companion for your 50 mm 1.8 lens... I am going to get a better lens in the future, I have my eyes on Tamron 28-75 for a very nice price but I still keep the Sigma 28-70 for all around use... and yes it has glare problems :( which can be worked out. I gave 4 stars, because honestly it does good job for the price :)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice bargin, August 20, 2008

By 

Shoot 'em (Rosdale, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

No problems so far. I received the lens surprisingly fast and in great condition. I shot an outdoor basketball game with very good results. I got some good depth of field shots at f2.8. The AF worked well, and but the motor was not as quiet as I expected. I can live with that, I'm not photographing grasshoppers. I would recommend this lens it's a good bargain.