Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Aspherical Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned and used this lens professionally for over a year now and after a minor focus issue that was resolved very quickly by Sigma's excellent service department I have to say this is the sharpest 24-70 lens I have used. I also have experience with the canon 24-70L lens which retails for just over a grand and the Sigma is sharper throughout the whole range(even at 2.8). The only negative thing I have to say about this lens is the noisy autofocus (Canon's USM is much quieter). But it is still reasonably fast to AF. This is definately the best lens for the money in this zoom range and is without a doubt the best optically. Canon's build quality and weather sealing are definately superior to the Sigma so if that is an issue, you may want to go with the Canon.
-NB

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Aspherical Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras

Large aperture zoom starting from 24mm and realizing a maximum aperture F-value of 2.8 As for the front element does not rotate at the time of focusing.

Get 24% OFF

Click here for more information about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Aspherical Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG IF Aspherical Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought a used 15-30mm EX lens on Ebay late last year and have been using it on an SD14. At the widest end (15mm and F11), image quality is simply splendid. Great contrast, color and resolution with a sharp image running right off either end of the frame with sharp corners. Depth of field is enormous at 15mm, even when just set to infinity, resolving sharp near-foreground and distant background elements together. There is a small amount of CA which seems to increase a little as you focus closer than infinity. There is some distortion, but this is not apparent in landscape shots.
Image resolution is very good at all focal lengths--but from 19mm through 30mm, the aperture needs to be stopped down to F14 to get the best corner resolution. Image distortion and CA diminish at longer focaL lengths.
The lens is big and so somewhat awkward, but surprisingly light for its size. Auto-focus with my copy is inconsistent (often focusing well past infinity), so I just put the lens in manual (a two step operation) and set infinity by hand. The bulging front lens element will produce flare in images if struck by sun or strong light. I keep the lens cap ring attached to the fixed lens hood, which greatly shields the lens and does not induce any corner light fall-off when used on an SD14, even at the widest 15mm setting. And I cup my hand beyond the hood to block light when shooting more toward the sun. This seems to work well. Any flare is usually visible in the camera viewfinder, so you can adjust what you can to block it before taking a picture. Lens flare is one of the major cautions for this lens in various reviews. In practice, I've had no trouble with flare, though keep the problem in mind.
It produces excellent images--the end results often showing far more to a scene than expected. F11 seems to be the ideal aperture for 15mm, but F8 works in a pinch in low light.
Addition 10/11/08: I've determined that the ideal infinity focus point with this 15-30mm lens varies with the focal length. I don't trust the auto-focus still and manual focus everything. The lens focus ring set to its infinity mark works perfectly for landscape shots at 15mm. But for 20mm and 24mm, the focus ring should be turned inside the infinity mark about 1/16th inch or more. Corner resolution of images improves markedly doing this. At 30mm, the focus should be set just inside the infinity mark on the lens focus ring. Image results are even better now than my earlier review above. With considerable use now and nice results, I'd give this lens 5 stars.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG IF Aspherical Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras

CL) 15-30MM F3.5-4.5 F/SIGMA

Click here for more information about Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG IF Aspherical Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received my Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens today (12/28/06). It feels heavier by far than the 18-55mm kit lens, but lighter than I expected. Feels good (well-balanced) cradling the lens in the left hand near the base of the lens when mounted to my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I put the lens on the camera right away in a manner that would limit the opportunity for dust to intrude on the back of the lens or into the camera, since I've read about this lens not being sealed as well as "L" series Canon lenses. I may never take it off. 8-)
This lens focuses fast and sure--even in low light, no hunting around to lock onto a subject. Pictures taken with the camera hand-held at 1/10 to 1/15 sec shutter speeds inside with no flash were tack-sharp (Thanks to the IS). With F2.8 and IS, this lens opens up a whole new world of natural low-light photography. Not only are more inside shots possible, you also have the versatility to create gorgeous bokeh. You create these bokeh effects generally zoomed to 55mm (where the kit lens' max aperture is F5.6). Since the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 has a constant F2.8 max aperature, you don't have to worry about the depth of field increasing as you zoom. It is so confidence-inspiring to walk around and set your aperture where you want it to give you the depth of field you want, and not really worry about the shutter speed being too slow. Some of my outside dusk (low-light) shots at 1/6 sec shutter and F22 came out sharp (Thanks again to IS). I almost got vertigo when I first looked at my pics uploaded to my PC--they were so realistic. Images really pop!
The decision to go with this lens instead of some of the "L" grade lenses involved the following criteria:
1. Focal Length Range. I wanted at least the range of the 18-55mm kit lens.
2. Max Aperture. I wanted f/2.8, since f/4 is too confining for low-light situations. Also, f/4 doesn't give you the depth of field limiting ability of f/2.8. Trade-off is size and weight (and price).
3. Constant Max Aperture. I wanted a constant max aperture throughout the zoom range. I don't want to set the aperture and have the camera stop it down due to the max aperture decreasing as you zoom in (as is the case with the kit lens).
4. USM. I wanted the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) feature, since this is known to be the fastest and quietest autofocus technology.
5. IS. I wanted Image Stabilization (IS), since this effectively makes your lens faster, because you can shoot in lower light at lower shutter speeds without fear of blur (provided the subject is still). Also, zoomed-into 55mm, camera shake can be more of a problem than at shorter focal lengths. IS has got you covered there as well. This lens only has one IS mode (no mode for panning).
6. Full Format or Crop-optimized. It is true that going with a full format lens would mean that you could use it on any DSLR (35mm film, APS-C DSLR, and Full Format DSLRs such as the 5D and 1Ds Mark II). However, full format lenses are not optimized for the 1.6x crop of the Canon DSLRs Rebel through 30D. The crop-optimized lenses (designated by the "EF-S" in the model name) are tailored to the smaller image sensors of the APS-C camera bodies. The lens elements and coatings are designed to minimize the ghosting and flare that can come from reflections off of the image sensors in digital cameras. Also, the crop-optimized lenses tend to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than otherwise identical full format lenses. I considered the EF 17-40mm f/4L, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the EF 24-105mm f/4L. But, none of these had the focal length range I wanted, and two of them weren't fast enough (f/4), and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L was very heavy (2.1 lbs). I determined there was no need to sacrifice performance now for some possible benefit later on if I purchase a full format camera. If I ever do, I would hope there would be full format lenses that have been designed to limit chromatic aberrations and introduce other digital optimizations currently provided by the crop-optimized APS-C format-only lenses. Besides, you can always continue to use your old camera and lens as a back-up, or you can sell them to help purchase the new ones.
7. Grade ("L" series or Advanced Amature). Of course, if all else is equal, take the "L" lens with the red stripe. But, all else is not equal. I'd rather have an optically superior lens that is well-built (although not as well as an "L" series) that meets all my other criteria, and just be careful to keep the dust out. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 is expensive (I paid $[...] on [...]). But, I'm sure if there were an "L" series version of this lens, it would be even more expensive.
Conclusion: This is one great lens! There's nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match!
UPDATE 2/3/07: I've taken 1000+ pictures. I'm impressed with battery life given that I thought IS would use a lot of power. But, since flash is nearly never needed (due to f/2.8 and IS), battery life has seemingly been extended. I didn't realize how much I would grow to expect a stable image through the viewfinder until I looked through a viewfinder with a lens without IS and saw the image shaking. Note that cameras with built-in image sensors (such as Sony Alpha) don't stabilize the viewfinder. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM autofocus locks-on amazingly fast even in low light. No apparent optical weak spots at any focal length or aperture. Lens hood (optional) eliminated most, but not all, flares from bright sun. I think this is the best, most versatile walk-around lens you can get. I wish Canon would make an EF-S 55-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens to pair it with so I could zoom in closer on distant wildlife, etc.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras

Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction, meanwhile, includes UD and aspherical elements that deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And thanks to the Image Stabilizer lens groups--which shift to compensate for camera shake--the image appears crisp and clear on the image plane, eve in dim light. Finally, the lens offers a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), inner focusing, and new AF algorithms to help achieve autofocus quickly and quietly, along with full-time mechanical manual focusing that makes it possible to manually adjust the focus even in AF mode. As with all Canon lenses, this lens carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 17-55mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet)
Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet
Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm)
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long
Weight: 22.8 ounces

Get 41% OFF

Click here for more information about Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATE, July 11, 2010: The Canon rebate referred to below should just about be concluding as I write this, so you can read this review (and others) and decide whether this lens--at its regular price--is right for you. (Or you can wait for the next rebate program, but that may be a while from now.) Since the time when I wrote my initial review, I have come to regard this lens even more highly. It feels great on my Canon EOS Rebel T2i, and I had a recent experience with this lens that might interest you. My wife and I took a sightseeing train ride along the Arkansas River through some very picturesque parts of Colorado. There was an open-air observation car that was great for taking pictures; however, when the train was moving it was impossible to remain perfectly still, as the car swayed slightly (and unpredictably) from side to side. I thought about turning the image stabilization (IS) off completely, but decided to give it a try. It turns out the IS worked beautifully. One more thing: As the sun set, the canyons the train was climbing through were alternately drenched in glorious late-day sunlight or covered with shade. Given the rapidly changing light conditions and the train sway, it wasn't the easiest task to try to capture the gorgeous scenery, especially for an amateur like me, but the Canon EF-S 15 - 85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS lens turned out to be up to the task. I have no regrets.
REBATE ALERT: From May 9 through July 10, 2010, Canon is running an "instant" rebate program that includes this lens--at a considerable saving. The best part about an instant rebate is that it should be built into the price you see on Amazon (it was when I bought mine), so you don't have to mail in some form and wait (and hope) for a rebate to arrive weeks later. If this is the right lens for you (something we haven't established yet), then now may be a good time to pull the trigger on a purchase.
Regarding this lens, it is a considerable improvement from the typical kit lens on a digital SLR. Kit lenses are decent for the money you pay (which isn't much), but they have clear limitations, especially in sharpness. If you are reading this review, I assume you are looking for a lens for the general-purpose focal-length range, and the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS USM fits well into this category. The 15 - 85mm range is wider than most kit lenses (probably on both ends), which enables the photographer to use this lens for a wide variety of purposes. The build quality is quite good, though not up to "L" series lens standards. Of course, its price is also not up to L levels, either. Sharpness is very good. Frankly, I can't really tell the difference between this lens and L glass (but I'm just a humble layman), although professional photographers and serious amateurs probably can. Concerning qualities such as vignetting or chromatic aberration, I suggest you consult some of the many professional reviews on the web, which generally paint a good picture of this lens.
Okay, so should you buy this lens? That's the question I want to address with this review. If you do a lot of low light shooting, like weddings, this lens probably isn't fast enough for you. You can't always use a flash in a church. The Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the Canon EF 24 - 70mm f/2.8L USM may be better choices. Both of these lenses have what the EF-S doesn't--a much wider aperture. They also have higher price tags and a narrower focal length range. They are also heavier (especially the 24 - 70 L), which depending on how long you typically carry your camera around may mean something to you. Specifically, the 15 - 85mm weighs 20.3 ounces, while the 17 - 55mm weighs 22.8 oz, and the 24 - 70mm weighs a heftier 33.5 oz. For comparison, a Canon EOS Rebel T2i without any lens weighs only about 19 oz.
The 15 - 85mm lens is relatively new (2009), so it is built with the latest manufacturing technology. It features, for example, four-stop image stabilization, which is great. (Remember that image stabilization helps compensate for the unsteadiness of the photographer, but does nothing to stop the movement of your subject.) "Bokeh" (foreground/background blur quality) is very good. The lens is made of plastic, but its high-quality plastic, if that doesn't sound too oxymoronish.
In short, if you are looking for the absolutely finest general purpose lens that money can buy, this is not your lens. However, if what you want is a very noticeable step-up in sharpness from a kit lens, combined with a very convenient weight and four-stop image stabilization--and you don't want to fork over a great deal of money--then this lens merits your careful attention.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

The versatile focal length, extreme wide angle and stunning image quality of Canon's new EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens makes this the ideal multipurpose wide-angle zoom lens for the photographer shooting a wedding or exotic vacation. Featuring three aspherical elements and one UD glass element for outstanding image quality, the zoom range of this lens is equivalent to 24-136mm on a full-frame camera. When coupled with Canon's new EOS 7D DSLR, this lens provides moviemakers and videographers with a phenomenal focal range for wide-angle scenic footage and zoomed in telephoto shots. The warranty period is 1 year.

Get 42% OFF

Click here for more information about Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Ultra Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love taking photos, but I hate carrying lots of equipment when photography is not the focus of my journey, so I looked to find a lens that was light, inexpensive, a useful focal range and decent sharpness given all of the above. I believe the Tamron fits the bill.
Although this lens will not win any points with 'L'-series purists, I found it to be a very useful - and lightweight - lens. Sure, it's slow... Sure - it has a plastic mount... Sure - it's not as sharp as a lot of lenses with smaller zoom ranges and bigger price tags... But for most people who aren't looking for poster-sized enlargements, a lens that won't break your shoulder or your bank account like the Tamron is a good fit. I have used this lens for a few weeks now, and have compared the results to the excellent Tamron 28-75 2.8 XR Di, the Canon 50mm 1.8 (the 'plastic fantastic'), and the kit lens. It does lack the tack-sharpness of the 50mm and the 28-75, but it is still very acceptable. The reach is what will 'wow' you about the lens. Outdoors in decent light you can really pull your subject up close. In a photo taken from the 6th story of a beach hotel, I was able to clearly read a standard beach umbrella-rental sign that was approx. 500 yards away.
Indoors, this lens is just too slow to be useful at full zoom, but does reasonably well between 28-100mm with built-in flash (just be sure to remove the lens hood or it will shadow the lower part of the frame) and even better with an external flash (I use the EX550).
The focus is quick and quiet in decent lighting, but it will hunt in darker scenes.
In short, if you want a lens that offers reasonable sharpness, an incredible focal range, lightness and compactness at an attractive price, then consider this lens. You may find, as I did, that it will let you take that long lens with you instead of leaving your gear behind... I would much rather have a picture that may not be 'as sharp' than the one I did not take because I left the two pound lens behind.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Ultra Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Ultra Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Click here for more information about Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Ultra Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I acquired this lens to provide me with an ultra-wide zoom for landscapes and indoors uses. I do not routinely shoot in this focal length range, so I was hesitant about spending so much on the Canon 10-22mm, although the Canon 10-22mm is by all accounts, fantastic. I have had very positive experiences with Tamron in the past, and decided to give this lens a try over the Sigma equivalent. Cosmetically, the lens is very lightweight but feels solid in the hands, and the zoom ring takes some getting used to as it rotates in the opposite direction as Canon brand lenses. The finish on the lens is very nice and the included lens hood fits nicely, but provides only minimal protection to the front element. This is understandable since this lens is an ultra-wide zoom, and larger lens hoods would cause vignetting and shadowing problems. The lens hood does a nice job of protecting from lens flare issues. The lens extends only a small amount when zooming. Performance wise, the lens is quite soft wide open, which is somewhat disappointing but not a major issue for my own uses. It is something to be acutely aware of nonetheless. However, stopped down to f/8 or narrower fixes this problem, and at f/8 and narrower, the lens is very sharp with very nice color contrast and saturation. Sharpness falls off again at f/16 due to diffraction, but between f/8 and f/16, the lens is excellent. CA is nicely controlled as is barrel distortion, both of which are common big problems for many lenses in this focal range. I was pleasantly surprised with this lens's control of CA as I was expecting it to be much worse than it is. I borrowed a friend's Tamron 11-18mm lens, and my 10-24 was VASTLY superior with regards to problems with CA and barrel distortion and adds a complete stop of speed. The upgrades that Tamron has made with this lens are very noticeable and worth the extra cost over the previous generation Tamron ultra-wide zoom lens. The autofocusing is very quiet, accurate, and fast. Overall, this is a very nice alternative to the vastly more expensive camera-branded lenses like the Canon 10-22mm or the extremely expensive Nikon super-wide angle lenses and provides very good quality in this zoom range.
UPDATE: Recently, this lens took a serious tumble from about 3 feet off the ground onto a hard tile floor. The only damage was a ding on the lens cap! I'm impressed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras


The ultimate extended-range, ultra-wide-angle zoom lens! Wider and longer than others in its class, this compact, lightweight,high-performance lens for DSLRs with APS-C size sensors provides 35mm equivalent coverage from 16mm ultra-wide to 37mm semiwide,a remarkable 2.4X zoom ratio. With a maximum coverage of over 108°, this state-of-the-art classic is the perfect solution forexpanding your visual horizons.This ultra wide-angle zoom lens for digital SLR cameras, with the first-ever focal length range of 10-24mm-the 35mm equivalent of 16mm ultra wide-angle to 37mm semi-wide-angle-is a perfect tool for creating dramatic landscape, cityscape,a nd seascape imagery. At the ultra wide-angle setting, you'll be able to capture vistas beyond what the eye can see. At the semi-wide-angle setting, you'll capture scenes with angles of view almost as spectacular.SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II FeaturesDi IILenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers and inherit all of the benefits of our Di products. These lenses are not designed for conventional cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating ShootersTamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. In creating SP lenses Tamron\'s optical designers put their foremost priority on achieving superior performance parameters—they are all designed to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints. As a result, Tamron lenses bearing the SP designation feature impressive and innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence among those knowledgeable photographers that demand the very best.Internal Focus (IF)Internal focusing (IF) provides numerous practical benefits to photographers including a non-rotating front filter ring that facilitates the positioning of polarizing and graduated filters, and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing. Even more important, Tamron's Internal Focusing (IF) system provides a much closer minimum focusing distance (MFD) throughout its entire focusing range. In addition, IF improves optical performance by minimizing illumination loss at the corners of the image field, and helps to suppress other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions.Low Dispersion (LD)Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane. Chromatic aberration reduces the sharpness of an image, but glass with an extremely lowdispersion index, has less of a tendency to separate (defract) a ray of light into a rainbow of colors. This characteristic allows the lens designer to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the center of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (towards the edges of the field) that often occurs at short focal lengths (the wide-angle end of the zoom range.)Aspherical Elements (ASL) Provide the Ultimate in Image Quality and Compactness)Tamron uses several hybrid aspherical lens elements in many lenses bearing the Aspherical designation. These innovative optics allow us to achieve the ultimate in image quality, and at the same time produce lenses that offer remarkable zoom ranges in extraordinarily compact packages. By perfecting theses cutting-edge advances for series production, Tamron has advanced the state of optical design, and virtually eliminated spherical aberration and image distortion from the high-power-zoom series.Through the effective application of Hybrid Aspherical Technology, one lens elemen tcan take the place of multiple elements without compromising performance. This is what allows us to produce remarkably compact long-range lenses that deliver a uniformly high level of image quality at all focal lengths and apertures.

Get 44% OFF

Click here for more information about Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras