Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

faditech
( Intermediate)

Review Date
June 11, 2007

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 1 of 8

Price Paid: $48.00 from Auction Site

Summary:

I got this lens from an auction site, with the box, a uv filter, manual and singapore warranty.
Although I agree with all the reviews I read about the lens, but this lens for such a price is good to have.
You can get close to an object as short as 25cm (10 Inches) which is almost a macro distance.

I took close ups of dolls, watches, purses, pefumes, water bottles, juice cans and all found their way to magazine and newspapers ads.

I used it on a Nikon D80.

Finally, for such a price, even if it was made of window glass, its good to have.

Fadi - http://www.webandmedia.com

Strengths:

• Light weight
• Cheap price
• Fine results
• Short Close Up distance (25cm)
• Average to good results

Weaknesses:

• Relatively Slow
• Focusing Clunks from one end to end

Non Serious Weaknesses
• Difficult to put lens cover (if hood installed)
• Can't ocus manually with hood in reverse
• Difficult to remove filter

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 18-135

Customer Service:

The dealer in Dubai are very nice and helpfull
http://www.grandstores.com

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Rating
Reviewed by: Dietmar Koch
(Expert)

Review Date
June 2, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 2 of 8

Price Paid: $370.00 from Gruenwald Steyr Aust

Summary:

Great lens! I have the 4/17-40L (on the 5D), but on the 30D the Sigma 2,8/18-50 is sharper and has no CAs. And the sigma is only a crop lens! I ever was a Canon fan (because they were and are the first with good ideass lik USM , and a "L" lens fan (because the L lenses are built very well). But in last time they have problems to keep their promises - they have big problems with quality, especialy with the expensive L zoom lenses. But I have great lenses like 24 TS-E, 2,8/28-70L, 4/70-200L IS too!

So I looked for an alternative zoom lens possibility for lightweight 30D equipment. No even it is neccessary to take the heavy fullframe camera. I tested some lenses, and yes, the Sigmas (2,8/18-50 DC EX and the 2,8/50-150 DC EX HSM) were the sharpest, lightweight, well-built and low-priced lenses for my 30D.

Strengths:

Sharp, no visible CAs, very good contrast, well built, no rotating of front lens during zooming and focusing (pol filter use!)! Fast lens 2,8 helps AF to find its focusing points.

Weaknesses:

No! HSM is not important for landscape and for wide-angle.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 4/17-40L

Customer Service:

Canon: bad in Austria. Sigma: not needed

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Rating
Reviewed by:

tangwong
( Expert)

Review Date
July 22, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 3 of 8

Price Paid: $50.00 from eBay

Summary:

Excellent value for the money. It is actually very sharp but at the expense of some distortion and resolution. Very good walk-around and general purpose lens. It is a temp solution until I know what I want to fill this gap in focal length.

Strengths:

Light, compact, sharp and reasonably well built

Weaknesses:

Would not recommend for high quality, pin-sharp, high resolution applications. None otherwise

Similar Products Used:

Tokin ATX 28-70 Pro II, Penatx FA 20-35.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Hot and dusty
(Intermediate)

Review Date
July 18, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 8

Price Paid: $100.00 from Jessops UK

Summary:

Price should be GB£100

Purchased this lens to fill a gap when I got my Canon 10D, quite an amazing little lens for the amount it costs!

I was mobilised as a reservist to Iraq last year where I worked as a unit photographer (amongst other things). The lens performed remarkably well the only problems I had were with heat (I may have gone above the recommended max temp a couple of times) where it the rings became quite stiff but all inner workings worked as they should. Also at the larger end some vignetting was visible depending on the light I was shooting in. This was easliy fixed though with a couple of minutes in PS.

It stood up nicely to knocks and bangs (including an empty case fired from a pistol hitting the front element!) and a constant barrage of Iraqi talc like fine sand.

In fact 70% of the images I took in theatre were using this lens and the results are now starting to go up on Alamy as stock photography.

Over all a lovely little lens that I will continue to use, despite recently getting higher spec lenses!

Sigma deserve a pat on the back for this one!

Strengths:

Small size
Lightweight
Rugged
Best performance per £££ paid that any other kit I have right now.

Weaknesses:

Slight vignetting at wider settings
Does not like 58deg cent + heat (same as most things really)

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 20-40mm f2.8 DG EX Asph

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Rating
Reviewed by:

mertmag
( Intermediate)

Review Date
May 22, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
15 votes

Review 5 of 8

Price Paid: $409.00 from 47th street Photo

Summary:

I have used this lens with my 20D and have been able to comapir it to several other lenses I have owned. This is the sharpest lens with the best range and at the best price you can get. I have had the Canon 24-70L and I prefer it for several reasons. 1. It goes as wide as 18mm you might say 18 instead of 24 big deal. Yes there shots and effects you can get at 18 you can't get at 24.Especially with the digital crop factor. 2. It is sharper and has better contrast than the Canon (sorry L lens users but it's true!) 3. It's weight is so much less than the Canon. It's easy to carry around your neck. 4.The cost is soo much less for what you get.

Strengths:

Sharpness, contrast and range. 18-50mm

Light weight

Low cost

Weaknesses:

No HSM

No full time manual focus

Similar Products Used:

Canon 24-70L (image quality not as good as the Sigma)
Canon 10-22
Sigma 17-35 HSM (this lens sucks is soft even at f/8

Customer Service:

n/a

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