OWNERS OF: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM OR Sigma 35mm F/1.4 AF DG HSM - Thoughts please?

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 08:35

OK, I'll start by saying both lenses are stunning and I'm expecting a rebait!!!

I own a Canon 7D and use a Sigma 17-50mm DC f/2.8 and I love it, I have other lenses also. I have 2 weddings lined up over the next 24 months and I have been looking at the above 2 lenses, not specifically for weddings for all occasions (likley landscape too) but they'd help with their low stops.

If I get the 18-35mm, I'll sell the Sigma 17-50 and if I get the 35mm, I'll keep the Sigma 17-50mm.

Panamo-z are offering some great discounts if you pay by BACS, the 18-35mm is only £475.

Owners of these lenses, what's your experience been?
Have you used both?
How do they compare? (apart from focul length)

Interested in your views/comments

alexthecheese · 17 Aug 2014 at 08:46

What camera do you have? 18-35mm 1.8 is crop-only, is it not?

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 08:52

alexthecheese said:
What camera do you have? 18-35mm 1.8 is crop-only, is it not?

Sorry, should have mentioned, Canon 7D - OP Updated!

JBuk · 17 Aug 2014 at 09:10

For crop I'd get the 18-35 as it's more versatile

Journey · 17 Aug 2014 at 09:20

I tried the 18-35mm and found it very slow when set to AF. Not sure if it was the body (7D) or if the lens just has poor AF speed.

Quality of the images was excellent for such a well priced lens, and as pointed out it is a very versatile lens, but if you want the extra 2/3 of stop and faster focus speeds of the prime then I'd go with the 35mm.

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:05

Journey said:
I tried the 18-35mm and found it very slow when set to AF. Not sure if it was the body (7D) or if the lens just has poor AF speed.

Quality of the images was excellent for such a well priced lens, and as pointed out it is a very versatile lens, but if you want the extra 2/3 of stop and faster focus speeds of the prime then I'd go with the 35mm.

That's a shame!! I was expecting it to be a superb bit of kit.

What body did you use it on?

Journey · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:19

snips86x said:
That's a shame!! I was expecting it to be a superb bit of kit.

What body did you use it on?

7D, as per my original comment

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:35

Journey said:
7D, as per my original comment

oh - lol

SDK^ · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:40

In your situation I would get the 18-35, the 35 works better on full frame.

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:42

SDK^ said:
In your situation I would get the 18-35, the 35 works better on full frame.

That's something else - I'd like to upgrade to a FF, but time-scale is unknown

SDK^ · 17 Aug 2014 at 10:54

Buy for the camera you have now. In xx months/years a different lens may suit your needs better.
e.g. 9 years ago I bought a Canon 17-40L with the intention of moving to full frame. I finally switched this year, so went a long time without a wide lens and now there are better wide options available for FF.

This review is worth checking out : http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/872-sigma1835f18_canon

Columbo · 17 Aug 2014 at 12:11

snips86x said:
That's something else - I'd like to upgrade to a FF, but time-scale is unknown

As already said buy for the camera you have now, the lens won't lose too much in value anyway even after a few years so it's nothing to worry about.

I'd also take the 18-35mm all day on crop, its a much more flexible lens with no compromise on image quality.

D.P. · 17 Aug 2014 at 13:28

SDK^ said:
Buy for the camera you have now. In xx months/years a different lens may suit your needs better.
e.g. 9 years ago I bought a Canon 17-40L with the intention of moving to full frame. I finally switched this year, so went a long time without a wide lens and now there are better wide options available for FF.

This review is worth checking out : http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/872-sigma1835f18_canon

Agreed 100%.

I purchased a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 in discount expecting to buy a FF in the next 6-12month. It took another 5 years before I could be convinced FF offered any real advantage for what I shoot.

The delay had nothing to do with finances.

snips86x · 17 Aug 2014 at 15:19

Columbo said:
As already said buy for the camera you have now, the lens won't lose too much in value anyway even after a few years so it's nothing to worry about.

I'd also take the 18-35mm all day on crop, its a much more flexible lens with no compromise on image quality.

D.P. said:
Agreed 100%.

I purchased a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 in discount expecting to buy a FF in the next 6-12month. It took another 5 years before I could be convinced FF offered any real advantage for what I shoot.

The delay had nothing to do with finances.

Good shout - I think the 18-35mm maybe a good call and in all honesty, may keep me going for quite some time.

Thanks for the link, reading through now!

Phal · 17 Aug 2014 at 19:32

I've got a 18-35mm f1.8 for my 70d and I love it but the AF occasionally misses when I'm shooting at f1.8

I suspect that it's something I can fix or improve with some tuning which I haven't done yet but it's definitely worth trying these in a shop before you buy. This is one lens I did buy here in the UK and I tried 3 in the shop and picked the best focusing one. It's tuneable with the USB dock or just via the camera but with less flexibility but it's still time/effort you need to spend.