Sigma 17-50mm f2.8. Worth the money?

Mutt

Mutt

Mutt

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Does anyone have this lens and if so, what do you make of it? The sample images I've seen are great and the reviews are mostly positive but I'd like to get some feedback on how it performs for everyday use.

I've only got 2 lenses right now, a nifty fifty and a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 which I use with my D90 so I'm missing a huge optical range and need to fill the gap.

I can get the lens for £403.99 from Onestop Digital but I've never used them before. Are they a trustworthy company? Also, they give two delivery options, standard delivery - FREE or DHL/FedEx - FREE. It seems obvious to choose DHL/FedEx but is that the right choice?

Cheers chaps.
 
It does indeed get great reviews it's not sold hugely well though due to the high price and a perception that sigmas fast standard zooms for crop sensors are not very good which was true of the previous generation.

I don't think the lens will disapoint it's clearly sharp and sigmas OS is great, never used onestop digitalrev and ******* seem to get the best press.
 
Thanks for that Alex. I'm in the process of trawling through photography sites to see if anyone has experience of using the lens on a D90. Hopefully that'll turn something up.

******* prices seem pretty good and so I may use them if the guys on here say that Onestop Digital are to be avoided.
 
apeksdiver said:
I replaced my kit lens with one and it is a great lens, it is the one that i use most.
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How long have you had it and have you noticed any deterioration in its focusing ability? The reason I ask is because I read a customer review which said the lens started to have focusing issues after 5 months. I'm pretty sure that'll be a one-off.
 
Mutt said:
Thanks for that Alex. I'm in the process of trawling through photography sites to see if anyone has experience of using the lens on a D90. Hopefully that'll turn something up.

******* prices seem pretty good and so I may use them if the guys on here say that Onestop Digital are to be avoided.
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Onestop are terrible if you get a duff lens and try and return it. They try to refuse to take it back.
 
If you don't want to spend that much then the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is only £219 on Digital Rev. I don't know how it compares to the Siggy, but I'm very happy with my one.

Oh and I found Digital Rev pretty good, lens came in about 3 days. It was even sent via DHL tracked delivery so I was able to watch it's travels.
 
K.C. Leblanc said:
If you don't want to spend that much then the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is only £219 on Digital Rev. I don't know how it compares to the Siggy, but I'm very happy with my one.

Oh and I found Digital Rev pretty good, lens came in about 3 days. It was even sent via DHL tracked delivery so I was able to watch it's travels.
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Choices choices. If I were to buy the Tamron 17-50 (for £219) I could afford a Nikon 35mm f1.8 as well. The Sigma seems to do better in reviews than the Tamron but is it £200 better?
 
I went for the Tamron and the Nikon 35mm in the end and paid £358 for the pair which I think is pretty reasonable. I got the Tammy from DigitalRev and the 35mm from the rain forest.

At £220 the Tamron seemed like a bargain. If I can avoid my natural tendency to pixel peep and if there's no focusing issues I'm sure I'll be happy with it. It'll only be used for images of less than 1000px which will be posted on Facebook, Flickr etc.
 
I lost interest in photography for about a year but I'm just starting to get back in to it again. I'd forgotten how addictive, frustrating and envy inducing all these online camera shops are. The dream of winning the lottery normally comes to mind and I start choosing which camera gear I buy with money being no object.

Back to reality for a moment. I guess I'm screwed if the lens has forward/back focusing issues with it being a grey import. I know Tamron won't touch the lens if it doesn't have an EU warranty. Have any of you ever had to return anything to DigitalRev?
 
Mutt said:
I lost interest in photography for about a year but I'm just starting to get back in to it again. I'd forgotten how addictive, frustrating and envy inducing all these online camera shops are. The dream of winning the lottery normally comes to mind and I start choosing which camera gear I buy with money being no object.

Back to reality for a moment. I guess I'm screwed if the lens has forward/back focusing issues with it being a grey import. I know Tamron won't touch the lens if it doesn't have an EU warranty. Have any of you ever had to return anything to DigitalRev?
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Yep I returned and non functioning lens to them about a year ago. Don't worry they have UK based support and I didn't have any issue at all.
 
I'd have to say get the Sigma as I'm biast and think the 17-50 looks awesome from tests I have seen when I was pondering one. It's sharper in the center frame than the Canon 17-55 f/2.8. Also cheaper. I have previously owned a Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC Macro and loved it.
 
Mutt said:
I went for the Tamron and the Nikon 35mm in the end and paid £358 for the pair which I think is pretty reasonable. I got the Tammy from DigitalRev and the 35mm from the rain forest.

At £220 the Tamron seemed like a bargain. If I can avoid my natural tendency to pixel peep and if there's no focusing issues I'm sure I'll be happy with it. It'll only be used for images of less than 1000px which will be posted on Facebook, Flickr etc.
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Just cross your fingers that you get a good one. I went through 3 different lenses before giving up and just buying a Nikon 24-70. If you get a good one it will be nice and sharp but Tamrons QC on this lens is pretty dire. Several other people on this forum had issues with that lens (neil79?? I think?)

Do a lot of testing as soon s you get it.
 
D.P. said:
Just cross your fingers that you get a good one. I went through 3 different lenses before giving up and just buying a Nikon 24-70. If you get a good one it will be nice and sharp but Tamrons QC on this lens is pretty dire. Several other people on this forum had issues with that lens (neil79?? I think?)

Do a lot of testing as soon s you get it.
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Completely agree. I personally wouldn't have a Tamron 17-50 purely because of the AF motor noise being too high. Also the zoom ring twists the "wrong" way compared to what I was used to when I purchased one. The one I got was the softest lens I had ever used and had a clear problem so it went back. I then went through 2 Sigma 18-50's until I got my third and final one which I kept. Complete nightmare I had with third party lenses and an example of what can happen. Can happen with Canon as well, but less likely.
 
If the worst happens and I get a bad one I'll get a replacement (or two) and if those replacements are no good I'll ask for a refund. I'm in no rush for it so I'll put the money aside and add to it over the next few months. I'll probably end up going for my original choice of the Sigma 17-50. The lens should be delivered by the 19th. As soon as I get it I'll be out doing some major testing.

Buying a Nikon 24-70mm would be the ideal but its way out of my price bracket, at least for a good while.

My Nikkor 35mm f1.8 came today so I've got something to play with until the potentially dreaded Tamron arrives. Loving the quietness and sharpness of the 35mm so far. Also loving that I don't have to back myself in to impossible corners to be able to shoot indoors which I did with the 50mm and 70-200mm.
 
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