The Sigma (R)Evolution - PLUS 4 new lenses!

2WheelPhoto · Sep 17, 2012

Overread said:
*would just like to mention that sigma makes the only 500mm f2.8 lens on the market - plus that their 50mm f1.4 beats Canon's - plus their macro lens range from 70mm to 180mm is - well barring the AF speeds - stella).*

Heck I think my 70mm macro is a hair sharper than my 65mm!

The 50mm is sweet, only sigma I own. I purchased after the comparisons I saw with Nikon and Canon 50mm

Markw · Sep 17, 2012

I've owned the following Sigmas:

50/2.8 Macro
70/2.8 Macro
105/2.8 Macro (non-HSM)
180/3.5 Macro
18-50/2.8
10-20/4-5.6
17-50/2.8
24-70/2.8 II
400/5.6 APO
85/1.4

Every one of the macros were incredible, but I settled on the 180. The 18-50 was better than Nikon's 18-70, and the 17-50/OS was even better. The 24-70 was great on my D300s, but only useful after F/4 on my D800. 400/5.6 was incredible. I wish I hadn't sold it. The 10-20 had quite a bit of distortion around the edges. But, it was a solid performer in every other respect. 85/1.4 is still awesome. I just wish the sherochromatism was better.

I fully intend on owning the 50/1.4 and 120-300/2.8 OS. Both seem to be getting an upgrade. So, as for which version, I guess we'll see.

Mark

sovietdoc · Sep 17, 2012

I haven't been in photography for that long, but over the years I've had 2 Sigma lenses. The 24mm f/1.8 prime and now this 180mm f/2.8 macro. Although I have no complaints to IQ of either one, I can't help to compare things like OS to those of Canon and see that Canon's stuff is just a ton better. With IS on, 70-200 at 180mm is rock solid, but with OS on at 180mm on the macro lens, it's all over the place. Can't really compare focus because those 2 are totally different types of lenses, but I would imagine of Canon released a 180mm macro lens with IS, it'd destroy the Sigma in every single stat. My 70-200 seems to absolutely kill the Sigma in focus precision and resolution across the frame. And that's a bit of a surprise because I always thought that macro lens are supposed to be resolution kings. Maybe I am biased, but this is my opinion after using a few Canon lenses and comparing them to my Sigmas. Although in IQ for the money, Sigma is excellent.

Derrel · Sep 17, 2012

Canon has a 180mm macro,and Sigma has made a couple 180mm macro lenses over the years, the most recent with OS. Somebody might be able to ferret out some test results from photozone.de website, buuuut....I suspect they would likely be on older, lower-MP count cameras that really cannot show much difference between any "quite good"lenses...a lot of their tests were done back in the 8- to 10-MP days.

TheBiles · Sep 17, 2012

Derrel said:
Canon has a 180mm macro,and Sigma has made a couple 180mm macro lenses over the years, the most recent with OS. Somebody might be able to ferret out some test results from photozone.de website, buuuut....I suspect they would likely be on older, lower-MP count cameras that really cannot show much difference between any "quite good"lenses...a lot of their tests were done back in the 8- to 10-MP days.

They use the 5D2 for full frame tests and a 50D for recent crop tests.

Sent from my Galaxy S III

GrantH · Sep 17, 2012

Right when I am looking to buy a xx-2xx lens.

Any idea on release for these?

sovietdoc · Sep 18, 2012

GrantH said:
Right when I am looking to buy a xx-2xx lens.

Any idea on release for these?

DON'T DO IT!!

It's a trap!

Markw · Sep 18, 2012

One striking thing to me is..none of these lenses are deemed "EX". What's the deal with that? That 35/1.4 should most definitely be an EX lens. There are more special elements in the design than there are non-"special". What's going on with that?

Mark

Derrel · Sep 18, 2012

EX is probably being left behind as a remnant of the bygone era. The term "EX" might in fact be detrimental to sales; it MIGHT be confusing to people who confuse it with "DX", or with a lens mount. Who knows? It appears that the all-new "C", "S", and "A" markings on the round plates are now the new thing... "EX" also has a slightly negative connotation...ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-girlfriend, ex-employer...who knows...to a non-familiar buyer, the two ,letters "EX" probably do not mean much. If Sigma really wants to go in this new direction, with the Art, and Creative, and Sports lens descriptors, then the broad, overarching "EX" designation would seem superfluous. When Canon switched from the FD mount to the EOS system, they dropped the entire FD nomenclature and went to calling their lenses "EF". Minolta did the same thing with their MC (Minolta-Celtic) which went to MD mount,and then when AF came in, A-mount. I dunno...this entire idea of Creative, Art, Sports association with lenses---this is as far as I know, unprecedented.

Markw · Sep 19, 2012

Derrel said:
EX is probably being left behind as a remnant of the bygone era. The term "EX" might in fact be detrimental to sales; it MIGHT be confusing to people who confuse it with "DX", or with a lens mount. Who knows? It appears that the all-new "C", "S", and "A" markings on the round plates are now the new thing... "EX" also has a slightly negative connotation...ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-girlfriend, ex-employer...who knows...to a non-familiar buyer, the two ,letters "EX" probably do not mean much. If Sigma really wants to go in this new direction, with the Art, and Creative, and Sports lens descriptors, then the broad, overarching "EX" designation would seem superfluous. When Canon switched from the FD mount to the EOS system, they dropped the entire FD nomenclature and went to calling their lenses "EF". Minolta did the same thing with their MC (Minolta-Celtic) which went to MD mount,and then when AF came in, A-mount. I dunno...this entire idea of Creative, Art, Sports association with lenses---this is as far as I know, unprecedented.

Indeed. I always loved the slew of acronyms after the lens' name. I guess they're doing away with alot of it. We'll have to see. I like the new system. I know if it had happened when I was first starting out, though, I would have been so dumbfounded as to which was the right lens to choose, I probably would have been too intimidated to choose any of them. :lol:

But, that's not the case now, and I really think I'm going to like it. Especially if the rest of the redesigns follow the new look of the lenses, as I'm sure they will.

I hope the price of the new 50/1.4 isn't outrageous. I literally JUST bought a 50/1.8 Nikkor. If it's just an aesthetic change, I'll live (even though I love the 77mm thread on the Sigma 50/1.4 now). If the optics get any better than they already are, looks like I'll be shoveling out another $300. :er:

Mark