Board index Equipment Digital Cameras Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Digital Cameras

Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

v2v
 
Posts: 2

Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Post Thu May 22, 2008 4:09 pm


Hello World,

I'm just thinking about buying a new lens to replace the cheapo kit lens (Canon EF-S 18-55). I'm the happy owner of a 400D and recently bought the wonderful Canon EF-S 55-250 IS. According to http://www.photozone.de, both the Sigma 17-70 and 24-70 have great potential for a few bucks. However, the final rating on this website (which I consider as a good reference) gives the preference to the 24-70, while I thought (according to their comments and test results) that the 17-70 would have been rated better... I'm not really concerned about the wide focal, while the Macro capabilities of the 17-70 truly interest me.

Did some of you have the opportunity to test one or both lenses (with an EOS 400D)?

Many thanks in advance for your feedback.
ViV

dharden
 
Posts: 104

Re: Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Post Thu May 22, 2008 11:41 pm


Hi,

You're not really comparing "apples with apples" there. If you don't need the wide end capability then the 24-70 is probably worth considering (remember that a 24-70 on a 400D gives the field of view of a 38-112mm lens). I don't have first hand experience of the 24-70 but I did have a 17-70 and I bang on about how good it is to anyone who'll listen :D :D

Sigma quality can vary between copies of a lens and you need to test carefully on receipt. If you have a good 17-70 then it is very sharp indeed. The two things i'd pull it up for probably also apply to the 24-70: Contrast is not as high as the Canon lenses (the decent ones) and the colours can lean a little towards yellow (although the 17-70 isn't as bad as some Sigmas). I now have a Canon 17-40 L as my "wide to mid" zoom and I certainly wouldn't say it was any sharper. Colours and contrast are certainly better though, but you pay over twice the price for the privilege!

It isn't a TRUE macro lens - that would mean 1:1 reproduction capabilities but it is an excellent "close up" lens. In fact you can focus so close with it (not far off touching) that it sometimes casts a shadow over the subject in natural light.

My friend now has my old 17-70 on a 400D body and is really impressed with it ( I bought a 5D and it won't work on FF bodies!). I must say, judging by the excellent pics he has of his baby daughter, that the two make a very good combination.

HTH! (two landscape examples from the 17-70 on a 20D attached below)

Image
Image

dougj
 
Posts: 2276

Re: Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Post Fri May 23, 2008 12:55 am


I bought the Canon 24-70 several years ago for use on a 10D. At that time there were a number of folks on DPReview comparing the Sigma & Canon versions, and the Sigma was generally considered to be a very good lens. I like the Canon version, except the 24mm limitation of the wide end, which I found too limiting. I bought an EF 17-40 to gain the extra 7mm and I’ve been very pleased with this lens in terms of performance and focal length range, it is now one of my common walk around lenses on a 30D.

I don’t have any experience with the Sigma 17-70, but the focal length range is very good, I think with a crop body camera a wide end of 17mm is ideal for landscapes and several other types of photography. Unless you are certain 24mm is as wide as you'll need, and you can make up the difference with your feet, I suggest you consider a wider focal length lens.

v2v
 
Posts: 2

Re: Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Post Mon May 26, 2008 7:43 am


Thanks for your advices. They push me in the right direction : I'll go for the Sigma 17-70. I've spent some extra times during the WE reading reviews across the web, and most comments are similar : in the price range I'm looking for, it's one of the best match (if not the best).

Cheers,
ViV

dougj
 
Posts: 2276

Re: Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

Post Mon May 26, 2008 9:28 am


Good luck with the new lens, please post some shots when you have them.


Board index Equipment Digital Cameras Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 vs 24-70/2.8 (Canon mount)

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