Third Generation Sigma 17-35/f2.8-4.0 Zoom is Super
Written: Sep 24 '00 (Updated Jan 16 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, excellent resolution, great ergonomics, price
Cons: None of any consequence
The Bottom Line: This lens is a superb performer with resolution comparable to similar OEM Zooms at a very attractive price.
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Sigma AF 17-35mm f/2.8 4 EX HSM Lens |
I bought the second version of this lens (18-35 /f3.5-4.5) in 1994 and I absolutely love it. The lens is lightweight, sharp as a tack, covers a very useful range of focal lengths, and is one of the very best "travel photography" lenses that I have ever used. I recently had the opportunity to try out the newer third version Sigma 17-35/f2.8-4.0 EX Aspherical and it is an even better lens. The first version was a 21-35/f3.5-4.2 (available in the U. S. in 1992) weighed 19 ounces, and was a super performer. The latest version weighs 14 ounces (which is four ounces more than my lens) but the half an f-stop speed gain and the 1mm addition at the wide end easily account for this moderate additional weight. Both the second and third versions of this lens (I never had the opportunity to use the first version) produce some of the sharpest slides I have ever seen from a zoom. Viewed under a 6x Schneider loupe the images are tack sharp with virtually no linear distortion or color fringing. The performance of this lens equals the performance of similar OEM lenses, and at a significant discount.
The lens has depth of field scales (a valuable feature in computing hyper focal distance, and one that is missing from almost all AF lenses) the focus and zoom rings are large and well damped, manual focus is easy and smooth as silk. The AF is fast, accurate, and quiet. Optimum aperture appears to be f8. A small caveat here, this lens is a super performer throughout its range, however like most wide angle zooms there is some loss of image quality at the smallest apertures. I wouldn’t use the lens at f32, but from f2.8 through f22 images are sharp, contrasty, and color balance is superb.
Technical Specifications:
Angles of view…64 to 104 degrees
Diaphragm…eight blades
Maximum/Minimum aperture…f2.8-f32
Minimum focusing distance….19.7 inches
Filter size…82mm
Construction…12 elements in 11 groups
Focusing….rear focus/front element does not rotate
Included…Rigid Plastic Lens Hood and soft case
Mounts…N/AF, Can/AF, Min/AF, Pen/AF, & Sig/AF
I used the second version of this lens to shoot a photography job for AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange System) in Japan. AAFES was trying to get funding to expand one of their PX's in Okinawa. They had a great written proposal with all the facts laid out beautifully, but they wanted some some slides to show the congressional appropriations committee. The Regional Manager asked me if I could somehow make the store look smaller, in the photographs, which would improve their chances of getting the expansion funded. I used the Sigma 17-35 to exaggerate perspective, in some of the images, I shot PX employees at work from a low viewpoint making them seem larger and the store behind them seem smaller. In the warehouse area I shot from a higher viewpoint (standing on a step ladder) with the plane of focus absolutely level, to exaggerate the sense of crowding and lack of space (it appeared that the area was filled floor to roof) by shooting from a higher perspective the passageways appeared dark, clautrophobis, and very narrow. Everyone liked the pictures and AAFES ended getting three million bucks to expand the PX.
I have recommended the earlier version of this lens to my workshop students since 1994, I have no qualms about recommending this newer version as well. The Sigma 17-35/f2.8-4.0 is best suited for general photography use by professional and advanced amateur photographers. This is a fantastic travel photography lens, with a fast maximum aperture, lightweight, a wide “useful” zoom range, great ergonomics, and excellent resolution. The AF is quiet, fast, responsive, and accurate. It is unlikely that you will find a better lens in this range for the price ($450-$500) The only downside to the lens is the fact that after market lenses (those made by someone other than the "Original Equipment Manufacturers....Nikon, Canon, Minolta, and Pentax)don't retain their value when it comes time to trade or sell.
If you enjoyed reading this lens review. Please read my other lens reviews:
Nikon Lenses
Prime Lenses
Nikon AF ED-IF 180/f2.8D Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/content_50492313220
Nikon 105/f2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-ED0-62442B1-393AA9F1-prod5
Nikon 85/f1.4D AF IF
http://www.epinions.com/content_23241199236
Nikon 85/f1.8D AF
http://www.epinions.com/content_29370191492
Zoom Lenses
Nikon AF IF 24-85/f2.8-4.0D Zoom Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/content_40820510340
Nikon AF IF 28-200/f3.5-5.6D Zoom Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-61AC-14E291B-3909BCF6-prod5
Nikon AF 75-240/f4.5-5.6D Zoom Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/elec-Photo-Lenses-All-Nikon_75-240mm_f_4_5-5_6D_AF_Zoom-Nikkor
Nikon AF 70-300/f4.0-5.6D ED Zoom Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4C5A-1489077-3909AEA3-prod5
Nikon AF 80-200/f2.8D IF-ED AF-S Zoom Nikkor
http://www.epinions.com/content_38412717700
Sigma Lenses
Sigma Designs AF 17-35/F2.8-4.0D EX HSM Zoom
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4C46-145B3FFF-39CE2ADE-prod3
Sigma Designs AF 28-70/f2.8D EX Aspherical Zoom
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5C92-1C455245-39CE9F60-prod6
Tokina Lenses
Tokina AT-X 20-35/f2.8D PRO Zoom
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-2E59-2F3F6C0-390C5EB2-prod3
Choosing Lenses for your New Camera
http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-283E-10641A05-393D299A-prod1
Just “cut and paste” the URL into your browser’s address bar/window
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 334
Trusted by: 1275 members
About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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