Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM

[daredevil123]

As promised...

Nikon AF-S 24-85/3.5-4.5

24mm wide open F/3.5 on D300s, JPEG (basic) SOOC, resized and no other adjustments or sharpening

Large size: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5455787348_21a70a2492_o.jpg

85mm wide open F/4.5 on D300s, JPEG (basic) SOOC, resized and no other adjustments or sharpening

Large size: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5455174735_0930b38a8d_o.jpg

 

[daredevil123]

Tamron 28-75/2.8

28mm wide open on FX. JPEG (basic) SOOC no resize nor adjustments, direct upload to Flickr.

Large: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5532049752_29384f5f01_b.jpg

75mm wide open on FX. JPEG (basic) SOOC no resize nor adjustments, direct upload to Flickr.

Large: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5532050058_0aac334cb4_b.jpg

 

[chocolateking123]

just curious, and sorry to hijack your thread, but does the 'hsm' really matter? o.o thinking of getting one but found a few non-hsm's floating around BnS at such a low price... getting tempted haha

 

[cheesy]

When there are many highlight edges in the background. Like lights, light shining through trees, or small bright colored objects like flowers in the background.

If you want, I can post some photos I shot with afs24-85 and tam28-70/2.8. But I can only do it from home tonight.

thanks for the clarification and photos! upgrade to FF already?

actually im getting kinda confused because i dont see any of those nervous bokeh in flickr or reviews (other than photozone).

 

[cheesy]

just curious, and sorry to hijack your thread, but does the 'hsm' really matter? o.o thinking of getting one but found a few non-hsm's floating around BnS at such a low price... getting tempted haha

np! some say the older version's AF is faster than the HSM version. i think you can search for it in youtube.

 

[daredevil123]

just curious, and sorry to hijack your thread, but does the 'hsm' really matter? o.o thinking of getting one but found a few non-hsm's floating around BnS at such a low price... getting tempted haha

The non-hsm and hsm are different optically. The non-hsm one is not very sharp wide open and will only improve when stopped down to F4. The hsm one is quite sharp wide open. HSM also gives you the ability to have AF on bodies without built in motor. But the non-HSM one is a lot weaker optically.

 

[daredevil123]

thanks for the clarification and photos! upgrade to FF already?

actually im getting kinda confused because i dont see any of those nervous bokeh in flickr or reviews (other than photozone).

Yup. I got an FX body for several weeks now. Still keeping my DX though.

Actually if you look closely you can see it. Even in the fengniao sample pics. Look at the edges of the highlights. But it really shows itself in small highlight dots.

Here are some I saw in a quick 2 min search that show some nervousness:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5356599973/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasmusthepood/4591767382/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5356599127/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5357213892/

That said, it is not as serious as some people make them out to be. Personally, I will not be willing to spend close to 1.5k for this, but that is me, and my needs for a fast zoom is different in that I do not need the AF to be that fast and I am not that bothered by corner sharpness or slight light fall off wide open at the wide end.

 

[crazyson]

hi daredevil... any comments between the Nikon AF-S 24-85 and the Tamron 28-75/2.8? looking to get either one of them but cannot decide.. i notice that there is vignetting from the nikon at 85mm?? and the tamron has vignetting at all lengths?

please correct me if im wrong, im still learning

 

[daredevil123]

hi daredevil... any comments between the Nikon AF-S 24-85 and the Tamron 28-75/2.8? looking to get either one of them but cannot decide.. i notice that there is vignetting from the nikon at 85mm?? and the tamron has vignetting at all lengths?

please correct me if im wrong, im still learning

The slight vignette at 85mm on the AFS, is after I put a Hoya HMC UV filter on. Without the filter, there is no noticeable vignette. If you are using a APS-C crop camera body, there will be no vignette whatsoever. Bokeh is very creamy for a variable aperture lens. focusing is very silent and fast. And the lens is quite sharp. You can find this lens in BnS for around 350-400 for one in good condition. I sold mine for 250, around the price I got for it. The lens is worth many times its price.

The Tamron gives you a constant F2.8. I would say the Tamron is quite a bit sharper than the AFS. Center of the frame is tack sharp. There is some light fall off wide open at 28mm on FX but I am not bothered by it. bokeh is quite pleasing. BIM is a little louder (like the 17-50 BIM) and may hunt a little in low light. But no big deal. Overall a very solid lens. I got this lens new for mid 500s. Very value for money.

 

[daredevil123]

hi daredevil... any comments between the Nikon AF-S 24-85 and the Tamron 28-75/2.8? looking to get either one of them but cannot decide.. i notice that there is vignetting from the nikon at 85mm?? and the tamron has vignetting at all lengths?

please correct me if im wrong, im still learning

Both lens only exhibit some slight light fall off at the wide end with aperture wide open when used on a FF camera.

On the Long end there is no much vignetting.

The AFS, I sold for $250, bought for around there also. The Tammy I bought new for slightly over mid 500s. Both lenses are very value for money compared to the other alternatives.

You should also read up on Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8 ATX Pro I and Pro II, which are both based on the Angenieux optical formula. These should cost around $350 to $400 in the used market.
You can read up more here: http://nikonglass.blogspot.com/2009/11/tokina-at-x-pro-28-70mm-f26-28.html

 

[crazyson]

thanks for the very informative reply! just bought ff body, so looking for a cheap walkabout lens. Im very used to using f2.8, but im liking the nikon for longer lengths both wide and tele.

someone selling the AFS for $320 in B&S now.. tempting...

 

[cheesy]

Yup. I got an FX body for several weeks now. Still keeping my DX though.

Actually if you look closely you can see it. Even in the fengniao sample pics. Look at the edges of the highlights. But it really shows itself in small highlight dots.

Here are some I saw in a quick 2 min search that show some nervousness:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5356599973/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasmusthepood/4591767382/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5356599127/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mg16373/5357213892/

That said, it is not as serious as some people make them out to be. Personally, I will not be willing to spend close to 1.5k for this, but that is me, and my needs for a fast zoom is different in that I do not need the AF to be that fast and I am not that bothered by corner sharpness or slight light fall off wide open at the wide end.

thanks for pointing that out. but nothing else from 3rd party lens comes close to this HSM version in terms of build.

 

[daredevil123]

thanks for pointing that out. but nothing else from 3rd party lens comes close to this HSM version in terms of build.

Actually in terms of build, the Tokinas are better than the Sigma. Sigma build is not that solid also, and the surface coating of the lens will peel.

 

[cheesy]

oh ya due to the matt finishing of the lens.

somehow i dont see any nervous bokeh on nikkor lens?

 

[daredevil123]

oh ya due to the matt finishing of the lens.

somehow i dont see any nervous bokeh on nikkor lens?

There are some lenses from Nikon that exhibit that. I've seen some pics in the past but can't remember which ones. I know the 50/1.8 can show that if pushed in the right conditions.

 

[papajanggo33]

Actually in terms of build, the Tokinas are better than the Sigma. Sigma build is not that solid also, and the surface coating of the lens will peel.

second that.(on the build quality) i have both lenses but of slightly different range. TS, sorry for the OT

 

[cheesy]

no problem!

 

[natsora]

Hi seniors,

Just wanted to get your opinion, I have a Sigma 10 -20mm lens and a 18-135mm Canon kit lens. I intend to get a 30mm Sigma prime lens but after look at the Sigma 24 - 70mm I am wondering if I would just sell my Canon kit lens and get this Sigma 24-70mm. Note that I just got my Canon kit less than a week ago, I was thinking if I sell now, I can get back more money so that when I get the Sigma it will not be that expensive. Or would you recommend that I hang on to my kit lens and just stick to my initial plan?

My DSLR is used mainly for travel, taking landscapes, street and food photos. I have a D80 (used for 4 years) which I have since passed to my brother to use. Now I am using a 550D.

 

[ahboy168]

I like this lens. Consider that it have 24mm, hsm and compact.