Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF AF-D

[Swampy]

This is what I use for a general purpose, I don't care what happens to it lens. This is my everyday lens. It's always on my camera and ready to go. May take me some time to find some pictures to put up with it, but here's a neon sign of my favorite Pizza place. Handheld.

1/60, F4, ISO200 C,T & S all STD, WB Auto @48mm

[Tom Nolle]

Nice shot, Swampy. I also have that lens, and while it's taken me a while to get used to its quirks, I've learned to love it too. I still blow focus on some shots with it, though. How have you found that to work?

Tom

[Swampy]

I have shot most of my 5000 or so frames with this lens and I too find that the AF on it gets a little strange. I would say that 1 out of around 80-100 shots comes out messed.

The only real thing I hate about this lens is that I have to put the lens into MF AND the camera, where the Nikon lenses, if I set the lens to manual, the camera knows. I'm pretty used to the focus on this one now, so it doesn't bother me much anymore.

[Swampy]

Here's one that I forgot I could post. My new .45 that my brother built up for me. Close up in the next post.

1/60, f5.6, ISO 200 @70mm On-board flash.

[Swampy]

Here's a crop from the full frame...
The Sigma does quite well in the sharpness department.

[Swampy]

My son caught this crab yesterday afternoon and I took a quick snap of it, both, the camera and, uh, the crab were hand held, camera was close - 6 inches, so much room for error in movement. Still came out great.

1/250, f8, @70mm

[Jay]

Geez Swampy,

If my 24-70 turns out to be as sharp as yours I'll be a happy man. Those pictures are extremely sharp and have nice contrast.

Jay J

[Sneakyracer]

I just got a sigma 24-70 f2.8 for my s2 pro while in NYC. I needed a good lens to shoot a runway show in the NY Fashion Week in bryant park on tuesday. Uncaracterisitically i purchased the lens at bh and walked to the venue and started blasting away with a lens i have never tried! I didnt even put the lens shade on since i didnt realize it came with the lens until after the show. The lens is awesome, all shots were made at f2.8 or f4. I was amazed that the lens didnt produce nasty flare since i had lights pointing at the lens in almost all pictures really bad conditions for a lens. Most of the unsharpness comes from the 1/90~1/125 shutter not being fast enough for freezing all movement close.

[Sneakyracer]

here is another

[Swampy]

Great shots Sneaky! This lens continues to impress me even though switching between auto/manual focus is a pain.

Found out something else about this lens today. It's not Scott proof. Scott is a friend of mine that whenever he touches something electronic, it doesn't work right or it breaks. He called me up a week ago to tell me all these really odd symptoms the camera had and I walked through all the battery stuff and what not and finally, nothing worked. He dropped it off to me today and sure enough, the S2 was really hosed. I took his lens off and put my 60mm on and it worked fine though. So, I started looking at the lens. I even shook it like a ketchup bottle. That's when I heard a rattling noise. Fiddling around with it, I noticed the aperture lever and kinda pushed it. Didn't budge. Took out my sigma and pushed it, sure enough, the aperture blades effortlessly opened and closed. So, his lens is hosed and he'll have to get it fixed now. I'll post here and let everyone know the route he took and how it went when it's all done.

[Sneakyracer]

swampy sorry to hear that.

Mechanically the lens is good except the zooming which is a tad stiff and sticky at 24mm but not too bad. Manual focus is excellent, it has a quality damped feel to it. Hey, but for $370 when it breaks ill by another. This lens is a steal.

[Sneakyracer]

I have noticed that this lens has some problems autofocusing at times its off by a little bit when focusing at middle distances up to infinity. Up close at say 5ft or less i havent noticed anything

[Steve P]

Hi Swampy,

Judging by your results this could be the lens I'm looking for. I do in fact have a Nikkor 28/105 D but have never been that happy with it. I have posted else where on this forum my feelings about this lens. To inconsistant, normally out of focus/soft etc! Poss originally made for film and not Digital.

What I am looking for is a lens that will live on the Camera body 60/70% of the time for every day shots!




Steve :help:

[Swampy]

Steve - I love this lens. And it DOES live on my camera 80% of the time. Can't say enough about this lens for the money and obviously, it's a very capable lens with the same shots above.

[Steve P]

Thanks Swampy,

I can pick one up for £280 so if it does out perform the Nikkor that to me sounds like a heck of a bargain!!


Steve:cool:

[Steve P]

Swampy,

One more question about this Sigma Lens. The Crab you say was taken at a focal distance of approx 6 inches. On checking the spec it claims a focal capabillity no closer than 15.7 inches.

The shot you took was brill and it's clear it's closer than 15 inches!!



:confused:

[apsphotography]

Hi steve,
i use the 28-70 2.8 version of the lens and i have been very happy with it, probably won't bother upgrading to the 24-70
will go for a nikon version this year depending on home much mr taxman wants from me

[Swampy]

I just checked, and while I don't have a tripod with me to hold the camera, I whipped out the camera and focused on the text on the screen and did a rough estimate. At both ends (70 and 24mm) I focused all the way down until I heard the motor grunt telling me it was as close as it could go.

I'll apologize for the 6 inch statement. Paying more attention and looking at it, it's more like 6.5 or 7 inches. :)

Don't know what them specs are trying to say. Maybe you're looking up the wrong lens? They do have a fixed 2.8 and a non-fixed lens I believe. Lemme go look cause I know it's a lot less than 15 inches!

[anoeljr]

apsphotography

I wondered if you have had any problem with the auto-focus on this lens. I bought mine before the other (24-70) came out and I have been happy with it. Does it compare to the newer lens for digital use?

[apsphotography]

Reply to anoeljr

Have not had any problems at all with focusing, albeit not the speediest of lenses.Have not found that to be a problem with wedding work. I have not tried the 24-70 so i can't compare.
But no reason to believe it would be any different.
Sure there are better lenses around but the sigma is great value for money.

[frankgh]

Swampy, I am looking to replace the low end Sigma I have with the EX. I have been shopping around a little and I come up with the same Closest Focusing Distance that Steve did. We are all talking about The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical DG DF, Right?





http://www.adorama.com/refby.tpl?refby=pscan&sku=SG247028NKAF

[frankgh]

Oh yeah, BTW does a Sigma "D" lens send distance info to the camera? I'm not seeing it in the EXIF data.

:confused:

[Eddie the Gnat]

On the subject of minimum focus distance - it's measured from the sensor plane. If the crab was 7 inches from the front of the lens it would probably be 15 or 16 inches from the sensor. If it WAS 7" from the sensor the picture would look a whole lot messier!:D

So you're both right, really.

Eddie.:)

[Swampy]

Frank - That is the correct lens. Not sure I know about any distance info in the EXIF. Don't think I've ever seen that info from any of my lenses.

[Swampy]

Eddie - The say the minimum focus distance is 15.7". I just broke out all the tools and measured. I would gather that the sensor may have been around 13 inches from the closest focusing point that I was able to achieve, and the back of the camera was around 14 inches. Still less than what they're telling us.

I have a feeling that with the 1.5x crop, these measurements from the manufacturers are going to be off.