Eh Zirc..........

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Guyzerr

Guyzerr

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..... you axed about Sigma lens a day or two ago and I'm kinda bored today so I fired two off for you to check out.The flash btw doesn't like a lens longer than 105mm so says the book.

These haven't been edited in any way and If I did something with them it would be minor.

This was shot on automatic ( cuz I'm too lazy to fool around ) RAW indoors with my flash and the Sigma 150 - 500mm. He's laying about 20 feet away.

f67381c5.png

Camera Model Canon EOS 50D
Shooting Mode Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Spot Metering
ISO Speed 200
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens 150-500mm
Focal Length 403.0mm
Image Quality RAW
Flash On


Shot outside from my deck. The flower is in some very heavy shade so once again I used the flash. The plant is about 25' away. Same Sigma lens.

6ed244c5.png

Camera Model Canon EOS 50D
Shooting Mode Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/60
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Spot Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 100
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens 150-500mm
Focal Length 500.0mm
Image Quality RAW
Flash On
 
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Guyzerr

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zirconaz said:
Oooo, that's cool! :thumbup The reason I was asking about Sigma lenses is I found this auction on eBay last week and found it intriguing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370359933032&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Neither of the lens are rated very high by these guys but that's to be expected considering the price. Would I buy them? Only if that's all my budget would allow and I really wanted some other lens. I'm sure there are other review sites worth digging up but you would probably find the same results. Is it a good deal? Yes & no. Why? Well the 18 - 50mm they are selling has been discontinued. Sigma has replaced it with an improved model that has optical stabilization which in itself is worth it's weight in gold. It can be bought for $289.99 in Canada and the reviews are substantially better. The 70 - 300mm lens lists for $189.99 Cdn. I know there is a pile of other stuff with it and I think they are very smart for adding it but in the end how much of it would you use and how often. That's the question you need to axe yourself.

Zirc you have to keep something in mind about Sigma lens or any other for that matter. The lower the price the less quality you're going to get in the end. That applies to build quality as well as photo quality. When you see my shots remember that the lens cost is many times higher than what you are considering. Does that mean your shots will end up crappy. Not at all. My first zoom cost a bit over $200 and I got some great shots with it. In the end the package is $300 US but don't forget you have to add taxes, duty etc once it hits the border so the final cost will ultimately be higher.

3 page review here......

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/317-sigma-af-18-50mm-f35-56-dc-test-report--review

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/326-sigma-af-70-300mm-f4-56-apo-dg-macro-test-report--review

Did it help ?
 
freakofnature

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I'll have to look at those links when I get home. Thanks for the advice. I know you get what you pay for but sometimes there are deals to be found on eBay.
 
Siphorous

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Based on these reviews, if I did not have the lens I do as far as the big telephoto lens - then personally I would consider it as a purchase. I use two Sigma lenses myself, one a 50mm 2.8 macro/portrait that I'm very happy with (paid only around $100 for that one off ebay) and a 10-20mm that I love for the landscape shots. I'm very happy with that one too.

Of the two, if you needed a budget big telephoto lens - the 70-300mm isn't that bad at all if you can get it separately. I'd consider it if I didn't have my 'big beercan' lens.

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Sigma-70300mm-F456-DG-Macro-4200

...and a range of user reviews too:

http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/Sigma-70-300-F4-5.6-DG-Macro_review220.html

As a guide, an average of less than 4 on this site from the user reviews (there are 9, across a mix of cameras) I normally wouldn't consider. Normally...
 
Guyzerr

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Siph without quoting your entire post this is what got my attention in the review I read. The quote below is from your link and it's review. Basically it's the same. imo the point of buying a zoom lens is to use the longer end of it. That's where this one looses out. If a person can accept that then I say buy the lens.

" In summary the main positive points of the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro are:
posrating.gif Reasonable optical performance for price.
posrating.gif Good close focus ability (1:2)
posrating.gif Light enough to carry all day.
posrating.gif Price.


Negative points are:
negrating.gif Long extension when close focussed and zoomed.
negrating.gif Front element and extension rotates during focussing
negrating.gif Performance drops off at longer focal lengths. "
 
Siphorous

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Guy, I've listed the review and the user comments so that Zirc can make her own mind up.

That being said, I think you know as well as I do that anything with a big range like that will have issues at the longer end of the scale. Imo, for a budget lens - that's acceptable. It's up to Zirc if she thinks it is or not. It's certainly a lot cheaper than something like this:

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_70-200_2p8_vrii_n15/

Which is not a budget lens by any means.
 
Guyzerr

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Siphorous said:
Guy, I've listed the review and the user comments so that Zirc can make her own mind up.
Click to expand...

And I didn't? She asked my opinion and I gave it.


Siphorous said:
That being said, I think you know as well as I do that anything with a big range like that will have issues at the longer end of the scale. Imo, for a budget lens - that's acceptable. It's up to Zirc if she thinks it is or not.
Click to expand...

I said most of that in post #3. ;) I will repeat this though... I just think a person buys a zoom to be able to use the longer end and if continuously produces images at the bottom end of the scale why buy it. That's one reason I buy from a local dealer and not off the net. Where I buy they have a very good return policy so if the lens is not what I expected then I could return it. That was a big deciding factor when I made my Sigma 150 - 500mm purchase a few weeks ago. Never having purchased a Sigma before I wanted to ensure my ass was covered.

Siphorous said:
It's certainly a lot cheaper than something like this:

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_70-200_2p8_vrii_n15/

Which is not a budget lens by any means.
Click to expand...

It's within my budget. :D It's actually a few hundred cheaper than my Canon equivalent that I just sold. Maybe I should be shooting Nikon.
 
freakofnature

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Guyzerr

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zirconaz said:
I'm a big fan of zoom lenses. It means I don't have to be as close to my subject when taking survielence photos. :ninja I'm also a big fan of top of the line things so perhaps I will save my pennies for something bigger and better. :D
Click to expand...

I like that way of thinking. Usually one isn't disappointed that way.

I used to have gobs of good stuff back in the old film days. Then I left it alone for years and got back into digital photography. My first lens purchase was a cheap Canon something mm - 300mm and I regretted it. I was disappointed more often than not. It was the last cheap one I ever bought. Sure I spend big dough on stuff now but I don't regret it one bit. To me it's worth it. I would rather have good than to have junk.

zirconaz said:
But while we're on the subject of eBay and zoom lenses, check this out...

http://cgi.ebay.com/2000mm-Telescope-Nikon-D40-D60-D90-D700-D3000-D5000-/220622173529?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item335e1b3559

:willy_nilly:
Click to expand...

Yikes... I would love something like that just to fool around with. I can imagine the eagle shots.
 
freakofnature

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Guyzerr said:
I like that way of thinking. Usually one isn't disappointed that way.

I used to have gobs of good stuff back in the old film days. Then I left it alone for years and got back into digital photography. My first lens purchase was a cheap Canon something mm - 300mm and I regretted it. I was disappointed more often than not. It was the last cheap one I ever bought. Sure I spend big dough on stuff now but I don't regret it one bit. To me it's worth it. I would rather have good than to have junk.



Yikes... I would love something like that just to fool around with. I can imagine the eagle shots.
Click to expand...
Forget that! Imagine the moon pics! Or Saturn! :willy_nilly:
 
Guyzerr

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zirconaz said:
Forget that! Imagine the moon pics! Or Saturn! :willy_nilly:
Click to expand...

Saturn is out for me but I'm chomping at the bit for a moon shot with my new lens. All I need is a full moon which is gunna happen soon and then I need a clear sky which I'm starting to doubt I'll ever see again.
 
Guyzerr

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Eh Zirc... you ever think of checking CL in your area. I'm presently trying to work a deal ...

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/pho/1793168565.html

I need something to fill in the blank between my 17 - 85mm and the 150 - 500mm. I don't think I would use it that much but it's a $550.00 lens and if I can grab it for $200 or maybe a few bucks more I think it would be an ok deal. It's either that or a Canon 70 - 200 f4 if I can find a great deal.
 
Alien Allen

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I bought a bass guitar off Craigslist

It was spotless and I saved a couple hundred bucks

I like the idea of dealing with somebody local so you can see what you are buying.
 
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