Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I use a Sony A200, i bought this lens to replace my kit lens the DT 18-70 as it's not focusing well now..

I'm upgrading to A77 soon.. "i hope"..

To be honest, i LOVE this lens, BUT, it was not as i expected in low light, sometimes it hunts and that drive me crazy "switch to manual focus to avoid this problem", but it happens under really low light condition, and the output wasn't really good...
I guess this has something to do with my A200 itself, as it's not a good performer in low light. but most of time the lens is good in low light specially when using a flash..

Focus is kinda slow but i guess this depends on the camera body as Sony has built in auto focus motor in camera body..

Colors are great, i read in some reviews that this lens has the tendency to leave a green or yellow tent on the photo, but this didn't happen with me..

Sharpness is really good along the focal range, though it gets sharper when stepping just 1 stop from f2.8 maybe f4 and up...

Flare control is not good in this lens, avoid shooting against light...!!

The Build quality is superb..

I didn't have the chance to try this lens outdoor yet but from what i experienced so far the output will be GREAT...

I guess the performance of this lens will be much better if it was tried on another body like A700 for example, i think it would be super performer with the A77..

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

The glass group in this lens render pretty soft images, especially at 24mm. It get's 1 star due to an issue with the focus ring binding. It's not a 1 off problem as I've seen others with this issue in the forums. I lament my decision to purchase this lens.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

After a mis-adventure with an optically challenged Tamron lens, I was hesitant to try another third party lens. This Sigma however, is amazing. I have shelved my kit lens and the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 lens will be my walkabout lens from now on. Every picture I have taken so far has been tack sharp and has great colors. This lens stands right along with my Sony 70-200G as far as sharpness and overall photo quality. The zoom is kinda tight, but a non issue when you see the quality of the photos. Great lens at a great price.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I bought this lens several years ago and have sent it back to be repaired twice with the same complaint. It does not focus easily, often "tick-tocking" between focuses. I was told both times that it was measured up to the factory specifications and nothing could be done to fix it. Do yourself a favor and not buy Sigma, although they are rated highly.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I am a retired pro using this lens on a Sony a900. The glass in this lens I would rate three star. I have used this lens for just shy of two years and the two major complaints are that it has major barrel creep which can be annoying and it on many occasions would not be able to focus. It would just very fast search back and forth. This could be stopped by taking lens off and then reinstalling it. As a pro I use my equipment with care which is why I was supprised when trying to zoom the lens fell apart inside and it is not usable and would cost to much to repair. Great dissapointment. No more Sigmas for me

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

Really like the build and feel in the hand. It's a little heavy, but I like that substantial feel in the hand. The sliding focus ring was a sticking point when I was considering this lens, but took all of a minute for me to get used to.

There were 2 incidents where the lens and my KM Maxxum 7D had a communication glitch, but disengaging and re-engaging the lens to body solved that, and there has been no recurrence so far.

Low light/low contrast can cause this lens to hunt a bit, and sometimes it misses the focus a little bit (unforgiving), but grabbing manual focus takes care of that. That said, I took it out to grab some night shots of Manhattan, and really liked the results.

Can be a little soft around the edges wide open, but I'm not finding that too much of a problem, and actually like it for portraits.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

This is a great lens especially for weddings and other special events where there are multiple people in shots. Very easy to use, excellent shots, a must-have for all photographers. A little on the heavy side, but that just means that it's well crafted!

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

This lens focuses fast and is sharp. What a difference over the lens which came with the camera.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

This was my first Sigma lens. Coming from my last Sony 18-200mm f3.5 - 6, I was hesitant to buy this lens as it offerred limited zooming. Given the fact that this was a Sigma and not a Sony, I was not at all confident, but being a Sony user, you don't have much choice.

First thing you notice is the insane size of the glass & weight. As soon as mounting it to my A300, i really felt the weight difference. By the time i shot the first picture, i knew I had scored!!! Coming from the 18-200mm Sony, this lens was quieter, faster and the results were through the roof! The image quality and clarity was just amazing. At f2.8, i was able to achieve quite the blurr effect i always wanted. Generally i stay around the f4 - f5 range and the results are awesome. I've been using this lens from the past one year now & have extensively used it on Weddings, Parties & general outdoor photography. This lens has really helped me move on from a Novice Photographer to the next level.

It is a decent alternative to the more expensive 24-70mm f2.8 Carl Ziess. My only complaint with this lense is its weight & size. When mounting an external flash on top, this thing becomes a hassle to carry.

For beginners it is definately a good buy but for serious photographers, consider the weight & would be worth looking at the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 HSM (For more speed and quietness & possibly less weight).

All in all, one of the must haves in your Camera Kit...

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

This is a very versatile lens for the money, its wide aperture range is fantastic for a wide array of shooting conditions.Focal lengths are also a huge plus and their is nothing comparable to it.I have used Sigma products for the past ten years or so with minimal problems.This lens, however, when you shoot as much as I do and in as many different conditions, tends to get weak at the mount , mind you, I go from the beach to studio to clubs all the time.Something is bound to give at some point.This new design seems to be streamlined more from end to end verses the previous where it was much wider at the front.Maybe this will help solve the problem? We shall see.

Happy shooting !!

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

So far I have really enjoyed using this lens. It's a great upgrade from what I was using before. I noticed that a few mentioned it was heavy. I didn't find that to be the case because my 70-300mm lens weighs about the same. It has a quick focus. I did some shooting at a high school basketball game and got good results.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

This is a big lens, which requires big filter. I say that because filters are expensive ([$]for a UV). That said this lens is great, The one that I recieved is very sharp at at all F stops. I have only used it for christmas and new years picture, so far I am very happy with it. As other reviews have stated the Zoom ring is stiff at the 24mm end. Image quality is very good, not as good as my minolta 200mm G lens but this lens is less than havlf the cost. The manual focus ring does take a little getting use to and the instuctions are very specific on its uses with sony/minolta cameras. It states that improper use can damage the lens. Over all I am very pleased with it and is a great upgrade from the kit lens.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I have been enjoying this lens. It's a nice upgrade from what I was using. A few users complained about it being heavy. I find that it weighs the same as my 70-300mm lens. I've already shot two basketball games and some landscape photos. The focus was quick.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I use this lens on a Sony A350. It produces very crisp photos. The lens is easy to use and appears solid and well built. The only drawback it that it is a bit heavy.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

Absolutley amazing lens for the close portraits and closeup shots, had it for 6 months now and havent been disappointed by it !
Only shortcoming is in cases of direct light where the image comes out very milky...

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I've owned this lense for a few months now and have really come to appreciate the quality images. The large apperature is a plus. It isn't as clear as the more expensive lenses, but unless you are looking to publish it won't matter. I bought this lense for portraits but have come to enjoy its wide field of view with landscapes. I use it with my Minolta 5D and can't wait to try it on the new A350.

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

First I should say I didn't want to buy Sigma. I was concerned by some of the Internet chat about problems, the dreaded sigma yellow casts etc. Ultimately I ended up at Sigma because as a Sony DSLR owner I didn't have a lot of choice. I tried a Sigma lens (20mm 1.8) and also tried Nikon D80 and Canon 30D with their glass as I considered a system swap. Well I found that Sigma is not a cheapskate option. This is quality glass that will produce outstanding images and I was sold.So with that in mind and having loved the 20mm, I looked at the 24-70 2.8. Again this is a great lens. So where to start:Build. Excellent. Personally I like the sigma crackle black finish but apart from that the tolerances are tight, nothing wobbles, everything slides/spins/clicks with the right balance of decisiveness and ease.Color. Clear and accurate if maybe a tiny bit 'flat' out of the camera. Difficult to say as I shoot raw and the color output is clearly also a factor of the raw conversion and my settings. However, I have found I probably push the vibrancy controller on lightroom a hair more than I did with the Minolta 28-135 this lens replaced. Note, I have always got the color I wanted in the end, I just had to change my processing default slightly, this in no way limits the lens.Sharpness. Excellent. By 4.5 it is better than the Minolta 28-135 it replaced across the frame and that was a lens regarded as a legend by the Minolta community. By 5.6 it is really, really good. At 2.8 the center is still excellent but the edges are a tad soft. (also at 2.8 the DOF is usually so thin they are rarely in focus anyway).CA. Virtually none I've experienced so far.Distortion. Very little. Chart tests will show some but who takes photos of brick walls all day? In real life the amount of distortion you'll notice is essentially nil.Focus. AF - Ok, not the fastest, not the slowest, probably more of a function of camera performance anyway. MF - great. Sigma lenses have a great MF ring and feel, I dont focus manually very often but the Sigma does it well when I have to.So that's it. Notice I haven't once said this lens is good for the price - I dont have to, its just good. If you can live without being able to tell people you've got the latest and greatest canon/Nikon/Sony glass then this is the lens for you. If you need the brand name then well that isanother problem.

Expertise: Advance amatuer trying to sell the odd shot

Problems Encountered: Only problem is a design issue, I dont understand why Sigma went to a 82mm filter instead of a 77mm. This small detail adds a huge amount to filter costs. Which I have reduced slightly by going to an all 82mm line-up.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Minolta 28-135 f 4-4.5

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

...I bought this lens as an alternative to the Nikon 28-70 f2.8 since I didn't need the AF-S capability and this lens is slightly wider at 24mm...that extra 4mm really can make a difference when shooting in a small area. This lens is VERY SHARP, even at f2.8. At f5.6 it really shines. I have used several Sigma EX lenses and I would give this lens a very strong recommendation. This is my most used lens by far...

Expertise: Pro

Problems Encountered: None...

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Nikkor 28-105

Items I Recommend: A GOOD protective filter...stay away from the cheap $15 ones...

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I've enjoyed this lens for a couple of weeks and 2 longshooting sessions. My camera is a KM Dynax (Maxxum) 5D.I am amazed by how fast this thing focuses even in the deadof night. Even my 50mm f1.4 isn't as good ! It makes nightphotography so much more pleasant. The lens has a qualityfeel to it too, maybe because of its weight. More importantly, the quality of the pictures is fantastic:crisp, with great colours, no CA, no distortion, in one wordperfect!

Problems Encountered: None !

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: KM Dynax (Maxxum) 5D, Minolta 50mm f1.4, sigma 18-200, sigma 10-20

Comments about Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 (D) EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Sony SLR & Minolta Maxxum Series:

I have had this lens for more than 8 months, mainly for news photography and sports. I purchased this lens to use on a back up 30d. I soon replaced it with a canon because the lack of in focus photos was terrible. The canon is two or three times more expensive but is totally worth it.

Expertise: Advanced amateur

Problems Encountered: Not sharp, hunts in low light, extremely loud auto focus,

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon 24-70 f2.8