18-55 vs Sigma 17-70

[hwblanks]

I put both of these lenses to a rather unscientific test. I shot both at f/4, 1/50 sec., ISO 400.
Personally, I don't see a whole lot of difference between either one of them. What do you think?

The 18-55:


The 17-70:


Thanks!
Heather

[daacon]

They are hard to tell many differences , maybe a 100% crop or large prints , but as you mentioned an unscientific test. There is a tool called Exposure plot ( I think Lowell pointed it out to me) that does some analysis on your pictures(reading EXIF data) I ran it on about 6k photos and learned I take over 50% of my shots between 17 - 70 so for me that would be added into the equation. The kit lens is a very good lens for the price . There are a few good bargains out there (people rave about the Tamrom 70-300 Macro for about $200.00). The Sigma is faster , offers more range if those are not important to you stick with the Kit lens.

[Gimbal]

No pictures?

[egordon99]

Not seeing anything here either.....

[Mikhail]

You are right there is very little difference. The only difference I can see is in the colour rendering. The red plant in the background and the round ball seem to have a bit more saturated but this could also be because the Siggy seems to be "over-exposing" compared to the DA. It gives a much airier and, IMHO, nicer image.

Thanks

[Mikhail]

Picture links, http://i.pbase.com/g3/36/816636/2/95212662.pyiR34e1.jpg (DA) and http://i.pbase.com/g3/36/816636/2/95212645.Y9GdisFE.jpg (Siggy).
For those that can't seem to see them...

Thanks

[egordon99]

Something seems to be up with pbase -
Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /g3/36/816636/2/95212662.pyiR34e1.jpg on this server.
Apache/2.0.58 (Unix) Server at i.pbase.com Port 80

[daacon]

I had to get the urls' (right click the 'x' , properties) fire up another IE tab , display them then they appeared for me by comming back to original tab right clicking and then choose show pictures that worked for me. YMMV

[egordon99]

Yep, the URLS are correct, just the link is mucked up somehow....

[kyrios]

I tested both lenses a few days ago, Sigma 17-70mm outperforms DA 18-55mm easily.
Both lenses do not suffer from BF/FF issue, i tested both before.
The test was done using tripod, SR off, 2s delay, using K100D.

Sigma 17-70mm DC Macro VS DA 18-55mm

kyrios

[axl]

after looking at link provided by kyrios, I don't think we can argue much in favour of DA18-55...

[alex1962]

If you want to view any difference and compare them :

Pentax SMC-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL - Review / Test Report

and


Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC (Pentax K) - Review / Test Report

I think is very useful,
Alex

[juu]

Mikhail, never got your pics to open

kyrios, yours don't open as well any more, it says photobucket account inactive.

alex1962, I've been looking at the reports but the way I read it they are very comparable in the measurable tests such as sharpness and distortion. What am I missing?

[timo]

Originally Posted by juu

alex1962, I've been looking at the reports but the way I read it they are very comparable in the measurable tests such as sharpness and distortion. What am I missing?

juu - I have both and I am a fan of the kit lens, which is light and nifty and works well. But the Sigma (if you get a good one, so make sure you test it carefully) is better particularly in the peripheral areas of the shot. Mine is anyway. The first two examples I had weren't. And of course it is faster and has a more flexible range. It is also larger, heavier and (for anyone it's pointed at) scarier.

It's a trade-off.

Tim

[juu]

Originally Posted by timo

make sure you test it carefully

That's the part that scares me in buying lenses. I don't think I'm qualified to test them really, and I'd be ordering online so I'd have to try convincing the online shop to exchange it.