Help me decide: Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 OR Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Macro

[NicholasN]

Ok its a showdown between these two lenses with the winner to be purchased this weekend.

Things I like about each.....

24-60mm : This lens has GREAT reviews from users. Extremely sharp and contrasty. Excellent price, and a nice big 77mm diameter to get lots of light in there. I have also read this lens basically has no issues with vignetting.

24-70mm Macro: Around $200 more than the 24-60 BUT has the macro feature, although I generally don't do alot of macro work. Dual focus system.

Can you guys please give me your thoughts and experiences with these two. I would love to hear from owners of these lenses and what their experiences are.

Many Thanks.

[kenyee]

24-60: sharp but has weird looking bokeh sometimes (look on DPR), really cheap though so it might be worth it
24-70: not that sharp up close and optimized for landscapes and has flare issues because of the huge front element...the Tamron 28-75 (if you get a good copy which is like hitting the lottery) easily beats this
24-70 HSM: bloody expensive but supposed to be a lot sharper but won't be out for at least 1 month probably 2

Both 24-70's use a ridiculously huge/expensive 82mm filter. The 24-60 uses a 77 filter.

[NicholasN]

Is it possible to get a different lens hood for the 24-70 macro to help with the flare issues?

Rarely would I be shooting directly into the sunlight anyways.

[Noisychip]

Originally Posted by kenyee

24-60: sharp but has weird looking bokeh sometimes (look on DPR), really cheap though so it might be worth it
24-70: not that sharp up close and optimized for landscapes and has flare issues because of the huge front element...the Tamron 28-75 (if you get a good copy which is like hitting the lottery) easily beats this
24-70 HSM: bloody expensive but supposed to be a lot sharper but won't be out for at least 1 month probably 2

Both 24-70's use a ridiculously huge/expensive 82mm filter. The 24-60 uses a 77 filter.

Flare is an issue with the 24-60, too, but not so relevant in field conditions. It's not a bad lens at all, though.

Although it's not lightweight (close to 600 g), the 24-70 seemed like a brick to me (around 800 g, IIRC) when I handled one some day. But it's possibly the better lens of these two.

I'm quite satisfied with my copy after all. It's pretty good for the money.

You may want to have a look at some shots I took with the 24-60:

Flickr: Noisychip's stuff tagged with sigma2460

[NicholasN]

Nice images! I have also been looking at the 24-70mm f2.8 (non-macro) and that actually looks good too.

[maxwell1295]

The 24-60mm doesn't do macro, but it can still focus pretty close...

[Lowell Goudge]

Originally Posted by NicholasN

Ok its a showdown between these two lenses with the winner to be purchased this weekend.

Things I like about each.....

24-60mm : This lens has GREAT reviews from users. Extremely sharp and contrasty. Excellent price, and a nice big 77mm diameter to get lots of light in there. I have also read this lens basically has no issues with vignetting.

24-70mm Macro: Around $200 more than the 24-60 BUT has the macro feature, although I generally don't do alot of macro work. Dual focus system.

Can you guys please give me your thoughts and experiences with these two. I would love to hear from owners of these lenses and what their experiences are.

Many Thanks.

you are where I was a year ago, and I wound up with a tamron 28-75 F2.8.

How did that happen?

I looked at all of them, and the tamron fit best.

I have a sigma 10-20 and pentax FAJ 18-35 so the potential gap between 20 and 28 was already filled. At the long end I had a sigma 70-200 F2.8.

what decided it for me was that I had a polarizer and two graduated ND filters for the 67mm front end of the pentax 18-35, and that made it worth getting the tamron, which also had 67mm filters.

I have not bought filters (except UV) for the 10-20 because the FOV is so wide that a polarizer is almost useless except perhaps for glair.

Depending on the other lenses you own, commonality of filters could be very important, because the 28mm will get a lot of landscapes sunsets etc.

ps the 28-75 also does focus very close even at the 75mm focal length

[Damn Brit]

24-60 is becoming hard to find.

[Deni]

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

24-60 is becoming hard to find.

I can see one on sale in the forum's market every week for ridiculously low prices.

[ltdstar]

I have the 24-60mm and very happy w/ it considering the price...can't get a better deal than that....