Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4.0

mickey · 07-07-2009, 08:58 PM

After some advice, chaps.
I've been looking into a lens for indoor gigs and lowlight photography.
I was interested in this lens:
Tamron Macro SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD

Then came acroos this Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4.0 for cheap.

I know the Tamron has some good reviews, but the Sigma only has 1 review.
Does anyone own, or has used the Sigma?

I like the Sigma for the longer focal range.
The one I'm looking at is used and 4800yen (roughly 50USD).

Any comments appreciated.

Or any other recommendations, but money is a bit of an issue for me.

*pxpaulx* · 07-08-2009, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by mickey

After some advice, chaps.
I've been looking into a lens for indoor gigs and lowlight photography.
I was interested in this lens:
Tamron Macro SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD

Then came acroos this Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4.0 for cheap.

I know the Tamron has some good reviews, but the Sigma only has 1 review.
Does anyone own, or has used the Sigma?

I like the Sigma for the longer focal range.
The one I'm looking at is used and 4800yen (roughly 50USD).

Any comments appreciated.

Or any other recommendations, but money is a bit of an issue for me.

Had it for one trip (a couple of years ago), it is quite soft wide open, but wasn't a wide enough starting point for me (28mm is 42mm equivalent on aps-c). That said, for $50 It wouldn't be disapointing, and you can always sell it and easily get your money back at that price. Definitely worth a try before you go the tamron route (unless you have a specific time constraint). I don't have any experience with the tamron lens. Have you tried searching online for other mount reviews of the sigma?

*heliphoto* · 07-08-2009, 12:22 PM

I had this lens for a short time... I found it not bad once stopped down a bit, but soft wide open (and it's the fairly fast 2.8-4 aperture which appeals isn't it). It's the fastest auto focusing lens I've ever used (like instant) and had really abominable manual focus feel, but AF seemed accurate and fast. I'd say the price is about right, but I doubt it will compare to any Tamron SP lens (SP lenses rock in my experience) or a Sigma EX like the 24-60/2.8...

Colors are typical Sigma - cool.

Here's some samples...

105mm, f/4

105mm, f/5.6

68mm, f/8

105mm, f/5.6

I'll see if I can find any landscape type shots, but I don't think I took any with it.

*pxpaulx* · 07-08-2009, 12:52 PM

From your photos heliphoto, the lens does perform decently for short distances and portrait style shots. I don't think I have any online, but I used it with my former pentax *ist DL while on a trip to the colorado rockies. I am actually looking at a photo on my wall here at work of a mountain top that was about 1 or 2 miles away. While I like the photo visually, it is soft (unfortunately I never scribbled the exif on the back of it either, haha), and is actually probably the one photo that led me to sell the lens shortly after the trip.

google sigma 28-105mm review and you will get several pages worth of what I would say are accurate reviews (and generally positive); pbase also has a huge sampling of images with this lens as well.

*heliphoto* · 07-08-2009, 01:07 PM

more test shots...

Flare resistance @ 28mm f/8. Looks like a sigma

Now a series of test shots @ 28mm f/2.8 - f/8

Here's the f/2.8 version - click it for a full size version (10 MP), and then click the text links to see the others full size.

f/4

f/5.6

f/8

mithrandir · 07-08-2009, 04:10 PM

I have used the Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4.0 for about a year. It is slightly soft wide open, but sharpens right up if you stop it down just a little. I have noticed on my K10D (with noise reduction turned off) that the softness (wide open) actually reduces the impact of noise on low light shots.

Miserere · 07-08-2009, 04:59 PM

Mickey,

I don't know what your gigs are like, but if that's what you want the lens for, I would advise against both the ones you mention. I've shot live show in bars and small venues and even f/1.4 is slow. I remember taking my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (my favourite lens) to the first gig I was shooting and laughing at my stupidity after a few test shots. My gig lenses are currently two primes: Sigma 24mm f/1.8 and Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4.

When not using flash I shoot them wide open, at ISO1600, and around 1/40s shutter speed, which should give you an idea of the crappy light I deal with.

deejjjaaaa · 07-08-2009, 05:14 PM

the content of the web page about this lens that used to be on the Sigma website

Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens 28-105mm F2.8-4 ASPHERICAL - SIGMA CORPORATION

mickey · 07-08-2009, 08:29 PM

Thanks for all the advice, chaps.
Thanks for taking time to post the pics, heliphoto!

Mostly it will be for low light, so yes, the lenses did attract me for that.
I read some reviews online, they were Nikon mount, and they also stated it was a bit soft.

Miserere, thanks for the advice on the primes. I'll look into a few other lenses, especially the primes.
Budget is a factor.
Seeing this lens only cost about50USD, I thought it might be worth it...

Thanks again.

deejjjaaaa · 07-08-2009, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by mickey

Budget is a factor.
Seeing this lens only cost about50USD.

$50 should buy you something like A50/1.7 though