Why I love my Sigma 17-70mm!

simonkit · 03-23-2008, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by thear

Sigma 17-70mm with UV filter on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2315565394_7d053abfb5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2315554600_b1bf66c94e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2315747390_278bcbacb0_b.jpg

Aaah,

UV filter in place - that sort of makes sense but....

fitting a Hoya Pro 1 D filter or other "slim" filter stops this, no vignetting whatsoever.

Simon

daacon · 03-23-2008, 09:24 AM

I have been watching the thread with great interest. I shoot about 50% of my shots between 16 - 80 . I was thinking about the DA* zoom twins , however I may now be thinking on Sigma 17-70 and the DA* 50-135 .... man it never gets easier to pick a lens or two

ricardobeat · 03-23-2008, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by thear

I sold my Sigma 17-70mm lens due to vignetting when shooting wide.

Sigma 17-70mm with UV filter on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2315565394_7d053abfb5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2315554600_b1bf66c94e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2315747390_278bcbacb0_b.jpg

You can't really blame the lens if you're putting an old fat filter in front of it!

I actually bought the 17-70 because of the lack of vignetting, which made me almost hate the 18-55.

thear · 03-23-2008, 11:10 AM

I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm.

superfuzzy · 03-23-2008, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by thear

I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm.

I checked out some shots taken at 17mm - no vignetting with my copy of the lens.

pw-pix · 03-23-2008, 05:57 PM

I've rarely noticed any vignetting with mine and I shoot a lot at the wide end, mostly 17mm.

pw-pix · 03-23-2008, 05:59 PM

I'm guessing that the filter is causing the vignetting. Try a Hoya Pro1 extra slim or similar

heatherslightbox · 03-23-2008, 07:08 PM

Check these out: Picasa Web Albums - HeatherB - Flower pics
All but the first 2 were taken with the 17-70. I love it's close-up feature.

Heather

superfuzzy · 03-23-2008, 07:38 PM

A macro shot I took with the Sigma 17-70mm and k100d

ricardobeat · 03-23-2008, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by thear

I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm.

No lens has zero vignetting, specially wide-angle zooms. Check the charts here Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC (Pentax K) - Review / Test Report and compare to the kit lens or other zooms. The Sigma is one of the best zoom lenses out there.

Arpe · 03-24-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by AndrewShirley

I would take an f/2.8 to f/4.5 over a constant f/4 any day

Ditto to that

I'm pretty happy as the lens doesn't get in the way of the K20D's flash, even at 17mm. It created a shadow from the flash up to about 24mm on my old istDs.

KrisK10D · 03-24-2008, 08:28 PM

Mine got delivered today. Can't wait to test it out

leadbelly · 03-24-2008, 08:36 PM

Dang, I was waiting for the Pentax 17-70/4, but you guys are making me think twice! What Pentax has going for me is SDM though... paired with the DA* 60-250/4? sweet!!!

Clem Nichols · 03-25-2008, 05:23 PM

I just got back from a 10 day trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with pro photographer Mike Matlach. Mike was a perfect host who spared no effort to make the trip a success, and although I took along a Sigma 10-20mm, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4, a Pentax 50mm f/1.4, a Sigma 70-300mm, and a Kenko 1.5x TC (I couldn't justify lugging the Bigma along), I would guess that at least 90% of my images were made with the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 lens. In my opinion it's just a great walk-around lens which makes very sharp images even in the low-light conditions found in most cathedrals. Don't forget the K10D's shake reduction feature which can make hand-holding possible down to 1/10th or so of a second, and kicking the ISO up to 800 causes only very minimal (to my eye at least) image degradation.

CN

03-23-2008, 04:36 PM	#20
superfuzzy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ, USA (close to NYC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 278 Original Poster	Originally posted by thear I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm. I checked out some shots taken at 17mm - no vignetting with my copy of the lens. Last edited by superfuzzy; 03-23-2008 at 06:15 PM. Reason: typo

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03-23-2008, 09:20 AM	#16
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	Originally posted by thear Sigma 17-70mm with UV filter on. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2315565394_7d053abfb5_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2315554600_b1bf66c94e_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2315747390_278bcbacb0_b.jpg Aaah, UV filter in place - that sort of makes sense but.... fitting a Hoya Pro 1 D filter or other "slim" filter stops this, no vignetting whatsoever. Simon

03-23-2008, 09:24 AM	#17
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	I have been watching the thread with great interest. I shoot about 50% of my shots between 16 - 80 . I was thinking about the DA* zoom twins , however I may now be thinking on Sigma 17-70 and the DA* 50-135 .... man it never gets easier to pick a lens or two

03-23-2008, 11:03 AM	#18
ricardobeat Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brazil Posts: 376	Originally posted by thear I sold my Sigma 17-70mm lens due to vignetting when shooting wide. Sigma 17-70mm with UV filter on. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2315565394_7d053abfb5_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2315554600_b1bf66c94e_b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2315747390_278bcbacb0_b.jpg You can't really blame the lens if you're putting an old fat filter in front of it! I actually bought the 17-70 because of the lack of vignetting, which made me almost hate the 18-55.

03-23-2008, 11:10 AM	#19
thear Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm.

03-23-2008, 05:57 PM	#21
pw-pix Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Geelong Photos: Gallery Posts: 138	I've rarely noticed any vignetting with mine and I shoot a lot at the wide end, mostly 17mm.

03-23-2008, 05:59 PM	#22
pw-pix Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Geelong Photos: Gallery Posts: 138	I'm guessing that the filter is causing the vignetting. Try a Hoya Pro1 extra slim or similar

03-23-2008, 07:08 PM	#23
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	Check these out: Picasa Web Albums - HeatherB - Flower pics All but the first 2 were taken with the 17-70. I love it's close-up feature. Heather

03-23-2008, 07:38 PM	#24
superfuzzy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ, USA (close to NYC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 278 Original Poster	A macro shot I took with the Sigma 17-70mm and k100d

03-23-2008, 08:29 PM	#25
ricardobeat Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brazil Posts: 376	Originally posted by thear I tested the lens on a white wall without filter and vignetting still shows at 17mm. No lens has zero vignetting, specially wide-angle zooms. Check the charts here Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC (Pentax K) - Review / Test Report and compare to the kit lens or other zooms. The Sigma is one of the best zoom lenses out there.

03-24-2008, 08:22 PM	#26
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Originally posted by AndrewShirley I would take an f/2.8 to f/4.5 over a constant f/4 any day Ditto to that I'm pretty happy as the lens doesn't get in the way of the K20D's flash, even at 17mm. It created a shadow from the flash up to about 24mm on my old istDs.

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03-24-2008, 08:28 PM	#27
KrisK10D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	Mine got delivered today. Can't wait to test it out

03-24-2008, 08:36 PM	#28
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597	Dang, I was waiting for the Pentax 17-70/4, but you guys are making me think twice! What Pentax has going for me is SDM though... paired with the DA* 60-250/4? sweet!!!

03-25-2008, 05:23 PM	#29
Clem Nichols Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Munfordville, Ky. Photos: Gallery Posts: 370	I just got back from a 10 day trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with pro photographer Mike Matlach. Mike was a perfect host who spared no effort to make the trip a success, and although I took along a Sigma 10-20mm, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4, a Pentax 50mm f/1.4, a Sigma 70-300mm, and a Kenko 1.5x TC (I couldn't justify lugging the Bigma along), I would guess that at least 90% of my images were made with the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 lens. In my opinion it's just a great walk-around lens which makes very sharp images even in the low-light conditions found in most cathedrals. Don't forget the K10D's shake reduction feature which can make hand-holding possible down to 1/10th or so of a second, and kicking the ISO up to 800 causes only very minimal (to my eye at least) image degradation. CN