[kjao]

Hi all,

As posted in another thread, I bought this lens yesterday because it was on sale at an incredible price (for Australia anyway), AU$299! I didn't get a chance to shoot much yesterday as it was already dark when I got home. I managed to take a few shots just around the house this morning after breakfast:

Edit: If the photos don't come up properly, please go straight to the album here:
Picasa Web Albums - Kenny - Sigma 17-70/2...


1. The box


2. This magpie was waiting for my cat to finish eat so he/she could have the left-over.


3. Focus was on the plastic connector


4. The focus is on the right peg


5. One of my brother's dogs that I am looking after while he is away


6. My cat, used onboard flash as fill flash as he was back-lit


7.


8. The other dog


This lens performs as expected, ie sharp in the middle even at wide open aperture and soft at the corners/edges but gets better when stopped down. This lens actually covers the range I use most often. I have been using my FA20-35/4 and Tamron 28-70/2.8 to cover this range before I got this lens but there were times when I wished I had one lens that would cover the same range. So it looks like my prayer has been answered.

cheers
Kenny

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Last edited by kjao; 04-19-2008 at 07:39 PM.

[heatherslightbox]

Kenny,

I have this lens myself and I think it's one of the best values in terms of focal lengths covered and IQ, plus the 1:2.3 macro ratio doesn't hurt, either.

I know Pentax is supposed to be coming out with their own f4 version of the 17-70, but from what I've read, the Sigma's supposed to be better. I would have to laugh if they priced it more expensive than the Sigma version.

Heather

[drabina]

I also have this lens and I love it. The kit lens was just simple too short at the tele side. Sigma is just perfect (any longer and would probably be not rated as high). Nice pictures though I wasn't able to open some of them due to an error.

[sholtzma]

Photos #1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 won't open.

[kjao]

Photos #1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 won't open.

Sorry about that. Hmm... don't know why it didn't show up on your screen... I am currently using Picasa Web Album, and yes I know, it is not as good as some dedicated web/photos hosting website but it is free I am currently investigating to find a decent one with a reasonable price to suit my need. Anyway, here is the link to the album:
Picasa Web Albums - Kenny - Sigma 17-70/2...

[sholtzma]

Thanks for the shots! I'm looking at this lens for my next purchase....

[code4code5]

Quick question... at what focal lengths does the minimum aperture change?

[little laker]

They're nice lenses. I tried one and really liked it.

I was thinking of getting one of them myself, however I'll probably end up with a 12 - 24 instead. Since I have a 24 - 70 f2.8 already

By the way Kenny,
I'm having problems viewing your images as well.
Only photographs 3, 7, and 8 are showing up for me. Even with 3 refreshes.

If you have your own Internet Service provider theres a good chance that you'll have some free web space. This should be all that you need for posting images here, although you'll have to learn FTP. (File Transfer Protocol) It's easy to learn.

However if your using an internet cafe, or have internet included in your rent (like I do) then your limited.

[kjao]

Hi Stu

I have some web space with my ISP but not a lot and I am using them up. Plus they don't seem to support scp or secure ftp so I don't feel like using it.

I have edited my initial post to include a link directly to my Picasa Web Album. Anyway, here is the link again:
.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/kenny.jao/Sigma17702845DCMacroTestShots

I think I will be getting either the Sigma 10-20 or Pentax 12-24 later on too. I don't mind a little overlapping between focal length, less lens changing.

cheers
Kenny

[kjao]

hi code4code4

The minimum aperture changes around 23mm I think

cheers
Kenny

[KrisK10D]

Quick question... at what focal lengths does the minimum aperture change?

Seems to stop down at around 21mm

[juice]

Here's what I found with my copy:

f2.8 - 17mm to 22mm
f3.5 - 23mm to 36mm
f4 - 37mm to (almost) 70mm.

So f4.5 only kicks in right at the far end of the zoom range.

[code4code5]

Thanks all. I'm hoping that will be the next lens in my bag!

[LDB]

What does LBA mean? This lens is one of my "suspects" for a first, and for a while until the money accumulates for more purchases, an only lens.

[kjao]

One thing I will add that annoys me with this lens is the zoom ring turns in opposite direction. Instead of turning clockwise to zoom into something, you turn anti-clockwise.