Sigma 18-35 "Art" In-Depth Review Posted!

Heie · 11-03-2014, 03:00 AM - **5 Likes**

It's finally live

Sigma 18-35 F1.8 DC HSM "Art" In-Depth Review

I'll be doing a BTS post on how I made that image soon

-Heie

LensBeginner · 11-03-2014, 03:07 AM

Looking forward to the making of, pic is striking and well crafted!
Will look at the review promptly.
Thanks for all your efforts!

schnitzer79 · 11-03-2014, 03:25 AM

Excellent work and as always to the highest level. Thanks Alex

**mwilky55** · 11-03-2014, 04:36 AM

Hello Heie,
I got a lot out of your article on handheld long exposures. Thank you for all the effort you put into it. It was very useful.
Regards,
Michael

starjedi · 11-03-2014, 04:52 AM

Originally posted by Heie

It's finally live

Sigma 18-35 F1.8 DC HSM "Art" In-Depth Review

I'll be doing a BTS post on how I made that image soon

-Heie

Thanks very much! Just one question: for FA 31 performance, is it possible due to a sample variance?

Franc · 11-03-2014, 04:57 AM

excellent review

cxdoo · 11-03-2014, 05:21 AM

Comprehensive review as always, Heie. Thanks a lot.
It'll be very hard for you if you ever lower your standards, you got us very spoiled.

robjmitchell · 11-03-2014, 05:27 AM

Thanks Heie, The frog egg bokeh I could live with, the inability to autofocus is a deal breaker.

macTak · 11-03-2014, 05:57 AM

Great review Heie. The optical quality of the Sigma is truly amazing, equalling and bettering one of the most legendary prime lenses in sharpness (which I admit is by no means the whole story) from wide open while being a 2x zoom. And its lack of CA is very impressive too, from your comparisons. What a pity about the autofocus.

Also, one small correction: on the sharpness page Comparison Eight should be Edge Sharpness instead of Center Sharpness again.

**Digitalis** · 11-03-2014, 07:19 AM - **1 Like**

Heie - I didn't observe any color shift with this lens on my Pentax K5IIs when I changed the aperture on the 18-35mm f/1.8, I work with a fixed white balance of 5000Kelvin. I suspect a user error or a rapid shift in lighting occurred, are you certain you had the K3 Custom function 10: set to fixed? I have never observed a lens that changed colour temperature depending on the aperture selected I'm thinking a camera or environmental variable has caused this error.

Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 @ 18mm Right: f/4.0 Left: f/1.8

Also, from what I have observed the Frogg-egg bokeh occurs at all apertures from f/1.8 to f/16. It appears in front of the focal plane and behind it.

Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 ART @ 20mm f/1.8 (you can even see the effect without the 100% crop)

Originally posted by starjedi

for FA 31 performance, is it possible due to a sample variance?

Most certainly - my copy of the FA31mm f/1.8 beats the sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 for sharpness across the APS-C frame and beyond.

Na Horuk · 11-03-2014, 08:41 AM

Wow, now that is a thorough review! The comment about getting dizzy over all the sharpness charts was spot on

Thanks for the review, and an impressive job, going through so much work to test so many aspects of all the different lenses, at different apertures, at different zoom..

Edit: And nice to hear from Digitalis, too. Always good to have comments coming from different photographers, using different copies of the reviewed lens.

**Rondec** · 11-03-2014, 08:59 AM

Looks like a good lens, if they can just get the auto focus issues sorted out. I do wonder about the FA 31 copy, as mine is pretty sharp at f2.

nj1975 · 11-03-2014, 09:05 AM

Fantastic - this review is just what I've been waiting for! - looking forward to reading it properly - Thank you

bdery · 11-03-2014, 09:21 AM

Thanks as always. The composite image is indeed excellent. Good work!

The only problem is that you made me desire the 20-40 now. If it had the same starburst effect as my 21, I'd replace it right now I think.

LFLee · 11-03-2014, 09:24 AM

looks more like a favorable-bias review towards the 20-40 than an honest review of the Sigma 18-35.

not surprising though.

11-03-2014, 03:00 AM - 5 Likes	#1
Heie Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	Sigma 18-35 "Art" In-Depth Review Posted! It's finally live Sigma 18-35 F1.8 DC HSM "Art" In-Depth Review I'll be doing a BTS post on how I made that image soon -Heie

11-03-2014, 07:19 AM - 1 Like	#10
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Heie - I didn't observe any color shift with this lens on my Pentax K5IIs when I changed the aperture on the 18-35mm f/1.8, I work with a fixed white balance of 5000Kelvin. I suspect a user error or a rapid shift in lighting occurred, are you certain you had the K3 Custom function 10: set to fixed? I have never observed a lens that changed colour temperature depending on the aperture selected I'm thinking a camera or environmental variable has caused this error. Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 @ 18mm Right:* f/4.0 Left: f/1.8* Also, from what I have observed the Frogg-egg bokeh occurs at all apertures from f/1.8 to f/16. It appears in front of the focal plane and behind it. Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 ART @ 20mm f/1.8 (you can even see the effect without the 100% crop) Originally posted by starjedi for FA 31 performance, is it possible due to a sample variance? Most certainly - my copy of the FA31mm f/1.8 beats the sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 for sharpness across the APS-C frame and beyond. Last edited by Digitalis; 11-03-2014 at 07:35 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My Sigma Art 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM "Art" review	THoog	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	08-24-2016 03:43 AM
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 "Art" Review Posted	PF Staff	Homepage & Official Pentax News	1	11-03-2014 12:45 AM
Sigma 18-35 F1.8 In-Depth Review	Heie	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	08-12-2014 06:03 PM
Sigma 30mm F1.4 "Art" Review Posted	Adam	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	40	04-18-2014 10:52 AM

11-03-2014, 03:07 AM	#2
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Looking forward to the making of, pic is striking and well crafted! Will look at the review promptly. Thanks for all your efforts!

11-03-2014, 03:25 AM	#3
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	Excellent work and as always to the highest level. Thanks Alex

11-03-2014, 04:36 AM	#4
mwilky55 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeastern Connecticut Photos: Albums Posts: 816	Hello Heie, I got a lot out of your article on handheld long exposures. Thank you for all the effort you put into it. It was very useful. Regards, Michael

11-03-2014, 04:52 AM	#5
starjedi Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 932	Originally posted by Heie It's finally live Sigma 18-35 F1.8 DC HSM "Art" In-Depth Review I'll be doing a BTS post on how I made that image soon -Heie Thanks very much! Just one question: for FA 31 performance, is it possible due to a sample variance?

11-03-2014, 04:57 AM	#6
Franc Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hoevelaken Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,214	excellent review

11-03-2014, 05:21 AM	#7
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150	Comprehensive review as always, Heie. Thanks a lot. It'll be very hard for you if you ever lower your standards, you got us very spoiled.

11-03-2014, 05:27 AM	#8
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	Thanks Heie, The frog egg bokeh I could live with, the inability to autofocus is a deal breaker.

11-03-2014, 05:57 AM	#9
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	Great review Heie. The optical quality of the Sigma is truly amazing, equalling and bettering one of the most legendary prime lenses in sharpness (which I admit is by no means the whole story) from wide open while being a 2x zoom. And its lack of CA is very impressive too, from your comparisons. What a pity about the autofocus. Also, one small correction: on the sharpness page Comparison Eight should be Edge Sharpness instead of Center Sharpness again.

11-03-2014, 08:41 AM	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Wow, now that is a thorough review! The comment about getting dizzy over all the sharpness charts was spot on Thanks for the review, and an impressive job, going through so much work to test so many aspects of all the different lenses, at different apertures, at different zoom.. Edit: And nice to hear from Digitalis, too. Always good to have comments coming from different photographers, using different copies of the reviewed lens.

11-03-2014, 08:59 AM	#12
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,663	Looks like a good lens, if they can just get the auto focus issues sorted out. I do wonder about the FA 31 copy, as mine is pretty sharp at f2.

11-03-2014, 09:05 AM	#13
nj1975 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 57	Fantastic - this review is just what I've been waiting for! - looking forward to reading it properly - Thank you

11-03-2014, 09:21 AM	#14
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Thanks as always. The composite image is indeed excellent. Good work! The only problem is that you made me desire the 20-40 now. If it had the same starburst effect as my 21, I'd replace it right now I think.

11-03-2014, 09:24 AM	#15
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	looks more like a favorable-bias review towards the 20-40 than an honest review of the Sigma 18-35. not surprising though.