Sigma 70-200mm HSM personal IQ test

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by Alfisti

Almost anyone that has used the older, first generation 70-200 siggy prefers it.

An unfortunate reality - Sigma praises the HSM model for being:

Quote:

improved in optical performance and retains close-up ability with a minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range

A claim far-fetched IMO.
I wished it were so, and I could get better images than I could above, but I just could not improve on them no matter how many times I tried...

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 09:00 AM

Originally posted by simdavid

If you have adjusted your sharpness setting stronger, could you put it to normal and try again?

As mentioned above, I'm shooting RAW - those in-camera settings don't apply.
In ACR, it's on the default setting for sharpness - which doesn't really matter anyway as images from my all my other lenses don't give me such soft results, particularly in the centre, at this same setting.

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by krypticide

That looks about right to me, Ash. The softness I mentioned wide open includes a bit of haloing. Again, I haven't handled the Tamron or 50-135mm, but I'm still quite happy with this lens. Maybe it's just the benefit of not having anything firsthand to compare with...

I appreciate your input.

The Tamron 70-200 I had whilst having some haloing wide open at minimum focusing distance, corrected significantly at medium to long distances.

Alfisti · 09-04-2009, 09:23 AM

This is where I am surprised no one takes me up on my offer to buy lenses here and ship them over after i test them and send images ot the buyer. I'd need to charge a small fee for my time but i think it saves a lot of potential grief for the buyer from OZ.

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 09:30 AM

I agree.
So do you have a good Sigma 70-200 to sell me?

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 10:08 AM

The only f/2.8 sample I got from mine before the AF broke:

Full size available here: http://deadwolfbones.smugmug.com/Sports/Santa-Fe-Triathalon/8951507_FJ9qa#594634578_RZn5a-A-LB

Alfisti · 09-04-2009, 10:14 AM

What did it cost you Ash?

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by Alfisti

What did it cost you Ash?

$799.

It's going back to B&H.
Simply cannot get the same results as deadwolfbones has above - that's an extraordinarily sharp shot wide open. Yours would have been a definite keeper.

What happened to the AF?
Did you get it repaired or did you return the lens?

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Ash

What happened to the AF?
Did you get it repaired or did you return the lens?

The HSM died, as best I can tell.

It's been at the service location for 2 weeks. No word from Sigma yet.

**Ash** · 09-04-2009, 11:35 AM

Oh that's right.
I've asked you that more than once.
Sorry - lapsed mind, or is that lost mind... I dunno - night shift does strange things to the body...

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 11:55 AM

No worries.

Just fired off an email to my contact at Sigma. Hopefully they'll let me know what's what.

**pentaxman** · 09-04-2009, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

The only f/2.8 sample I got from mine before the AF broke:

Full size available here: Santa Fe Triathalon - deadwolfbones' Photos

From the picture info, it looks like it was taken at 70mm, not 200mm. From the reviews I have read the IQ is much better at 70mm than 200mm. The reviews I have read have also said that this lens is weak in the Macro range.

I would find some shots at 200mm F2.8 before exchanging this lens. (especially considering that you don't live next door to B&H).

One other thing is that B&H is rigid about the 15day return policy, so if you are going to return it vs. exchange it, keep this in mind.

Tom

kenyee · 09-04-2009, 12:34 PM

yep, it's too bad you don't live in the states. B&H will cover shipping both ways for a defective lens which yours might be if it's halo'ing.

AFAIK, all 70-200 lenses will be a bit less sharp at the long end as was my Tamron 70-300.
I'll post some 2.8 crops when I get mine replaced in a week or so. I had to pay shipping back to A&R photo.
One other thing is the 102xxxx serial# lenses seem to have a bubbly front lens coat and flaky HSM motor. Not sure what your serial# was, but if it was 104xxxx, you should have one of the better ones...

Denis · 09-04-2009, 12:56 PM

Mine is also sharp at 2.8, more in the lower end but still quite acceptable in the 200mm range. Your results should be much better. I purchased mine 2 years ago when they first came out. It is a keeper so far. IQ is quite good. I am at work right now but will post a few photos to show both ends of the range tonight.

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 01:08 PM

Just got the repair acknowledgment from Sigma. Looks like it was serviced under warranty ("replace HSM focusing roller; adjust AF data--checked all in good working condition") and on its way back to me.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Sigma AF 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM	Tommot1965	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	1	10-05-2010 01:12 AM
SIGMA 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM	spanky66d	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	09-22-2010 07:23 AM
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM is here	Snapshot12	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	09-11-2008 06:17 PM

09-04-2009, 08:57 AM	#16
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by Alfisti Almost anyone that has used the older, first generation 70-200 siggy prefers it. An unfortunate reality - Sigma praises the HSM model for being: Quote: improved in optical performance and retains close-up ability with a minimum focusing distance of 100cm/39.4in. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range A claim far-fetched IMO. I wished it were so, and I could get better images than I could above, but I just could not improve on them no matter how many times I tried...

09-04-2009, 09:00 AM	#17
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by simdavid If you have adjusted your sharpness setting stronger, could you put it to normal and try again? As mentioned above, I'm shooting RAW - those in-camera settings don't apply. In ACR, it's on the default setting for sharpness - which doesn't really matter anyway as images from my all my other lenses don't give me such soft results, particularly in the centre, at this same setting.

09-04-2009, 09:03 AM	#18
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by krypticide That looks about right to me, Ash. The softness I mentioned wide open includes a bit of haloing. Again, I haven't handled the Tamron or 50-135mm, but I'm still quite happy with this lens. Maybe it's just the benefit of not having anything firsthand to compare with... I appreciate your input. The Tamron 70-200 I had whilst having some haloing wide open at minimum focusing distance, corrected significantly at medium to long distances.

09-04-2009, 09:23 AM	#19
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	This is where I am surprised no one takes me up on my offer to buy lenses here and ship them over after i test them and send images ot the buyer. I'd need to charge a small fee for my time but i think it saves a lot of potential grief for the buyer from OZ.

09-04-2009, 09:30 AM	#20
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	I agree. So do you have a good Sigma 70-200 to sell me?

09-04-2009, 10:08 AM	#21
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	The only f/2.8 sample I got from mine before the AF broke: Full size available here: http://deadwolfbones.smugmug.com/Sports/Santa-Fe-Triathalon/8951507_FJ9qa#594634578_RZn5a-A-LB

09-04-2009, 10:14 AM	#22
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	What did it cost you Ash?

09-04-2009, 11:22 AM	#23
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by Alfisti What did it cost you Ash? $799. It's going back to B&H. Simply cannot get the same results as deadwolfbones has above - that's an extraordinarily sharp shot wide open. Yours would have been a definite keeper. What happened to the AF? Did you get it repaired or did you return the lens?

09-04-2009, 11:30 AM	#24
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by Ash What happened to the AF? Did you get it repaired or did you return the lens? The HSM died, as best I can tell. It's been at the service location for 2 weeks. No word from Sigma yet.

09-04-2009, 11:35 AM	#25
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Oh that's right. I've asked you that more than once. Sorry - lapsed mind, or is that lost mind... I dunno - night shift does strange things to the body...

09-04-2009, 11:55 AM	#26
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	No worries. Just fired off an email to my contact at Sigma. Hopefully they'll let me know what's what.

09-04-2009, 12:14 PM	#27
pentaxman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	Originally posted by deadwolfbones The only f/2.8 sample I got from mine before the AF broke: Full size available here: Santa Fe Triathalon - deadwolfbones' Photos From the picture info, it looks like it was taken at 70mm, not 200mm. From the reviews I have read the IQ is much better at 70mm than 200mm. The reviews I have read have also said that this lens is weak in the Macro range. I would find some shots at 200mm F2.8 before exchanging this lens. (especially considering that you don't live next door to B&H). One other thing is that B&H is rigid about the 15day return policy, so if you are going to return it vs. exchange it, keep this in mind. Tom

09-04-2009, 12:34 PM	#28
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	yep, it's too bad you don't live in the states. B&H will cover shipping both ways for a defective lens which yours might be if it's halo'ing. AFAIK, all 70-200 lenses will be a bit less sharp at the long end as was my Tamron 70-300. I'll post some 2.8 crops when I get mine replaced in a week or so. I had to pay shipping back to A&R photo. One other thing is the 102xxxx serial# lenses seem to have a bubbly front lens coat and flaky HSM motor. Not sure what your serial# was, but if it was 104xxxx, you should have one of the better ones...

09-04-2009, 12:56 PM	#29
Denis Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St-Albert, Alberta, Canada Posts: 330	Mine is also sharp at 2.8, more in the lower end but still quite acceptable in the 200mm range. Your results should be much better. I purchased mine 2 years ago when they first came out. It is a keeper so far. IQ is quite good. I am at work right now but will post a few photos to show both ends of the range tonight.

09-04-2009, 01:08 PM	#30
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Just got the repair acknowledgment from Sigma. Looks like it was serviced under warranty ("replace HSM focusing roller; adjust AF data--checked all in good working condition") and on its way back to me.