Originally posted by silver_dragon People on this forum are going to have contrary opinions to mine, some most likely saying something to the tune of "avoid like the plague".
I have the 18-35, mine appears to be a fairly good copy that only has focusing issues from what i can tell at F1.8 only and appears to nail focus virtually every time at any other aperture and distance. For others this might pose a problem but for me it is no drama flicking the camera to live view to take that F1.8 shot.
If you can find a good copy from a store with a quick and easy returns policy, I'd definately recommend this lense.
Thank you for your input, the more I reflect on the matter I come to the conclusion that I have some classic primes that should be able to handle what the 18-35 is offering, albeit with somewhat less wide angle capabilities. If they get the autofocus under control I will consider it in the future.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:39 PM ----------
Originally posted by Edgar_in_Indy Or you could just buy from some hapless person on eBay selling a used copy, and then make them eat the cost of the return if you aren't 100% super duper delighted. Apparently eBay's policy is to force sellers to accept returns, and pay the return shipping, on lenses even when the lens is perfectly good.
(But I'm not bitter or anything)
Given the autofocus question I will hold off on purchasing for the time being.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:42 PM ----------
Originally posted by RainMan I also have the 18-35 and from my experience, believe that Sigma should include the "optional" calibration dock as part of the sale. The copy I have required several calibration dock and test iterations to finally produce reliable and repeatable results. My application and use for this range has recently changed, and unfortunately its lack of weather sealing keeps it firmly on the shelf 99.9% of the time, so, it is for sale.
Cheers,
RM-
Rainman, currently I feel that I would come to your conclusion if I purchased the 18-35 given the autofocus situation; if the autofocus is resolved sometime in the future it might be worth considering, but I have some excellent primes that should fill the gap for now.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:44 PM ----------
Originally posted by interested_observer I have a copy. I acquired it knowing about the focus issue. Essentially focusing with the viewfinder is a hit or miss proposition even with the micro-focusing adjustments - your mileage may vary. I acquired mine mainly because of the relatively wide focal length and the f1.8 aperture for astro landscapes. Where I am able to autofocus (and I am usually up on a tripod), I use liveview which is reliable, or manual focusing. So, for me it has performed reasonably.
Last summer I was back in Boston for several weeks. I hauled the lens around to shoot the area in the evenings (with a tripod). It is heavy. The AF issues were ok for me when I used the viewfinder most of the time (and I also took several shots to try to make sure). Also, you really do NOT want to shoot into the sun with it. I like the FA 31Ltd better for the 30mm, and the Contax Zeiss at 28mm. I really have nothing better or faster for the wide end at 18mm.
I see them being sold here on the marketplace used in the ~$500 - $600 range. If you are inclined to acquire it, I would buy used, since the AF issues are probably not going to change between new and used. I also understand that the AF problem is seen across all the mounts - Canon, Nikon as well as Pentax.
Here is a couple of threads that pretty much sums up the lens....
Thank you for your input and the threads on the 18-35, for now I willl focus on the lenses that I have and keep my ear to the ground concerning the autofocus problem and its solution.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:50 PM ----------
Originally posted by Digitalis I agree with this. But even having the dock will not prevent the lens from the issue of randomly misfocusing.
The lens is very sharp, even at wide apertures but it loses to the Pentax FA31 regarding overall image quality*. Especially in regards to bokeh, which on this lens can be highly variable:
Left: Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 @ 31mm f/1.8. Right: Pentax FA31mm f/1.8 @ f/1.8 - 100% center crops, both lenses were focused at the 2m mark
Though in all fairness the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 does very well at wide apertures at close focus distances:
Pentax K5IIs - Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 @ 35mm ISO 400 f/1.8 1/250th
Though you would be hard pressed to find a lens in this focal length range that doesn't do well regarding bokeh at close focusing, even a takumar 35mm f/2 would probably do just as well.
As for value, if the dock came free with the lens I'd consider it good value- but at present that isn't the case.
Micro focus adjustments cannot account for the random misfocusing this lens suffers from. I have subjected my lens to considerable scrutiny regarding AF calibrations and it still is only accurate with AF 79% of the time. YMMV.
* and general reliability with Autofocus.
Digitalis, thanks for the input and the dock certainly could aid in the selling of the lens. I am going to suggest to Sigma that they have someone address the questions on this forum for I feel that they are losing a lot of potential customers for this lens which has wonderful possibilities.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:52 PM ----------
Originally posted by jddwoods Two colleagues of mine at work, one with a Canon 70 D and the other with a Canon 7D bought this lens. Both say the autofocus through the viewfinder is virtually unusable. They either focus manually or use live view. Clearly it is not a Pentax only problem. My only reason to consider this lens would be the quiet autofocus, but knowing of this issue for me I will just happily keep the bag of primes it would replace: DA 15, 21 and 40 Limiteds and save the money for something else.
I concur with your observation "I will just happily keep the bag of primes it would replace:
DA 15, 21 and 40 Limiteds and save the money for something else."
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 04:57 PM ----------
Wpresto, I have two of the "three amigos" (43, 77); I have held off on the 31 because of some issues I have read concerning this lens. Thanks for your input, your point about how much it would add versus the lenses I already have is a good point.
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 05:00 PM ----------
Originally posted by dadipentak I like my Sigma 18-35/1.8 a lot.
Dadipentak, what has your experience been with the 18-35? Didn't you have any autofocus issues?
---------- Post added 01-23-16 at 05:01 PM ----------
Originally posted by Rupert Go over in the K5IIs thread and look at the posts by
FS...he has a ton of 18-35 Art shots and they are spectacular.
Of course, you do have to keep in mind that
FS is one of those guys that can mount the bottom of a fruit jar and beat 90% of the shooters I know.
Regards!
I agree these shots are excellent