photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
jimcreek | profile | all galleries >> Sigma DC 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Test Report tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Sigma DC 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Test Report

The Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 is quite a nice lens for a very reasonable price. This is the kit lens that Canon SHOULD have made. I can’t think of another Zoom lens with the same range, speed and optical quality for the same money. Build quality is also very good, light years ahead of the Canon 18-55 kit lens. Autofocus is as quick as my EF 24/2.8 and 50/1.8 and with a slightly lower noise level. This is surprising since this not a Sigma HSM lens. The Sigma actually hunts less than the 50/1.8. The zoom action has a fairly nice feel with a wide rubber grip plus a zoom lock button. The manual focus ring is smooth. The optical performance and build quality exceeded my expectations. One negative point is that the focus ring turns when autofocusing. It's too easy for your fingers to interfere with the focusing ring which will ruin the focus of your shot. The lens has 2 Aspherical elements and a SLD (low dispersion) element.

This shoot-out compares the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 with 2 Canon primes, the EF 24/2.8 and EF 50/1.8. This is a very tough comparison for a wide to moderate telephoto Zoom like the Sigma. However, as you will see the Sigma does quite well.

The Sigma 17-70 aperture varies with focal length:
17-20mm f/2.8
21-24mm f/3.2
24-34mm f/3.5
35-54mm f/4.0
55-70mm f/4.5

50mm TEST NOT DONE YET: My 50/1.8 started acting flaky with Err99 and is in for repairs under warranty. Test shots will be done at 50mm when I get my EF 50/1.8 back from the shop. UPDATE: I got the 50/1.8 back from the repair shop on 4/3. Guess what? It worked for a few shots then the center lens group loosened up and is nearly falling out of the housing! I have to send it back.

CONCLUSION: The Sigma 17-70 is an outstanding performer, far better than the Canon 18-55/4.5-5.6 kit lens. On an APS-C digital (1.6X Crop factor) camera, the Sigma performed very similar to my Canon 24mm prime. The only negative that I found was that the focusing ring turned while autofocusing. If your fingers interfere with the focus ring you could ruin the focus for that one shot.
UPDATE: This is a SERIOUSLY good lens. I had the oportunity to compare a few shots with a Canon EF 17-40/4. There was no difference on a 1.6 crop DSLR betweeen these two lenses. None! I am just so impressed with this Sigma 17-70!!!
Sigma 17-70 Shoot-Out
Sigma 17-70 Shoot-Out
Sigma 17-70 Close-up Shot
Sigma 17-70 Close-up Shot
The Center Test Shot
The Center Test Shot
24mm Center Crops
24mm Center Crops
Chromatic Aberration Test Shot @ 70mm
Chromatic Aberration Test Shot @ 70mm
C.A. Close Up 70mm @ f/4.5
C.A. Close Up 70mm @ f/4.5
The Edge Test Shot
The Edge Test Shot
24mm Edge Crops
24mm Edge Crops
Chromatic Aberration Test Shot @ 19mm
Chromatic Aberration Test Shot @ 19mm
C.A. Closeup 19mm @ f/8
C.A. Closeup 19mm @ f/8
Jim's Creek (C.A. Test)  26mm @ f/8
Jim's Creek (C.A. Test) 26mm @ f/8
Hyacinths
Hyacinths
Crabapples
Crabapples
A Superb Museum Lens
A Superb Museum Lens