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lightrules | profile | all galleries >> Lens Tests by LightRules >> "Popeye" v. "El Hombre" tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

"Popeye" v. "El Hombre"

Apr 5 2005 --- How can an ultra-wide zoom (Sigma 12-24) compete with a prime (Sigma 20)? Who cares, and here are the results. This test done at 20mm focal length.
The 2 Lenses
The 2 Lenses		 20mmTest
20mmTest

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lightrules 25-Oct-2005 23:57
If you are looking at getting one lens as a walk around between the 24EX, 2470EX, or 2460EX, I would easily choose the 2470EX. It gives you the best balance of focal range, speed, fastest AF, and nice optics. As for the shadow cast with this lens and the built-in flash, there is a shadow cast with or without the hood on IIRC. But the 2470EX is still your best bet IMO.
mike_scrotum 25-Oct-2005 22:37
Dear Mr. Fstopjojo; I would like to ask for your advise as I hope your knowledge about Sigma lenses will ease my pain. I am trying to make up my mind about a nice Sigma "walk around" lens, and itīs driving me completely nuts..... In your opinion would it make any sense to go with the Sigma 24mm 1.8 instead of a decent zoom? 24mm and 1.6 crop factor would turn out as 38mm, just what I need. Would it be more clever to get the 24-70mm 2.8 instead, or the smaller 24-60mm? Is the gain in quality of the prime significant enough? Is there any gain against the sharp 24-70mm 2.8 zoom lens??? (Besides the faster speed of more than one fstop?). My second question is about the problem I read about, that the 24-70mm 2.8 lens is blocking the built in flash of the RebelXT/Eos 350d? Is that true? Does it make any difference if the lens hood is removed?
seventeen_cal 10-Aug-2005 05:44
See
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/17-40/union.htm

At near-infinity, the Sigma seems to be much sharper than the Canon 20mm prime (and the other contenders), but the author notes that "At close focusing range, the lens is not as sharp and has poor microcontrast". http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/17-40/ )
lightrules 18-Apr-2005 04:51
Dave, first off, I looked at your galleries and you're an excellent photographer. You have some very nice captures indeed. As for your 20 f1.8 copy, I looked over your test shots and while I would lean toward saying it seems like a poor copy, at the same time it is hard to say for sure. Do you have another lens to compare it to? One that you know is a good sample? Also, I'd take it outside and shoot some outdoors shots, with most of them from f1.8 - f4, including close ups, and see how you like the image quality. Of course, there is also the "red brick wall" test that many seem to like in assessing sharpness from center to edge (since a brick wall is perfectly flat and consistent and generally has good lighting if it's outside). I'd make sure your test has PLENTY of light (or use external flash gun assistance) if you are shooting the newspaper test as AF can be "iffy". If you want to talk more, email me privately at fstopjojo@yahoo.com. Jojo
Dave Deacon 18-Apr-2005 04:36
Hi fstop

Thanks for your tests of the various Sigma lenses. Indeed, I used them and others to decide to buy a Sigma 20mm for my 20D and D60. Alas, I seem to have been given two lemons to try. They each seemed to have a decentred element - and these direct from Sigma UK. There's a link below to some newspaper shots I have posted. I'd be interested to see what you think of them. Does your lens behave similarly?

http://www.pbase.com/shootist/sig20

Regards, Shootiist
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