Sigma 70-200mm HSM review up

[David Kilpatrick]

David, did you test it on a Nikon mount or Sony mount camera ? I couldn't really get that out of your text.

lock

Brief test on Nikon D3, then I bought one for my A900. The final opinion is based on A900 results. I should point out that I have NOT used a Sony 70-200mm SSM, only a Konica Minolta era version. The Sigma is better than my Minolta 70-200mm was for most of the subjects I shoot, on full frame. Richard (son) reckons the 70-200mm Nikkor is much better for focus speed and general handling, but he has also bought the Sigma. I know for a fact the Sigma is a better lens on full frame than the current Nikkor, but not as good as the older 80-200mm AF-S Nikkor. So do most informed Nikon owners Sony owners may be harder to convince, they have paid a bundle for the 70-200mm and will not easily accept that a third party lens at third of the price could be a better all-round choice (that is, good on FF as well as APS-C).

David

[lock]

David, did you test it on a Nikon mount or Sony mount camera ? I couldn't really get that out of your text.

lock

Brief test on Nikon D3, then I bought one for my A900. The final opinion is based on A900 results. I should point out that I have NOT used a Sony 70-200mm SSM, only a Konica Minolta era version. The Sigma is better than my Minolta 70-200mm was for most of the subjects I shoot, on full frame. Richard (son) reckons the 70-200mm Nikkor is much better for focus speed and general handling, but he has also bought the Sigma. I know for a fact the Sigma is a better lens on full frame than the current Nikkor, but not as good as the older 80-200mm AF-S Nikkor. So do most informed Nikon owners Sony owners may be harder to convince, they have paid a bundle for the 70-200mm and will not easily accept that a third party lens at third of the price could be a better all-round choice (that is, good on FF as well as APS-C).
David

Funny that I write down the question the wrong way, but still get very usefull answer David !
You probably know of my crazy issue with the 70200G. I have decided to go two ways for a while. So I'm going to buy myself a D300 in exchange of my A700-kit (do have to pay some extra but it's good deal). I will solve the issue with the 70200G myself, either at Geissler (Germany, if the can really fix it) or at Sony Japan. Then I will test the lens again and decide if I will stay with Sony or not. In the mean while I bought an A300 second hand to go with the remaining lenses so my wife ( and kids, they love it) can get a grip of DSLRS as well.
The info about the 70200 Sigma on Nikon is usefull cause I won't be able to pay for the Nikkor variant anyway. And the Sigma is FF suitable. To go with this, Sigma plan to add OS to it (next year, dutch Sigma rep.). With a little patience...

However, my question was about the 18-250. So it should have been:

David, did you test the 18-250 on a Nikon mount or Sony mount camera ?

[David Kilpatrick]

David, did you test the 18-250 on a Nikon mount or Sony mount camera ?

Sony mount camera. I've got the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 for Nikon, but the 18-250mm OS is on Sony. I have previously also tested it on Canon. Never on Nikon.

David

[dynaxfl]

I just bought this lens for my dad, and for his a700. I'm currently using the old Minolta 80-200HS, and I was just very curious to see the match of these two lens. Sigma lens feels very decent, and the HSM is very quiet on my a900. Overall it is a very decent lens. The only problem I found comparing to the old 80-200HS is that Sigma lens only uses center focus point to focus while my minolta lens uses all focus points.

I will do some comparison in the coming weeks and will post my review shortly.

[David Kilpatrick]

I have just checked our A700. The Sigma will use all AF points in wide area focus mode, allows selection of any focus point in local area mode, and uses the centre spot only in spot focus mode. That's as I would expect, though I am fairly sure some lenses allow spot focus off other points (effectively making the spot mode exactly the same as local area mode). The behaviour is exactly the same on my A900.

I've just tried a few other lenses and none of them allow the focus point to be moved off the centre when in spot focus mode. You have use local area mode for that. The symbols do look confusingly similar, with the spot focus symbol almost implying you can shift the focus point.

David

[lock]

David, did you test the 18-250 on a Nikon mount or Sony mount camera ?

Sony mount camera. I've got the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 for Nikon, but the 18-250mm OS is on Sony. I have previously also tested it on Canon. Never on Nikon.

David

Just tested the 18-250 on a D300. Until you get close to 200 mm you can make use of good AF, above that it tends to slow down because of the max aperture (F/6.3). But in bright light there is no speed problem at all. And image quality ? I'm not disappointed at all, if you consider the range offered by this lens.

[Alain]

Hi David

Would a upgrade from a older Sigma 70-200 APO EX give visible better quality or better handling?

It would give a shorter minimum focussing distance (from 1.8m to 1m) and HSM (quieter).

Would it be faster focussing on a A700 / A900?

Anybody some idea?

I'm curious if it would give a better lens quality wise.

[David Kilpatrick]

The answer is yes all round. I've used both the previous EX versions, EX and EX DG, in various mounts with both screw and onboard motor. The HSM is far better, the new design is better optically, and it's a worthwhile upgrade from older Sigmas.

David

[Alain]

The answer is yes all round. I've used both the previous EX versions, EX and EX DG, in various mounts with both screw and onboard motor. The HSM is far better, the new design is better optically, and it's a worthwhile upgrade from older Sigmas.

David

Thanks