Why Sigma?


When ' professional photographers ' ask me what lens I will be shooting with, my response is usually met with a snicker before the word sigma has even left my mouth.

For those of us not blessed with a brain small enough to believe everything the gearbators (Ken Rockwell) tell us about corner sharpness, and all that other crap that really doesn't matter any when you are making a photo, the question 'why sigma?' is answered by the simplest of terms.

It's cheap.

It works. Well.

It's built like a tank.


While I personally love Nikon and Nikkor lenses, I'm not in the camp that experience is necessarily the best thing. (cleverly camouflaged McCain reference) Yes, nikon have some of the finest optics on the commercial market, but where does this lead us?

Nikkor's current line of competition for this lens are as follows:

Nikkor 17-55/2.8 - $1179 (BH)

Nikkor 24-70/2.8 - $1699 (ritz)
(FF lens)

Both are a far cry from a new Sigma 18-50/2.8, which can be picked up at BH Photo for about $449.

or at ebay.com Starting at $399


I base my thoughts on the lenses, having worked at a camera store, and being privy to playing with all of the above lenses. Playing with, (which Rockwell might call vigorous professional testing), is the best way to test lenses out, and most good camera stores will let you attach lenses to your personal camera so you can get the feel for them.

You don't need to read about a lens to make the right choice. Get a feel for it and forget what the reviews said, just use those to narrow the list down.

I could tell you how well this lens works, but since I'm not going to waste your time talking about corner sharpness, I'll just get on with some samples.


Fast Focusing:


High Energy rapper Pharrell flying above the stage @ Pemberton Festival 08
Nikon D300 - 1/250 F/5.0 @ 50mm ISO 400

Accurate:


Modified shot from hip man rolling join in the park
Nikon D300 - 1/320 F/4.0 @ 18mm ISO 400


Quick frame made while walking by homeless man in front of empty lot.
Nikon D300 - 1/800 F/8.0 @ 25mm ISO 400

Sharp:


Scientology Protest Vancouver BC
Nikon D300 - 1/320 F/7.1 @ 25mm ISO 100

Fantastic response in low light:


Conceptual Street Photography - Vancouver BC
Nikon D300 - 1/80 F/2.8 @ 50mm ISO 1600

Wide:


VanCity metal band Abriosis in a small alley, from about 5 ft
Nikon D300 - 1/100 F/4 @ 25mm ISO 640

Efficient Studio Lens:


Pur Pale - Vancouver Electronic Band
Nikon D300 - 1/160 F/8.0 @ 40mm ISO 100


Flood of Fire - Vancouver Metal band
Nikon D300 - 1/160 F/8.0 @ 25mm ISO 100


Most of my street photography is done with this lens, because it is so very versatile, and often finds itself being used for everything else as well.

Its sharpest if you can get it to F8, but performs well through the whole aperture ring.

The last photo featured was taken less than one hour after an accident that sent my camera flying off a 4-5ft ledge onto cement. The sigma lens was attached, and landed glass first on the ground with nothing to slow it down, but came away with almost no damage.

I have since fixed the stiffness that came after, thanks to help from *mindbodygraphics and the lens is still performing as well as it ever did*

_{*Note: most other images featured were shot after the accident}

To say the lens is built like a tank is an appropriate way to put it, but then again, at first feel, you just know this hefty lens isn't going to let you down

If after all that, there are still people who want to use the tissue next to their computers, I include the following...



15 elements in 13 groups.



oh baby


Problems:

There are not many problems in this lens, but at one third, and almost one fifth the prices of the other two lenses I listed, its bound to have some drawbacks.

Chromatic Abhorations:

Only in certain light (over exposed skies)

Flares:

for example - LED lights (cop cars), When shooting without hood