Ditch the 'kit': Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM 'C' review

I bought this lens to use on my D7100. Right away, I noticed that image review would last about a minute (before the image disappeared from the screen), as opposed to the 4 seconds that it takes with a Nikon lens. I figured something must be wrong with it and sent it back for another copy. Same thing. So I called Sigma and was told it's "a known issue" with this lens. They seem to not know why it does it, it just does. I asked if this might be corrected in a firmware update some day - "maybe". Of course, the image review goes away as soon as you half-press the shutter, so I guess it's not that big a deal. I like the images.

I have got this lens for my Pentax K-S2 camera. In general, I am happy with it. Today, however, I discovered a small problem: When it is in full zoom and the camera is set on its back, the zooming section retreats spontaneously, as low as about 24mm. Does anyone know if there is some way to fix it?

I read a review on this lens and it says this. The 17-70's max aperture is not, however, fixed over the focal length range. This means that wide open exposures will change as the focal length is increased. Below is a chart of max aperture step downs of some similar lenses. If this is true I guess I'll return it for I want to set camera to a fixed 2.8. Anyone know if this is true?

Treat it as a 24-55 f/5.6 lens and you'll be happy enough. Use the extremes of the focal length range or shoot wide open and you might be disappointed by the overall IQ, and especially the corners.

Depends how large you print/display, what kind of photography you do, and how critical you are.

If you are shooting landscapes then the Sigma 18-35 is in a completely different class for IQ, as are the new f/1.4 Art prime lenses.

I just bought a Canon EOS 70D..I am hoping to buy this lens rather than the kit lenses..It will work ok I assume..and this is not the Contemporary lens..its the older lens which I read works better

Is there anyone who uses this lens with Canon 7D Mark II?
Thanks
Antonio

Pentax users. There appears to be a problem with the Pentax version of this lens. Under 31mm it is communicating the wrong SR Focal Length by a very large margin. This introduces blurring when SR is on. Please check the following thread about it on PentaxForums.com. It has been verified by a number of users with the lens on different Pentax models.

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/285104-sigma-17-70-contemporary-compatibility-problems-shake-reduction.html

If you own the lens, please check it out. Also, I would suggest that you contact Sigma to inform them of this problem so that that can issue a firmware fix to send the right SR Focal Length.

This is a report of a possible bug I've found using this Sigma 17-70 lens on a D7100 body. Otherwise, I have nothing to add other than that I'm completely satisfied with this lens which other reviewers have adequately covered.

On 2 different D7100's I found that this lens interferes with the operation of the multi-selector scroll function. When I first turn the camera on I can only single-step through menu choices, images, etc. After many tries it will eventually start auto scrolling when you hold it down, but when you turn the camera off and on again it's back to single step only. This problem does not occur using this lens on my D80, only with both mine and a friends D7100's. Not a major issue, but an inconvenience.

Has anyone else seen this? I've only tried it with the one lens I bought.

It's a shame that OS is unavailable for A-mount.
Can not switch from old 17-50/2.8 OS for Sony NEX w/la-ea2 via that.
Hate that marketing things..

Bought it last weekend to replace my Canon kit lens non stabilized and it's just a totally different planet... Even on a super old body.
For the price, it's a super good investment!

I am using Canon EOS 7D with Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM. Recently i brought it. In low light i am not able to use autofocus. Just motor is rotating with slight noise and not able to focus. But the same time able to focus in bright light. Can anybody suggest me what may be the possible reason. If autofocus motor is the problem it should not work in all the cases. I am new to SLR photography, please help me.

Dear Sir
I am little confused regarding which lens to buy with Nikon D7100 body.
I want to click some good indoor photographs of family & friends at night in normal room light, some birthday photographs of children, some outdoor portraits with decent shallow depth of field and similar stuff...

Sir.. I have narrowed my choice to the kit lens coming with Nikon D7100 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM.

Do you think Sigma F2.8 will give better indoor pictures than the Nikkon F3.5. Can this be compensated by making camera ISO adjustments?

How shallower is the depth of field in F2.8 vs F3.5?

Please help me to take the right decision.
Regards

I am using this lens with a 50D and was delightfully surprised at how much sharper it is compared to a Canon 70-200 f4L non IS that I bought at the same time. It doesn't leave my camera and makes me think that I wasted my money on the 70-200 L.

I had its predecessor, and got great shots with it. I sold it because I was simplifying my lens collection...had Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina, and standardized on Sigma because their mid-to-high-end lenses are really good, and a good value. They do seem to have intermittent problems with autofocus in Live View on a Nikon camera, but that's no hindrance for me. Nikon body + Sigma lens works for me.

i had the 17-70os and the new Contemporary version... i felt like the 17-70os was alot nicer..

either way i returned it and got a 28mm F1.8 and a macro attachment

If the laboratory test results are even remotely representative of what you could expect in the field, the mediocre sharpness at the wide end, in combination with the pronounced distortion, doesn't exactly make me itch for this new lens. I find I use my Pentax DA 18-55mm WR kit lens a lot at wide-angle, where, if never stellar, it at least improves till F8 (quite usable), when the new Sigma reaches its nothing-to-rave-about peak at F5.6 - that is, too early to achieve the depth of field I often need for architecture and landscape shots. So where is the carrot for upgrading to this lens? Guess I would rather save up for one or two more DA Limited primes to cover the most-needed focal lengths and be done with that range. Or wait till I can afford Sigma's own mind-blowing 18-35mm F1.8!

Why no mention of the USB dock and Sigma's Lens Optimization Pro software that gives the user the ability to fine tune the lens focussing? See http://vimeo.com/64665246

How do you know if a lens like this will work on Canon's new 70D. Canon has list of "approved" lenses for a reason. With 3rd party lenses work on the new Canon 70D?

I'm very confused. I've been shooting macro at 1-5cm for years and have had my photos published throughout the states. This length lets me shoot with one hand while stabilize the flowers with the other, plus renders the background nice and blurry while keeping much of the flower in focus. Of course I'm using a Compact (G series or Nikon P7700) for most of my work. I have no problems with light, as simply turn the subject sideways to the sun until well lite which often gives interesting lighting effects. So why exactly is this 'short' 22cm, (10x as long as I use) a problem?

Good to see the review pick up on the useless macro working distance, a feature of the Canon 24-70 f/4L IS which is ignored by most and which makes the macro credentials somewhat of a farce.

I'd take a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and forgo the extra 20mm for the much better optical performance.

Please, add a bit more noise to the 45 mm night shot, it's a bit too clean to judge the lens output... I know, I know, there are plenty of samples... =P
Testing the 100D in low light, I suppose?

this is an "old era" lens compared with the new 18-35/1.8
and I'm looking forward to seeing a little brother of 18-35/1.8
(smaller, darker, with wider zoom range). I'm thinking about
15-55/1.8-2.8 (APS-C version of 24-85/2.8-4, a popular lens for film SLRs)

"Approx. 26-110mm equivalent focal length range"

It depends on a camera, it is longer than that on Canons and Sigmas.

I briefly considered this lens, its predecessor or a 17-50mm as a walkaround lens for my Fujifilm S5 pro, then I considered that that camera is nailed to the studio for portraits, for location I use m4/3 or NEX gear. But a compelling lens anyway!

I just love it as a GREAT walkabout for my D7100/D300s. It's quite compact and the IQ is quite good! Too bad it's wide angle is very disappointing, since everything else was tops. >19mm is okay.

What is your opinion on the color rendition of the lens?

I'm asking it because I have the previous model (17-70 OS HSM on Canon) and although I like the Sigma colors sometimes I have to face with some very strong yellow cast on my pictures.. Is it any better this time? (Same question for the 18-35 :) )
Thanks!

At what focal length will it drop off to f3.2, f3.5 and f4.0?

I see that a Canon SL1 was used with the Sigma 17-70mm; how was it as a camera/lens combo? Handle well?

Thanks-