Lenses : 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 : thoughts?

I've been looking to get a couple of nice fast zoom lenses recently, and, having had the chance to use it recently, I'm very drawn towards then Sigma 70-200 f2.8

Along with this one, I'm also looking at the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 lens.

Does anyone have any comments on either of these? Most of the work I do is live gigs, so relateively low-light stuff, but I much prefer using available light.

The body I'm currently using is the Canon 350D

--
Hugh Macdonald

http://www.pbase.com/armaco/24_70mm_f2_8_dg_macro

nice lens ...

70-200 is nice too...

Kostas Sarris
http://www.pbase.com/armaco

Hugh Macdonald said:

drawn towards then Sigma 70-200 f2.8

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I find it a good lens (though it can be a little soft at the long end) however, doing a search in this forum will net you a lot of results and opinions on it.

Hugh Macdonald said:

Along with this one, I'm also looking at the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 lens.

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No comments on this one as I've never used it.

Hugh Macdonald said:

The body I'm currently using is the Canon 350D

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In that case you probably won't notice the softness at the long end of the 70-200EX but should get good results for that camera. A friend of mine has one with an older Sigma lens (that was thought very soft on a film body) and gets as good a result as is possible.

Regards,
Simon

Hugh Macdonald said:

I've been looking to get a couple of nice fast zoom lenses
recently, and, having had the chance to use it recently, I'm very
drawn towards then Sigma 70-200 f2.8

Click to expand...

I don't own this lens, can't offer a comment.

Hugh Macdonald said:

Along with this one, I'm also looking at the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 lens.

Click to expand...

I found myself using this lens more than my 50mm EX, 105mm EX, and 17-35mm EX while on vacation for three weeks, it's a great all-purpose lens, IMO. Here's a few samples from it using it with my SD9:

Hugh Macdonald said:

Does anyone have any comments on either of these? Most of the work
I do is live gigs, so relateively low-light stuff, but I much
prefer using available light.

The body I'm currently using is the Canon 350D

--
Hugh Macdonald

Click to expand...

--
My humble photo gallery: http://ntotrr.smugmug.com

Hi,

Just got in the 70-200 f2.8 a few days ago, first impression is that it's tack sharp and responsive (so far) will let you know more once I take it out for an extended test drive this weekend. As for the 24-70 f2.8, I don't have that lens as of yet, might be one to look at here in the near future.
Cheers!
Chebb
http://www.pbase.com/thechebb

I have seen photo test with the sigma 70-200 and the 100-300 F4 and the 100--300F was better. If you want to shot pictures of birds and stuff then i would recomend rather the 100-300 F4. Regarding the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 then I have seen pictures comparing it with the Canon L 24-70mm F2.8 and to my suprise the Sigma was shaper through out the zoom range.
--
http://www.birgir.org

A very sharp lens wide-open at all focal lengths and gets sharper as you stop it down.

Here's a shot at 103mm, f/3.5:

JohnClif said:

A very sharp lens wide-open at all focal lengths and gets sharper
as you stop it down.

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Nice shot JohnClif,

Took it out for test today - LOVE IT!!! Will be using all day on Sunday for a couple of shoots along with the 1.4x teleconverter for that little extra reach!
Cheers!
Chebb
http://www.pbase.com/thechebb

Greetings Everyone

I've used both lenses for a couple of years now and they both work great. They are my go to lenses when I need to get the job done. They are so good and affordable I have one of each for both of my camera systems I use. My 70-200 f2.8 has been dropped from 4 feet on to concrete and was still usable, but it did have to be repaired. Hope this helps.
Enjoy
Roger

.... throw your lens on to the floor, just to see if it bounces

Only a comment that I have used the 24-70EX since the start and still enjoy using it as my main lens, alongside the 15-30EX.
--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston

I'm sorry to say it didn't bounce at all, not a mm. Well what can I say, another experiment gone bad, darn
Have fun
Roger J.

Roger wrote:

My 70-200 f2.8 has been dropped from 4 feet on to concrete and was still usable, but it did have to be repaired.

I had the same thing happen with my 24-70 which is my go to lens also. I was walking across the lobby of the Hyatt in San Francisco carrying my SD9 with 24-70 by a handstrap when the strap separated and the package hit the tile floor of the lobby from about 3 feet. When I picked it up the lens was at a funny angle, the base of it broken. The real trajedy was that I was to spend the next day at Yosemite with nothing wider than my dependable 50mm. (The Yosemite pics turned out great anyway! I learned to love my prime 50mm even more than I had previously.)

The end of the story is that I sent the lens off to Sigma USA in Long Island for repair. It came back less than a week later, repaired for less than $75!!! Fortunatley the SD9 was not damaged in the drop. The other end to the story is that my Promaster strap with quick disconnects has been replaced with a much more secure Op/Tech strap with quick disconnects that don't disconnect randomly!!

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Annapolis, MD

Nest time, ensure your big toe is under the flight projectory. Now ... that's the reaction of a true photographer

Years ago (and to present day) - in the UK - the Consumers Association included their famous "drop test" for many goods, to see whether they could withstand some impact - obviously for more domestic items.

You have clearly been influenced by them so you may need to get a medical hypnotist to undo their magic spells. At least it does bring a new meaning to the expression "barrel distortion"!

Just glad no permanent damage resulted. After all - we cannot have Sigmarites being deprived of armoury.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston

..... my SD9 supplied strap worked its way until (unbeknown to me) it was almost undone.

Fortunately, I spotted it just as lifting and thus prevented having the "drop test". So, I sewed the strap ends to prevent any such recurrence happening.

Perhaps, after all, Roger's misfortune - and yours - will make other users check their strap connections and perhaps also do as I did - and get the sewing needle and thread out before it's too late.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston

.. my SD9 supplied strap worked its way until (unbeknown to me) it was almost undone.

Mine did come undone, but I caught it before any damage was done. I've now stapled all my straps and wrapped them with black photophers tape. As for my 70-200 it was in a Tamrac back pack style photo bag when the zipper opened and the lens rolled out and hit the concrete. I'd just finished changing lenses and had just pick up the bag to move when the zipper let go, I think I didn't get closed all the way. Needless to say I sense replaced the bag with a different style. The repairs to my lens was $85.00. the rear mount had to be changed, but the lens works as well as ever and is still very sharp. Any other lens I would have sold (except for an older Nikon lens) but it doesn't seem the lens was hurt in any way.

And yes, I try to contort my body under the lens before it hit the ground what a sight that must have been.
Have fun
Roger J.

..... have made your self-portrait!
--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston

Thanks everyone for the comments! It's great to see all positive on this one!

I actually went out and bought the 24-70 without actually seeing any of the replies on here, and I love it - it's fantastic for the work I do, anyway....

Going to get the 70-200 at some point in the next few weeks...

Here are some samples from a gig I shot last saturday (using the 24-70):







--
Hugh Macdonald

Hugh,

You got some good stufft there - glad we were able to help ya. I might have to look at the 24-70 as a walkabout lens myself
Cheers!
Chebb
http://www.pbase.com/thechebb