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SD1 Merrill – What lens for landscape?

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maple

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This is not moaning for nothing. I really want that SD1M. I just need to know a good landscape lens to pair with it before pressing the BUY button. I meant to ask this for some time but have tried hard to resist starting yet another thread on a horse already beaten to death.

I know the 70mm is an excellent choice but then there seems to be nothing wider until 8-16mm that can live up to the resolving power of Sigma’s top sensor. However, not much is said about the lenses below when matching with SD1, and I would like to hear the verdict:

17-70mm
17-50mm F2.8 EX
50mm F2.8

One final question, if Sigma can make good zoom as wide as 8-16, is it just a matter of time before they come up with a couple of wide-normal (easier to make) primes that can fully exploit SD1M’s resolution?

--
Maple
 
The 50mm macro is awesome. A good combo might be the 8-16 and 24-70. I"m not sure if you'll miss a lot between 17mm and 23mm. Perhaps just zoom a bit with your feet.

I've shot most of my landscapes at f/8-f/11 with the 18-50 f/2.8 It is a bit soft toward the edges. I'm sure the 8-16 will be better when I get it. But if your purpose is to make prints, I've found that adding a second layer of Photoshop smart sharpening (lens blur option) and then blending it into your edges can make a nice, sharp print.
maple said:
This is not moaning for nothing. I really want that SD1M. I just need to know a good landscape lens to pair with it before pressing the BUY button. I meant to ask this for some time but have tried hard to resist starting yet another thread on a horse already beaten to death.

I know the 70mm is an excellent choice but then there seems to be nothing wider until 8-16mm that can live up to the resolving power of Sigma’s top sensor. However, not much is said about the lenses below when matching with SD1, and I would like to hear the verdict:

17-70mm
17-50mm F2.8 EX
50mm F2.8

One final question, if Sigma can make good zoom as wide as 8-16, is it just a matter of time before they come up with a couple of wide-normal (easier to make) primes that can fully exploit SD1M’s resolution?

--
Maple
Click to expand...
 
Yes, the 50mm f2.8 macro. I fail to understand why anyone uses a wide angle lens to shoot landscapes as they distort the perspective, and super-wides severely distort it.
--
William Wilgus
 
I would suggest 50mm macro.

24-70 is also very good edge-to-edge, as you can see in the following image, which would be even sharper with less noise reduction:

 
I love the distorted aspect. That's why. :) Also, it doesn't bother most viewers of photographs, just as not using a view camera (and all it can do) does not bother most consumers of photographs.
Mostly Lurking said:
Yes, the 50mm f2.8 macro. I fail to understand why anyone uses a wide angle lens to shoot landscapes as they distort the perspective, and super-wides severely distort it.
--
William Wilgus
Click to expand...
 
I have been shooting my SD1M for 8 days now. This is a preliminary conclusion, but I am so far pleased with the results from the (older) 50mm f2.8 macro, and the (older) 20mm f1.8.

I have the 18-50 and the older 24-70. I am not convinced that either one will produce the desired results with the SD1M. They will continue to be workhorses for my SD15s. I hear mixed reviews about the 17-50 with the SD1/SD1M. I am also looking at the newer 24-70 f2.8 lens.

You won't regret getting the SD1M.

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Gambrills, MD
 
Yea, the newer 24-70 is I think what most people are referring to. I have the old 300 dollar one from 2002 and it's junk.
billt1970 said:
I have been shooting my SD1M for 8 days now. This is a preliminary conclusion, but I am so far pleased with the results from the (older) 50mm f2.8 macro, and the (older) 20mm f1.8.

I have the 18-50 and the older 24-70. I am not convinced that either one will produce the desired results with the SD1M. They will continue to be workhorses for my SD15s. I hear mixed reviews about the 17-50 with the SD1/SD1M. I am also looking at the newer 24-70 f2.8 lens.

You won't regret getting the SD1M.

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Gambrills, MD
Click to expand...
 
From my test on the 17-50 OS I'd say that's definitely out, as the edges aren't even sharp on my SD15.
http://www.pbase.com/mikeearussi/sigma_1750_os_test

For landscapes I always recommend pano stitching. That way you can make enlargments as big as you want to without running out of resolution. And because you can use a good lens (I use the 70 macro) there are never any edge problems.

http://www.pbase.com/mikeearussi/panos

But for single shot the consensus seems to be the 8-16, 24-70 and 50 macro. The old 17-70 f2.8-4.5 was also good on the edges but AFAIK has never been tested on the SD1 but was tested on the Nikon, which has the same size sensor, with decent, though not excellent, results.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/313-sigma-af-17-70mm-f28-45-dc-nikon-review--lab-test-report?start=1

http://www.optyczne.pl/14.4-Test_obiektywu-Sigma_17-70_mm_f_2.8-4.5_DC_Macro_Rozdzielczo&#347 ;ć obrazu.html

And you can still find them used occasionally for a few hundred dollars.
http://www.keh.com/camera/Sigma-Digital-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-SD07999093740N?r=FE
 
I'm also just about to buy the new SD1M, but I find it just a tad hard to believe that these old rather cheap primes with f/2.8 and macro capabilities are the best you can get from Sigma for this camera?

When I read about all the good feedback with both the 50mm macro and 70mm macro in this forum I wonder what they are compaired agains? No need for a f/1.4 prime then, or the 150mm macro with HSM and OS - if these are "the best" for both portrait and macro, and now even landscape? Not thinking landscape only here, so a little of topic - sorry for that. Just struggling to find the 3-5 most suitable lenses to buy with the camera as a start.

I'm opting for the 10-20mm f/3.5 for my sort of landscape (wide mountain views mostly), even if it may be a little soft in the edges. Rawmeister found it performing good on his SD1M, even if he's not posted any pics yet to show the result. But sure I would like a newer lens in that size - "splash proof" for outdoor adventures, as the camera itself :)

--
The Sky is not the limit
 
Lenstip.com has a nice review of the new Sigma 24-70, and the sample photos are taken with the D3x. So you can see what the lens can do with a high resolution full frame camera.
mike earussi said:
From my test on the 17-50 OS I'd say that's definitely out, as the edges aren't even sharp on my SD15.
http://www.pbase.com/mikeearussi/sigma_1750_os_test

For landscapes I always recommend pano stitching. That way you can make enlargments as big as you want to without running out of resolution. And because you can use a good lens (I use the 70 macro) there are never any edge problems.

http://www.pbase.com/mikeearussi/panos

But for single shot the consensus seems to be the 8-16, 24-70 and 50 macro. The old 17-70 f2.8-4.5 was also good on the edges but AFAIK has never been tested on the SD1 but was tested on the Nikon, which has the same size sensor, with decent, though not excellent, results.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/313-sigma-af-17-70mm-f28-45-dc-nikon-review--lab-test-report?start=1

http://www.optyczne.pl/14.4-Test_obiektywu-Sigma_17-70_mm_f_2.8-4.5_DC_Macro_Rozdzielczo&#347 ;ć obrazu.html

And you can still find them used occasionally for a few hundred dollars.
http://www.keh.com/camera/Sigma-Digital-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-SD07999093740N?r=FE
Click to expand...
 
Nils Erik said:
I'm also just about to buy the new SD1M, but I find it just a tad hard to believe that these old rather cheap primes with f/2.8 and macro capabilities are the best you can get from Sigma for this camera?

When I read about all the good feedback with both the 50mm macro and 70mm macro in this forum I wonder what they are compaired agains? No need for a f/1.4 prime then, or the 150mm macro with HSM and OS - if these are "the best" for both portrait and macro, and now even landscape? Not thinking landscape only here, so a little of topic - sorry for that. Just struggling to find the 3-5 most suitable lenses to buy with the camera as a start.

I'm opting for the 10-20mm f/3.5 for my sort of landscape (wide mountain views mostly), even if it may be a little soft in the edges. Rawmeister found it performing good on his SD1M, even if he's not posted any pics yet to show the result. But sure I would like a newer lens in that size - "splash proof" for outdoor adventures, as the camera itself :)

--
The Sky is not the limit
Click to expand...
I own the 10-20 f3.5 and find 10mm useless as the corners aren't sharp on my SD15 no matter how far down I stop it. Of course, this could just be my sample. From 12-20 it's fine, though.
 
Nils Erik said:
I'm also just about to buy the new SD1M, but I find it just a tad hard to believe that these old rather cheap primes with f/2.8 and macro capabilities are the best you can get from Sigma for this camera?
Click to expand...
I don't think the 70mm is that old, but yes in fact it is an amazingly good lens, very sharp and good at macro as well.

For the 50mm, it almost as good - there are two models though, one f/1.4 that is not macro and one f/2.8 that does macro. Both work well but which to get depends on if you need shallow DOF or macro ability.

Don't get me wrong, the 150mm is also fantastic, I just find that focal length a bit long for landscapes (for wildlife it's probably better).

--
---> Kendall
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kigiphoto/
http://www.pbase.com/kgelner
http://www.pbase.com/sigmadslr/user_home
 
Nils Erik said:
I'm also just about to buy the new SD1M, but I find it just a tad hard to believe that these old rather cheap primes with f/2.8 and macro capabilities are the best you can get from Sigma for this camera?
Click to expand...
They aren't, "the best you can get from Sigma," period. The newer OS lenses, with rubberized barrels (ala SD1 and SD1M) are clearly better. I was trying to tell the OP that the lenses I mentioned are acceptable (until you can afford the better lenses).

In my case, even the reduced price of the SD1M is pushing my budget, let alone another $2-3,000 for new lenses. They will come over time, but I and others can get by quite nicely for now with the older primes (e.g. 20mm, 30mm, 50mm, 105mm etc.).

Best Regards,

BT
 
Hi Maple: I used several lenses on the SD1 that I borrowed from Kendall. The lens I used most often was the 24-70 F:2.8 (new version); look at my Flickr account to see examples.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23482396@N05/sets/72157629072908942/

The 50 mm macro, 70 mm macro were both outstanding on the SD1, the 70-200 mm OS lens was also very good on the SD1, and a real surprise the 20 mm F:1.8 gave quite good results. I did not try the 17-70 mm because it is soft on the edges with the SD15. When I get the money to order a SD! I will get the 24-70 mm as my starter lens.
--
Cheers,
larryj

If you can see the light, you can photograph it
Quote from Myron Woods
 
Nils Erik said:
I'm also just about to buy the new SD1M, but I find it just a tad hard to believe that these old rather cheap primes with f/2.8 and macro capabilities are the best you can get from Sigma for this camera?

When I read about all the good feedback with both the 50mm macro and 70mm macro in this forum I wonder what they are compaired agains? No need for a f/1.4 prime then, or the 150mm macro with HSM and OS - if these are "the best" for both portrait and macro, and now even landscape? Not thinking landscape only here, so a little of topic - sorry for that. Just struggling to find the 3-5 most suitable lenses to buy with the camera as a start.
Click to expand...
about the Sigma 50mmEX/2.8 macro prime....

Perhaps the Sigma camera users are more familiar with this lens than other brand camera users to date. It is regarded I think by most here, if not everyone, as a 'classic' all-around lens.

I've actually used the Sigma 50mmEX/2.8 macro now in 3 mounts... for Sigma, for Pentax and now for Canon. It is far 'better' outdoors than the Canon 50mm/1.4 ... which is about the same price. Sigma's has less CA, sharper, clean corners; it's my 'go to' mid prime for Canon 5DII... And thus I extrapolate it would also work well on the SD1/M, as others have said too. I much prefer the Sigma over the Canon 'reasonably priced' 50mm prime.

Many classic Sigma/Foveon landscapes have been taken with the 50mmEX/2.8.

Best regards, Sandy
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman (archival)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann (current)
 
Many thanks, Cinefeel. You've been very informative and helpful.

Yep, that 24-70mm EX shot looks pretty good, indeed. What was the focal length wotj that shot? Is it able to "use up" all the resolution of SD1 at the wide end of the zoom range, at aperture a stop or two from wide open?
--
Maple
 
I used to have both the 50mm F2.8 macro and 24-70mm EX. They were both stolen together with my SD14 then. But to me eyes, the 50mm was not better than the excellent 17-70mm I have, and the 24-70 fell far behind of both. But then they were the old versions.

Perhaps I’ll start with the 50mm and see how far stitching helps. I like the idea of having a light lens in front of a substantial body.
--
Maple
 
Yes I do, and I know. But the newer version has better glass, and test shows it's not "worse" than the old one, so if the old one is "good enough" the new one must be as well.
sd40 said:
Nils Erik said:
I'm opting for the 10-20mm f/3.5 for my sort of landscape (wide mountain views mostly), even if it may be a little soft in the edges. Rawmeister found it performing good on his SD1M
Click to expand...
Do you refer to this thread?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1027&thread=40868507

It's about the other 10-20.
Click to expand...
--
The Sky is not the limit
 
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