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Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - Printable Version

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Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - mst - 07-07-2012

No competition for the AF-S 28/1.8. Still, I had lots of fun with it in the field. I'm almost tempted to keep it.



http://www.opticallimits.com/nikon_ff/754-sigmaex2818fx



-- Markus


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - Rover - 07-07-2012

[quote name='mst' timestamp='1341644802' post='19348']

No competition for the AF-S 28/1.8.

[/quote]

But likely a match for Canon's 28/1.8 optically?



Quote:Still, I had lots of fun with it in the field. I'm almost tempted to keep it.

I thought that this and the following paragraph from the review itself:

Quote:So, it's not an attractive choice for landscape shooters, but because of its very short minimum focus distance it's an interesting lens to shoot close-ups with wide perspectives.

would merit a higher Field Quality rating?

I was tempted to get the Sigma 24/1.8 back when I was searching for a fast WA. What put me off was really not the fear of getting an optically subpar lens (as SLRGear review suggests, the 24 and 28 f/1.8 lenses behave similarly) but the flawed focus implementation. Still, I'm glad you got to testing those half-forgotten lenses. In addition to them being in a very interesting class (fast WA), it's always nice to see something so out of left field reviewed. SLRGear had surprised me greatly when they tested the 24 and 28 (but unfortunately not the 20).



If I'd been in Germany I would've bought you a beer right there and then! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - frank - 07-07-2012

The MTF chart looks much better than that in Lenstip. Does it reflect sample variance of Sigma, or mean Lenstip gets a bad copy?


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - mst - 07-08-2012

[quote name='Frank' timestamp='1341665208' post='19351']

The MTF chart looks much better than that in Lenstip. Does it reflect sample variance of Sigma, or mean Lenstip gets a bad copy?

[/quote]



Honestly: no idea. There are just too many variables, and of course we have no insight on the lenstip testing except the info they give on their web site. They decided to use a very different testing approach with no sharpening at all and that, as well as sample variation, might be the reason for their very different results. IN this and a few other cases, too.



-- Markus


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - mst - 07-08-2012

[quote name='Rover' timestamp='1341653355' post='19350']

But likely a match for Canon's 28/1.8 optically?

[/quote]



Seems so, yes. In addition, you get the short MFD.



[quote name='Rover' timestamp='1341653355' post='19350']

If I'd been in Germany I would've bought you a beer right there and then! <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />

[/quote]



Thanks Rover, but you would have faced two problems then, I'm afraid. First, I'm currently travelling (summer vacation), so not in Germany myself <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' /> Second, I don't live up to the cliche of beer trinking Germans very well <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />



Some better news: the other two Sigma lenses are next on the list. However, we just moved to a different location close to Venice and so far I did not manage to find a reliable enough network connection to upload the next review. As soon as I get one, the EX 24 and EX 20 reviews will follow.



-- Markus


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - mst - 07-08-2012

[quote name='Rover' timestamp='1341653355' post='19350']

I thought that this and the following paragraph from the review itself:



would merit a higher Field Quality rating?

[/quote]



I thought about giving it a field quality rating, but for what kind of photography? Landscape or close-up fun?



Hmm... maybe one for each. That would make it the first lens with 5 star ratings (instead of a 5-star rating).



-- Markus


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - mst - 07-08-2012

Ok, that was fast: there's an open WLAN here, so I added field quality ratings to this review and also downrated the mechanical quality rating due to the immense wobbling.



-- Markus


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - Yakim - 07-08-2012

Best thing you can say about it is that it looks better than the 24/1.8 but that's not much. I wish Sigma would upgrade it with better optics.


Next PZ lens test report: Sigma AF 28mm f/1.8 EX DG - Rover - 07-08-2012

Yakim, I think they should update all three of the 2x/1.8 series, making the 24 an f/1.4 lens in the process. So, the 20 would be an "as wide as it gets" lens, the 24 an "as fast as it gets" lens, and the 28 "the affordable one of the bunch".



[quote name='mst' timestamp='1341735348' post='19356']

I thought about giving it a field quality rating, but for what kind of photography? Landscape or close-up fun?

Hmm... maybe one for each. That would make it the first lens with 5 star ratings (instead of a 5-star rating).

-- Markus

[/quote]

FWIW the Samyang 14mm also has two different field quality ratings (but that was in the Canon scope):

http://www.opticallimits.com/canon_eos_ff/532-samyang14f28eosff?start=2

Anyways Markus, thanks for responding! I'm also remembering that Lenstip went through a couple of copies and the first one was downright atrocious and the second a bit better (but still horrible technically) so they admitted that sample variation is a factor here.





[quote name='mst' timestamp='1341734216' post='19355']

Thanks Rover, but you would have faced two problems then, I'm afraid. First, I'm currently travelling (summer vacation), so not in Germany myself <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' /> Second, I don't live up to the cliche of beer trinking Germans very well <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />

[/quote]

I see. Then again, I don't live up to the cliche of a vodka drinking Russian either. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />