Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? - PhotoCamel

Digiphotoworks · 05-29-2008

Hi All

Came really close to making the purchase of a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR this week for wedding work. I'd really like to compliment it with the 17-55 f2.8 also, but frankly funds are not there yet! :-(

During my research it became apparent that the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX and Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX could both be purchased for less than the Nikon alone.

I have one Sigma EX lens, the 10-20mm, and the image quality is really good, but I don't have 'pro' Nikon glass to compare it with.

So, I guess two questions really, firstly would you consider the EX glass to be good enough, i.e. not so different from Nikon to be a genuine concern, and secondly would you think a combination of Sigma 70-200 and 24-70 to be a better arrangement than the Nikon 70-200 alone for effectively the same cost?

Any thoughts from those that may have experience of these lenses would be very welcome, particularly anyone shooting weddings with Sigma EX glass!

Thanks all,
Lee.

00silvergt · 05-30-2008

EX series, is definitely good enough, IMHO. I have that same one in a Canon mount and love it!

Gary Mayo · 07-14-2008

EX glass is pretty good. Sometimes the focus or zoom ring is not where you thought it would be because of Nikkor lens usage, but the images are very sharp and clear.

Build quality is quite good. The finish feels like a very low pile velvet. If I could change anything, it might be that. Takes some getting used to. But it seems to hold up well and clean easily.

I have 5 EX lenses.

SIGMA EX PRO ZOOMS

. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG AF
. Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG AF
. Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 APO EX AF

SIGMA EX PRO TELECONVERTERS

. Sigma APO EX DG 1.4
. Sigma APO EX DG 2.0

XTSteve · 12-16-2008

as a student on a limited budget, i'm leaning heavily towards Sigma EX over Canon L, because for the price, I can usually get a stop better on the lens speed, without much sacrifice in picture or build quality.

or so I've heard

korman · 12-16-2008

Per se, Sigma lenses aren't bad, but Sigma has in the past a very spotty record of quality control and too many duds reached the sales counter. So if you go that way, make sure the lens you got satisfies your requirements.

Korman

05-29-2008	#1 (permalink)
Digiphotoworks Alpaca Location: United Kingdom Posts: 34 CamelKarma: 40 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? Hi All Came really close to making the purchase of a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR this week for wedding work. I'd really like to compliment it with the 17-55 f2.8 also, but frankly funds are not there yet! :-( During my research it became apparent that the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX and Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX could both be purchased for less than the Nikon alone. I have one Sigma EX lens, the 10-20mm, and the image quality is really good, but I don't have 'pro' Nikon glass to compare it with. So, I guess two questions really, firstly would you consider the EX glass to be good enough, i.e. not so different from Nikon to be a genuine concern, and secondly would you think a combination of Sigma 70-200 and 24-70 to be a better arrangement than the Nikon 70-200 alone for effectively the same cost? Any thoughts from those that may have experience of these lenses would be very welcome, particularly anyone shooting weddings with Sigma EX glass! Thanks all, Lee. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
	__________________ The value of an image increases each time it is shared Digiphotoworks Photography Ltd.

05-30-2008	#2 (permalink)
00silvergt F1 Camel Location: Fairfield, CA Posts: 4,855 CamelKarma: 6145 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? EX series, is definitely good enough, IMHO. I have that same one in a Canon mount and love it!
	__________________ "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."- Hanlon's Razor "difficult to survive by becoming professional photographer, it is more profitable to buy secondhand car and do pizza delivery than buy DSRL and shoot weddings." (kenzo D, Dpreview) -Sig edited b/c someone requested it to done, the fun of was wearing out anyway!!! I'm post happy, but Karma starved...please donate some

07-14-2008	#3 (permalink)
Gary Mayo Llama Location: ProDSLR Posts: 652 CamelKarma: 774 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? EX glass is pretty good. Sometimes the focus or zoom ring is not where you thought it would be because of Nikkor lens usage, but the images are very sharp and clear. Build quality is quite good. The finish feels like a very low pile velvet. If I could change anything, it might be that. Takes some getting used to. But it seems to hold up well and clean easily. I have 5 EX lenses. SIGMA EX PRO ZOOMS . Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG AF . Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG AF . Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 APO EX AF SIGMA EX PRO TELECONVERTERS . Sigma APO EX DG 1.4 . Sigma APO EX DG 2.0
	__________________ Gary - Advice For Want-To-Be Models ~ Let Your Friends Collect Body Art Some Of My Equipment: Nikon D3. ~ Nikon D300 w/ MB-D10 w/ENEL-4A's ~ Nikon D200 w/WT-3A ~ Kodak Pro SLRn ~ Fujifilm S5 Pro/MB-D200 ~ 10.5mm f/2.8 G IF ED DX ~ 24mm f/2.8 AFD ~ 28mm f/2.8 AFD ~ 28mm f/2.8 AFD ~ 28mm f/2.8 AFD NIB ~ 35mm f/2.0 AFD ~ 50mm f/1.2 IF ~ 50mm f/1.4 AFD ~ 50mm f/1.4 A ~ 55mm f/1.2 IF ~ 60mm f/2.8 AFD Micro ~ 85mm f/1.4 AFD ~ 135mm f/2 AF DC ~ 300mm f/2.8 ED IF ~ 500mm f/4 P ED IF ~ 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S DX ~ 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF ~ 35-70mm f/2.8 AF-D ~ 70-200mm VR f/2.8 G ED IF AF-S ~ 70-300mm VR f/4.5-5.6 G ED IF AF-S ~ 80-400mm VR f/4.5-5.6D ED AF ~ TC-14b 1.4 ~ TC-17EII 1.7 ~ TC-200 2.0 ~ TC-301 2.0 ~ Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG AF ~ Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG AF ~ Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 APO EX AF ~ Sigma APO EX DG 1.4 ~ Sigma APO EX DG 2.0 ~ Kenko Teleplus PRO 300 "DG" AF 3x Teleconverter ~ Kenko Macro Extension Tube Set ~ Kenko 180 degree true fish eye ~ Sigma 28-70 f/1.28-4 D ~ Sigma 70-300 f/1.4-5.6 D DG Macro ~ Vivitar 500mm f/8 Mirror lens ~ 8 Nikon SB-800's ~ Savage Soft Box w/24, 24 watt bulbs, full spectrum fluorescent (equal to 280 - 100 watt light bulbs.) ~ Savage Soft box w/6, 24 watt bulbs, full spectrum fluorescent (equal to 70 - 100 watts light bulbs.) ~ Sony 60 LED Ring Light ~ Minolta Light Meter IIIF ~Manfrotto 3258 Heavy Duty 8' Tripod. ~ Wimberley Gimbal Head Version II ~ (2) Manfrotto 3251 Tripods ~ 3 Manfrotto 133DDB Horizontal Arms ~ Manfrotto Studio Dolly 3156 ~ Manfrotto Tripod 755B/0110 ~ Manfrotto Self Standing Monopod 682B ~ Manfrotto Monopod 479B/LC15 ~ Manfrotto 322RC2 Head 2 Quick Releases ~ (2) Manfrotto 3265 Heads ~Samson Rolling Double Head Camera Stand 7301 ~Canon iPF8000 44'' x 59' ~ Epson r1800 13'' x 19'' ~ Several Brother & HP office printers ~ Olevia 542i 42'' wide screen, 1360 x 768, 1080i resolution, 178-degree viewing angle, 1600:1 DCR ~ 4 22" flat screens ~ ACDSee 10 ~ Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended ~ Adobe Lightroom 1.3 ~ Canon Digital Photo Print Pro ~ Canon Poster Artist 7 ~ Compupic Pro 6.3 ~ Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 ~ Micrographfx Picture Publisher 10 ~ Microsoft Digital Image Pro 10 ~ Microsoft Expression Web ~ Microsoft Front Page 2003 ~ Microsoft Publisher 2003 ~ MGI PhotoSuite 4 ~ Nikon Capture NX ~ PhotoImpact Pro ~ Photo Explorer ~ Qimage ~ The Print Shop 23 Easier To Read Gear List

12-16-2008	#4 (permalink)
XTSteve Alpaca Location: I hail from the Midwest. Central Ohio. Posts: 37 CamelKarma: 58 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? as a student on a limited budget, i'm leaning heavily towards Sigma EX over Canon L, because for the price, I can usually get a stop better on the lens speed, without much sacrifice in picture or build quality. or so I've heard

12-16-2008	#5 (permalink)
korman Dromedary Posts: 1,138 CamelKarma: 2596 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Sigma EX glass - Good enough for Weddings? Per se, Sigma lenses aren't bad, but Sigma has in the past a very spotty record of quality control and too many duds reached the sales counter. So if you go that way, make sure the lens you got satisfies your requirements. Korman __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

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