Sigma 70-200 comparisons

[trencheel303]

I have just done a comparison between the EX DG non Macro and the EX DG Macro II on the-digital-picture and the non Macro one came out worse - the corners were attrocious. Everything else I read contradicts this, with many people online saying the none Macro is the sharper of the two.

Can anyone offer some insight?

 

[PAS]

Ive never used the non-macro, but i have the macro hsm II and its pin sharp - aslong as i get the focus spot on

 

[neil_g]

Can anyone offer some insight?

i told you so?

 

[trencheel303]

Well, I am not entirely convinced because like I said there are many many people saying the non Macro is sharper, and, when I compared Canon's 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.2 on the-digital-picture, the f/1.4 came out better in just about every aspect of the MTF test, which I found astonishingly hard to believe. I am taking it witha pinch of salt.

 

[neil_g]

like i said before ive always been a little wary of the whole "the macro version is soft" statement, there are a lot of happy macro owners and i think people just repeat other peoples opinions when in fact they have no actual use of the lens in question.. so it becomes gospel.

just my 2p..

 

[scottthehat]

i found my 70-200mm non macro version to be very sharp, have you tried focus charts for front and back focusing problems.

 

[neil_g]

have you tried focus charts for front and back focusing problems.

dont let hoppyuk hear you say that..

 

[Strangways]

There are a number of different Sigma 70-200mm lenses

Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG Macro
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG Macro HSM
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM

So peoples comments will depend on which model lens and how it performs on different cameras. I'm sure there will be different between full frame and cropped sensors. There will also be differences depending on the megapixels.

 

[scottthehat]

dont let hoppyuk hear you say that..

whys that
my version is the
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG
hers some samples not the best all at 200mm
f2,8

f4

f8

 

[neil_g]

whys that

i'll quote from another thread, about a different lens but shouldnt be too far out of context..

I will also say that I hate that test, even though it seems to have worked for you this time. There is a lot wrong with it, in particular it takes most lenses (apart from macros) into very close distances where they will quite likely not be at their best. With some zooms, if you calibrate your focus according to that chart, it can be out at normal range and at different focal lengths. Distance should be 50x focal length as a guide.

AF systems are analogue and work to a tolerance, but that test is hyper-critical and can reveal 'problems' that are actually within acceptable tolerance and are as good as it gets, ie perfectly good at normal range. Plus, being so critical, it is very prone to user error.

And as I say, that is a focus test, not a sharpness test. Shoot a distant target where focus errors are minimised and compare lenses that way, but I kind of doubt that Nikon would return any equipment in anything less than 100% order. Also, human nature being what it is, if you think you've got a potential problem, you will find it one way or another

 

[trencheel303]

The bokeh is lovely. I have to say as well, there is an appreciable difference between f/2.8 and f/4 in terms of the amount of bokeh... something to think about at least.

 

[scottthehat]

i'll quote from another thread, about a different lens but shouldnt be too far out of context..

ah ok, well in all honesty this is the only lens that i have had to adjust, it need -20 and it is so different and way shaper all together.

 

[Spiritflier]

I have the Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG Macro HSM version and can't fault it... I don't bother too much about focus tests and reviews as such. I'd much rather take the thing out and see what happens.

I bought mine secondhand a few years ago and it's one of those lenses I'm not likely to get rid of. It does exactly what it's supposed to and does it very well too.

Si

 

[jockwav]

I bought a brand new one just a little while back & i love it.
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 II EX DG Macro HSM

 

[trencheel303]

whys that
my version is the
Sigma APO 70-200 f2.8 EX DG
hers some samples not the best all at 200mm
f2,8

f4

f8

Looking at those, the Sigma seems to behave kinda like the 50mm f/1.4. 'Hazy' but still relatively sharp when wide open with some slight loss of colour; much, much better at f/4 and very good at f/8. The bokeh is also so much nicer at f/2.8 than it is at f/4... and the only other one I'd be considering is Canon's f/4 (2.8 would be nice but photography is just a hobby so I don't want to spend that much on a glass).

I'll be using it if I get one for street photography and candids so I guess absolute sharpness across the board isn't totally necessary.

 

[scottthehat]

these shots are jpegs so there straight from the camera.
you could sharpen more if you wanted. but im more than happy.