Sigma 70-210mm UC-ii f4-5.6

[beezer123]

I'm looking at this lens and have found one pretty cheap and in really good condition.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this and what the max price I should really be paying for one second hand would be.

I'd be using it on my 60D.

Thanks

 

[AJQS]

When mine arrives I'll tell you! There are 2 versions, not sure if they both carry the UCII designation. One is 2 touch and pretty compact, the other is an old fashioned push pull jobbie. I've bought the former.

 

[beezer123]

May I ask how much you paid for yours? I think the one I'm looking at is the 2 touch one.

 

[AJQS]

£12.49 delivered, but it has bust AF (no matter to me it's going on a manual Pentax). I'd expect a Canon fit one to fetch more.

 

[AJQS]

Right then the lens is here and a quick test reveals:

Build Quality:

Pretty shocking, all plastic exterior feels nasty. Focus ring is so slack it may well not stay put! Compact although slightly weighty.

Optically:

Not bad, some purple fringing wide open, not hugely noticeable at normal distances or magnifications but there. Soft at Long end, not bad at wide end. Certainly won't win any awards.

Some images:

(Note I don't have a PK to m4/3 adapter, these were shot using it held against an OM adapter which has resulted in a tilt shift effect to the DOF, so they cannot be said to be lab accurate!)

100% crop 210mm wide open:

100% Crop 70mm wide open:

Size comparison: Vivitar 135mm f2.8, Sigma 70-210, Minolta MD 45mm F2

Some samples from the garden:

Don't spend a lot of money on it!

 

[beezer123]

Phew. Thank god I missed out on that auction then. I shan't lose anymore sleep over it.

Thanks for the review. Was very helpful.

 

[AJQS]

No problem, definitely worth holding out for either an APO f3.5-4 or a newer f2.8 70-200 version.