Whats the difference? Newbie question.

Vic

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Hey,

I am not too good with the technical side of photography and Im thinking of buying a new lens very soon and had settled on the 24-70. Cant afford the canon L glass one so was going to go for the sigma one.

Had a quick look on warehouse express and there are two, can someone please explain the major differences between the two. I know one says macro but if anything I thought that would be the most expensive one :thinking:

This is probably a daft question!

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1029973

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1005263 - This is the one Im wanting to go for so if anyone has any experience with this any feedback would be good :)

Thanks in advance
Vicky.
 
the more expensive lens has HSM which im sure is sigma's equivalent of quiet and fast focussing!

i own neither so there may be other things which differ. heard good things about the lens though, maybe check out the tamron equivalent?
 
I might be wrong, but Im pretty sure the top lens ( the more expensive) has the new ly introduced HSM motor in it and thats the only difference Its effectively a new model as thet are both f2.8
 
Top lens is SIGMA fit
Bottom lens is CANON fit

theres your biggest difference :)
 
I have the non-HSM one and am very pleased with it - for landscape and portrait work. It doesn't have HSM but I found I didn't need it. It is possible to get the HSM one in Canon fit.

I don't use it any more - having invested in the 24-105 L f4 - however the f2.8 is great for shallow dof for portraits. It is a very solid peice of kit and great value for money.

Hope this isn't against the rules ...
Removed : Yes, yes it is
 
Ha mistake all sorted now, damn MY hangover :D

Cool thanks guys for explaining about the HSM part, learned me something new today :thumbs:

I think Ill go for the second one then, heard some good reviews about it!
 
Vic, what other lenses do you have, and why are you going for a 24-70mm f/2.8? What do you want to do with this lens? I just wonder if it's the best choice for you.
 
Hi Hoppy,

I have an 18-200 sigma which ive had since I took up photography. I also have a nifty fifty for gigs. I just thought this might be a good overall lens (im a poor student :D) to use?

Vicky.
 
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 IF EX DG HSM

From Sigma web page:
IF (Inner Focus)
To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length.

HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor)
This lens uses a motor driven by ultrasonic waves to provide a quiet, highspeed AF.

Both desirable features, but cheaper lens will also be very good.
 
where abouts are you studying vic?

why not consider the tamron 17-50??? on cropped sensor its a good walkabout lens and probably cheaper 2nd hand than the sigma 24-70...
 
Hi Hoppy,

I have an 18-200 sigma which ive had since I took up photography. I also have a nifty fifty for gigs. I just thought this might be a good overall lens (im a poor student :D) to use?

Vicky.

Thing is, the 24-70 is designed for full frame cameras, and although it will work fine on your crop camera, you are paying a lot extra for this, both in money and in size/weight. The focal length range is also aimed at full frame users, as good for general purpose stuff.

You already have this focal length range covered with your 18-200 and when choosing extra lenses the usual thing to do is extend the range, usually with something around 10-20mm at the wide end, or 70-300mm at the long end. Other ways of extending your lens capability include going for brighter maxium aperture, which you have done with the 50mm f/1.8, or maybe opting for a macro lens.

Another option is to go for a better quality lens, which usually means reducing the focal length range, but upping the maximum aperture to f/2.8, and hopefully the level of sharpness, too. This is what the 24-70 2.8 is doing, but the range is intended for full frame. The equivalent lens for crop format is more like 18-50 2.8, and Sigma do one of these. So do Canon with the excellent 17-55 2.8, though it is pricey.

The question is what focal length range do you want to cover with this lens? Maybe it would be helpful to check the Exif data on all the pictures you ahve taken so far, which will tell you what focal lengths you have actually used.

There is nothing wrong with the 24-70 2.8 at all, if that's the range you want :)
 
If you look again you will find they are both Canon-Fit:)


and if you look you will see the OP changed/edited his post after I posted, It was SIGMA as others agreed. the link now points to a canon :)
 
Thing is, the 24-70 is designed for full frame cameras, and although it will work fine on your crop camera, you are paying a lot extra for this, both in money and in size/weight. The focal length range is also aimed at full frame users, as good for general purpose stuff.

You already have this focal length range covered with your 18-200 and when choosing extra lenses the usual thing to do is extend the range, usually with something around 10-20mm at the wide end, or 70-300mm at the long end. Other ways of extending your lens capability include going for brighter maxium aperture, which you have done with the 50mm f/1.8, or maybe opting for a macro lens.

Another option is to go for a better quality lens, which usually means reducing the focal length range, but upping the maximum aperture to f/2.8, and hopefully the level of sharpness, too. This is what the 24-70 2.8 is doing, but the range is intended for full frame. The equivalent lens for crop format is more like 18-50 2.8, and Sigma do one of these. So do Canon with the excellent 17-55 2.8, though it is pricey.

The question is what focal length range do you want to cover with this lens? Maybe it would be helpful to check the Exif data on all the pictures you ahve taken so far, which will tell you what focal lengths you have actually used.

There is nothing wrong with the 24-70 2.8 at all, if that's the range you want :)


Hey Hoppy,

Apologies for the late reply. Internet connection!

I am terrible with tech stuff so had no clue about crop sensors but I can see what you're saying makes sense. The sigma 18-50mm looks promising.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention! :thumbs:

where abouts are you studying vic?

why not consider the tamron 17-50??? on cropped sensor its a good walkabout lens and probably cheaper 2nd hand than the sigma 24-70...

Im studying at Glasgow met :) I havent heard much about Tamron so will definitely look into that too.

Thanks very much for all the advice and answers.
Vicky.
 
oooh very nice, got my interview for there on the 9th!

was at the exhibition tonight, very impressed by what i saw.
 
Its a good college, good tutors and everything. What course is it your going into?

My exhibition starts on the 9th, hate having my work shown off like that :suspect:
 
and if you look you will see the OP changed/edited his post after I posted, It was SIGMA as others agreed. the link now points to a canon :)

Apology's KIPAX didn't realise he'd changed it. Feel a bit of a twit now:lol:
 
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