Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG

Review Date
October 15, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
gp2k8 , Expert

Price Paid
$250.00 at Camera Cometa

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
I've purchase this lens to shoot an indoor wedding as I needed at least f/2.8 fast zoom to achieve a reasonable focus speed in dim light conditions. A lot of internet feedback warned about focusing/calibration issues but at the price paid I was willing to take a punt. (I would not however buy a Sigma lens secondhand unless I know a person or am sure the lens is refundable.)

I was lucky as the focus was spot on; in dim conditions the AF sometimes hunts, never for long though. I found it reasonably tough built, good contrast, reasonable color rendition. I would use it for professional work, though it is not as fast as NIkon's AFS offerings (which cost times and times more). 2.8 is a bit soft but I found f/4 and higher to be sharp all over the DX frame I use.

Strengths
1. Good value for money
2. Well built
3. Reasonable sharpness and contrast from f/4
4. f/2.8 through the range

Weaknesses
1. No AFS motor limiting cameras AF would work with (no problem for my S5/S2/D200), AF is not as fast as for NIkon pro offerings
2. Color rendition is sometimes inferior to Nikon pro lenses - I didn't use it too much to say in which case
3. Some zoom creep
4. The range 24-60 makes it an odd lens for DX cameras; I use it on S5 at all times but always have Tokina 12-24 atx in my bag just in case.

Similar Products Used
Nikon AFS 17-55 f/2.8
Nikon AFS 24-70 f/2.8
Nikon AFS 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 VR

Customer Service
No experience

Review Date
January 13, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Zuazua , Intermediate

Price Paid
$150.00 at craigslist

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Sports

Summary
I was very worried that another Sigma product would have the focus issue that is plastered all over the net. I am fortunate. a Few pictures so far and I havent noticed it. Which is great becasue even on a tiny LCD I noticed it when using the Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8-4 DG. WOW I hate that lens. Although I few emails including pictures back and forth to Sigma that said I can send it to them.
I choose to buy this lens instead (Sigma 24-60mm F/2.8 EX DG.
First of all the Finish is brilliant. The feel of this lens is nice weight. It has a zoom lock, havent experienced this before so I have no comment other than it only works at the wide end.
Zooming manually felt responsive and easy, not slippery. The 2.8 has an incrediable look to it. Check out the net for images taken with this such as... PBase or Flickr. http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/24-60_28_ex_dg
I expect this to be my everyday walk around lens now.

Strengths
Weight
2.8 Constant
Sharp
Clarity
Contrast
Fast Auto Focus (I have used Tamron in the past and to me this was faster, but not as fast as my Canon 1.8 MK1)

Weaknesses
None so far (only had it for 3hrs) as of 1-13-09 1615hrs

Similar Products Used
I havent used Similiar but
My Photo Gear
Canon D30
Canon 50mm 1.8
Tamron 28-105mm F/4-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di
Sigma 24-60mm F/2.8 EX DG
Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8-4 DG
Sigma EF-500 DG Super w/lambency diffuser
Sigma EF-500 DG ST
Sunpak 422 D (x2)
Bogen Monopod 676B
2 8FT Lightstand with Umbrella Holders.
Mac G4 running PS/LR and some cool plugins/Piglets

Customer Service
Excellent so far

Review Date
September 11, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.25 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
Yaacov , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

Summary
An all around lens for people, portrait especially in studio and landscape photographing.

Strengths
Fast focus (i succeed to made that focus very fast in low light)
sharp and very handy to use.

Weaknesses
the f marker is small and hidden

Review Date
June 18, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
kubekch , Intermediate

Price Paid
$320.00

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
Very nice lens. It's compact, quite sharp, has IF. It's smaller than 24-70, which has 82mm filter size, and which i 30% bigger than 24-60. Very nice focal range using traditional camera. Using digital camera and taking landscapes we may buy some super-wide lens like Tokina AT-X 12-24mm f:4 or Sigma 10-20mm EX HSM.

Strengths
+ compact, small
+ Internal Focusing
+ Sharp at f:4-16
+ Has switch lock
+ distortion very well controlled
+ vinieting slightly noticeable but well controlled
+ AF quite fast, but not HSM

Weaknesses
- doesn't have HSM
- for some people 77mm filter size is not proper
- price was for me very surprising, because i bought it for 320$. In fact Sigma demand 800$.

Similar Products Used
+ Sigma AF 24mm 2.8 Super Wide
+ Tamron 28-75mm 2.8, old Tokina AT-X 28-70mm 2.8

Review Date
March 18, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
tomishakishi , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Other

Summary
compact and reasonably well made, but not an L.

Focus is not close to USM for speed/noise and accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. I have had plenty of blurred images due to missed focus with my eos 350D, but it seems better with my eos 3 for sure.

Not really that sharp wide open, but at 5.6 and beyond this lens is astonishingly sharp and contrasty. Th detail is simply incredible, but for me the focus issue is a killer as you have to recheck focus regularly. If you MUST work fast and MUST be able to rely upon perfect focus, forget this lens altogether. For landscapes and the like it is a superb choice. Personally, in time this will be replaced with a canon L zoom.

Still, good value and far sharper than basic consumer lenses. Whwen focused and 5.6+ it is blinding.

Strengths
Amazing sharpness and contrast stopped down.

Cheapish

Weaknesses
focus sometimes misses and always when you cannot retake!!!!!!

Similar Products Used
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