I am considering a zoom of this range. I have been reading the reviews of the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8. I have not been able to read reviews of the Sigma lens. Does anybody have any experience with this lens. The price difference of about $1000 seems to justify a little research before I make a decision. Thanks for your answer.

louis-

-- Louis Tseng (louis_tseng@hotmail.com), March 25, 2000

Answers

I was also interested in this lens a few months before so I have done some research on it. The conclusion is, when compared with EF17- 35f2.8L, the sigma is more prone to flare, vignetting and the optical quality rated as very good instead of excellent for Canon one but it is rated as excellent when aperture approachs f8. If you can read Chinese, visit the site http://www.photosharp.com/sigma17-35mm.htm , there are other sites also discussing about the lens but most of them don't contain pictures for comparison.

Although it doesn't compare the Sigma with Nikon, but I am sure Nikon won't be inferior to the Canon so I think the information may be still useful.

I finally bought the Canon17-35, after five rolls of film with it, I am suprised how seldom I need the 17-24mm range, when I forced myself to use the 17mm, some pictures were poorly exposured because the angle of view was too wide and the shoot contained areas with several stops difference in terms of exposure.

I had expressed my feeling in the photo.net but my thread got deleted extra-ordinary fast so I can't recieve much attention.

For these extra-wide angle lens, you may also encounter difficulty in using C-PL, eg, my Cokin P size vignette on my 17-35mm even I have cutted the outer part of the mount, so I bought a slim version of Hoya C-PL/UV hybrid filter, but it costed up to US$149.

Therefore, my suggestion is really think about whether you really need the 17-24mm range or what you need is a 24mm, 28mm and 35- 70mm......

Anyway, wish you can make a good decision for yourself.

-- EUng (eung@hongkong.com), March 25, 2000.

One place to ask is the Nikon Users Email List. WWW.nikonusers.org

-- Sang (sangdkim@msn.com), March 26, 2000.