Using the Sigma 28-70 zoom lens
Photographic gear whether it be a camera or other equipment is a means to an end. The picture is all important rather than the way you produce it. In spite of that, it is still good to have the right equipment if you want your pictures to look the way you want them. Over many years as a photographer I have worked with an enormous variety of gear and in this series of articles I will share my thoughts on the practical rather than the technical side of some of the equipment I have used. In this piece the Sigma 28-70 f2.8 lens is in the limelight.
As a long term Nikon user, a couple of years ago, I started using a D200 for digital work. This Sigma lens was my first choice to go with it. The sensor on the D200 being an APS-C it would give me about 1.6 magnification over using it in a full frame camera (effectively becoming a 42-105 mm lens). It also covers a full frame sensor if that ever became necessary, although as the lens has no manual diaphragm control, you need to have a modern camera to use it. The focusing range is good and it enables me to get a near macro effect if extreme close-up shots are required. Set on 70mm you can get to subjects about 11cm from the front of your lens Further more, the large maximum aperture, which remains constant through the zoom range, is very useful if you need to throw a background well out of focus in head shots or work in poor light. The lens was also considerably less expensive that it’s Nikon near counterpart. As my picture taking requirements do not cover a very wide field; mostly photographing women from full length to head shots, this lens seemed a good compromise as an only lens for use outdoors or in the studio.
The lens itself is well made and functions easily. Although the auto-focusing does not use an ultrasonic motor it works in a positive way without too much noise. The lens is not too heavy or bulky; about 65mm in diameter, protrudes about 90mm from the camera and takes a 67mm filter . Its controls consist of a broad easily gripped zoom ring nearest the camera. Less than a 1/4 turn takes you from one end of the range to the other. The focusing ring, near the front of the lens has a similar small movement. There is a lock for keeping the lens on the 28mm position, a distance scale next to the focusing ring and a zoom range scale nearest the camera. The lens comes with a soft case and a bayonet mounted lens hood.
How does it work in practise? For me very well; some reviews I have read criticised its F2.8 performance. They say it is very soft below f4. Mine works well, I can shoot the range of pictures I need and have found it very sharp in the areas I want it to be. I wondered how it would perform when I eventually moved up to a D3 with a full frame sensor. Obviously, it then becomes useful as a medium wide angle lens at the short end but looses out slightly as a portrait lens at the full end of the range. Even so I have had very good results for head and shoulder pictures. A way round this was to team the lens with a 70-300 mm optic; the combination of these two would then satisfy all my current picture taking requirements.
Comments
Rayment wrote:
I found the same with the 28-70mm Sigma when I used it on my own D3. Perhaps it is better on the full frame sensor because that can resolve more detail.
I have not tried the 70-200 Sigma as I bought a Nikon 70-300mm f 4.5 VR instead. I could not afford the Sigma at the time. I have read several bad reviews of the Nikon lens but I find it works well for me. There has been a lot of talk in the press about the need for the highest grade optics when using the full frame sensor so perhaps I am not as particular as some people.
I think the important thing is if your gear gives the results you want then nothing else matters.
posted on 25/02/2009
Tony wrote:
I too have this lens, though I still have my D200 it now sits on my D3, and I actually think it performs better on the full frame sensor.
Interestingly, my Sigma 70-200mm, which has been a cracking lens on the D200, performs very badly on the D3.
posted on 23/02/2009