| Photography Forum: Photography Help Forum: |
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Q. Sigma f/2.8 24-70mm EX DG Macro on Canon Rebel ---HELP!!!---
Asked by kaity cochran
(K=219) on 8/11/2008
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Does anyone else use this lens? I bought it used for $300. I know, I got ripped off, but the Chinese are so good at hustling you.
I find that the autofocus is very slow, and LOUD. I have to use manual focus a lot. When I am using the autofocus, if it is not PERFECTLY focused, it will not shoot the photo. What the hell is that all about? It's annoying when I am taking action shots, and just want to click click click.
Whenever I use my popup flash it creates a shadow. Luckily I don't like using flash so much, and am looking to get an external, but has anyone else had problems with this? Is it because the lens is so big? (filter size = 82mm)
I'm really upset about all this, because I really don't have ANY money. I just wanted a good zoom lens with a max aperture of f/2.8.
I bought this lens to take band photos when people play at The Record Collector in Bordentown, but the fact that it won't shoot when not perfectly focused is extremely frustrating.
HELP!
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had to go all manual to get this one.
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Dave Arnold
(K=55680) - Comment Date 8/11/2008
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I don't have that lens but I do have three Sigmas and am please with them all. As for your not being able to shoot when not perfectly focused, that is a function of your camera, not the lens. Your camera senses the perfect focus and allows the shot to be taken until the sensor determines focus.
Also, part of your problem with focus is that you are (sounds like) shooting mostly in low light conditions. Quite a few lenses have trouble in auto focus mode with low light. Even the more expensive ones, though the technology seems to get better with newer lenses and higher technology.
While you may be stuck with the lens, your type of photography that you described as your main subject should not be a problem with using manual focus. It sounds like you and your subject are rather stationary during a shoot, as compared to say, a football game where you are focusing on people moving at great distances across a field.
You only have one option, since money is out of the question... learn to love your lens by working with it.... :)
Dave
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kaity cochran
(K=219) - Comment Date 8/11/2008
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Heh, that is good advice. I really do love the lens, just not loving its quirks. I dont know why I posted that sample image, it was really easy to shoot, but it was the first one I have uploaded so far using this lens. I'm lazy.
I don't mind going all manual, it's just annoying when you want to zoom in and out and refocus, yada yada. And yes I have the most difficulties in low light situations.
Do you know what can be causing the shadow when I use my stupid little pup up flash?
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Dave Arnold
(K=55680) - Comment Date 8/11/2008
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Oh, the shadow is nothing more than the size of the lens. It is interfering with the light transit. While handy, the on-board flash is not the best to use. Especially if you are shooting at the widest angle of the lens. Even with my smaller lenses, I run into that same problem at times. Kinda like shooting your tripod leg accidentally with a wide angle lens.
You shouldn't really have a problem when using the lens at 70 mm and using the flash. 24mm will be a different story, though.
Dave
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Jeroen Wenting
(K=25317) - Comment Date 8/12/2008
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Depending on how old it is you did not get ripped off.
It sells for over €400 new, that's $650+ (including taxes) here, in the US it would sell for less (maybe $500) new, US MSRP is $600 so you got it at half listprice, not bad.
http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3261&navigator=2
I don't know how noisy is noisy. Depends a lot on what you're used to.
Given that it's a rather bulky lens, you'd need a high torque to get it moving.
Given your camera, which is a lowend model and will have a relatively weak motor (disadvantage of Canons, with other brands each lens would have a motor optimised for its weight and size), you're bound to get worse AF performance when using heavy lenses.
Problems focussing in low light are (as Dave stated) common, but with this lens should be less common than with slower lenses you may already have had.
But at some point everything breaks down no matter what lens you use.
To prevent the lens casting a shadow when using the flash, you'll have to use a flash that's further away from the lens. That's simple physics I'm afraid.
The popup flash is just too low, too near the lens for its light to not be blocked by the lens body.
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kaity cochran
(K=219) - Comment Date 8/12/2008
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thank you for your advice! i dont consider my camera a "low end" camera. i know it's going down in price, because of all the new upgrades, but for $800 for the body alone, i must say, it is a great camera.
i really wanted the nikon d40, but got too impulsive and bought the rebel because they didnt have the d40. damn staples. oh well. when i'm rich i'll get the nikon d100. i really do prefer nikon to canon.
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Dave Arnold
(K=55680) - Comment Date 8/12/2008
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Your camera is indeed low-end.... that is not an insult, just a fact. All things are relative. When you put your camera's price up against the others in the Canon 35 mm digitals alone, the "high-end" will cost you about $7500... so versus your $800... yes, your camera is low-end.
It is a good starter camera, yes. But in my opinion, your first mistake is shopping Staples (or any other big box store). Their prices aren't necessarily that great and their goods are designed for the amateur consumer photographer. Don't you dare go to one of those places looking for lenses... you think you are unhappy with what you've got, wait till you get a real crappy, poor quality lens (even a brand name lens)from there.
As an example, my girlfriend got all excited when she found a $199 Canon 75-300mm lens at Target.... until I told her it was the lens that I threw out (actually, I gave it to one of my kids) just because it took such bad (soft) photos.
Next time you go to buy... go somewhere like B&H Photo in NYC, a reputable NYC camera house. You shop them on the web and see the prices, which I consider the best values anywhere.
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Jeroen Wenting
(K=25317) - Comment Date 8/13/2008
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your lens is fine. Your camera is decent but nothing special.
You just need a decent flash unit to use instead of the built-in flash.
Might make a nice Christmas or birthday present 
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kaity cochran
(K=219) - Comment Date 8/16/2008
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Alright I returned the lens. I had my photography teacher look at it, and as I said before, the autofocus and even manual focus is horrible. I ended up swapping it for a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. So far so good! What also rocks is the filter size is 58mm, the same size as all my other awesome filters. +++
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don bailey
(K=15) - Comment Date 10/2/2008
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Rashed Abdulla
(K=163889) - Comment Date 10/4/2008
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Yes I did use the same lens, the front of this lens is too wide and this might caused the vegenting when you use the flash , I use this lens and still using it with my Nikon D2X, by all means it is a great lens and fast by means of its F2.8 through.
Wishing you all of the best my friend
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Bobby Niel
(K=0) - Comment Date 10/6/2008
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Your posts contains really very good info. Understanding camera lenses can help add more creative control to digital photography. Choosing the right lens for the task can become a complex trade-off between cost, size, weight, lens speed and image quality. This tutorial aims to improve understanding by providing an introductory overview of concepts relating to image quality, focal length, perspective, prime vs. zoom lenses and aperture or f-number.
All but the simplest cameras contain lenses which are actually comprised of several "lens elements." Each of these elements aims to direct the path of light rays such that they recreate the image as accurately as possible on the digital sensor. The goal is to minimize aberrations, while still utilizing the fewest and least expensive elements.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm contains further info on this topic.
Thank you!!
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