Sigma 17-50mm F2 8 Ex Dc Os Hsm Review
SLRgear Review
September 5, 2012
by Andrew Alexander
Appear in February 2010, the Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/2.eight EX DC OS HSM provides third-political party competition in the short zoom lens marketplace. This is the first zoom lens produced by Sigma in this range that provides both a stock-still maximum aperture and optical image stabilization.
Designed for the APS-C sized camera bodies, the lens provides an effective field of view of 27 - 80mm (Catechism) or 26 - 75mm (Nikon and others). The LH825-03 (583) petal-shaped lens hood ships with the lens. The lens takes 77mm filters and is available now for effectually $700.
Sharpness
The Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/two.8 OS offers precipitous key operation throughout its zoom range, with varying degrees of corner softness. This corner softness is improved every bit the lens is stopped downwardly, and there are a few points of tack-abrupt image quality.
Used wide open at wide angle (17mm, ƒ/ii.8) produces the ''worst'' corner softness - but fifty-fifty here it is comparatively light, matched nicely with a generous central area which is very abrupt. Every bit the lens is stopped downwards this corner softness abates gracefully, offering splendid sharpness past ƒ/5.6 (which is actually the best setting: diffraction limiting appears to fix in at ƒ/eight, noticeable by ƒ/11). Stopping down to ƒ/16 or ƒ/22 produces light softness across the frame.
The preceding is actually a skillful descriptor for performance in the other focal lengths, with a single noteworthy observation. Zoomed in to 21mm, 28mm or 50mm, corner functioning is actually slightly amend at these focal lengths, but in that location is an interesting deviation at 35mm where we see corners like to those at 17mm. These are minor numbers, then it'southward doubtful that you will run across a meaningful affect in real-earth photography, just it'southward interesting to note.
The sharpest signal for this lens appears to be 50mm at ƒ/8, where performance is essentially tack-sharp beyond the frame.
Chromatic Aberration
The Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/2.8 produces CA of the magenta-green variety, noticeable in areas of high contrast, and predominantly in the extreme corners. It's by and large significant when the lens is used wide open, though zooming in does appear to limit its presence.
Shading (''Vignetting'')
Corner shading isn't a huge factor with the Sigma 17-50mm, producing (at its most notable) extreme corners which are just over a one-half-finish darker than the center of the frame, when the lens is used at 17mm and ƒ/ii.8. Other focal lengths used at ƒ/2.8 produce around a third of a stop darker corners; other apertures do not produce any meaning corner shading.
Distortion
Distortion is typical for a wide-angle zoom lens; barrel baloney when zoomed to broad, approaches no distortion in the middle, and gets a bit of pincushion distortion at the telephoto end. At its worst, baloney is effectually 0.75% barrel when used at 17mm. The baloney is fairly linear, and meets at the zero-distortion point at around 24mm. After that it'due south pincushion baloney in the corners: about -0.3%. Yous can turn your curves back into straight lines hands with almost image processing software.
Autofocus Operation
The Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/2.8 OS is designated as an HSM (hypersonic motor) lens, merely it doesn't share the total implementation of what nosotros've come to expect from Sigma's HSM lenses. Specifically, information technology doesn't feature full-time manual override, and so if y'all want to override autofocus results you must commencement disengage the autofocus. Due to the lens' short focus throw, focusing is quite quick, at effectually one second to focus from shut-focus to infinity, and the lens makes very little noise in the process. Fastened 77mm filters will non rotate while focusing.
Macro
The lens offers fair macro performance: 0.2x magnification, with a minimum close-focusing distance of 28cm (but under i pes).
Build Quality and Handling
The Sigma 17-50mm ƒ/2.8 OS features an all-black, all-plastic construction; parts of the lens are coated with Sigma's rubberized coating, which offers practiced traction. There are ii switches on the lens, ane to activate or deactivate image stabilization, and i to enable or disable autofocusing. The lens features a distance calibration, but doesn't offer a depth-of-field scale. The lens mountain is metal, and the 77mm filter threads are plastic. The aperture is made up of vii curved diaphragm blades, which should offer pleasing out-of-focus background elements.
The focus ring is mounted at the cease of the lens, 3/8-inch wide and composed of raised rubber ribs. As mentioned, the focusing range of the ring is fairly small, just 45 degrees, making transmission focusing a bit deadening. We constitute that the focus ring has very picayune dampening, letting information technology turn very freely. The focusing throw is divisional on either side by hard stops. The front element doesn't rotate while focusing.
The zoom band is the larger of the two, 3/4-inch wide, also equanimous of large raised safe ribs. There are around 45 degrees of rotation in the zoom ring, and a dainty level of resistance to the ring; not besides tight, and not too loose. There's no testify of zoom pitter-patter, merely Sigma does include a zoom lock to fix the lens at 17mm so the lens will not extend while dangling on your neck strap.
The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS employs Sigma's optical stabilization. In our testing of information technology, we noted two, if not 2 1/2 stops of mitt-holding comeback: cheque our IS Test above for farther detail.
The included lens hood (LH825-03 583) is of the petal-shaped design, adding a farther i i/2 inches to the overall length of the lens. The interior of the hood is securely ribbed to reduce the touch of any devious light inbound the front element, and the hood can exist reversed onto the lens for storage.
Alternatives
Tamron 17-50mm ƒ/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical IF SP AF ~$650
Tamron's pattern has been around a while: Sigma's offering tests every bit slightly ameliorate, with meliorate results for sharpness and corner shading. Operationally, they are about the same.
Sigma eighteen-50mm ƒ/2.viii-4.v DC OS HSM ~$400
If you don't need the abiding f/2.8 aperture, Sigma offers a slightly less expensive variable aperture lens which also tests very well.
Catechism EF-S 17-55mm ƒ/ii.8 IS USM ~$1,150
Catechism's offering in this category is about twice every bit expensive, and offers like if slightly better performance than the Sigma. Operationally the autofocus system is much better and potentially the build quality besides.
Nikon 17-55mm ƒ/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX ~$1,250
Nikon's offering in this category is about twice as expensive, and offers like performance. Nikon's autofocus system is better than Sigma's in this case.
Pentax sixteen-50mm ƒ/ii.8 ED AL IF SDM SMC DA* ~$750
We haven't nonetheless tested Pentax'due south offering in this category.
Sony sixteen-50mm f/two.8 DT SSM ~$700
Sony'due south offering is similar to Sigma's only probably represents a improve value: it'southward most every bit sharp, merely uses meliorate SSM focusing than Sigma's implementation of HSM.
Decision
There'southward no shortage of lenses to choose from in the brusk zoom category, and Sigma's offering presents an economical alternative to the major manufacturer'southward options. Optically it tested well, and it's not too difficult on the pocketbook.
Product Photos
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Sample Photos
The VFA target should give you a skillful idea of sharpness in the center and corners, as well as some thought of the extent of barrel or pincushion distortion and chromatic aberration, while the Still Life subject may help in judging contrast and color. We shoot both images using the default JPEG settings and manual white balance of our test bodies, then the images should be quite consistent from lens to lens.
As appropriate, we shoot these with both full-frame and sub-frame bodies, at a range of focal lengths, and at both maximum discontinuity and ƒ/8. For the ''VFA'' target (the viewfinder accurateness target from Imaging Resource), we also provide sample crops from the center and upper-left corner of each shot, so you can chop-chop get a sense of relative sharpness, without having to download and inspect the full-res images. To avert space limitations with the layout of our review pages, indexes to the test shots launch in split windows.
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Os HSM User Reviews
-
7 out of x points and recommended past Sirius-B (4 reviews)
Very proficient optical operation. Corking value.
No cons for this price.
This is a very nice zoom lens! It is pretty sharp fifty-fifty wide open. Using it for astrophotography, stars are sharp beyond much of the field wide open (out to nigh seventy% of the FOV), except for corners, where coma, chromatic abnormality and astigmatism are quite pronounced. Build quality is very proficient, particularly at this cost. It's plastic, but information technology's good plastic and it lasts. Great value. These lenses are cheap used and far, far better than the toll implies. Get the Sigma Art 18-35 mm f/ane.8 for the all-time optical performance, it is a far superior lens. Get this lens for a light, sharp general employ zoom. Highly recommended.
reviewed March 30th, 2021 (purchased for $300) -
five out of x points and not recommended by themarce (1 reviews)
relatively fast lens proficient lens for interior-shooting
handles contrast pretty bad, therefore bad for shooting outside
My first idea about this lens was, that it'south pretty well built and heavy and I liked how the lens feels.
reviewed October 25th, 2019 (purchased for $350)
After taking some pictures interior (manly portrait) I even so liked the lens. When coming from a kit lens, this lens felt similar a huge step up. Even so, subsequently trying this lens outside it got pretty articulate that the lens has problems with high contrasty situations. There frequently was something like a halo surrounding edges (eg. when taking pictures of leaves during sunshine). Too the colors weren't that punshy enymore during bright daylight. In the end I was pretty disapointed with the imagequality.
In total I tested 3 copies, all delivering the same imagequality on two unlike cameras (D5000 and D5500). The results were notwithstanding. -
6 out of 10 points and recommended past joe88 (43 reviews)
sharp in center
broad open wide angle not and then sharp in the corners; CA's
suitable for portraits, for my taste wide open up as well much CA's on extreme wide angle, non so proficient for architecture, adept lens, but not an splendid one
reviewed Jan 31st, 2014 (purchased for $350) -
8 out of 10 points and recommended by Lamar (1 reviews)
Lighter, Less Expensive than the Nikon choice. Mostly very good overall sharpness and excellent in the centre. Stabilization
Corner softness at f/4 or less when broad.
reviewed December 7th, 2012 (purchased for $609)I wanted a fast normal zoom to use with my D300. Based on the many reviews online it was easy to narrow my conclusion downward to ii choices, the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 or the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8. I decided to get the Sigma since it was half the toll of the Nikon and had VR. I take never used annihilation but Nikon drinking glass for my Nikon cameras and then this was exterior the box for me. I was concerned about build quality and paradigm quality, sharpness in particular.
The offset lens I received had an obvious alignment trouble, the left side of the frame would exist very soft while the right would be precipitous even at f/8 on equidistant objects. I exchanged the lens for another sample.
When I got the new lens I shot exam images using a D300 to compare the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.viii Bone HSM lens to Nikon'due south 18-70mm f/three.v-iv.5 AF-south and xviii-200mm f/three.5-v.vi AF-S VR. I was specifically interested in determining whether to go along the Sigma or render it and get the Nikon 17-55mm f/two.8 for TWICE the price. Afterwards seeing the results I decided to keep the Sigma. It'southward faster and sharper than what I was using, it's one-half the cost of the equivalent Nikon option, plus I go VR. Central sharpness on the Sigma is fantabulous. Corners are soft at the wider settings below f/5.6 only as focal length increases past 35mm the image sharpens up nicely even wide open everywhere but the virtually extreme borders.
Link to images: <a href="http://www.lamarlamb.com/Things/Testing-Sigma-17-50mm-f28-Bone/26935388_MqHphg#!i=2257949078&yard=QzNjTXT" target="_blank">www.lamarlamb.com/Things/Testing-Sigma-17-50mm-f28-OS/26935388_MqHphg#!i=2257949078&k=QzNjTXT</a>
-
9 out of 10 points and recommended by jho (1 reviews)
Abrupt, fast and accurate focus, image quality
Occasional focus hunting in very low light
reviewed September 22nd, 2012 (purchased for $590)Pros
Epitome quality excellent.
AF performance excellent.
Build quality very skillful
Os effective
Excellent image resolution
Excellent low lite performance
Hood and case included
Just over one-half the price of the Canon 17-55
Hands the all-time buy in this focal range.I would highly recommend this lens any day.
Cons
No AF manual override
No weathersealing -
9 out of 10 points and recommended past hudson46 (1 reviews)
Ease of utilize, paradigm quality, Bone, build
Lack of full-fourth dimension focus, lack of hyperfocal markings
reviewed Baronial 7th, 2011 (purchased for $930)Had to choose between Catechism 17-55 and this Sigma. Tried both, and very happy with the Sigma. Image quality is superb, as good every bit an L-lens I borrowed for a while. Manual focus is catchy, with a short turn (thirty degrees?) and altitude calibration is therefore cramped, making hyperfocal settings tricky - I do a lot of mural and outdoor piece of work. Working round lack of full-time manual focus is a niggling abrasive, but I got used to information technology fairly quickly. Switches for Os and Motorcar/Man focus work well, every bit does the zoom lock, but in the correct place.
Overall, very satisfied with this Sigma 17-50. Excellent choice every bit replacement for standard kit lens, too as Canon 17-85. Slightly better in my opinion than the Canon fifteen-85.
Had to render the lens direct to Sigma for autofocus bug, but returned to me in 1 week, focus fixed, lens amend than ever.
-
8 out of ten points and recommended by bridges (4 reviews)
fast, smooth
size, zoom ring turns 'incorrect' way, plastic filter band
reviewed Nov 8th, 2010 (purchased for $670)Zoom is smooth like other recent sigmas, HSM is fast, serenity. Hood is smooth to put on, simply feels non secure.
Construction feels solid, tho I prefer Nikkor ON/OFF switches to Sigma's.There's no total time transmission override, not an upshot for me. Zoom turns the incorrect way, that'due south quite poor on their part. No weather sealing, also a chip poor since it'd exist trivial to add together that prophylactic seal at the mount at least.
Barrel extends when zooming, and the Barrel surface itself isn't smooth, that doesn't feel so good.
-
9 out of 10 points and recommended by jsonic (1 reviews)
light, well build, near silent Bone, superb eyes
focusring does plough and no full time manual focus
reviewed June 24th, 2010 (purchased for $765)I was waiting for this lens to go available as I was looking for this type of lens for shooting weddings. I likewise looked at the Canon 17-40 four.0L and EF-Due south 17-55 ii.8 IS I was very interested to come across how well the new FLD glass would perform after reading very good reviews of other lenses with this type of glass. Subsequently comparising the lenses I dropped the Canon EF-S 17-55 two.viii IS from my shortlist mainly due to the high cost and less than stellar build quality. The 17/40 4.0L is an impressive lens with stellar build quality merely does non have IS. I do consider IS and two.8 as a bonus as calorie-free conditions during weddings can be very troublesome then having a 2.eight lens can help focussing (also 2.viii ways loftier precision AF) and IS helps to avoid camerashake so I can use slower flash sync speeds to get a more natural looking picture when flash is needed.
And then I went home with the Sigma and boy does it perform... It is stunningly sharp fifty-fifty wide open and it gives me very articulate, brilliant beautiful pictures with bang-up microcontrast. It has the same brilliant loftier quality movie experience every bit for instance the 70-200 4.0 L IS
The FLD glass sure is doing a great task equally abberations are almost completely absent-minded as is purple fringing that tin exist a pain on these wider lenses (my Canon 20-35 has very high levels of it) I did take a moving-picture show of a armed services chopper against a very bright heaven and there is none aberation visible... Compared to my Canon 20-35 and even my Sigma 24-70 2.8 HSM information technology has conspicuously beter optics as also the distortions are well controlled. Bokeh quality is besides practiced, it has rounded blades which give a nice even background blur.
Mechanicaly it was suprising to run across a rotating focus band on a EX lens. I guess it is done to keep the lens as modest equally information technology is. ALso full time transmission focus is not available. Both points are a pity as it would accept it made mechanical and ergonomical fifty-fifty better. The AF is on the other paw very precise and fast, I had no problem tracking cars that where doing 70kph. The Os is the best I accept seen from Sigma withal, it is completely silent (in fact I had to held my ear on the lens to hear information technology every bit I idea that it did non work) It is as well effective. At that place is no play in the zoom and focus ring and the tube when zooming out to 50mm has no play as well. Although being low-cal information technology does have a quality feel nearly it as to be expected of an EX lens. The swithces are precise and take a prissy click to it, a definite improvement over earlier lenses.
Then all in all I am very content with this little marvel and I am looking forrad to practice my kickoff weddding shoot using it.
hotchinjuspencesses.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/sigma/17-50mm-f2.8-ex-dc-os-hsm/review/