hi guys,

was considering getting either the Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 DC or the 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC lens. however after reading some of the problems other guys had regarding problems with the AF on Canon DSLR and some units/lens being 'lemon' and had to be returned for repairs or replacement (w/n the warranty period), i'm having serious doubts about getting a Sigma at all! considering i'm from baguio, it would be hard for me to be going back and forth to manila just for warranty issues if ever.

my question therefore is am i better off getting the Tamron AF 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 Di II XR instead? how does the tamron fare with the sigma in build quality and lens quality? also how's the after sale service of tamron and who services tamron here in the philippines?

i'm in the market for an all around lens to compliment/replace my 18-55 kit lens on my 350D. in the future though i'm considering getting the canon EF 50mm f/2.5 for portraits and maybe a 70-300mm tele lens for more 'serious' outdoor landscape/'birding' application.

and oh yes... i'm just a hobbyist... ! :)

good day sir, for a thorough review of the said lens this link may ba helpful.
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

good day sir, for a thorough review of the said lens this link may ba helpful.
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html
hi winky,

thanks for the info but i already did check it out with photozone. wanted to find out firsthand experience with sigma/tamron users from philippines. thanks again. :)

I can't complete say that Tamron has an issue with Canon but I began dealing with this since I use my Tamron. I've used Sigma before and this error didn't occured. Please read on "Error 99" over the internet.

Other than that, Tamron is a good alternative EF lens. It's light and compact.
Canon's 50mm 1.8/ II prime is a sure winner.

hi winky,

thanks for the info but i already did check it out with photozone. wanted to find out firsthand experience with sigma/tamron users from philippines. thanks again. :)


ok no problem, you are welcome.

hi! i believe both brands have good copies and bad copies... just make sure you get the unit personally and test it. :D i'm from davao and my friend had to return the Tamron 17-55 2.8 he ordered from henry's twice (1st - wrong mount, 2nd back focus, i didn't ask who handled the shipping cost) but he got a good copy at last. :D good luck on your search!

hint hint, with the price of the 18-200s, you can get a fast lens replacement for your kit lens if you add a few thou more. :D

and do get the 50mm 1.8 asap.

hi! i believe both brands have good copies and bad copies... just make sure you get the unit personally and test it. :D i'm from davao and my friend had to return the Tamron 17-55 2.8 he ordered from henry's twice (1st - wrong mount, 2nd back focus, i didn't ask who handled the shipping cost) but he got a good copy at last. :D good luck on your search!

hint hint, with the price of the 18-200s, you can get a fast lens replacement for your kit lens if you add a few thou more. :D

and do get the 50mm 1.8 asap.

hi dex,

that's what i'm afraid of... i gather i need to spend at least a day with JT or the shop from hidalgo and really scrutinize the sigma lens before i leave their store. aside from checking for back/front focus what else should i be checking out for? tnx! :)

amboy, first thing i did when i got my sig was check for fron and back focus (while crossing my fingers)... all is good. check for extreme softness too. shoot a lot with it. bring your camera. we don't have that luxury but we still risk it hahaha! :D

amboy, first thing i did when i got my sig was check for fron and back focus (while crossing my fingers)... all is good. check for extreme softness too. shoot a lot with it. bring your camera. we don't have that luxury but we still risk it hahaha! :D

yup... plan to bring my DSLR along when i check out the lens. thanks for the tip dex... appreciate it! :)

Hi Jon how's the tamron 17-50 2.8? I've tried the Sigma 18-50 2.8 and it just was too slow in focusing for me even on my D200. Significantly slower focussing than my 28-70 2.8 EX Sigma as well.

Hi,

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC lens is soft from my experience. Try the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8 -4.5 or the Sigma 24-135 f/2.8 -4.5, a bigger oppening may come in handy specially on low light conditions.

Ed

Hi,

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC lens is soft from my experience. Try the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8 -4.5 or the Sigma 24-135 f/2.8 -4.5, a bigger oppening may come in handy specially on low light conditions.

Ed

tnx for the tip Ed. am actually leaning towards the Sigma 17=70 f/2.8-4.5 due to its bigger opening and overall better review from the net. have you had experience with this lens? how was it?

Hi Jon how's the tamron 17-50 2.8? I've tried the Sigma 18-50 2.8 and it just was too slow in focusing for me even on my D200. Significantly slower focussing than my 28-70 2.8 EX Sigma as well.

Vince,

I also have this Tamron 17-50 2.8 and with regards to AF speed, it's superb!

Two things you just have to get used to though:

1. Noisy AF
2. Focusing ring rotates as you AF

But still, its sharpness, contrast, f/2.8 constant aperture, and light weight, make it my favorite lens for weddings for now.:)

Hi Jon how's the tamron 17-50 2.8? I've tried the Sigma 18-50 2.8 and it just was too slow in focusing for me even on my D200. Significantly slower focussing than my 28-70 2.8 EX Sigma as well.

vince, it's my friend who bought the 17-50 tamron... it's a nikon moount so iwas not able to test it :D but i heard it really good! except that the kit lens looks better. hehehe!

i have the sigma 24-70 2.8 ex dg macro.

for those who used tamron 17-50 2.8, will i-TTL and Matrix metering of Nikon will still work like using a Nikkor lens? kindly post sample pics if you have...tnx...:)

chard, iTTL and Matrix Metering is dependent on the body, imo

if it can control the aperture in the body, i think it is ittl and matrix metering capable.

for the d2 bodies, lenses without cpu can also meter.

opinyon lang po....

thanks aris...

i read somewhere about "re-chippig" of 3rd party lenses inorder for it to work with new dslr.
does this mean you need your lens to be re-chipped once there will be new dslr in the future?
i think it's because these 3rd party lenses are reverse engineeered?

im not sure though....

the tammy 17-50mm works really well with my nikon d70s.
used it almost exclusively during my last visit to sydney.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewychua/sets/72157594316245821/

i have the tamron 18-200 and im happy with it. It can be slow under low light conditions but the flexibility of the lens is great. You want landscape go 18 you want a tight portrait then zoom in. Its a great walkaround lens.

If you need just 1 lens then this may very well fit the bill. The reason i chose this over sigma is the fact that sigma 18-200 is worse under low light conditions and the QC of sigma seem a lil worse than tamron's. Ive read more problems on the sigma versus the tammy.

The problem is if you go and research sa internet youll get conflicting reports. Some say tamron is better some say sigma is better. They all have tests to prove their point. The tamron i think is more expensive and has a higher resale value than the sigma. The build is ok for the tamron, small and light. It is a good lens.

I dont use mine as much now since i have the 24-105L but if im going out and i need the range and flexibility then this is the best lens to whip out (since there is no Canon 18-200mm 3.5 - 5.6 IS like the nikon thing). Well there is the canon 28-300 L but you have to eat skyflakes for a while if you decide to get that hehehehe.....

Bottomline, ive been happy with the tamron 18-200. Its a great walkaround lens. Like any other lens (even Canon L ones) test your copy to make sure it doesnt have any problems.

just bought a 24-70mm F2.8 DG Macro Sigma lens canon mount. it's great!
(http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3261&navigator=2)

Hi Amboy,

I'm using a Tamron 18-200mm XR IF Di-II Lens attached on a KM Dynax 7D body (it makes a big difference on the Konica Minolta system because it's stabilized since the AS function is built-in the camera body. Built of the lens is average... too much plastic in it even the lens mount itself. AF speed is below average, compared to my Minolta primes, switching to manual makes it easier most especially if I disengage the AF mechanism on the KM-7D. There's slight distortion on the widest end (not acceptable for architectural work); softness introduced at the longest end (you'll have to use f/8 or smaller opening). Sharpness is above average that I needed to switch the sharpness setting of my camera to -1 to -2, Sigma is softer (I tried both before I made my purchase). Color rendition tends to favor the reds (warm tones) ideal for skin tones. Overall luminosity and image quality, average for normal prints (4R to 8R). Of course I cannot expect the same image quality from my Minolta primes, but as a walk-around/all-around lens, it's more than enough. BTW, it can do macros also (I think up to 1:4).

Here are some images taken with that lens on a KM Dynax 7D...

http://ct.pbase.com/g6/29/643429/3/69333695.4QhnYhgU.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/on_the_road)

http://ct.pbase.com/g6/29/643429/3/69335180.zcktJOAC.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/yanbu&page=2)

http://ct.pbase.com/g2/29/643429/3/66271985.wri8A0DZ.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/eastern_ksa&page=2)

guys, thanks for all the replies. made up my mind and bought the sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 MACRO DG last week. :)

i read somewhere about "re-chippig" of 3rd party lenses inorder for it to work with new dslr.



Richard,

From what I also read somewhere (also can't remember where), I think "re-chipping" is only needed for Sigma lenses that have HSM and will be used for D200. In fact, it will still work even without "re-chipping" as long as one does not use the AF button.