Note: Finally preorders available at Amazon (Click here)!
The brand new Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens may be the only lens you ever need to buy for your APS-C camera. According to the just published DxOmark test (Click here) it beats all other APS-C zooms and even the Zeiss FF primes! There is not a lot to say, the Sigma is an outstanding performer. And it will be in Stock soon:
in USA at Amazon (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here) and in Europe at Amazon DE (Click here) and Amazon UK (Click here).
52 Responses
Zeiss primes are hugely overpriced for their performance. Today they can’t compete even against modern budget primes, such as Nikon 28G, etc.
But the performance is wonderful indeed. It beats Tamron 24-70, Nikkor 24-70 and only slightly underperform mighty Canon 24-70L USM II. Although the range is much narrower.
You got carried away with the Canon 24-70 USM II – it’s nowhere even close to the lens to be called “Mighty”. And sorry to rain on your parade but it ain’t better than now old Nikon 24-70 f/2.8. It’s exorbitantly high price is also a whole different conversation.
I have to disagree per the Zeiss 24mm f/2. This lens is noticeably sharper than any in my current stable of Sony and Minolta lenses, even going back to the Rokkor 24mm f/2.8. I have no regrets at all on the purchase. If anything, the photos have a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ that make it completely worth the money (especially since most others’ f/1.8 offerings are even more expensive).
The only bad thing about it is that I did have to pay full price, which is rare in my collection. I suppose that compared to my NIB Minolta 28-75mm f/2.8 for $99 from Frye’s in 2006 (when they thought that Minolta was going out of business, rather than simply sold to Sony), the Zeiss was relatively expensive. 😉
MMM…in that screenshot, the Zeiss is paired with the D7000…
Would have been interesting to compare to the ZA-20mm F2.0
I don’t like zoom lenses but I suppose not much can go wrong between 18 and 35. I may get this for my a57.
They obviously sent in an excellent sample there is quite a bit of variation in the Sigmas, even amongst the ART ones.
Correction, there used to be quite a bit of variation.
There still is. The new Art 35mm f/1.4 is a good example of that. Just check the posts on numerous photo blogs the owners posted. The variation is still the same as in the past. I burned myself not once but twice with a Sigma, never again, thanks.
Nope Sigma QC is much better and the variation is now on par with Canon. No one cares if you won’t buy sigma. stick to your overpriced glass fanboy!
They also obviously sent in an excellent 35mm sample to me. And my friend’s 35mm. And every photogs I know to have the 35mm 1.4.
Heck, at f/1.8 they got t/1.8. If true, they finally be able to defy the reflectivity law.
“genuinely means we no longer have to choose between the flexibility of a zoom over the imaging characteristics that were once only available with a prime.”
Well, apparently those “characteristics” aren’t available even with a prime.
Ok, how is that possible?
Apples and oranges? One’s an APSC lens the others are fullframe.
And? That’s a 1.8 zoom for 800 dollars that outperforms significantly more expensive primes from one of the best lens makers out there.
If only the world was that simple.
No matter though. It is very good indeed, as are all of the new Sigmas.
Agreed. I am simply trying to point out that if these numbers are something to go by, what Sigma did here is nothing short of impressive.
If you switch the camera body for the Carl Zeiss’s, there’re better than the Sigma. They just perform bad on that Nikon D7000. It’s just that Admin needs a story to be posted. *hypehypehype* Every lens is different on every body. You just can’t say, that lens performs great on Canon 7D and therefore will perform the same on a A99 or even on a D5 Mark II. It’s not that simple.
Any word on how fast the AF is for video? I’m using the Sony 16-50 2.8 with LA-EA2 adapter when i need fast AF for video. That lens has some strong distortion at the wide end though.
Admin, is it a fair comparison if they are using different camera bodies?
Not absolute fair. But I don’t think the results will differ by much.
Sigma is rockin’ and it’s an actual 1.8TStop. The Zeiss 35mm is a f/1.4 but it’s an 1.7TStop. To be fair, lenses have character and that’s not something “scientific” measurements can say, Zeiss is usually good at that BUT in some blind bokeh test, e.g., the Art 35mm f/1.4 from Sigma, beat some other lens, so, you may get the whole package with character AND high performance with this lens. Well done, kudos for trying to change the “cheapo lens” stigma, Sigma.
I know what im getting for christmas 😀
GO SIGMA – Thank You DXo
Too Bad – SONY IS too proprietary and arrogant
SONY will never allow AF-D Dual Autofocus on so many great Third Party Lens
The Sony Users Community could really use that kind of cooperation from Sony, which would increase our Users accessories options that are so needed, but Sony refuses to participate.
As users we can’t even get a quality firmware update our of Sony to repair so many Camera inadequacies.
Go Sigma – when working with the
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8y
our I wonder which frame bodies will provide us the best results? Nikon, Canon or Sony??
I hope DXo will provide those test shortly.
THANK YOU DXO – We Sony users certainly need more independent reviews, analysis and testing of Sony and Zeiss offerings.
Who know it might even help SONY wake up to provide more competitive values and offerings to better respect their Users budgets.
Sigma is free to fully license the A mount stuff from Sony (protocols, interface, etc.) instead of reverse engineering them. They reverse engineer their A mount products (for the mount electronics), as well as other mounts. To single out Sony on this front is a little disingenuous of you.
What difference does it make – the AF-D is a full frame camera – this is an APS-C lens?
This is great new coming from Sigma, their new lenses have been really getting really good reviews lately, however as a Sigma supporter and former Canon shooter, I will not get this lens (sadly) because I’m holding out for the FF-NEX, but its always good news
Not surpriseing the zf2 lenses aren’t digital lenses. they are based on very old ziess designs for film. You aren’t going to get good edges out of them. I have yet to see anything sharper then my 40mm G2 lens though until the very edges
If only Sony would buy Sigma outright–or at least a controlling share like they have with Tamron–and start producing lenses of this quality in house. Aside from the quirky AF, the Sigma 30mm NEX still blows me away with its contrast and sharpness.
So innovation can die? Not that Sony kills innovation, but I think it’s a good thing when 3rd party manufacturers produce great lenses. It (eventually) forces Sony to compete, but also allows Sigma to focus what they are good at rather than being absorbed into the mass of Sony.
Sony should buy this, Sony should buy that.
Man, I’m happy you guys don’t steer that tanker…
And of course I’m happy for Sigma, one of the last true lens makers out there.
With all it’s faults the 8-16mm ultra-wide is still the widest non-fisheye lens for APS-C out there. Design by commitee companies like Sony would never have produced it!
I’ve been shooting Sigs for well over a year. Can’t believe I ever bothered with other lenses.
And, don’t forget, it would increase the cost as well.
Go, Sigma! They do try harder, I have to say.
The DXO tests are always suspect in my mind. While they appear to be quite rigorous in collecting data, the DXO Mark Score remains kind of a mystery, to me at least. To see how the test might differ on the 7D and D7000 I put in the Sigma 35 1.4. All of the results show the same except sharpness, with the 7D getting 12 M-Pix and the D7000 getting 11 M-Pix, but then the resulting score goes the other way with the 7D getting 22 and the D7000 getting 26. What the….? I would never trust that comparison where the camera bodies differ. I think Nikon pays more than Canon or Sony so Nikon always comes out on top, or at least that is what it looks like sometimes. Anyway, on the 7D the 18-35 zoom has a better sharpness score (and total score if you believe in that thing) than the highly regarded Sigma 35mm f1.4! Not too shabby.
We are LUCKY DXO tests any Sony products at all.
As Sony Users we have been begging DXO to begin to consider SONY testing.
Most quality credible reviewers just ignore Sony all together since
SONY has refused to provide test models of many products for Third Party reviewers.
Especially Since Sony reputation for not fixing any firmware buys is legendard.
Even as users it make us suspect – What is Sony hiding???
As major Camera Trade Show Sony is the only vendor that does not want their cameras used.
SONY is famous for Taping all the memory Card slots closed prevent user testing Sony camera and taking test photo samples home on the users memory flash cards. .
Every other major Camera vendor encourages user Camera tests with the users own memory cards, but NOT SONY.
What is Sony hiding??
THANK YOU DXO You are our only hope.
lets wait and see for the new generation of cameras, the new strategies they are gonna approach since they are now taking alot of consumer reviews and delivering what we want. The new CEO is really moving this company to what the consumer wants, road map was changed taking this as the new ground point.
from now on , I will shun DXO.
I love my Zeiss 35mm f1.4 and I know it is better than the Sigma zoom.
DXO lens test is really seriously doomed.
I bet you never used this Sigma – but you know that it is worse.
Of course…
I bet you never use this sigma on fullframe camera, those zeiss are fullframe lenses.
Still loving the results I get from my 850 and cz 24-70. I do so love Sony’s skintones, and hope they will continue into the next generations. I gotta say that as much as my 850 is a workhorse, I’d kinda like to explore some higher iso photography – but will happily keep my lens. http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/31847253
The do all the comparisons on the same body here: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Sigma-18-35mm-F1.8-DC-HSM-A-Canon-mount-lens-review-fixed-focal-length-quality-in-a-zoom/Sigma-18-35mm-F1.8-DC-HSM-A-Canon-versus-primes
Fantastic!
Is Sigma the new Nikon?
Would somebody check on the color rendition before commenting?
Zeiss is alse able to make such glass. But what you see Sigma do is go along with the expectations of modernday photographers. These don’t judge a lens by the quality of the photo anymore. These modern hippy’s look and pixelpeel all day long and burn down every lens that’s not to there expectation. Sigma seems to listen to this and risen the standard.
The rest will follow, because online reviews nowadays determine sales expectations. The modern photographer first googles them before he buys. Now Sigma sets this standard first (As Sony sets a standerd with mirrorless soon), other manufacturers have to follow. These are happy days for us
It’s amazing how many computer “photogs” believe whatever they read.
I would not touch Sigma with a bargepole; DXO is an alternative to Dilbert or photo rumours sites, good on a slow day: nothing to learn but mildly amusing.
THIS IS ASP-C LENS ASP-C ASP-C ASP-C …..
No it’s “APS-C, APS-C, APS-C”…
Thank you. hehe ….
compare with full-frame bodies.