Sigma 1835mm F18 Art Dc Hsm Vs Canon Ef 1635mm F28l Iii

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.viii DC HSM zoom lens Vs. Canon EF sixteen-35mm f/2.8L II

October 2, 2013

I accept wanted to effort the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8mm DC HSM zoom lens ever since it was announced earlier this year. As it is designed for an APS-C-sized sensor, the field of view isn't quite equally wide as you lot might expect, but it works out as roughly equivalent to a 28-50mm lens, making it useful for landscapes and reportage photography. In fact, with an f/1.8 constant aperture, information technology could easily replace a 24mm, 28mm and 35mm lens in the kit pocketbook of those with a DSLR carrying an APS-C-sized sensor.

This lens is part of Sigma's new Art range of lenses, which is the designation given to wideangle, large aperture or macro lenses. Basically, the Fine art-series lenses are meant to be for artistic uses, whereas the Gimmicky-serial lenses are more for standard uses, while the Sports-series lenses are telephotos designed for sports and wildlife photograph. The aim is to simplify the nomenclature given to lenses, and rightly then, but until we get used to this it may be a little bewildering.

It isn't just the categories of the lenses that accept been given a new lease of life, either, as the actual design has too been revamped and the lenses take been given a stylish, rather minimalist look. Gone are the gilt bands that used to feature on Sigma optics. Now they are matt black with simple white labelling, and look perfect alongside today'south retro-styled cameras that are now in vogue.

As a 'world's first', at that place is apparently no like-for-like competition for the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens. However, to be able to see how proficient it is and to draw comparisons, we have chosen to test it alongside the Canon EF xvi-35mm f/2.8L Two lens.

The Catechism optic is effectually six years old, having been released in early 2007. It is i of Canon's premium L-series lenses, which is reflected in its cost – it is nigh £ane,200. At this price, the Canon sixteen-35mm f/2.8 lens is well-nigh twice the toll of the Sigma 18-35mm f/one.8, which is around £650, but there is one major departure between the 2 lenses. The Catechism lens is designed for utilize on cameras with a full, 35mm image frame, while the Sigma lens tin only exist used on cameras with an APS-C-sized prototype sensor. Obviously, this ways that the 16mm focal length of the Canon lens is even more impressive, every bit it truly is a 16mm lens when used on a full-frame camera. The difference in the field of view of the Sigma lens means information technology is the equivalent of a 27mm lens on a camera with a full-frame sensor. For the purposes of this comparison, both eyes accept been used on an 18-meg-pixel Catechism EOS 7D, which has an APS-C-sized sensor.

Image: Sigma 18-35mm f/ane.eight DC HSM

One of the starting time things that strikes y'all every bit you pick up the Sigma eighteen-35mm lens is its weight. Although it is designed for the smaller APS-C-sized sensor, the large f/1.8 aperture means that some adequately significant size glass lens elements take gone into its structure.

With 17 elements in 12 groups it is no surprise that the 18-35mm lens weighs a hefty 810g. To put this in perspective, the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L Ii USM lens is 5g less at 805g, and the Canon EF 16-35mm f/ii.8 II USM lens that we are using as a comparison weighs but 640g. While around 110g difference may not seem a huge corporeality, the weight becomes more significant the longer you are carrying the lens, particularly as it is likely to exist used for landscapes and travel photography and so it may be on your shoulder for an entire day.

As yous would expect from a lens with 17 elements, the pattern of the Sigma eighteen-35mm f/1.viii lens is extremely complex. Four of the elements are aspherical and five are made from Special Depression Dispersion (SLD) drinking glass. The combination of both these types of elements helps control chromatic aberrations and curvilinear distortions. To reduce flare and ghosting, and to maximise contrast and sharpness, the lens elements likewise characteristic a Super Multi-Layer coating. Extra protection from flare is also provided by using the supplied petal-shaped lens hood. When focusing the lens the front element does not move, which is useful for those shooting landscape images and wishing to employ a circular polarising filter. The lens has a 72mm filter thread.

The discontinuity of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.eight lens features nine rounded blades. This helps create completely circular and smooth specular highlights, producing an attractive bokeh, which is an important feature given the very shallow depth of field that tin can be created with the f/i.8 maximum discontinuity.

Paradigm: Canon EF 16-35mm f/ii.8L Two

With a minimum focusing distance of 28cm, the Sigma 18-35mm allows photographers to become relatively close to their subjects and, of form, when shooting at f/1.eight the minimum focus altitude provides a very shallow depth of field. The lens uses a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), and this ensures that focusing is both fast and equally placidity as possible. Switching between manual focus and autofocus tin be done via a switch situated on the side of the lens butt.

The lens is largely constructed of metal, including a brass lens mount. Overall, the Sigma lens is built to an extremely high standard. Third-party lenses are frequently seen equally junior to manufacturers' ain lenses, but this is certainly non the case with the Sigma xviii-35mm f/1.viii. The new pattern, with its big, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-utilise focus and zoom rings, looks equally good as information technology is to employ, and denoting the year in which the lens was designed is a actually nice bear on. For example, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is marked 013, while a version released in 2017 would state 017, rather than the Mark 2 that other manufacturers do. I like this idea and can see people discussing certain generations of the lens in the futurity – forth the lines of, say, 'I e'er prefer the 014 version to the latest 022 as in that location is slightly less curvilinear distortion.' Overall, the lens is certainly as well synthetic as the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 lens and I think that, if anything, the Sigma lens feels nicer to utilize.

1 of the advantages of Sigma's new lenses is that they can be used with the company'south USB dock, which allows uniform lenses, such as the eighteen-35mm f/1.8, to be connected via the dock to a figurer. Using software supplied with the USB, dock lenses can have their firmware updated and it is even possible to correct for and adapt slight front or back focusing inaccuracies. Some telephoto lenses can even have custom minimum and maximum focus distance set, although this apparently doesn't apply to the Sigma 18-35mm f/one.8 lens.

Specification: Sigma xviii-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM

RRP: £799.99
Street price: Around £650
Filter bore: 72mm
Lens elements: 17
Groups: 12
Diaphragm blades: nine
Discontinuity: f/1.8-16
Minimum focus: 28cm/11in
Length: 121mm
Bore: 78mm
Weight: 810g
Lens mount: Catechism EF, Nikon F, Sigma, Sony A, Pentax K

Sigma eighteen-35mm f/1.viii DC HSM – 18mm

Nautical chart analysis

Tested on a Canon EOS 7D

Set up to f/4 at its 18mm focal length, which is 2 stops downward from maximum aperture, the operation of the Sigma xviii-35mm lens is extremely sharp. At MTF 50% the resolution is effectually 1200lp/ph. Like the Canon lens, the Sigma eighteen-35mm has a slightly wavy vignetting shading graph, probably due to the complication of all the lens structure being pushed to the limit at this brusk focal length. However, the actual shading is minimal, with just around 0.1EV deviation in exposure.
Looking at the baloney the Sigma lens is almost identical the the Canon lens at this focal length.

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.eight DC HSM – 24mm

Chart analysis

Tested on a Catechism EOS 7D

Like the Canon lens, the moving ridge of the vignetting has smoothed out in the Sigma lens. However, there is still around 0.1EV concealment at the very edges.

There is a drib in the corporeality of detail the lens can resolve with the MTF 50% effigy reduced to around 1000lp/ph, which is still better than the performance of the Canon 16-35mm lens. Information technology is worth noting that there is only a slight divergence between using the lens at f/i.8 and f/4, as the dark blue and cherry-red lines of the graph indicate.

Sigma eighteen-35mm f/ane.8 DC HSM – 35mm

Nautical chart analysis

Tested on a Canon EOS 7D

Like the Canon lens, pincushion baloney of the Sigma lens is present at this focal length, and once once again there is fractionally less vignetting than at the 24mm setting. Resolution is still very high and, again, with the lens aperture set to f/1.8 or f/4, the resolution is greater than 1000lp/ph at MTF l%, which is very impressive. What is fifty-fifty more pleasing is how close all the lines are, showing very little difference betwixt apertures at the middle and edges. This is conspicuously equally a issue of the center areas of the lens being using to create the image at this focal length. Overall, performance is extremely expert.

Score: 4 out of 5

Specification: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II

RRP: £2,147.99
Street price: Effectually £1,180
Filter bore: 82mm
Lens elements: 16 elements
Groups: 12
Diaphragm blades: seven
Discontinuity: f/2.8-22
Minimum focus: 28cm/11in
Length: 111.6mm
Diameter: 88.5mm
Weight: 640g
Lens mount: Canon EF

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II – 16mm

Chart analysis

Tested on a Canon EOS 7D

At its widest setting the distortion of the Canon 16-35mm lens is effectually the same equally the Sigma 18-35mm lens, and will require some correction. Interestingly at that place is a slight wave on the vignetting, no doubt caused by the circuitous lens design, merely overall vignetting is virtually non-existent.

Although the chart shows that the lens performs fractionally better when wide open, this wasn't reflected in our existent-life test. There was very footling deviation betwixt the image resolution at f/ii.eight and f/5.6 with the lens performing well at both apertures, although not also equally the Sigma lens.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II – 24mm

Chart analysis

Tested on a Canon EOS 7D

With the longer focal length of the Canon lens, the slight moving ridge in the shading graph is smoothed out, and again there is virtually no vignetting.

Resolution is very similar to when the lens is used at the 16mm setting, although the departure between centre and edge resolution at each given aperture is less, which is represented by the lines on the graph being closer together.

The curvilinear distortion is minimal and past the 24mm focal length shouldn't be an outcome.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/two.8L 2 – 35mm

Chart assay

Tested on a Canon EOS 7D

At its longest focal length there is some pincushion distortion of the Catechism lens, as indicated by the arrows at the lesser of the graph. All the same, it isn't too astringent and is straightforward to right. Any vignetting is nigh unnoticeable in existent-world images as it is less than 0.1EV. The lens actually seems to be at its sharpest at this setting, managing to resolve at 800lp/ph at MTF l%. Functioning at the edges when the lens is at its maximum f/ii.8 aperture is poor and drops to less than 400lp/ph at MTF l%.

Score: 4 out of 5

Simply a quick glance at the resolution charts of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.viii DC USM reveal that it is a great lens. With an MTF 50% resolution of effectually 1000lp/ph at f/iv, regardless of the focal length, the 18-35mm can actually resolve every bit much as some of the 50mm lenses we tested previously (see AP twenty July), which is impressive for a relatively wideangle zoom lens.

Still, the Sigma is actually at its sharpest when shooting at around f/4 at its 18mm setting, which is the equivalent of a 27mm field of view on a full-frame camera. This is good news for those looking for a mid-range zoom lens for landscapes, especially as even at the edges there is just a moderate decrease in sharpness. The only downside is that the minimum aperture is only f/sixteen, rather than f/22. Obviously, landscape photographers will want to maximise depth of field, but thankfully the lens is still acceptably sharp at f/11 and fifty-fifty at f/xvi diffraction isn't so bad that it is unusable.

The images below were taken at the 35mm focal length of each of the lenses. The lenses were focused on the point highlighted, and are shown enlarged.
The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens resolves fractionally more detail than
the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, with both lenses at their sharpest betwixt
f/5.6 and f/8

Image: Taken with Sigma eighteen-35mm f/one.8 DC HSM lens at f/1.8

Images: Taken with Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L Ii (left) and Sigma 18-35mm f/one.8 DC HSM lens (right) at f/2.8

Images: Taken with Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II (left) and Sigma 18-35mm f/1.eight DC HSM lens (correct) at f/4

Images: Taken with Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II (left) and Sigma 18-35mm f/1.eight DC HSM lens (correct) at f/5.6

Images: Taken with Canon sixteen-35mm f/2.8L II (left) and Sigma 18-35mm f/1.eight DC HSM lens (correct) at f/8

Images: Taken with Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II (left) and Sigma xviii-35mm f/one.viii DC HSM lens (right) at f/11

Images: Taken with Catechism 16-35mm f/2.8L 2 (left) and Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens (right) at f/16

Image: Taken with Canon sixteen-35mm f/2.8L II lens at f/22

Looking at the real-life images in a higher place, the differences betwixt the resolution of the lenses are put into a dissimilar perspective. At that place is simply a slight difference between the resolving power of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 and the Catechism 16-35mm f/two.8 lens. Overall, the Sigma appears slightly sharper in every comparable image, and there as well seems to be slightly more than dissimilarity in the images taken with the Sigma lens. Of course, the boosted contrast is down to the coating on the lens, and when shooting an MTF chart with its many fine converging lines, the actress contrast will assistance to differentiate the lines, producing better results in the examination. So, under exam conditions, the Sigma does produce more detailed images, simply in real-globe results the difference is less noticeable than the results would take united states of america believe.

Vignetting is so minimal across the dissimilar focal lengths of the Sigma lens that it should really be of no concern. The Canon 16-35mm has an fifty-fifty ameliorate functioning, which is most likely due to the fact that it is a full-frame lens beingness used on a camera with an APS-C-sized sensor.

As expected from 2 lenses with such complex designs and wide focal lengths, in that location is quite a bit of curvilinear distortion present at either extreme. At the shortest focal length the distortion will crave some correction, either in-camera or when editing raw images. The results of the distortion for both lenses at their widest field of view are remarkably like, although the Canon lens has the advantage at the 24mm focal length setting and by effectually 28mm the distortion is near zeroed. At 35mm, both lenses begin to testify pincushion distortion. The pincushion distortion is fairly minimal and with some subjects images information technology won't even demand correction.

It would be difficult to talk about the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM without mentioning the performance of the lens at f/1.8. The lens blanket and level of contrast mean that the functioning is splendid and the lens has a lovely smooth out-of-focus bokeh. Combined with the shallow depth of field produced, the lens is great for taking mid-length portrait images when set to its 35mm focal length, with the discontinuity throwing any distracting backgrounds nicely out of focus.

Overall, the prototype quality of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens is excellent, particularly when y'all consider that it is a world outset.

With the new blueprint and branding of its lenses, Sigma is clearly trying to change its prototype from one of being a third-party lens manufacturer to a company whose products are respected just as highly as a manufacturer'southward proprietary lenses. Usually, all this needs is a couple of standout lenses that photographers will desire regardless of the camera system they own.

The specification of the Sigma xviii-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens is certainly enough to heighten a few eyebrows, and, as I said at the beginning of this article, I was looking forward to using it ever since information technology was appear. Thankfully, the lens lived up to my expectations and information technology is one I hope to become a lot of apply out of in the years ahead.

Optically, the Sigma lens is a match for the more expensive Catechism EF sixteen-35mm f/2.8L Two USM, with the obvious disclaimer that the Sigma can only be used on cameras with APS-C-sized image sensors. The lens designers at Sigma have done an splendid job, and paradigm quality is matched by the exterior build quality.

There are downsides to the Sigma lens, though. For instance, the complex structure means that information technology is fairly heavy, and a minimum aperture of f/sixteen may put off some mural photographers. However, even at this smallest aperture diffraction seems to have only a minimal effect. I would suggest this is the reason Sigma didn't try to button the lens to f/22, where it may have get noticeable.

Overall, landscape photographers should enjoy using this Sigma lens, and the f/1.viii aperture should produce some interesting images at the minimum focal length. Information technology will also be a good lens for travel photographers, with the large maximum aperture helping with depression-light images. If only the lens were a little lighter it would be hard to find whatever error with it. With Nikon and Canon versions bachelor, and Pentax and Sony versions coming soon, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens will discover its fashion into a lot of photographers' kit bags this twelvemonth, peculiarly with its very reasonable street price of around £650.

Paradigm: At the Sigma's minimum focus altitude of f/1.8,
at that place is a prissy shallow depth of field and the circular discontinuity blades
create polish, out-of-focus areas

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Source: https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/round-ups/sigma-18-35mm-f1-8-dc-hsm-zoom-lens-vs-canon-ef-16-35mm-f2-8l-ii-8441

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