Sigma 583306 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC HSM Optical Stabilized lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras with APS-C Sensors

This lense is, in a word, incredible. For a fraction of the price of an L range lense, you get beautiful, crisp, vibrant shots. The stabilization is second to none in my experience. The zoom is fairly smooth (not L smooth, as that is a luxury you well and truly pay for), the lens itself is very quiet and easy to use. The zoom and focus to go in the opposite direction of what I'm used to but I have gotten use to it so quickly that I don't think about it. I am by no means a professional, I am an enthusiastic amateur with enough knowledge to get by. I have had the standard 18-55 kit lens and the 'Nifty 50' lens too, but since buying this lens, I don't even carry them around with me anymore. It's simply the best lens for all round shooting I could hope for. It is heavy, be warned. But I think that it makes it feel sturdy as well. The lens cap is great too. I love the idea of gripping the centre of the cap rather than the edges and risk smothering the lens. Again, if you are used to something like the 50mm 1.8 lens, then this is going to be a steep learning curve, but ultimately worth it. If you have the luxury of affording an L lens, then by all means, they are the best out there. But if you want something that is practically the equivalent, for a minute price, then this is the best lens. It's a brilliant all-rounder and will step up the quality of your shots ten-fold.

I must say, it worth every single penny. I've had the sigma 17-70 (brilliant lens as well) in the same time, but this one is just so much better. Insanely sharp, better contrast and colours. Actually is the sharpest lens I have at the moment. Used on a 70D I found it the perfect lens for day by day use and the constant f2.8 plus the image stabilisation makes it a nice lens for indoors photography. I am still using the 50 f1.8 for portrait but I took some nice ones with this sigma as well. If you are planning to do video (I do occasionally), well... Not The Best I'm afraid. On a 70d or 100d body, the focus during video is pretty loud and a bit heratic. I would definitely go for an STM lens for video. Canon 18-135 IS STM is the best I've used so far for video. But for still photography is probably the best lens you can put on crop sensor body. Some people will probably say that you can't beat an L lens from Canon, but.... Try it first. You might be surprised, as I was. I hope this helped. Have a nice day.

From the lenses I used as standard zoom lenses, this is the one I like most and I am satisfied with. It does loose from sharpness when you get to corners, but most lenses have this in this conditions. Optical Stabilizer works fine and is a welcome add on. Colors are warm, specific sigma. The issue with hood being lose and easily unmounting as others have described in reviews, is not present any longer - or at least on my lens. My sample is bought from amazon in Q1 of 2013. I'm not sure which lot/suit is from to know when was produced but seems like Sigma fixed this tiny detail reported at lenses sold initially when model was released. Amazon services on time as always - I ordered next day delivery and got sms confirmation of delivery. Will upload few photos for you to see some samples.

This is a good quality, fast lens that I use primarily for video work (occasionally photography) so my review is based on this, paired with a Canon 700D. The lens has quickly become my 'daily driver' over the Tamron lenses (with a similar spec sheet) that they replace, for a number of reasons. 1. Image quality: this lens is noticeably sharper than the Tamron f/2.8 aspherical lens especially at lower apertures. f/2.8 is sometimes a struggle as focusing becomes a challenge, but shooting at f/3.2 to f/4 has been great, with no focus issues. 2. Build quality: The lens is heavier, but has a higher quality feel to it, with the optics also being larger than the Tamron. At the same price range I wasn't expecting this, but It's impressed me. 3. Stabilisation: The optical image stabilisation makes handheld/gimbal and tripod shots clearer and smoother. Even when used with a tripod the motion for close up moving shots is smoother and is more forgiving if I knock the lens slightly. A couple of things to bear in mind when buying this (or DSLR lenses for video work). Focus throw is very short, especially at f/4 and below, meaning a slight tweak to the focus dial can easily throw your focus out. Using a higher f-stop makes things easier. The aperture isn't de-clicked, standard with photography lenses. Not an issue for the work I do. Overall and after a few shoots, indoors and outdoors I've been really impressed with this lens at this price point. We'd buy again if we intend to stick with APS-C cameras. Thanks Sigma!

I bought the lens as a replacement for my 18-55mm kit lens which came with my EOS 550D. This was after deciding what sort of spec I wanted, reading a few reviews, and realising that reviews for this lens were generally as good as the equivalent Canon which costs about £260 more. The lens has good build quality and comes with a lens hood and a zip-up case. Some reviews suggest that the lens hood tended to fall off: but I thought the fitting was good and positive. Mine never fell off in use. At first use the lens seems really heavy, and the zoom ring turns the other way to canon lenses - but I soon got used to this. Focus is fast and quiet, and the image stabilisation seems to work OK. I only had the lens for a couple of days, and didn't get a chance to experiment before we went away on holiday: during which the lens was hardly off the camera. My issues with the lens started when we came home, and I started to examine the photos on a PC. I am not a professional photographer, nor a gifted amateur, I don't spend ages reading about photography, and I'm not sure of all the terminology: but I think I do know a quality image. The images with this lens are pleasing with great contrast, brilliant faithful colours, even brightness right to the edges: but they are all oh so soft. I thought maybe it was a focus issue, so I examined closely a lot of the images I had taken. A few taken in bright sunlight at f18 or f22 and ISO 100 or 200 should have had at least some areas in sharp focus. So I don't think it is a simple focus problem. Others at f2.8 had the same degree of softness. I thought it was me being fussy: but I looked at some images that I had taken with my canon 55-250 f4-5.6 zoom which, in comparison are pin-sharp. So now I feel wholly disappointed in this lens. For the price it should make me feel good about the images. But now I know they are all so soft, and the lens is going back to Amazon. Now I have spent time reading many reviews of this lens, and there are suggestions that some copies do have softness problems. I can't justify the extra £260 easily for the Canon: so when I get the refund I will probably order another copy of the Sigma and start again. In summary, I think this ought to be a great lens: if you get a good one. I'll update or rewrite a review when I get another copy.

This is a fantastic lens to replace standard kit lenses, the image quality is significantly improves and with a wide aperture across the zoom range images are light with little or no discernible vignetting. The autofocus is fast and responsive although it doesn't have full time manual override, so if you are using the autofocus the front focussing ring locks, not a deal breaker but manual override can be useful. I have been adding Sigma lenses to my kit for some time now and I cannot fault them, this lens included. The quality of build and imaging are in my opinion up there with the Canon redline professional range but for a fraction of the cost. A very worthwhile investment for any photographer.

I purchased this lens due to my kit lens being old and not working anymore, i thought this would be a good upgrade too. The delivery was good and just a few days before my holiday where i will need it for. I have just received the item today and I first noticed the sigma box within the packaging box was worn and damaged. As I brought the lens out I could hear something rolling around inside the lens, maybe this is normal but it sounds like loose parts inside. However the main point to this review is the fact that it doesn't work. The lens is set to autofocus but will not focus correctly at all through the viewfinder. However if I focus looking through the screen it does focus but slowly. I hope there is a solution to this otherwise I won't have a working lens now for my holiday.

Bought this as a secondhand item.for a reduced price. The condition was excellent. Fully boxed and as new. The lens is brilliant. Super sharp even wide open at f2.8. I bought this as an upgrade to my canon 18-55mm kit lens and wow. What an upgrade! The sigma is heavier and larger than the canon but I quite like that feeling of extra weight. I'm a little disappointed with the focus ring that moves when acquiring focus which is a little old fashioned but overall I am very happy with the lens. Great value (even at full price) and would definitely recommend. The seller was great. Good communication through and the item was as described. Excellent all round. If you're looking for an upgrade to your kit lens for less than £300 get this!

Absolutely my favorite lens of all. As a "semi-pro" and extreme hobbyist I must say that I like the quality of images from this lens on my Canon T3i even more than I like the quality of images from my Canon 5D Mark iii and the 24-70mm f2.8 L series lens; which would be the full frame equivalent to this lens on a APS-C sensor. Yes! I know that at this juncture some of you may be shaking your heads, but it is true. Granted, the 5D does have better image quality and more megapixels, but time and time again I get better images from this lens on my crop sensor cameras. Would you rather get almost the same image quality out of a lens that is 1/4 the expense? I sure as heck would. This lens paired with a T2i, T3i, T4i, or T5i will yield similar or better image quality in most situations than the 24-70mm f2.8 L series lens will on a full frame camera. Which if you are on a budget this is the lens for you! The images are so tack sharp and spot on. I read through many of the 1 star reviews and realized that the majority of the complaints come from Canon users that "got a bad copy" of the lens. As for me, I have a great copy. It is 3rd party glass but better than ANY canon glass I own (Once again some of you are shaking your heads). To me it's worth the gamble, and as long as you got it on Amazon and it doesn't work...send it back for a full refund! In addition to photography, the creamy bokeh that you get from this lens on video is astounding as well. The image stabilization, Optical Stabilization for Sigma (OS), is spot on. The only down side to the OS is that you can hear the gears working as you shift around hand-holding. Not so loud that it would be awkward while shooting an event. The focus ring has minimal resistance which I like; It allows you to get to rack focus faster. The auto focus is spot on and fast. The focus ring also stops at infinity focus as well at it's minimum distance. A feature I like because you know at what distance your subject is and you can switch subjects quickly. For manual focus you should be able to rack focus with a short minimal turn; unlike other lenses that require you to take your hand off the focus ring and do a second turn. Some would say that f2.8 isn't fast enough, but I find it to be plenty fast for most practical applications. You will not regret this purchase!

Ein sehr guter Standardzoom mit durchgängiger Lichtstärke f/2.8 und einem Bildstabilisator für APS-C-Kameras wie der 70D oder auch den dreistelligen Canons, z.B. 700D, 750D etc. und ist damit NICHT für Vollformat-Kameras geeignet. Äußerlich gibt es keinen Grund zur Kritik. Das Bajonett schließt gut ab (das Objektiv ist nicht spritzwasser- oder staubgeschützt), der Zoom-Ring läuft problemlos, der Fokus-Ring ist jedoch nicht gedämpft und bietet nur einen sehr kurzen Weg womit manuelles Einstellen zur Geduldsprobe wird. Es gibt einen Lock-Schalter gegen unbeabsichtigtes Ausfahren des Tubus. Zwei Schalter: jeweils zum Aus/Einschalten des AF bzw. des Bildstabilisators. Das Design stammt noch aus der Zeit vor Sigmas "Global Vision" Design, daher passt es mit goldener Schrift und goldenem Ring - Eigenschaften der "EX" Serie - eher zu Nikon. Lediglich im ausgeschalteten Zustand klackert das Objektiv im Inneren bei leichter Bewegung schon bedenklich. Ich vermute, dass das Stabilisator-Element keine Parkposition kennt und daher im stromlosen Betrieb lose ist. Das hört sich tatsächlich im ersten Moment nach einem defekten Objektiv an, scheint aber normal zu sein. Prüfen kann man es nur insofern, als dass das Klackern aufhört, sobald das Objektiv an der Kamera montiert und diese eingeschaltet und auch aktiv ist. Altmodisch finde ich den Zoom-Ring, der sich manuell nur dann bewegen lässt, wenn der AF ausgeschaltet ist. Schlimmer ist jedoch, dass dieser Ring sich beim fokussieren mitdreht, und da das Objektiv eigentlich angenehm kurz ist, quittiert der Ultraschall-Motor Blockaden des Fokus-Rings z.B. durch Finger beim halten mit einem hohen pfeifen. Das Objektiv bietet also keinen Full-Time-Manual-Fokus wie alle Objektive von Canon mit USM- oder auch STM-Antrieb. Das sind jedoch die einzigen Kritikpunkte, die ich habe. Andererseits ist die Bildqualität absolut in Ordnung, lediglich zum Rand lässt sie nach, insbesondere bei Offenblende. Dennoch kann man auch bei f/2.8 sehr gute Fotos machen, solange bildwichtige Elemente eben nicht am Rand positioniert werden. Mein Exemplar war richtig eingestellt, getestet im Feld, mit Charts sowie später mit Reikan Focal Pro. Einen Vergleich zum Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II VC kann ich nicht machen, jedoch bewog mich der schnellere und vor allem leisere Ultraschall-Motor des Sigmas eben zum Sigma. Im Vergleich zum Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM "Art" schneidet das 18-35 in allen Punkten besser ab (Haptik spitze, 1 1/3 Blenden lichtstärker, Bildqualität exzellent, Full-Time-Manual-Fokus), bietet aber keinen Bildstabilisator, hat einen kleineren Brennweitenbereich, wiegt deutlich mehr, ist größer, und kostet über das doppelte. Ich verwende beide Objektive gerne je nach Situation, es sticht also meiner Meinung nach nicht eines das andere aus. Das 17-50 ist ein wunderbares Immerdrauf, das 18-35 ist schon eher ein Spezialist, wenn es um Freistellung oder Available Light Situationen geht. Unterm Strich bin ich mit diesem Objektiv äußerst zufrieden und an die beiden Kritikpunkte (Klackern des OS im stromlosen Zustand und kein Full-Time-Manual-Fokusring) gewöhnt man sich. Im APS-C Bereich kann man mit diesem Objektiv für etwas über 300€ einen lichtstarken Standard-Zoom erwerben, der sich sehen lassen kann. Definitiv eine Kaufempfehlung mit 5 Sternen. Wichtig: Sigma bietet eine Verlängerung der Garantie auf drei Jahre an, sofern das Objektiv von Sigma Deutschland "in Verkehr gebracht" wurde. Bei meinem Exemplar, das ich über Amazon erhielt ("verkauft und versand durch Amazon"), war das NICHT möglich; vermutlich auch, weil das Objektiv zwar aus der EU, aber eben nicht von Sigma Deutschland stammte. Ob man an dieser Stelle auf Amazon oder Sigma schimpfen soll, überlasse ich dem Leser. Interessanterweise ist es Tamron bzgl. seiner 5-Jahres-Garantie hingegen egal, aus welchem Teil der EU ein Objektiv stammt. Wer daher auf die 3 Jahre Garantieverlängerung von Sigma Wert legt, einfach innerhalb der 30-Tage Rückgaberecht bei Sigma telefonisch die Nummer prüfen lassen und im Problemfall das Objektiv zurücksenden - oder mit nur einem Jahr Garantie leben. Update 25.02.2020: nach knapp 4 Jahren kann ich sagen, dass das Objektiv noch immer sehr gut funktioniert und mich bisher nicht im Stich gelassen hat. Es klingt ausgeschaltet immer noch nach "Cola-Dose", aber der Fokus trifft nach wie vor zuverlässig und der Zoom-Ring lässt sich gut drehen (noch immer an der gleichen Canon 70D wie beim Kauf). Von daher eine gute und günstige Alternative zu Canon-APSC-Objektiven in diesem Zoombereich und mit gleicher, durchgängiger Lichtstärke von f2.8.

Still waiting for my new camera body so I'm not able to test the features such as image quality and AF speed before I write this review. But I will just talk about the service I received from the seller and the build quality of the actual lens delivered to me. First, the shipping is amazingly fast! It took just seven days from the lens shipped from Japan to it was delivered to me in Canada (shipped two days after order placed), while Amazon gave an estimated delivery time of one and a half month! Great seller and shipping! So, here's the lens I received. The lens's is brand new and the box nicely wrapped with bubbles to protect it from damage. The box contains the user guide, warranty and the actual lens (with lens hood) contained in the sigma lens bag specially designed for this 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD lens. The lens looks nice and tough, although made of plastic. The outstanding gold ring, which is the symbol of Sigma EX class lens, gives it the feeling of professional, and the large front glass (77mm filter size) looks handsome as well. A good news of this lens is that Sigma has already changed its old skin-feel lens coating (complained to drop easily) to the new coating, and the problem that lens hood being too loose on some old versions of this lens has been fixed. Now comes to the rings and switches. The zoom ring is designed with a good feeling with smooth zooming operations. However, this does not mean that you can enjoy zooming with this lens: the zoom ring is relatively tight compared to original Canon lenses. Same thing appears on many other Sigma lenses. It is not a problem, but it does impact users' experience using this lens. So I will remove 2 marks out of 100 from here. Focus ring is fairly smooth when focusing manually, and is not so tight as zoom ring, which is good. The AF is driven by an HSM motor, which provide fast and quiet auto focusing. It is easy to see from the focus ring that it only covers less than 45 dgrees to focus from minimum distance to infinity. And as I said I don't have my new camera body here so I can't test whether it is quiet with auto focusing, but I guess it can be very fast. One thing that disappointed me is that although an HSM is installed, the lens doesn't employ full-time manual focusing, which means you can't turn the ring to change focus status while AF is on. I will take 5 marks from here. The lens has an AF-MF switch and an OS ON-OFF switch, and they work well. There's another switch beside the zoom ring, saying "lock" on it. In many other reviews it was called the "zooming lock", which I would disagree, because this switch can only be used at the 17mm point, and protect the inner tube of the lens from coming out when travelling. It cannot be locked at any other focal lengths, nor can it keep the lens in a fixed focal length when shooting, so personally I regard this switch as not quite necessary. 2 marks taken from here. One of the biggest issue that other reviewers talked about this lens is the cracking noise when you shake it. I guess that must be part of the Optical Stablizer. I don't think it's a big problem. Nobody shake the lens when shooting anyway. So I only take 2 marks here. Overall the lens results 89% in build quality, which still reaches a five-star. If you would like to know the image quality of this lens you can refer to other reviewers' writings, and I look to test it as soon as possible.

Me encantó, muy práctico para foto y video. La apertura a 2.8 se preserva en todo el rango de Zoom, por lo que es una muy buena adquisición, así te evitas comprar otros lentes como el 24, 35 o 40 mm que son 2.8. Tiene estabilización óptica, por lo que es ideal para vídeo. La única desventaja es que solo es para sensores recortados, así que si cambias a full frame habrá que cambiar de lente.

This is a very versatile lens with low and fixed aperture, the seller is excellent and very professional they take care of every detail till the lens reaches you.