Sigma AF 24-70mm f/2.8 If EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon

This lens is a game changer! I have the SIGMA ART 24-70 mm f2.8. Highly recommend for wedding photographers. Keeping this on one of my camera bodies 90% of the time. Let’s you get close without physical being in the way. Very sharp lens. I will say it’s very heavy though and recommend having a shoulder strap versus a neck strap. It’s a lot to carry especially if you have a pretty heavy camera too.

A great all-purpose lens

I sold my Nikon 24-70/2.8 and bought this lens plus the Sigma 70-200 EX DG HSM II - I needed a fast telephoto for weddings and cash is tight.I tested this lens against the Nikon, shooting the exact same picture through both lenses. I thought I would compare the images on the computer and decide to either return this lens or sell the Nikon. I could not tell the difference between the Nikon and the Sigma. There were slight differences, but I couldn't tell which image went with which lens.The Cons I listed are slight and don't really bother me, except the reverse zoom direction is really annoying. I like the weight, it feels solid. I had some focus hunt at a wedding, but that might happen with any lens in that dark situation. Overall, this is an excellent lens. I ... MoreI sold my Nikon 24-70/2.8 and bought this lens plus the Sigma 70-200 EX DG HSM II - I needed a fast telephoto for weddings and cash is tight.I tested this lens against the Nikon, shooting the exact same picture through both lenses. I thought I would compare the images on the computer and decide to either return this lens or sell the Nikon. I could not tell the difference between the Nikon and the Sigma. There were slight differences, but I couldn't tell which image went with which lens.The Cons I listed are slight and don't really bother me, except the reverse zoom direction is really annoying. I like the weight, it feels solid. I had some focus hunt at a wedding, but that might happen with any lens in that dark situation. Overall, this is an excellent lens. I highly recommend it.If you're a paid pro with good cash flow, get the Nikon, it is a bit better. Otherwise, save your money and get images just as good for just over half the price of the Nikon.

Balance between value and performance

As a travel photographer, I wanted to find a lens that was durable, relatively inexpensive, could cover most situations and still deliver high quality pictures. 24-70 is a good compromise but there are not many options on the market.The Sigma 24-70 f2.8 will deliver the best results when used with non-full frame cameras.While the Nikon lens with the same specs is clearly the best when it comes to performance, it's hefty price tag is hard to justify for non-professionals. I also tested the new Tamron 24-70 which is also over-priced in my opinion.I found the Sigma to be a fair compromise and will definitely recommend it to price-conscious amateurs who want an everyday run-about lens with better picture quality.

Cheaper is def not better

Well, purchased this lens as a backup, thought it may be nice to try Sigma instead of Nikon. What a mistake I made. Pretty much out of focus on the whole range in low light and a little on the loud side as well. The focus and crispness of the images were fantastic out side, in sunny weather and that is great if the sun is always out but we live in England and it is mainly overcast. For a 2.8 cheaper end of the line, this is great for general purpose but I think ill be sticking with the genuine Nikon models as the quality and consistant output is worth the extra £££ in the long run. I would prefer to have a lens I can trust 100% of the time, instead of doubting and checking consistently. www.preciousdays.co.uk

Great Value

This is a great lens for the price and sharp! I have not used a Nikon 24-70mm but I dont need to after owning this. Maybe when I am making more money Ill check out the Nikon. Until then this will be just fine. It is a bit heavy and I wish it had a 77mm thread instead of 82mm. I think it is possible to achieve exceptional results with this lens. It suffers a bit of vignetting in the corners and barrel distortion but any problem like that is easily fixed when processing the RAW file. Im sure the Nikon probably edges it out in overall edge-to-edge sharpness but Im happy with what I can capture with this lens, with money to spare for filters and accident coverage.

I made the right choice

FAST and ACCURATE! Vibration reduction and image stabilization certainly have their place for shooting subjects that stand still, but when shooting moving subjects I wanted a lens that gathered enough light to focus accurately and QUICKLY in less than ample light. Sigma's f2.8 throughout the zoom range lets in plenty of light and this lens focuses and locks on fast! It functions and feels like a much more expensive lens. Zooming is solid but not stiff with no 'zoom creep'. I test drove a lens with vibration reduction and a smaller aperture that took a lot longer to find focus and really had trouble focusing in low light. I'm glad I opted for the f2.8!

Lens Creep

I sold this lens. Too heavy with the huge front glass. It started creeping. I got that tightened then the Aperture jammed and I had to get that fixed. Bokeh is not good and Chromatic Aberration is awful. Zooms externally which is not helpful.

Loses its mind in cold weather

I bought this lens to go with my D700 and am reasonably happy with it overall. However, on a Christmas trip to the Santa Fe, NM, area I found that I frequently had to dismount/remount it to the camera, as it would occasionally stop metering or focusing when temperatures were in the 20s and 30s F. I also own a D300 with the Nikon 17-55 and have never had that problem in that kind of weather. For what it's worth, I have also used a Pentax K-x with a Pentax 16-45 mm lens and didn't have the problem with that combo, either. So, I think the problem is in this lens. All the same, the lens gave me some great photos on that trip, so I'm OK with it.

Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 IF EX DG HSM - Nikon

I know that the Quality Assurance at Sigma is questionable but this lens was extremely poor even by their standards. I have previously owned Sigma's 100-300mm f4 and their 150mm f2.8 lenses which were very good and I could not fault them at all, but this 24-70mm HSM was appalling! I gave it a good test through the whole aperture range but it was only at f5.6 that the images became fairly acceptable. The flare and ghosting at f2.8 was shocking. The image quality of my Sigma 100-300mm f4 was considerable better than this lens.If you require a lens for shooting at f2.8 then I would carefully think twice about purchasing this lens. Granted, there are good versions of this lens out there but how many do you need to go through to find one?!

Sigma delivers great value

I bought this lens because I was lacking the focal range and wanted to compliment a 70-200vr w/o breaking the bank. I really wanted the nikon 24-70 but could not justify the price. I've been using it as a portrait lens, action shots for wide angle and general walking around glass. Feels solid. Certainly not a pro-level metal lens, but as mentioned - those cost lots more.Getting good results. I wish it wasn't a telescoping lens, but on the other hand it makes it more portable when walking around. The 82mm lens means I have to purchase another ND filter.All in all, I think it's a great lens for the price. The only thing I haven't been able to do with it yet is getting a decent starburst. It does give more flare than I'd hoped.I'd recommend this lens.