Canon 17-55 2.8 vs Sigma 17-50 2.8

JohnN

JohnN

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Hi all,

I hope this hasn't been asked too often but I like to get the latest feedback after people have had a longer play.

Funily enough this question is after thinking about getting a FF and being talked out of it, so here we go with another question.

Which is better - I understand the AF speed is slightly better on the Canon, but the IQ better on the Sigma (backed up a little by this cold lab test)

If any of you chap(esses) have had experience of both that would be great.

Cheers,

John
 
I'd take another look at those John. The Canon looks better at all focal lengths when stopped down a stop...
 
I had a 17-55/2.8 IS when I used my crop body as a walkabout - It was a real corker of a lens, I loved it. While I can not comment on it with regards the Sigma, I am sure that you will not be disapointed if you get it. The focus was quick, the colours were great and it was as sharp as hell.
 
Thanks all, I think I will go for the Canon - if I can get one at a reasonable price or if someone wants to trade with my Sigma 150-500 (quite different ranges I know!)
 
I have been watching them on ebay over the last few weeks and they all go for £550+. I am still saving ha ha!!

spike
 
arad85 said:
I'd take another look at those John. The Canon looks better at all focal lengths when stopped down a stop...
Click to expand...

Looking again they look about the same (a little in Canon's favor) one stop down - and £100+ cheaper new than a second hand Canon (£200 new), its making me think again.
 
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JohnN said:
Looking again they look about the same (a little in Canon's favor) one stop down - and £100+ cheaper new than a second hand Canon (£200 new), its making me think again.
Click to expand...

100 cheaper than a Canon second hand new, implying 17-55 f2.8 Canons go for 300 second hand?! You wont get a good condition one for any less than 500 guaranteed, and a mint condition one for 600+.

Cant fault the lens though, beyond brilliant.
 
Eh? I meant the Sigma is available at £470 new, where as the Canon usually goes for £570+ second hand or £750 new.

I'm not saying the Canon isn't a great lens, it obviously is, but is it that much better?
Thats what I'm trying to find out.
 
I have the Tamron 17 50 VC and to emit is great how does it compare to these.
 
JohnN said:
Eh? I meant the Sigma is available at £470 new, where as the Canon usually goes for £570+ second hand or £750 new.

I'm not saying the Canon isn't a great lens, it obviously is, but is it that much better?
Thats what I'm trying to find out.
Click to expand...

The build quality of the Canon is far better, and I know that if I went for the Tamron or Sigma, I'd always be thinking whether I should have gone with the Canon. Unless I'm doing something very specific, I hardly take the 17-55 off of my 7D, it's a great combination.

Steve
 
Well, after all that I went with the Sigma, I'll let you know how it works out - the price difference was just too much in the end, that combined with some of those other threads I'd read, especially Lightrules comments where he'd had loads of the Canon yet uses the Sigma.

I'm sure had I found a Canon at the same price (£470 new) I would have gone for that though.

Thanks all for your feedback though.
 
Hi John, old thread and I see you have gone FF now but I wondered how you got on with the Sigma? Im having the same dilemma now Tamron (VC or non-VC)/Sigma/Canon 17-55 I've read so much but am still unsure, it would either be a new Tamron VC for £342, new Sigma for £479 or second hand 17-55 for £570.00?
 
Now I never tried the Canon, but the sigma was very good, feel free to have a look at my Flickr as if the look at the sets I have them broken down by lens
 
Thanks for getting back to me, great photos btw

After much deliberation Im going with the Canon, dont intend to go full frame for a while and have saved up a bit, just hope its the right move
 
This question has obvioulsy come up a lot of times on this forum and I think I've read over 30 pages of comments today so didnt want to start yet another thread!! But I'm still torn between the Sigma and the Canon, not as to price but rather as to picture quality. The two reviews I looked at which use picture comparisons give differing results but both seems to suggest that the Sigma gives warmer colours and is a better landscape lens.

http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/...s-canon-17-55mm-f2-8-and-tamron-17-50mm-f2-8/

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-17-50mm-f-2.8-EX-DC-OS-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx

I need the lens as a replacement for the 18-55 (terrible) kit lens but they are just too similar to choose between!! The price difference new is approx £230 (plus the Sigma comes with a lens hood) but I'm no longer considering the price difference as I just want to be able to take the best quality photographs I can (people and landscapes - general walkabout lens), bearing in mind I will do little, if any, photo editing.

I'm really stuck and have to buy this week before going on holiday soon...
 
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If money is no object go for the Canon. I tried them both and not much difference to justify the extra couple of hundreds of quids. Go for the Sigma and with the left over money buy a polarizing filter, a UV filer, a curry and a pint and enjoy it. It is a fantastic lens. for me, the colours are richer on the Sigma and my family always choose the sigma's photos over the canon as they livelier. The decision is yours.
 
I use the canon on my spare body and it's a cracking lens.

Works with the 50d very nicely. I tend to take it on holiday and have just returned from New York and really enjoyed the camera on the streets.

Left all the L series glass and 5d s at home, at least 17-55 f2.8 doesn't have the tell tell ring but gives L series quality IMHO.

Why don't you look for a used one ?
 
I'm in Moscow and I wouldnt trust the used market here. I could wait until I'm next in the UK I suppose but would be a shame not to have it for this holiday.

When you guys were buying how did u choose between the Canon and the Sigma?
 
Honestly, I read a large amount of reviews. Basically because the canon one is so expensive for what it gives. The sigma won because it offers what the canon offers and better, better quality and superb af and os and with the left over I got a polarizer and uv. I had it now for about a year and compared to my friends canon it is superb and sharper and better saturation of colors. Don't be fooled by brand loyalty it is in some cases money down the drain. Get what your hard earned money get you from whoever.
 
Heading off to buy it now also with a Kenko UV and a CP-L (not sure if Pro1D or Zeta yet - will ask in the shop - total price difference if I get both is about £50). Which filters did u buy?
 
One thing I did come across when looking into both of these lens was that people mentioned that you could get good and bad copies of the sigma lens Im not sure if this is the case with the canon ones. I did come across people people posting problems with dust getting into the canon lens. My thoughts were that if i get a bad a copy of the sigma I could send it back straight away but IF dust got into the canon there wasnt a lot I could do about it.
 
You can pick the canon up for £625 new from panamoz or £650 ish from hdewcameras
 
I got the hama uw c14:uv 390 m 77 and Sigma DG Filter Ultra-Low Reflection Multi-coating Polarizing filter. Very Good and reasonably priced and thin and good rotating rings. remember you get 3 years warranty with the sigma lens plus a hood and case :-). Whatever you decide enjoy ;-)
 
Sigma purchased! :D Unfortunately the filters were limited choice so I got a Kenko Zeta Ex CP-L at an extortionate price and a Kenko L41 Super Wide Pro UV(W), and an 8GB Sandisk Extreme 30MB/s.

Looking forward to playing with it in Croatia next week, can finally ditch the terrible kit lens :wave:

Got a two year warranty through Sigma and the shop here, so chalk one up against the canon. Case and hood were a nice plus too, though I'm not sure the lens will ever leave my camera again :eek::)
 
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