sorry, i can't fully agree with your partial review (thought you used both Nikon and Canon ) did you ever used this lens with nikon bodies ? i found reviews its works well with d7000 series even seen sample pictures look excellent if you had a chance to use this lens on Nikon do review about it thanks...
I have this lens and use it on my Nikon 7500 series camera and it takes excellent photos, actually it as clear or clearer than my Nikon 35mm f1.8 prime. I am not just saying that, because I have it. It really is very good. Only one gripe is lens creep when carrying it around, otherwise it is a very good landscape lens. It also does good for macro, not true macro size, but very clear close ups.
Hey Asianannie, its really hard to say. I do not know what type of photography you are into. But if your looking for a all around travel lens the Sigma 18-200mm Contemporary lens is great for traveling. Hope this helps.
Pentax user. I got my 17-70 used deal, in NYC April 23 2017. Just used 1st time in flat light, on Pentax KP. It's good, have to stop down to get the streetcapes I like to shoot. I do buy similar things over and over. That Is I have K3 ii and k-5 iis and sevreral lenses zooms and primes that overlp. I would syay the KP acutally is gives better pics than all the previous Pentax APS-C models. Closest alternate to this is my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di, tough call of which I would prefer.
I have this on a Nikon d7500 and the photo quality is equal or better than my Nikon 35mm f1.8 prime. I did side by tests of the same image in poor lighting outside on a cloudy dull day with this set at 35mm and exactly same f setting on the camera and this equaled the Nikon no matter what I took photos of. It may be the case for the cheaper Nikon cameras, but for the more expensive ones like the 7000 series it is very clear.
I want to take pictures from landscapes including my friends and family for instance when we go on holidays. The point is, this lens might not give sharp or great photos from portraits. However, I still would like to take pictures (distance not longer than 7meters) from people and behind them a landscape. The focus should be on my friends and secondly on the landscape behind it. What kind of lense would you recommend me? I really like this lense, and it is appealing to me since it fits for my purposes however it doesn't seem fit enough to take portraits.. what lense would u recommend me?
Hey Majid, if your looking for a lens that focuses both on the background and on your friends at the same time. Its going to have to be a magical lens as that is a impossible task for any lens. You simply can not focus on both at the same time. You how ever can focus on the people you want to photo and use a smaller aperture like f/8 to help increase your depth in the photo and make the background appear more in focus. That said. The Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens is a superb lens, has very good sharpness, excellent micro contrast and good color reproduction. Hope this helps.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel thank you for your prompt reply. then I would rather have the focus on people than landscape. do you recommend this lens for me?
Joe, why does everyone play that background music, I personally would like the "hear" the focus or zoom noise being picked up by the shotgun mike. Thanks again for posting.
Hey Micheal, I can not remember if I had BG music in this video or not its been so long. :-) But normally people will not post the focus motor noise unless its louder then normal. That said I can not recommend this lens for video. The focus may not be loud but it is not smooth for video if you want continuous autofocus. I now recommend the Canon EFS 18-135mm Nano USM to everyone as its excellent for video and very good for stills also. I personally recommend and purchased the white box version though to save money on the lens: amzn.to/2mCloOv
You are a good man Joe! Thank you for your honest opinion. I have the 18 to 135 but watching all these different channels, I stared to think is there something better? It was easier for me when I had 2 Hasselblads and 3 lenses, they were the best. Glad I don't need to carry all that weight, always came home from a wedding with a sore back. Keep up the good work.
Last question, how about this one. I do have a 50 1.8 so I am covered for low light outdoors. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Canon Digital DSLR Camera
Sigma's lenses have serious focusing issues. Also all their older lenses like the 17-50 use a micro focusing motor that is horrible for video. Hence why I no longer recommend their lenses. Now if you need something wider for video or indoor vlogging. The Canon EFS 24mm f/2.8 STM lens could be a great companion to your 50mm STM. It does not have any Image Stabilization, but its very cheap and also very quiet for video work. Also its a pancake sized lens. So its easy to travel with. Hope this helps.
I apologize if I mis translate your question. But here goes. This lens is does not have a constant aperture of f/2.8 It starts at 2.8 at 17mm, but by the time it reaches 70mm it is at 4.0. Hope this helps. :-)
Hi Joe ..Iam using nikon D5600 with 18-55 kit lens for street photography as well as architecture. Now Iam going to upgrade the lens .So, which one you recommend for me sigma 17-50 (2.8) or 17-70 (2.8-4)?
Thank you for your review of the Sigma 17--70 lens. I have the Canon T4i. I am looking to replace the 18-55 mm lens that came with the camera, and I am considering purchasing the Sigma 17-70 lens. I want to get good close up shots of my children and good pictures when traveling that are better than what my current lens gets. From watching your review, I think that it would do that. Also, I watched your review on the Sigma 18-250 lens as well. I have the Canon 75-300, but the Sigma 18-250 lens attracted me because it would allow me not to have to change out my lens as much. But your review of that lens made me think that I would lose image quality with that lens. So, I am thinking the 17-70 lens would be the best choice for me. Do you agree? Thanks!
+Renee Hanson Hello Renee, It is true the 17-70mm Contemporary lens does have much better image quality over the 18-55 kit lens If you blow your images up very large it becomes very noticeable. That said, for traveling its really hard to beat the 18-250mm and while it isnt as sharp as the 17-70, it is a little sharper then the 18-55. I have the 75-300 also, keep in mind this lens does not have Image Stabilization and most copies including my own have a tendency to miss focus at 300mm. Other then that I still like this lens for being as light as it is. So which do I recommend. To be honest, these days I tend to use my 17-70mm when taking studio photos in my small home office/studio. But when it comes to traveling photos, I just use the 18-250mm. I have found its better to get the shot, then to loose out changing lens or not having the lens you need at that moment. Plus just having one lens that you dont have to change out eliminates the chance of getting dust in your camera from switching the lens out. Now Sigma has an updated version that is sharper then the 18-250, its the 18-200 Contemporary. If I didnt already have the 18-250 I would get the newer model. However the 18-250 is still plenty sharp enough for 17" prints IMHO with out any loss of sharpness. My biggest gripe with the 18-55, other then a little soft, is the zoom range. Its to limiting. What I have been recommending is a lens like the Sigma 18-250 and then the new Canon 50mm STM. The 50mm STM is a great portrait focal length, light weight, nice build quality, very sharp and you can snag them up all day for $125 USD. Which is what I travel with these days. Hope this helps.
Hi Joe thanks for this review, I am looking for a normal zoom for a Nikon D7100 what do you believe is the other lens I should consider in a similar price.
Dennis Mejía Hey Dennis, thanks for commenting. The Nikon D7100 is a fantastic camera. For the price, the Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary is all-a-round lens thats really hard to beat. But it really depends on what type of photography your are into. Its very hard to say what is best for you. Some people don't like a lens unless it has a constant aperture, like ƒ/2.8. While others like prime lenses best. If your looking for a daily, walk-a-round, vacation lens for your camera. Your likely to enjoy this one. But if you shoot in low light, or take portrait shots, or into astro photography. There may be other avenues for you to consider first. What I recommend is decide what you need from a lens, focal range, aperture, OS/ No OS, weather sealed, not weather sealed. When you know what you need, then simply go looking for who offers something close in your price range. Hope this helps, Joe :-)
Dennis Mejía Hey Dennis, I may have misunderstood your question. If you are considering a Second Lens to go with this lens. See what Nikon offers in 35mm. 35mm is close to the 50mm full frame equivalent and a excellent focal range for all around lens. Also Sigma has a 30mm Art that is pretty decent as well. I highly recommend a good 35mm and 50mm lens to everyone. Preferably the ones made for full frame so they can continue to use them, even after they upgrade to a full frame camera. Hope this helps, Joe.
I was so happy reading reviews and watching videos about this lens, then you comment about its quality on Nikon bodies :((((((((((((((((( What good all-rounder would you recommend for the D7200?
Often see reviews for Canon but not for Nikon, so thank you for at least mentioning it and why not to buy it for a Nikon. Scrapping it from my list right away. I do need a 18-55mm kit lens update, but if it's getting worse then it already is... No thanks.
Thanks Joe for such a practical review. I suggested this lens to my friend for Nikon D5300 but after seeing your review I have changed my mind. What is your say on sigma 17-50 f2.8 for the same camera or u have any other suggestion in this focal range. I knoe the Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 with image stabilization is very soft compare to its predecessor and other sigma lenses. Thanks in advance
Harry Thanks for commenting. The 17-50 is an older lens. So optically you take a chance on it not being up to spec as you would a newer lens. Many have said it was a sharp lens, but I don't have personal experience with it and much rather drop my money on a newer model. Keep in mind when the 17-50 was released most cameras were still 8-12MP. Tamron has better IS/Optical Stabilization then Sigma, however its only good for photo, I find Tamrons OS actually causes the video to be more jerky when panning. The Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens is an excellent run and gun style lens for APS-C cameras, that said. It built in image stabilization is not as effective as Canon's. Also at f/2.8 the 17mm focal range is slightly soft on the corners. Which is what many complain about on this lens. But stopped down to say ƒ/5.6 the corners clean up very nicely. Also if you compare this lens to say the Canon 24-70mm ƒ/4L. You will find from 24 through 70mm it matches the performance of the more expensive L lens, but at half the cost. So it boils down to really what type of Photography you or your friends shoot. As an upgrade over the kit lens, this lens is a great choice and a lens I will be keeping for many years to come. But as far as Videography or Astrophotography, I can not recommend this lens. As for video, just stick with the Canon 18-55mm STM, but for shooting star trails and other wide-angle Astrophotography, get a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED AS UMC manual prime lens. Hope this helps.
Been very disappointed with this lens. Whether auto or manual focus, zoomed or not zoomed, it lacks sharpness. Bad lense? Don't know. I never use it except for an occasional macro shot.
Did you do any micro focus adjustments? Normally most lenses require a little adjusting, some require more.. Easy way to check to see if that is the problem is to lay up next to the wall and focus on a spot on it and take a photo. Then see if the focus fell in front or behind that spot you focused on. Hope this helps. - Joe
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm using it on a D90 so I can't make micro adjustments without utilizing the Sigma calibrator and software but I've experimented with a couple of focusing tests and it seems to focus just fine. I must have other issues or I'm expecting too much compared to a Nikon 50 mm 1.8. Everyone else seems to get great shots with the Sigma but to me, images are soft and a bit pixelated. Especially taking landscape shots.
Brian K Kinney What aperture are you trying to use when taking landscapes. I found on that lens f/6.3 up to f/9 worked great.. But f/2.8 at 17mm was to soft in the corners.
Usually 5.6 to 11. Just depends on the foreground and available light. Maybe it's the D90 but I get sharp images with other lenses. Even the original kit lens 18-135 takes a sharper picture. .
Brian K Kinney Hmm, have you checked the lens for fungus or mold. It may be hard to see unless you hold it up the light and see if there is any haze in it.
is from the Philippines?
How is the AF Noise on this lens? I am looking to buy this one if the AF is quite
Its not very quiet and I would not recommend it for video. You would actually be better off with one of Canon's newer STM or nano USM lens for video.
Looks like will just use STM Lens and Video Light
Awesome video it helps me a lot
sorry, i can't fully agree with your partial review (thought you used both Nikon and Canon ) did you ever used this lens with nikon bodies ? i found reviews its works well with d7000 series even seen sample pictures look excellent if you had a chance to use this lens on Nikon do review about it thanks...
I have this lens and use it on my Nikon 7500 series camera and it takes excellent photos, actually it as clear or clearer than my Nikon 35mm f1.8 prime. I am not just saying that, because I have it. It really is very good. Only one gripe is lens creep when carrying it around, otherwise it is a very good landscape lens. It also does good for macro, not true macro size, but very clear close ups.
I am thinking about buying the sigma 17-70 or the sigma 24-105 f4, what lens do you think i should by for My Canon APS-c?
The 17-70 is sharper. But if you ever upgrade to full frame you will have get another lens as the 17-70 is APS-C only..
Thanks, good job, have just new this sigmaobjektiv.
What sigma lens would you recommend for Nikon D5000?
Hey Asianannie, its really hard to say. I do not know what type of photography you are into. But if your looking for a all around travel lens the Sigma 18-200mm Contemporary lens is great for traveling. Hope this helps.
Pentax user. I got my 17-70 used deal, in NYC April 23 2017. Just used 1st time in flat light, on Pentax KP. It's good, have to stop down to get the streetcapes I like to shoot. I do buy similar things over and over. That Is I have K3 ii and k-5 iis and sevreral lenses zooms and primes that overlp. I would syay the KP acutally is gives better pics than all the previous Pentax APS-C models. Closest alternate to this is my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di, tough call of which I would prefer.
sorry about typos.
Sigma 17-50, 2.8 or 17-70,2.8 which one will be better for landscape photography????
17-70C.. It just a much more up to date lens.. Plus just as sharp.
@@JoeJacksonJr thank you sir for replying
How does this lens work in video autofocus?
The video autofocus is not very good at all. It not smooth and makes a lot of chattering. Hope this helps.
I have this on a Nikon d7500 and the photo quality is equal or better than my Nikon 35mm f1.8 prime. I did side by tests of the same image in poor lighting outside on a cloudy dull day with this set at 35mm and exactly same f setting on the camera and this equaled the Nikon no matter what I took photos of. It may be the case for the cheaper Nikon cameras, but for the more expensive ones like the 7000 series it is very clear.
I want to take pictures from landscapes including my friends and family for instance when we go on holidays. The point is, this lens might not give sharp or great photos from portraits. However, I still would like to take pictures (distance not longer than 7meters) from people and behind them a landscape. The focus should be on my friends and secondly on the landscape behind it. What kind of lense would you recommend me? I really like this lense, and it is appealing to me since it fits for my purposes however it doesn't seem fit enough to take portraits.. what lense would u recommend me?
Hey Majid, if your looking for a lens that focuses both on the background and on your friends at the same time. Its going to have to be a magical lens as that is a impossible task for any lens. You simply can not focus on both at the same time. You how ever can focus on the people you want to photo and use a smaller aperture like f/8 to help increase your depth in the photo and make the background appear more in focus. That said. The Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens is a superb lens, has very good sharpness, excellent micro contrast and good color reproduction. Hope this helps.
Joe's Photo & Video Channel thank you for your prompt reply. then I would rather have the focus on people than landscape. do you recommend this lens for me?
I have used this lens for a good number of years and do recommend it.
Joe, why does everyone play that background music, I personally would like the "hear" the focus or zoom noise being picked up by the shotgun mike. Thanks again for posting.
Hey Micheal, I can not remember if I had BG music in this video or not its been so long. :-) But normally people will not post the focus motor noise unless its louder then normal. That said I can not recommend this lens for video. The focus may not be loud but it is not smooth for video if you want continuous autofocus. I now recommend the Canon EFS 18-135mm Nano USM to everyone as its excellent for video and very good for stills also. I personally recommend and purchased the white box version though to save money on the lens: amzn.to/2mCloOv
You are a good man Joe! Thank you for your honest opinion. I have the 18 to 135 but watching all these different channels, I stared to think is there something better? It was easier for me when I had 2 Hasselblads and 3 lenses, they were the best. Glad I don't need to carry all that weight, always came home from a wedding with a sore back. Keep up the good work.
Last question, how about this one. I do have a 50 1.8 so I am covered for low light outdoors. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Canon Digital DSLR Camera
Sigma's lenses have serious focusing issues. Also all their older lenses like the 17-50 use a micro focusing motor that is horrible for video. Hence why I no longer recommend their lenses. Now if you need something wider for video or indoor vlogging. The Canon EFS 24mm f/2.8 STM lens could be a great companion to your 50mm STM. It does not have any Image Stabilization, but its very cheap and also very quiet for video work. Also its a pancake sized lens. So its easy to travel with. Hope this helps.
Just ordered that, thanks again. Success and good health Joe.
Hi Joe. Would you recommend this lens or the Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 for my Nikon D5500?
This lens, its sharper and more up to date.
Hi Matt, did u buy the 17-70 for your d5500. Do you like it mate?
essa lente tem o zum constante 2.8 em todo o range ( em todo o zum ) ela permanece na abertura total quando esta em 70mm ?
I apologize if I mis translate your question. But here goes. This lens is does not have a constant aperture of f/2.8 It starts at 2.8 at 17mm, but by the time it reaches 70mm it is at 4.0. Hope this helps. :-)
Hi Joe ..Iam using nikon D5600 with 18-55 kit lens for street photography as well as architecture.
Now Iam going to upgrade the lens .So, which one you recommend for me sigma 17-50 (2.8) or 17-70 (2.8-4)?
17-70 contemporary lens is sharper and have better auto focus..
@@JoeJacksonJr thank you very much
Thank you for your review of the Sigma 17--70 lens. I have the Canon T4i. I am looking to replace the 18-55 mm lens that came with the camera, and I am considering purchasing the Sigma 17-70 lens. I want to get good close up shots of my children and good pictures when traveling that are better than what my current lens gets. From watching your review, I think that it would do that. Also, I watched your review on the Sigma 18-250 lens as well. I have the Canon 75-300, but the Sigma 18-250 lens attracted me because it would allow me not to have to change out my lens as much. But your review of that lens made me think that I would lose image quality with that lens. So, I am thinking the 17-70 lens would be the best choice for me. Do you agree? Thanks!
+Renee Hanson Hello Renee, It is true the 17-70mm Contemporary lens does have much better image quality over the 18-55 kit lens If you blow your images up very large it becomes very noticeable. That said, for traveling its really hard to beat the 18-250mm and while it isnt as sharp as the 17-70, it is a little sharper then the 18-55. I have the 75-300 also, keep in mind this lens does not have Image Stabilization and most copies including my own have a tendency to miss focus at 300mm. Other then that I still like this lens for being as light as it is. So which do I recommend. To be honest, these days I tend to use my 17-70mm when taking studio photos in my small home office/studio. But when it comes to traveling photos, I just use the 18-250mm. I have found its better to get the shot, then to loose out changing lens or not having the lens you need at that moment. Plus just having one lens that you dont have to change out eliminates the chance of getting dust in your camera from switching the lens out. Now Sigma has an updated version that is sharper then the 18-250, its the 18-200 Contemporary. If I didnt already have the 18-250 I would get the newer model. However the 18-250 is still plenty sharp enough for 17" prints IMHO with out any loss of sharpness. My biggest gripe with the 18-55, other then a little soft, is the zoom range. Its to limiting. What I have been recommending is a lens like the Sigma 18-250 and then the new Canon 50mm STM. The 50mm STM is a great portrait focal length, light weight, nice build quality, very sharp and you can snag them up all day for $125 USD. Which is what I travel with these days. Hope this helps.
Hi Joe thanks for this review, I am looking for a normal zoom for a Nikon D7100 what do you believe is the other lens I should consider in a similar price.
Dennis Mejía Hey Dennis, thanks for commenting. The Nikon D7100 is a fantastic camera. For the price, the Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary is all-a-round lens thats really hard to beat. But it really depends on what type of photography your are into. Its very hard to say what is best for you. Some people don't like a lens unless it has a constant aperture, like ƒ/2.8. While others like prime lenses best. If your looking for a daily, walk-a-round, vacation lens for your camera. Your likely to enjoy this one. But if you shoot in low light, or take portrait shots, or into astro photography. There may be other avenues for you to consider first. What I recommend is decide what you need from a lens, focal range, aperture, OS/ No OS, weather sealed, not weather sealed. When you know what you need, then simply go looking for who offers something close in your price range. Hope this helps, Joe :-)
Dennis Mejía Hey Dennis, I may have misunderstood your question. If you are considering a Second Lens to go with this lens. See what Nikon offers in 35mm. 35mm is close to the 50mm full frame equivalent and a excellent focal range for all around lens. Also Sigma has a 30mm Art that is pretty decent as well. I highly recommend a good 35mm and 50mm lens to everyone. Preferably the ones made for full frame so they can continue to use them, even after they upgrade to a full frame camera. Hope this helps, Joe.
Thank you so much for your review, sir.
Which is better price is not a problem.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM
Or
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED
Sorry I dont shoot with Nikon so I would not be able to make a comparison.
@@JoeJacksonJr all good I have decided to go with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2.
I was so happy reading reviews and watching videos about this lens, then you comment about its quality on Nikon bodies :((((((((((((((((( What good all-rounder would you recommend for the D7200?
very nice review, thank you
Often see reviews for Canon but not for Nikon, so thank you for at least mentioning it and why not to buy it for a Nikon. Scrapping it from my list right away. I do need a 18-55mm kit lens update, but if it's getting worse then it already is... No thanks.
Yea I am not sure why the Nikon version is different. Cheers, Joe
Thanks Joe for such a practical review. I suggested this lens to my friend for Nikon D5300 but after seeing your review I have changed my mind. What is your say on sigma 17-50 f2.8 for the same camera or u have any other suggestion in this focal range. I knoe the Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 with image stabilization is very soft compare to its predecessor and other sigma lenses. Thanks in advance
Harry Thanks for commenting. The 17-50 is an older lens. So optically you take a chance on it not being up to spec as you would a newer lens. Many have said it was a sharp lens, but I don't have personal experience with it and much rather drop my money on a newer model. Keep in mind when the 17-50 was released most cameras were still 8-12MP. Tamron has better IS/Optical Stabilization then Sigma, however its only good for photo, I find Tamrons OS actually causes the video to be more jerky when panning. The Sigma 17-70mm Contemporary lens is an excellent run and gun style lens for APS-C cameras, that said. It built in image stabilization is not as effective as Canon's. Also at f/2.8 the 17mm focal range is slightly soft on the corners. Which is what many complain about on this lens. But stopped down to say ƒ/5.6 the corners clean up very nicely. Also if you compare this lens to say the Canon 24-70mm ƒ/4L. You will find from 24 through 70mm it matches the performance of the more expensive L lens, but at half the cost. So it boils down to really what type of Photography you or your friends shoot. As an upgrade over the kit lens, this lens is a great choice and a lens I will be keeping for many years to come. But as far as Videography or Astrophotography, I can not recommend this lens. As for video, just stick with the Canon 18-55mm STM, but for shooting star trails and other wide-angle Astrophotography, get a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED AS UMC manual prime lens. Hope this helps.
Been very disappointed with this lens. Whether auto or manual focus, zoomed or not zoomed, it lacks sharpness. Bad lense? Don't know. I never use it except for an occasional macro shot.
Did you do any micro focus adjustments? Normally most lenses require a little adjusting, some require more.. Easy way to check to see if that is the problem is to lay up next to the wall and focus on a spot on it and take a photo. Then see if the focus fell in front or behind that spot you focused on. Hope this helps. - Joe
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm using it on a D90 so I can't make micro adjustments without utilizing the Sigma calibrator and software but I've experimented with a couple of focusing tests and it seems to focus just fine. I must have other issues or I'm expecting too much compared to a Nikon 50 mm 1.8. Everyone else seems to get great shots with the Sigma but to me, images are soft and a bit pixelated. Especially taking landscape shots.
Brian K Kinney What aperture are you trying to use when taking landscapes. I found on that lens f/6.3 up to f/9 worked great.. But f/2.8 at 17mm was to soft in the corners.
Usually 5.6 to 11. Just depends on the foreground and available light. Maybe it's the D90 but I get sharp images with other lenses. Even the original kit lens 18-135 takes a sharper picture. .
Brian K Kinney Hmm, have you checked the lens for fungus or mold. It may be hard to see unless you hold it up the light and see if there is any haze in it.