Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro is one of the more popular standard zoom lenses. It provides a longer reach than the average “kit” zoom lenses yet its affordable than the typical mid-grade zoom lenses. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro has the upgraded F-mount version of the lens to an HSM drive. The build quality of the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro lens is good – it’s made of tightly assembled combination of metal and high quality parts. Like its predecessor, Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro uses a duo-cam system to extend the lens when zooming towards the tele setting. You may notice that it’s actually quite long at 70mm especially when mounting the supplied lens hood.
You can compare this to Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L. Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L can focus fast and easily, without any noise and accurately. The zoom rings are very smooth and comes in a very nice size.This lens can be used an any range starting from ultra wide to almost standard focal lengths and consists most well-known wide angle classics like 20, 24, 28, and 35mm. Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L is a perfect lens that can lessen the flaring and you can actually achieve photos with natural colors and good contrast. Chances of distortions and aberrations are very small because Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L has such great capacity. To attain the extended zoom range, Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L has 1 high-precision molded glass aspherical lens together with 2 replica aspherical lenses. Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L is considered as the lightest and smallest L lens currently manufactured. Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L weighs about 1.1 pounds or 475g. and measures 7.2 x 5.4 x 5.2 inches. Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L is greatly appropriate for EOS digital SLR cameras, that has imaging sensor size smaller than the 35mm format to achieve an angle of view approximately equal to that of a 27-64mm lens upon 35mm cameras. Check out for more best features of Canon EF 17-40mm f 4L, click here.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro two control rings have a smooth, pleasant action. The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro focus ring is coupled to the AF mechanism so it rotates during focus operations. This is a point where the cost-cutting measurements get a little more obvious. The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS features the slightly simplified version of Sigma’s HSM. It is still fast and nearly silent but full-time manual (FTM) override is not possible in one-shot AF mode. Click here for more of Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro.
Here is a summary of Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro review from a satisfied customer:
Canon copy with no focus problems
I read several reviews of the Canon version of this lens that said it was common to get a copy that focuses inaccurately. I’m here to say I took the chance and got a good copy! Mine focuses perfectly, right where the camera’s focus points light up. I’m using the lens on a T2i, which doesn’t have focus microadjust, and they worked together right out of the box. Image quality is great. It is a touch soft at the wide aperture at longer focal lengths, but definitely still print worthy. Stopping down a bit sharpens it up nicely. f/2.8 at 17mm is really good, and the middle apertures are always excellent. Colors and contrast look fine to me, and flare seems well controlled. It has GREAT bokeh.
The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro AF speed is worth to mention that the lens carries a “macro” in its name. Sigma can focus down to 0.22m which translates to a max. object magnification of 1:2.7 at 70mm. This is good enough for some basic close focus applications. A major new feature is, of course, the OS (“Optical Stabilizer”). As already mentioned, Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro is impressively efficient and as good as the corresponding genuine manufacturer implementations. The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro center performance is very fine straight at 17mm @ f/2.8 and it even gets excellent when stopping down. Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro borders start with good figures here whereas the corners are somewhat soft and you should stop down to f/4 to overcome these corner problems. The peak performance is reached at f/5.6 with a generally very good quality across the frame.
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro has the following features and specifications:
- Fast f/2.8-4 Aperture
- OS Anti-Shake Technology
- 4x Zoom Range
- Minimum Focus Distance 8.7″
- Maximum Magnification Ratio 1:2.7
- Hyper Sonic Motor is Quiet and Fast
Click here to watch a video of Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro and get the best features
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro has the following Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Very good build
- Good close-focus proprieties
- Great range on a crop
- Excellent OS
- F2.8 at the wide end
- Decent build
- Silent AF
cons:
- Not sharp at F4 on the long side
- Big and heavy
- Yellowish color tone
Conclusion:
The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro sweetest focal lengths are 24-40mm – it may not reach the stars but the lens shows no significant weakness anymore here. The Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides high contrast images. The incorporation of HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high speed AF. This Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro lens has a rounded 7 blade diaphragm which creates an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the image. Click here to view more of Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro exciting features.
