Lens review

Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 APO EX DC HSM

11. Summary

Pros:

• excellent image resolution at the center,
• very good image resolution at the egde for 50 mm,
• small coma,
• no ghosting and flares,
• silent and fast autofocus,
• excellent built quality,
• small size.

• poor image quality at the edge for 150 mm,
• chromatic abberation should be smaller in APO lens,
• noticable astigmatism for focal length range from 100 to 150 mm,
• clear vignetting especially at 150 mm,
• significant front-focus with Canon 20D.

So which lens you should choose? Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or Sigma 50-150 f/2.8? First one has better optical performance, especially on APS-C/DX matrix. Astigmatism, vignetting and distortion are well controlled which is not in case of 50-150 model. But all in all advantage of 70-200 is not that big. Besides 50-150 mm is cheaper and much smaller and lighter. So if you do not plan to buy full frame camera you will not be disapointed if you choose Sigma 50-150 mm f/2.8 APO EX DC HSM.

Sample shots:

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 4.4 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 150 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.9 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 150 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 102 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.3 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 102 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/30 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.2 MB