Product Description

This high zoom ratio lens is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras and capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20974 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B0011GGNQ2
• Released on: 2008-04-08
• Dimensions: 2.80" h x 2.80" w x 3.00" l, .87 pounds

Features

• The built-in motor is capable of auto focusing with all Nikon DSLR cameras
• Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) lenses and two Aspherical glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberration.
• Sigma's super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting and provides high image quality throughout the zoom range.
• This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7¿) and a maximum magnification of 1:4.4.

Manufacturer's Description
This is a high-performance 11.1X zoom lens for digital SLR camera use only. SLD glass and aspherical lens elements, enable this extended range zoom lens to be housed in a compact and lightweight construction and offers high image quality throughout the entire zoom range. The new lens coatings reduce flare and ghosting. The minimum focusing distance of 45 cm (17.7 inches) throughout the entire zoom range allows a maximum reproduction ratio of up to 1:4.4. It also has an inner focus system, so it accepts a Petal-type hood, as well as a circular polarizing filter

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Fantastic lens - buy this rather than the kit lens
This lens is a far more worthwhile investment than the small, cheap zoom lenses that come bundled with most DSLRs. The focal lengths cover almost everything that an entry to mid-level photographer could need, from wide angle 18mm to capture landscapes to the telephoto 200m to minimise the depth of field for engaging portrait shots.

It is a robust lens which feels sturdy and well built compared to the evidently cheap build of, say, the 18-55mm zoom lens which came with my Canon 400D camera.

Its main drawback however is that is not a particularly fast lens when you have it on maximum zoom, with the widest aperture at 200mm being just f6.3, which means that the shutter speed has to be quite slow to compensate. This is inevitable however, unless you are willing to fork out a substantial amount of money for a much pricier lens.

This lens produced some stunning results on a recent safari trip, and it coped well with a range of focusing distances as well as the environment.

If you have invested in a DSLR camera, then it would definitely be worthwhile to add this to your kit - unless you are thinking of becoming a professional photographer, this lens should cover most of your requirements.

It's an OK lens for an OK price
I've had this lens (non OS version) for my Nikon D70s for about 6 months and the main issues are:-
-slow focus on low light (regardless of focal length)
-noisy motor
-and worse of all, lens creep.

Before this lens, I used a Tamron 28-105mm with non-slip feature so I'm not used to zoom lenses where the lens barrel slowly extends by itself if you have the camera pointed downwards or retracts if you have the lens pointed upwards, and ruining your composition if you try to take a picture without holding the lens.

You can't lock the zoom at a particular local length either, unless it's at the min 18mm.

In terms of sharpness, you get what you paid for. It's not great but not that bad either. As with all zoom lenses, you get the maximum sharpness around f5.6-f11.

Personally, I'm going to exchange this with a different make. Not sure what exactly at the moment.

Excellent all rounder
This lens is excellent for people just starting up to semi-professionals.
I recommended to buy with the camera body rather than to get the lens that usually comes with beginner Dslrs as I found mine to be a bit cheap and soft (maybe that was just mine - i did have the original version).

This lens has a superb range of 18-200mm (which is around 29-320mm on cropped sensor camera). The 'DC' in the model name means this lens can only be used on cropped sensor cameras, like the 1000D / 400D / 40D.
The lens is very light and compact (when zoomed out), so is great for carrying around for long periods of time or holidays.
The build quality is good, and it has internal focusing (the front element doesn't move) which means you can use polarising filters and the petal shaped hood (supplied in the box).
As the zoom is quite long, there is a zoom lock which can be applied at 18mm to stop the lens from zooming when you don't want it to (e.g. in your bag).
The filter size for this model is 62mm.

Only negatives are at 200mm the fstop is f/6.3, meaning longer exposures, but works fine in normal daylight. To avoid this you have to pay a lot more.
Also, I had to have mine repaired after 2 years after something came loose inside and Sigma's quote was £65, which I think is a lot when the lens only cost me £200.


Overall great lens. Recommended for all.