I recently ordered a couple of lenses for my Canon EOS50E(Elan II), among which was a Sigma 18-35mm/3,5-4,5 zoom. Now I just got notified that this lens is sold out, and the store is offering me an UW-Zoom by voigtlaender (19-35mm/3,5-4,5) under their normal retail price, which puts the lens at half the price of the Sigma I wanted. Otherwise they are offering me a new Sigma UW-Zoom that is supposed to come out next month (17-35mm/2.8), but this lens will be twice as expensive as the original Sigma I wanted. Does anyone know anything of either of the two lenses and can recommend me a course of action? I'm a bit hesitant about the Voigtlaender, as I have never heard this brand mentioned on photo.net before.

-- Sven Riedel (sven.riedel@tu-clausthal.de), January 08, 1999

Answers

Canon 20-35 f3.5-4.5 USM. Optics in some aftermarket lenses may be equal to Canon lenses, but there will not be compatability or build quality issues if you stick to Canon lenses. Sigma lenses have a pretty bad reputation when it comes to being compatable with Canon bodies that were introduced after the lens in question, especially with the more advanced cameras like the EOS 50 and EOS 3. By the way, I don't know about prices where you are, but the Canon 20-35 f3.5-4.5 is only about $15 more than the Sigma 18-35.

-- Brad (reloader@webtv.net), January 08, 1999.

Sounds like you are being scammed. Check out your dealer in the neighbor to neighbor section of photo.net.

-- Bill (Bill.Wyman@utas.edu.au), January 10, 1999.

The Voigtlander zoom is probably a Cosina. Anyway, I second the above posts that you are being lied to by the dealer, and the Canon 20-35/ 3.5-4.5 is the best choice. Good luck.

-- ray (razerx@netvigator.com), January 27, 1999.

Ray is right. The Voightldnder is probably another clone of the Cosina/Vivitar family. A shame really, because Voightldnder was of the pioneers of photography last century. Voightldnder, the man himself, was constructing and designing some great quality optics. The make Voightldnder produced very good (rangefinder) cameras in the 50ies and 60ies. I have one myself (I still love it). Voightldnder vanished somewhat in the last 2 decades and now it is trying to get on the market again with budget lenses. The lens you mention was tested in Foto-magazin (august 98): ratings 8,6/8,4. Not that great, but the price is low.

-- Ivan Verschoote (ivan.verschoote@rug.ac.be), January 28, 1999.