Hello everyone,

Recently I've come across a Sigma 70-210mm f2.8 APO for a great price. I was just wondering if anybody had any experience with this lens. My main concerns are its compatibility with my Elan IIe and it's autofocus speed.

Thank you all very much for your input!

-- Eric Shen (emptelite@aol.com), October 26, 2001

Answers

I forgot to add, I know that a Canon 70-200mm f4L or a used Canon 80- 200mm f2.8L would be a better lens but I a student on a really tight budget. I am also aware that there are two versions of this lens available; one with a 82mm filter threat, another with a 77mm filter thread. Does anybody know the difference?

Thank you all!

-- Eric Shen (emptelite@aol.com), October 26, 2001.

I've never used this lens, but here is what I do know;

The current version is a 70-200 not a 70-210. The current Sigma that goes to 210mm has a smaller variable aperture. Also the current version uses a 77mm filter. There may have been an older version that used the larger filter and went to 210mm. I have heard that with the HSM version the focus is quick, but not as quick as the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L. It's also very sharp and straight and provides the Canon lens some real competition. Sigma claims that this lens will work fine with the Elan IIe and even the Elan 7.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), October 27, 2001.

Searching the Sigma USA web site (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/html/news/News.htm), I found reference to the older 70-210 f/2.8 APO lens. They specifically state that the lens need to be upgraded (rechipped) to work with the Elan 7. Still should work with the Elan IIe. There was no reference to the filter size, but it does NOT have the HSM motor and therefore focus speed will not be as good.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), October 27, 2001.

In 1996, I briefly owned the older 70-210 f/2.8 APO lens. I was one serious lookin' chunk 'o glass. It appeared well made but autofocus was so slow with my EOS 1N I returned it to Camera World after 2 days. I don't know if it was defective, needed a new chip or it was designed that way. Also, I recall the manual focus ring rotated everytime I touched the shutter button so you have to watch your fingers.

Aloha

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

a while back, when i was looking for an 70-200 2.8 lens (and strapped for cash), i also came across the sigma. i bought it, used it for a while, sold it, and ended up finding the canon 80-200 2.8 for just a little more. my experience was that the canon is a little faster in focusing, better constructed, and will always be compatible with canon bodies. i know original lenses are more expensive, but i believe it would be money well spent.

-- howard shen (hshen@praxidigm.com), October 30, 2001.

i was wondering, how heavy is a typical 70-200 f/2.8? i know the canon 70-200 f/4 is lighter but by how much, really?

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), November 12, 2001.

Thanks for all of your responses guys! I decided to buy this lens. Here is a short review: The lens come with a case (which is pretty ugly), a metal tripod collar which works very well, and a huge lens hood which helps prevent flare and protect the lens. It is made out of metal making the the lens heavy, with two nice rubber rings to zoom and focus the lens. The focus ring turns very smoothly and is as well damped as Canon L series lenses. The lens does not change in size during focusing or zooming. The AF/MF switch is nice; its a ring located in front of the focus ring-you turn it left to turn on AF and right to turn off AF. The zooming ring turns in the opposite direction of the ring on my Canon 24-85mm USM, so this is kind of annoying. Optical performance is quite good wide open at all focal lengths, but I find that my photos are the sharpest when i stop down to f/4 or f/5.6. Even without the hood, there is not much flare. Focusing speed is pokey, at best, but this is pretty subjective, as I am used to having Canon's USM focusing speed. My lens takes 82mm filters, so this sort of stinks, because those fliters are so expensive..the lens is also extremely hard to use in cold weather because the all metal barrel sucks the heat out of your hands. Focusing this lens also seems to take a lot of juice out of my Canon Elan IIe's batteries. Thank guys!

-- Eric Shen (emptelite@aol.com), December 17, 2001.