When Sigma first made known the existence of the 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens, the photography world could barely contain itself. Social media and blog comments blew up all over the net, including in the Fstoppers universe. This lens has been a subject of intense conversation for the past few weeks, nothing more debatable than speculation of pricing. Speculate no more. Sigma has revealed the pricing, and you're not going to believe it.
The lens will be available in early July in the United States for $799. That is well below the average speculated price of about $1200, and even below my original estimate of $1000.The price point is shocking considering this is the first modern auto-focus zoom lens that will be able to maintain an aperture of f/1.8 through the entire zoom range.
Though some images taken with this lens were released last week, you probably should ignore them. Love them, hate them, they don't matter. They were done with a prototype and are not necessarily indicative of final performance.
The lens arrived in studio this afternoon and we will be testing it over the next couple days to have a review to you by early next week. If you want to review our initial impressions, we took a look at the lens last April. Until then, what do you think of the price point?
Do you guys have the prototype or the final copy? The prototype image from dpreview looks like it was shot from a kit lens.
Read what they wrote. They said the photos taken were from a prototype.
Read what I wrote, I never said dpreview's image wasn't from the prototype, just saying the images shot from the prototype isn't that great. That was why I was wondering if fstopper had a prototype or the final copy.
I have the final production copy, yes.
moron....
not really, just looks like it was stopped down in most of the photos
I never had a kit lens so I don't know how kit lenses perform these days, but that picture of a women sitting in the sofa (IMG_6.acr), it looks almost as sharp as my Canon 100mm macro.
sooo sick! yhhewwwwww
1200 to 1k? Wow. I love my new 10-20 sigma for 429
does your Sigma 10-20 stop down to 1.8? I dont think so ;)
Just seems kind of high priced though I guess sigma quality is better now.
I find it rather inexpensive since it have a 1.8 aperture.
Hmmm.. I don't really have a use for this range, considering I have the Nikon 14-24, and the 35mm f/1.4 but it does intrigue me.
aps-c... sigh.
So?
So it doesn't work on real working man's cameras.
its not the size of your sensor, its what you do with it that counts ;)
I'm not sure there is a story here. We have an $800 dollar lens that some people think looks like a kit lens in terms of sharpness, others disagreeing. The lens only has value if it is solid, not simply because it is f 1.8
Shoking price if it is a good performer...
The dpreview samples didn't knock my socks off (sure it's a "prototype" but are they really going to change the design last minute??), but I think the price is right for people who'd be in the market for something like this... I can already see it going for ~$600 used in 6 months or so. If I were a crop-sensor shooter, I'd give it a try for sure
Somehow, I also see this see of lens as something that may keep DSLR users from crossing into mirrorless territory.
mirrorless has its place. I shoot full frame (sucks this is apsc) but also have a mirrorless to use for light travel, out with friends, or even a second candid camera when the two 5d are filming ** also, there are adapters to use this lens on a mirrorless camera**
and with the metabones speed boaster, to MFTs, killer lens...
Give me a 16 1.4 with the same IQ as the new 35mm and I'll pay $800 for it no problem.
WOW!
I don't like so much the focal range. A 18-55 like a kit-lens range would be better. Anyway please sigma, make a 22mm 1.4 lens for apsc(21.9*1.6=35mm)!! It should be awesome!
I love how some people respond to this as if they were told to buy it by a salesman.
LOUD NOISES
Too bad this lens is not full frame compatible, would love to see a sigma cheaper option to the canon 16-35L, with optical quality as they have in their new 35mm!
I think the lens will be very nice for some people who are advanced yet not wanting to go to full frame, but given that many people using DX have no idea what an f/stop is, all they'll see is that "I can get a 18-200mm nikon for $600 or an 18-35mm Sigma for $700?"
I think Nikon has done their research and there is a reason why they didn't have a lens like this out. Someone advanced enough to WANT an f/1.8 zoom will likely be on FX already. The days of the "pro" DX camera are numbered anyway. I don't think the D7100 line will be around past another generation.
You don't have to be advanced to shoot FF, there are lots of new photographers out there buying FF camera's just because "its the best" yet there are lots of seasoned photographers ditching the bigger heavier camera's for smaller systems because the advantages of the smaller system shoot there style of shooting.
If your advanced enough as you say to be to buy a FF then you would also be advanced enough to know that sensor size isn't everything its the person behind the camera that matters most, there style, there vision, there ability to pull of the job they are doing regardless of the tool's they use.
For the shoots that matter, they use their FX camera. For travel, they may use a mirror-less camera.
Really?
http://benjaminkanarek.com/ uses pentax APCS
http://fotosiamo.com uses M4/3 for a lot of his work, MF for others.
You will probably find lots and lots of other examples of this online too, Its not about the camera, its about who uses it.
I find this lens intriguing and I have a D7000 but I have always been told that you should almost always buy FX lens whenever possible so that if you ever decide that the cost justifies going to full frame you have the correct lenses. I will be watching for the images for this lens and I hope that it will allow for true macro images on a DX sensor. I currently can not justify the cost of a full sensor camera body with other than I want one.
This lens is not meant for macro photography...
I wish it was a full frame DG lens and not a DC.... otherwise I would have definitely looked at purchasing...
Definitely gettin' this!!!
is this cinematic lens, for video, newbie, can i use it for vidoe coverage like music videos?
You could, but keep in mind it does not have image stabilization and that's a big feature for video work.
it would have on a sony, pentax or em-5 with adapter.
Thanks bro
I'm just a newbie in phototgraphy, i need a lens for my MFT blackmagic design cinema Camera, Im looking for a nice cheap cinematic lens for my camera, can this lens look good in my camera? please do advice me if you have the heart , Thank you
I'd love to see a fast zoom like this in the portrait range. I don't often work in these wider focal lengths.
Give me! and hope they make a 24-105mm 2.8.. my lens is complete! :D
THIS is awesome!