SIGMA 18-35 F1.8 Review

When the SIGMA 18-35 F1.8 Lens was announced you could hear an audible gasp reverberate around the industry. The reason being is that this is one of the first times you have seen a zoom lens on a cropped sensor camera that had a fixed 1.8 aperture.

Let me start off by again talking about how I review a product. When reviewing a lens I take it out and use it in a real world environment. My goal is not to sit in a studio and shoot test charts because that doesn't tell me how it works in the real world. My job is to give you my honest opinion as well as leave you with real world full res and RAW sample files to analyze yourself.

Once the excitement dies down about a lens like this you have to take an honest look at a few things, is this lens worth the money, who is it for and how are the images captured with it.

I want to first take a look at who this lens is for. Is it for that person who just purchased their first cropped sensor dslr? The simple answer to this question is no, not right off the bat. That's whats so perplexing about this lens. If it were a full frame lens it would be a must buy for all pros but it's not, it's a cropped sensor only lens. In this case new photographers are not going to drop $799 on a lens when they spent around the same price for their body. Sure we know the difference between quality glass and kit lenses but most new comers don't get that just yet.

In my opinion new photographers have other lenses that should be priorities before something like 18-35 F1.8. As a quick rundown I would suggest a SIGMA 17-50 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 if you have a few bucks to spend. Or when just starting out a NIKON 35 F1.8 or Canon 50 F1.8. The way I look at it is this short zoom lens is more of a speciality lens that you add once you have the other pieces of the puzzle.

I keep struggling to see where this lens would find its way into a photographers bag. On a Nikon DX camera you would multiply the lens by 1.5X and you will get 27-52.5mm (35mm equivalent). On a Canon cropped sensor you would multiply the lens by 1.6X and get a 28.8-56mm (35mm equivalent). The point is this lens is not really wide enough nor does it have enough reach to be an all around lens. It has a very limited use and I am still trying to figure out what for.

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[monchis]

I disagree, this lens is a must have for apsc cameras if you are a serous hobbyists and are trying to get high quality images on a budget compared to having a full frame camera and high quality glass! This lens is the ONLY apsc lens right now that could give you close to professional results. Multiplying the crop factor and this lens is really a 29-56mm f2.8 lens. The most useful ranges for every photographer is 35mm and 50mm which this lens does. This lens as razor sharp! Better than most full frame lenses out there. I pair this lens with my cheap canon nifty fifty 50mm f1.8 that gives me 80mm f2.8 for portraits or closeups and I love my setup given that I'm not really a professional but just a serious hobbyists. The other lenses Jared recommends like the sigma 17-50mm f2.8 (28-80mm f4.4) are okay if you just want to take okay pictures and have more functionality which is not a bad thing if you're really on a tight budget. Photography is an expensive hobby. Maybe one day I'll move up to a full frame camera and get high quality glass but until I have over $5000 to throw around, my trusted sigma 18-35mm f1.8 art lens and my canon apsc camera for a total of around $2000 are a great combo for great high quality pictures that give professional pics a run for their money! I like Jerod and I enjoy his videos, I understand the point he is making here in that you could get a more functional lens with that money, but he glances over the quality of this lens like if that doesn't mean much. If your trying to get to the next level in photography with an apsc camera, get this lens! And get Lightroom!

[staxandy]

This is not a review. It's mostly you expressing your opinion of what people should buy as starter lenses, and explaining that it's difficult shooting at 1.8 because of the shallow depth of field. I get that the zoom range is limited, but from a review I want to know how the lens performs. It's up to each buyer to decide if the zoom range is what they need or not. So yeah.. bit of a waste of time watching this.

[sonomoha]

the shadiest review ever. you could have just said  "buy expensive nikon, it's all better glass", as you usually do. you look so sad it's not a nikon, then you even mistook it for a nikon at some point by your pathological need to mention nikon glass. this lens is a forward thining innovation on its own and all that comes out of your megabrain is "oh this nik...sorry, sigma, is oh well". wake up.

[joshuacuthbert]

This isn't a review at all. It's just a lecture on buying lenses and a discussion about the application of a 18-35mm lense.

[keanedm]

This Lens is perfect for Landscape and Astrophotography!

[ChinHobbyToys]

Is this a review or a rant about the lens?

[oasisbeyond]

One of the sharpest lens in the market. If you shoot on a crop and  indoor with flash, this is a great choice and also for landscapes. It's either that or the 17 to 40 L f.4... I'd go with this one any day of the week.

[ghostpanic]

All I hear is negative shit from this guy if its not an "official Nikon full frame lens or body" He misses the point completely! This lens is SUPPOSED to be for crop sensors only so why is he even mentioning full frame in this review? I bought this lens 4 weeks ago and its just amazing on my D7200 & D7100, This guy just annoys me the way he speaks about lenses makes you feel like fuck I hate you crop sensor shooters! (we are not all rich!)

[mmmmmmmmmmmm]

jared: i don't think this lens is very usable
videographers with their blackmagic / red / panasonic / crop sony or canon cameras: i'm gonna use it anyway

[KingGlinton]

I just purchased this lens for my M50 USED for $350 and it's AMAZING, I'm going to AFRICA in 3 weeks and I can't wait to see the images. I bought it to use it as a walk around lens.

[SonarWavePulse]

I just got one, and I think I disagree on the focal range point.
It replaces 2 primes for me, so at least that much space is saved by its zoom. Carrying this + a 28-135 pretty much lets me cover anything that I need covering with my 60D. (also the AF works great on it as you predicted)

Also, it is *sharp*. It's very probably up there with some L lenses.

[gregtockner]

"I don't think that you are buying this lens just for video" probably the wrongest thing you've ever said *cough* literally every tech youtuber ever *cough*

[Visuzureageleer]

This is the kind of person one has to avoid as a beginner photographer. He is all wrong in whatever he is saying in this video. Trust me this lense is awesome and I Highly recommend it especially if you are new to photography as this little magic makes photography much fun and a step towards professionalism.

[singletrack]

I was considering this rather than buying a Canon 15 f2.8 and a 28 f1.8 ... Thoughts in that scenario?

[iviaverick]

This lens is brilliant for video shooters. That extra speed is incredibly helpful, and the zoom/focus damping is better than any non-prime lens. It is unfortunately limited to cropped sensors cameras because of physics. Current technology and optical science makes it physically impossible to get an f/1.8 zoom with full frame coverage. Maybe in the future...

[divernutbar]

bought this lens for underwater photography and i must say its my new all around favorite.cover from small to large and gives great sharpness in cropped photos.the number of good photos for me has increased greatly.works like a champ in my ikelite case with the 105mm macro port and the zoom ring can be used!

[aaronsilva]

Doesn't this lens eliminate the need for 2 primes?? I have a 50 1.8 on a SL1 and this seems like it would be a perfect addition. This lens is anything but limiting 

[froknowsphoto]

Yes, you heard it right. You still multiple the focal length by either 1.5 nikon or 1.6 for canon to get its 35mm equivalent.

[KVM]

Jared Polin So at 3:20 you say which lenses you recommend (17-50mm 2.8 & 70-200mm). That's what my plan was, too. I own a Canon 600D/T3i (why can't they just use one naming system...) with the kit lens, Canon 50mm 1.8 II and the Samyang/Walimex/Rokinon (whatever) 8mm 3.5 fisheye.
The next lens I want to buy is the Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 OS or the Canon 70-200mm 4.0L(non IS). I am not sure which I should buy first. The Sigma would be a great walkaround lens and the Canon would give me the ability to shoot new stuff.

Any advise or tips?

[Bubba]

Hi Jared,  the reason you have zero need for this is becuse you shoot a Nikon d4s.  I would imagine most are not using that camera day to day.  For a APS -C user this makes perfect sense.  Why, because 1.8 is really a 2.88 for Canon Crop sensor cameras or Nikon Crop user (2.77). If we use a 24-70 2.8 on a crop well are not shooting at 2.8 making it 4.48.  The only way to gain back the light loss it to use the 1.8 Sigma.  Have a great day.  Sorry about Lil.