Sigma 18-50 for video?

C

CUBuffskier

Member
I just became aware of the Sigma 18-50mm with HSM and OC (there version of IS) 2.8-4.5 lens.

Has anybody used this lens? How well does the image stabilizer work for video? I have a shoulder rig and get usable stuff with my 50 1.4, but would really like a cheap option with IS or OC built in to try.

I know its not going to optically perform like an L lens, but its only $200 and seems like a big upgrade over the kit lens (which I also don't have).

Any advice on the stabilizer and this lens would be super helpful. This is for a T2i.
 
When I first bought my T2i, I didnt go all out since I dont have a lot of money and just wanted to give the DSLR world a test (obviously kept my HVX, which I now know I will never get rid of).

Anyways, I was told to probably just roll with a kit lens and get a 50mm 1.4 as well (i already had a 70-300 for tele). I was literally like 1 minute away from checking out and I really do not know how, but I somehow came across that sigma 18-50 2.8-4.5 on BH. I read a couple of the reviews and said screw it and spent the extra 50 dollars for it. I have never been happier. I have some friends with the kit lens and for 50 dollars more (plus a free lens hood) it is MORE than worth it. Every time someone brings up buying the kit lens, I tell them no and direct them to this one.

The autofocus is not great, especially in low light, but it gets the job done and I dont use it much since I shoot video. It is actually a sharp lens for the price in my mind.

I really have not gotten to use this lens or even the t2i too much yet. Kinda been testing it all out on the fly and just has not snowed much to be shooting much (am going on an urban trip tomorrow though).

Ohh and to answer your image stabilizer question, I do not know exactly how it works, but I know it does work. It obviously is not as good as your typical image stabilizer on something like an HVX, but it runs while shooting video I believe. It is kinda of sensitive in a bad way though. It skips a lot trying to catch itself when slowly panning. I notice my HVX occasionally will do that, but this does it all the time... i believe. Its also only a 50mm, so OS is not a huge deal and I doubt there is much better out there at that focal length (could be wrong). If your wondering about it in terms of follow cams or something, well I just wouldnt follow with a DSLR to begin with, but it should be alright I suppose. 18 is probably wider then you would expect too. I know I was a little surprised on the width.

Anyways, I went ahead and threw like 7 shots on a timeline just to show the lens. None of them are color graded or anything. Just the shots quickly thrown together (not converted either, just the h.264s). I put the driving shot in there to show its OS (im still not sure if it runs in video mode). Its hard to tell from looking at footage, but I shot thatwhile actually driving and with a light t2i. Put it in there to show how easy it is to work with these light weight things (simple smooth cam around prolly 108% would fix that shot).
Even threw a mess around ski shot at the end from a preseason day this year...



Also, you might enjoy this video. Its not dslr footy, but i see you ski :)... http://vimeo.com/16721392


Hope that helped some.
 
Awesome thanks so much for posting this! I have been torn between this and the 17-40L lens and think I will roll with this Sigma after hearing this.

I also have a 50 1.4, and a Tamron 28-200.

The combo of having 2.8 at the wide end, a stabilizer, non-extending, metal mount, all add up to me as something I should go for now (and get the big boy lenses later).

Side question but what part of the country are you in? I'm in Boulder, we're just starting to see some flakes and its nice to see some ski shots!
 
CUBuffskier said:
Awesome thanks so much for posting this! I have been torn between this and the 17-40L lens and think I will roll with this Sigma after hearing this.

I also have a 50 1.4, and a Tamron 28-200.

The combo of having 2.8 at the wide end, a stabilizer, non-extending, metal mount, all add up to me as something I should go for now (and get the big boy lenses later).

Side question but what part of the country are you in? I'm in Boulder, we're just starting to see some flakes and its nice to see some ski shots!
Click to expand...

They discontinued the big brother of this lens for canon (sigma 18-50 2.8 macro). I dont know exactly why, but I think it might have to do with the fact that the Tamron 17-50 2.8 turned out better.
I really want the big brother though too when I get the money.


I live up in Bend, Oregon. We have had an up and down year so far. Started with a 3 foot storm and skiing waist deep pow before halloween, but then it rained a lil. Did the same thing again. And just this past week we got another foot and that should stay. I know Rabbit Ears Pass out in CO has TON of snow an I even think Vail and Summit county has a good amount.
Im actually getting ready to head down to Reno/Tahoe for a storm (up to 18" in reno and 3-5 feet in Tahoe), so snow should be heading that way!
 
I recently got the Sigma 17- 50 2.8 for my 7d. I've not had a chance to shoot much with it, but what little I've shot looks great. Your footage above also looks fine. We have a storm blowing in tonight, I'll see if it's possible to get some sunlit shots tomorrow. What I dislike about it, is that the focusing ring doesn't have an absolute fine adjustment to make it possible to repeat a focus. But the lens is very smooth focusing, and is small enough I can carry this easier than the Canon zooms. I compliment this with a 70-200 zoom to get the long stuff, and a 60mm macro lens. For full bokei I have a cheap Canon 50mm 1.8 that is great for portraits.
 
Any idea if the Sigma is better than the Canon EF-S 18-55mm?
There's a slightly difference in terms of price...
 
if you shoot video, constant "f" is mandatory or when you change focale, light change.
tamron and tokina make a 17-50 at 2.8 for cheap (half price of the canon) and tokina make a 11-6 at 2.8 that got very nice review.
also for video it is no so important to have a lens that sharp (remember photog. take a 20Mpix picture and compare enlarged zone of the result to make difference between lens , something you hardly expect in video).
A soft lens can also prevent moire, so a tack sharp lens is not always on the good side.
DXO, a photog application can correct lots of problems CA, sharpness, geometrical correction if the lens and body are in their database.
unfortunately the Tokina 17-50 is not ,, but the 11-16 is, and the tamron 16-50 is also, so if you are really finnicky about picture quality you can still rework that in post.
Canon L lenses are the best but awfully expensive.
sigma are on the cheap side, so usually you get what you paid, slow and noisy focus, plastic body, but sometime good picture for less money.
there are some great lens (tokina 28-70 at 2.8) that have disappeared from the market, but you could get a 2nd hand with a bit of luck
 
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