An ode to my old Sigma 17-70

A good friend of mine in Singapore was looking for a 'standard zoom' for his APS-C DSLR and I decided to sell my Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS to him. Why? Well for one thing, it was an EF-S only lens so when I upgrade to Full Frame I can't use it anymore and for another, it's decent in all sense of the word. It wasn't exceptional in any way.

After I got it in 2010, the first test for it came when we went to Taman Safari in Bogor. With it's 3 stop OS at work, it handled admirably shooting from inside of a moving car up meandering roadways. Autofocus speed was also quite fast.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/400 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800 | 1/800 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800

In a zoo setting, 70mm is a stretch for detailed shots. However, I think it held up admirably.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/800 sec, f/5.6 ISO 800
| 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 800 | 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 800 | 1/640 sec, f/4.0, ISO 800

Bokeh at f4.0 is pretty decent although nothing to write home about. Best of all though is that at 70mm, it can still shoot at f4.0, which is pretty wide compared to other so-called 'standard zooms'.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
| 1/800 sec, f/4.0 ISO 800 | 1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400

At 17mm, the lens has a slight 'banding' effect which makes landscapes look wide and expansive.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/60 sec, f/8.0 ISO 100
| 1/100 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/40 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250

The OS also allows me to shoot handheld at night with good results.

Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS | 1/30 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1250
1/100 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/160 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100 | 1/160 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100

Sigma also labels this as a Macro lens. Although it's not a 1:1 true macro, I was able to get very close to the subject to get my shot. This makes it a very versatile lens since it covers almost every shot a photographer might want to take: macro, general walkaround, zoomed into details, portraits and landscape.

 Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/80 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 | 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100

The only let down for me is that it's difficult to get a shallow DOF with this lens. While rated at f2.8, it's only f2.8 from 17mm to 30mm. Shallow DOF can be had although I had to consciously work at it.

 Canon EOS 60D + Sigma 17-70 mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HS
1/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 | 1/40 sec, f/4.0, ISO 1600

This is perhaps the best compromise for a traveling lens: it covers a wide range of focal lengths with wide enough apertures. Combined with a fast prime lens like the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 USM II, it'll make for a very potent light travel kit. Add a teleconvertor and your maximum range becomes 98mm (157mm equivalent) with maximum aperture becoming a still very reasonable f5.6.

It's really too bad it's an EF-S only lens though.

> Full set of pictures on Flickr