Lens finder
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO
APS-C sized imageLenses that create APS-C sized image are designed for digital only. They cannot be used on cameras that have image sensor larger than the APS-C format. These lenses are not suitable for film cameras either. No Ultrasonic AFLenses with ultrasonic focusing mechanism tend to be quiter and faster than traditionally focusing lenses. One or more Low Dispersion lens element is usedLow Dispersion lens elements help to reduce chromatic aberration. Not stabilizedImage stabilization helps to reduce blur caused by hand shake, especially at high focal length or in low light situations. Image stabilization can give 1 to 3 stop advantage over none stabilized lens, based on the reciprocal rule. Metal mountCheaper lenses are usually equipped with plastic mount, while more expensive, professional lenses have metal mount. In general, metal mounts are more durable, and a good thing to have when lenses are changed a lot. When a camera is used mainly with one lens, the material of the lens mount is not that important. Internal FocusingInternally focusing lenses don't change their size while setting focus. The front lens is fixedThe fixed front lens is not rotating during zoom and/or focusing. This allows the photographer to use petal shaped lens hood. Fixed front lenses also make the use of polarization filters a lot easier. No drop-in filter supportDrop-in filters are used in those lenses where either the front lens is too large, or the field of view doesn't permit the use of traditional filters at the front of the lens. Usually bright tele and ultra-wide angle lenses support this filter type. |
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It can be used with wide variety of subjects and it is an ideal large aperture standard zoom lens for digital SLR cameras featuring APS-C size image sensor. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm throughout the entire zoom range. Maximum magnification of 1:2.3 enables close-up photography like a macro lens. The new lens design and multi layer lens coating reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and two aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations and produce a high level of optical performance throughout the entire zoom range. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system, which ensures fast AF speed as well as prevents the front of the lens rotating, making it particularly suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and petal shaped lens hoods. This lens is also equipped with Zoom Lock Switch that eliminates «Zoom Creep» during transportation
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Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Specification
| Available mount(s) | Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony / Minolta A, Sigma |
| Application(s) | Portrait, Closeup, Landscape, Architecture |
| Category(s) | Standard zoom, Macro |
| Multiplier | 1.5× |
| Stabilizer | no |
| Focal length | 17 - 70 mm (4.10× zoom) |
| Lens construction | 15 elements in 12 groups |
| Angle of view |
35mm: N/A digital: 74.4-20.2° |
| Number of blades | 7 |
| Maximum aperture | wide: f/2.8 tele: f/4.5 |
| Minimum aperture | wide: f/22 tele: N/A |
| Minimum focusing distance | 20 cm |
| Magnification | 0.43× |
| Filter size | 72 mm |
| Size | ∅ 79 × 82.5 mm |
| Weight | 455 g |
| Notes |
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| AF speed | 0.5 sec. (from close up to infinity) |
| AF sound | |
| Internal focusing | yes |
| Internal zoom | N/A |
| Fix front lens | yes |
| Mount type | metal |
| Weather sealed | N/A |
| Drop in filter | no |
| Ultrasonic AF | no |
| APS-C sized circle | yes |
| Low dispersion lens element | yes |
| Hard case | N/A |
| Soft case | N/A |
| Lens hood |
LH780-04 printable lens hood |
| Tripod adapter | N/A |
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Reviews
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO in the news
- Tamron SP AF60mm f/2.0 Di-II Macro
- Nikkor AF-S DX 85mm f/3.5G ED Micro
- Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.0 ZF
- Sony SAL2875 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM
- Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 28mm f/2 with EF mount
- Tamron SP AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical
- Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21 for EF mount
- Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE
- SIGMA 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG OS
- Nikkor AF-S 16-35mm f/4 G ED VR
Other reviews
- Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO review at www.ephotozine.com (English)
- Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO review at www.slo-foto.net (Slovenian)
- Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO review at www.fotopolis.pl (Polish)
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Owner Reviews
Most useful owner reviews from Amazon
Sharp, smooth, good colour
Dec 16, 2006
Obviously I was luckier than the previous reviewer: my first copy was, and is, fine.
I use my Sigma with a Canon 400D (XTi in the US). I also have a Canon 50mm lens that's supposed to be really sharp. Maybe I have a bad copy of that, because the Sigma is definitely sharper. In fact I was disappointed with the camera until I bought this Sigma lens.
Now I get images that are sharp and colourful, yet with that smooth SLR look that was evading me when using the Canon lens. I'm very pleased with it.
One thing that surprised me was how big and heavy it is though. People look at me as though I have a long zoom (it extends quite a way at 70mm), even though it's really not.
But, you get used to it pretty soon.
I guess it had to be big to get the f/2.8. Trouble is, at about 20mm you lose the f/2.8, so it's not quite as good as it sounds. This lens loses out on that score to the constant f/2.8 17-50 lenses from Tamron and Sigma.
The compensation is that you get a bit of extra reach, which makes it more of an everyday lens.
And the trump card is that you can get really close with this lens. Minimum focus distance is 20cm. Doesn't sound that great, but that's 20cm from the sensor, not the end of the lens. Zoom all the way to 70mm and you can focus on stuff that's almost touching the glass!
I like the feel of the lens. It's very solid and attractively finished, feels expensive.
You get a lens hood in the box, unlike when you buy a Canon lens.
The only thing I don't like is that the focus ring moves in auto focus and I find it often catches on my hand. No big deal.
All in all, a great lens.
Outstanding Performance On A Budget
Mar 28, 2006
This is the first non-Canon lens I've purchased and the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 DC surprised the hell me with its fine performance. Zoom range, speed, resolution, low Chromatic Abberation, fast/sure autofocus speed and solid build quality make this lens stand head and shoulders above the typical cheap Canon kit lens such as the terrible Canon EF 18-55/4.5-5.6. Plus the Sigma has 1:2.3 macro capabilities with very sharp results...AMAZING! I've read more and more reviews all over the Internet on this Sigma lens that praise its qualities. This lens will compete with Canon lenses costing two and 3 times as much (EF 17-40, EF 18-50/2.8, EF 16-35/2.8). The Sigma 17-70 is constructed with one SLD low-dispersion glass element which is responsible for its excellent lack of Chromatic Aberation. At this price I never expected that kind of quality. Highly recommended!
Exactly what I needed... given my budget.
Apr 13, 2007
I own an XT and 3 lenses: this one, the ef 70-200 f/4 and the 50mm f/1.8. I use them all about equally. This one is versatile in terms of focal length (solidly wide angle to short tele) and it has a pseudo-macro close focus ability that is great for closeups (flowers, large bugs, frogs etc...). While it is not particularly sharp wide open, it is definitely acceptable to me and essentially matches my other two lenses when stopped down. I can't speak to the possibility of "bad copies" that may be "floating around"... mine is satisfactory. There are clearly trade-offs that come with buying a cheaper lens that does several things, but I found this lens to be quite balanced in that respect. Overall I find this lens of good quality and its versatility to be indispensable... until I save up enough to get the ef 100 2.8 macro and the 17-55 2.8IS.
If you are considering buying this as your first lens instead of getting the kit, I unreservedly recommend doing that (especially if it will be your only lens for a while). I owned the kit with my first XT (lost to a break-in) and frequently chafed at its limitations (slowness, minimum focus distance, short focal length) and I think you would find that the modest improvements in these attributes that come with this lens will greatly increase your enjoyment of your camera.
Sharper than the Nikon
Jan 22, 2008
I have tested this lens in wide landscape and portrait situations and have found it to be sharper than the Nikon 18-135mm.
I am not here to bash the Nikon, but I can see a difference between the two, but note that in order to have this Sigma at it's best, your camera should be set to +1 contrast at least (D40), and this lens is definitely sharper at f/4 and above. It is a bit soft at f/2.8, but when you increase your contrast and sharpening (in camera), it's not that significant, and is easily tolerable.
For portraits, it is brilliant. I am glad I made the switch from the Nikon. You'll be amazed at it's landscape quality as well.
Two thumbs up for Sigma!
Very good "walk around" lens
Aug 1, 2007
Better than the standard kit lens for a few reasons; it's a little faster, a little wider and much longer, good macro capability. It's effectively a 28-105mm zoom (35mm equiv.), great for general purpose wide angle work, and a decent portrait lens at the tele end. Nice and sharp. You can get more pure speed by looking at the 16-50 2.8 constant aperture lens Sigma makes, but you'd be giving up a lot of zoom and paying somewhere around a 40% premium to do so. You can get more tele reach with the 17-125 that Sigma makes, or that monster 18-250mm, but you're giving up speed and close focusing. So just buy it already, along with a good long tele zoom (say, 55-200?) and a fast normal prime (say, the lovely Pentax 50mm f1.4).
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Sample Photos
Canon EOS-400D + 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC MACRO Accessories
72 mm Filters
72 mm Polarizer Filters
- Zeikos ZE-CPL72 72mm Multi-Coated Circular Polarizer Filter 3.12 USD
- B + W Snap-On Lens Cap for Filters, for Lenses with Inside Diameter of 52mm 6.80 USD
- B&W Slip-On Lens Cap #305 For B+W Slim-Line filter size 72mm 75mm OD 8.95 USD
- Zeikos ZE-FLK72 72mm Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit (UV-CPL-FLD) 9.29 USD
- Opteka FW-100 Padded Canvas Filter Wallet for 6 Filters up to 82mm in Diameter (Black) 9.95 USD
- 72mm Circular Polarizer Filter 9.99 USD
- Sakar 72mm 3-Piece Filter Kit Polarizer/UV/FL-D Metal Rim with Leather Case, 15-Year Warranty 10.58 USD
- Vivitar Circular Polarizer 72mm Filter 11.95 USD
- Maximal Power 72mm Circular Polarizer Filter/CPL Filter 13.99 USD
- Pro Digital Hard Lens Hood For The Kodak Easyshare P880 Digital Camera 14.44 USD
72 mm UV Filters
- Zeikos ZE-UV72 72mm Multi-Coated UV Filter 0.38 USD
- 72mm UV Lens Filter for Nikon D40 D60 18-200mm Lens 0.49 USD
- 72mm UV Filter for Nikon D40 D60 18-200mm Lens 72 MM 0.99 USD
- New 72mm Round Metal Multi-Coated UV Filter - Fits 72 mm Lenses 0.99 USD
- 72mm UV Filter for Nikon D200 D90 18-200mm VR Lens 0.99 USD
- 72mm UV Filter for Canon 28-135mm 28-200mm IS USM Lens 0.99 USD
- New Metal Ring 72mm UV / Protection Filter Lens 0.99 USD
- Sunpak DF-7037-UV 72mm Coated Ultra-Violet Filter 0.00
- TIFFEN 67mm-72mm Step Up Filter Adapter Ring 2.99 USD
- Sunpak CF7037UV 72mm UV Lens Filter 4.68 USD
72 mm Skylight Filters
- Quantaray - 72mm 1A Skylight Filter 17.93 USD
- TIFFEN 72MM 1A Skylight Filter for Camera Lens 32.49 USD
- Calumet MC Sky - Filter - skylight - 72 mm 14.60 USD
- Tiffen 72mm UV Protection Filter 0.00
- MU) 72 MM 1A 18.95 USD
- Hoya 72SKY 72MM Skylight Filter for Camera Lens 19.99 USD
- 72mm Skylight Filter 25.64 USD
- Hoya SUPER HMC Skylight 1B - Filter - skylight - 72 mm 52.35 USD
- B + W 72mm KR -1.5 (Skylight 1A) Warming & Protection Filter for Olympus Evolt, E300, E1, SLR Camera
- Hoya HMC Skylight 1B - Filter - skylight - 72 mm 40.35 USD
72 mm Lens Caps
- ~72mm Lens Cap~ For ANY Lens with Diameter of 72MM! 0.01 USD
- Lens Cap - Black Plastic Snap-On - For any 72mm Camera Lens 0.01 USD
- ~72mm Lens Cap + Lens Cap Holder~ For ANY Lens with Diameter of 72MM! Lens Cap Holder Included! 0.01 USD
- 72mm Snap-On Lens Cap for Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Kodak, JVC, Sony 0.01 USD
- 72mm Snap-On Black Plastic Lens Cap 0.01 USD
- 52mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm Snap-On Black Plastic Lens Caps for All Brands of Camera Lenses 0.49 USD
- 52mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm Snap-On Black Plastic Lens Caps for All Brands of Camera Lenses 0.49 USD
- Zeikos ZE-LC72 72mm Plastic Snap On Lens Cap (Black) 0.65 USD
- JJC Pro Center Pinch 72mm Snap-on Lens Cap with Leash fits universal lens (Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sigma and etc.) 0.99 USD
- Universal Snap-On Black Plastic Lens Caps 52mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm + 5x Lens Cap Holders 0.99 USD