Lens finder
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC
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. No 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. No Internal FocusingInternally focusing lenses don't change their size while setting focus. The front lens is rotatingThe 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. Not SealedWeather sealed lenses are protected from dust and water. While they are not water proof, these lenses can be used in rain and other humid environments. Some sealings only provide protection against dust or water, not both. Sealing is only available when the lens is used on a similarly weather sealed camera body. 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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This compact telephoto zoom lens was exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras featuring APS-C size image sensor. The image circle was designed to match the size of the image sensors of digital SLR cameras that also allows compact body and lightweight. Characteristics of digital cameras were taken into consideration when designing the lens power layout, making high-quality images reality through the entire zoom range.
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Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Specification
| Available mount(s) | Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony / Minolta A, FourThirds, Sigma |
| Application(s) | Portrait, Landscape, Wildlife |
| Category(s) | Tele zoom |
| Multiplier | 1.5× |
| Stabilizer | no |
| Focal length | 55 - 200 mm (3.6× zoom) |
| Lens construction | 12 elements in 9 groups |
| Angle of view |
35mm: N/A digital: 25.5-7.1° |
| Number of blades | 8 |
| Maximum aperture | wide: f/4.5 tele: f/5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | wide: f/22 tele: N/A |
| Minimum focusing distance | 110 cm |
| Magnification | 0.22× |
| Filter size | 55 mm |
| Size | ∅ 71.5 × 87.1 mm |
| Weight | 310 g |
| Notes |
|
| AF speed | N/A |
| AF sound | |
| Internal focusing | no |
| Internal zoom | N/A |
| Fix front lens | no |
| Mount type | metal |
| Weather sealed | no |
| Drop in filter | no |
| Ultrasonic AF | no |
| APS-C sized circle | yes |
| Low dispersion lens element | no |
| Hard case | N/A |
| Soft case | N/A |
| Lens hood |
LH595-01 printable lens hood |
| Tripod adapter | N/A |
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Reviews
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC in the news
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Other reviews
- Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC review at www.ephotozine.com (English)
- Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC review at pixinfo.com (Hungarian)
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Owner Reviews
Most useful owner reviews from Amazon
Excellent Budget lens!!
Mar 18, 2007
I originally was looking into the 70-300mm APO macro by Sigma and the 70-300mm lens by Canon. I chose this one because I was reading the reviews of the 70-300 by both comapnies, and it seemed that at the 300mm length the lens was very vey soft. Too soft to make a decent print. So I looked into this zoom range and it didnt bother me that it was only 200mm because I have the Canon XT and the 1.6x crop factor would make the zoom over 300 mm, which is more than I need. Plus, I saw pictures of this lens on one of the review site, and at the 200mm end, the pictures were not that soft! THey seemed like they could make a decent sized print.
Going with my hunch, I bought this 55-200 mm lens and boy am I glad I did!! The autofocus has great speed for the money I paid. Its a little noisy, but I actually like it. At the long end, I was using a shutter speed of 1\500 of a second and my hand shake (which you could def. see) was not apparent in teh photos. I would say at 1\150 and less would certainly make blurry pics. I plan on using a tripod at the long end for the most part. The build and feel of the lens is amazing. THe lens hood is awesome too. it goes over the lens and locks on the other way for easier carry around. and the speed of the lens is def. fast enough if you are out in broad daylight. Indoors things I believe would be a mess. Color rendition is quite nice as well. So overall, it is very sharp at the 55mm side, and decently sharp at teh 200mm size.
The only con I see is that you will need a step up ring for 58mm filters. I have a 58mm polarizer and was bummed about this...but step ups are really cheap, so its no biggy.
I bought this for my trip to AZ that I am going on soon. We will be going to the zoo and bird sanctuaries so it seems perfect for the occasion. I think this lens is amazing for the price. GO BUY IT!
*UPDATE* I just took some test shots. All from a tripod on a sunny day. I took 18 shots total, in the progression as follows: 55mm at f/4.0, 55mm at f\5.6, 55mm at f\8.0, 55mm at f\11.0, and I did this with the zoom lengths at 70mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm respectively. All were shot with a Canon 350D. What I found was 55mm-105mm were sharp w\ all fstops, 8.0 and 11.0 being the best, but you couldnt really tell the difference. Then when it hit 135 mm, it was a bit soft at 5.0 and 11.0...8.0 was decently sharp, and then at 200mm the sharpest was at 11.0. When I say sharpest, I do believe it could make a pretty decent sized print. I mainly print 12x18 w/ my 350D, and I assume I could make that size print with this lens. There was some CA in all my shots, but I CS2 could easily fix it. I will update you after I come back from my trip to AZ!
*UPDATE*
Just got back from my trip. Went to the zoo with this lens and it is great! Took many pics, got some great shots of peacocks and parrots, etc. Feathers are really sharp. I also took pics of birds in their natural habitat. The lens was pretty sharp, and def. made decent photos. Autofocus hunts a bit, but for the most part, great lens!
plastic build, light weight, surprising optics
Sep 23, 2007
i briefly had this lens and though i traded it in, it's actually a pretty good deal for the money. anyone expecting a pro-quality lens or a 2.8 at this price is insane.
the first thing you notice is that the build quality is super-plastic-y, even toy-like. that was a turn-off for me, but to get a better-made lens, you'll have to pay hundreds, if not thousands more -- the nikon 55-200 alternatives are also plastic, and sigma doesnt offer a 55-200 in an EX finish.
still, the sigma 55-200 does have some advantages if you're not overly concerned with name-brand snob appeal. it autofocuses very quickly due to its short barrel and excels at tracking moving subjects handheld due to its light weight. and the optics are clearer and sharper than you would think, although there is a bit of fall-off at 200mm. this lens would obviously appeal to budget-minded shooters, but it would also be a good backup lens for travel for someone who doesnt want to drag along a lot of heavy glass. and at the price it's being offered for, you could easily buy two in case one breaks.
note: unfortunately for d40 users, the sigma 55-200 has no internal motor, so your camera will not AF with it.
A Good Companion for the Rebel XT Kit Lens
Nov 17, 2006
Many owners of Digital Rebels have the standard Canon 18-55mm kit lens. While useful, the kit lens has some serious limitations, one of which is its lack of sharpness at the 55mm telephoto end. The Sigma 55-200mm provides a much sharper image and wider aperture at 55mm making it a good complement to the kit lens. Overall image quality of the Sigma is fairly good, especially considering the price, and the 200mm (320mm 35mm equivalent) telephoto end provides much needed reach to your photography.
The Sigma 55-200mm is one of the newer line of digital-only lenses. On the Rebel XT, it encompasses and 35mm equivalent focal length range of 88-320mm. Focus is fairly fast and image quality is relatively good. The lens is small and light compared to other lenses with similar ranges making it a great match for the rather small Rebel XT. The lens uses a 55mm filter thread, however, which means you'll need a step-up adapter ring if you want to share the same 58mm filters as the kit lens. All in all, this is a pretty good bet if you're looking for an inexpensive second lens to expand your photogtaphic horizons.
Good, not great...
Apr 5, 2006
Look, this lens will get you into the action (no problem focusing on your little soccer phenom), but at f/4 you have to compromise on either shutter speed or ISO. So you may have to choose between motion blur or noise, neither of which is attractive. Alternatively, you can use Photoshop (or equivalent)to correct these photos (ideally, your action shots should freeze your subject while blurring your background... harder to do at f4 than f2 or f2.8) by blurring the background after the fact. That said, if you are on a budget, I can recommend the lens. Just know in advance that you may have to compromise a bit on your shots and that you may be required to edit/retouch your photos to get the effect you are after.
If you have a little more cash to spend, check out the relatively new Olympus Zuiko 18-180 lens. This is one you can keep on your camera nearly all the time (f3.5-f6.3) It has just a slightly shorter range than the aforementioned Sigma. I use it and I love it. Really is a fantastic lens that didn't break my bank.
A Great Alternative To an Olympus Lens
Sep 15, 2005
The Sigma lens is a good telelens, more range for less money. I use it with my E-300 Evolt. The operation feels different from the original Olympus lenses, it takes a but more effort and you cannot use the manual focus mode on the camera, you must flip a switch on the lens. Other than that it works seamlessly and provides good quality.
Excellent Budget lens!!
Mar 18, 2007
I originally was looking into the 70-300mm APO macro by Sigma and the 70-300mm lens by Canon. I chose this one because I was reading the reviews of the 70-300 by both comapnies, and it seemed that at the 300mm length the lens was very vey soft. Too soft to make a decent print. So I looked into this zoom range and it didnt bother me that it was only 200mm because I have the Canon XT and the 1.6x crop factor would make the zoom over 300 mm, which is more than I need. Plus, I saw pictures of this lens on one of the review site, and at the 200mm end, the pictures were not that soft! THey seemed like they could make a decent sized print.
Going with my hunch, I bought this 55-200 mm lens and boy am I glad I did!! The autofocus has great speed for the money I paid. Its a little noisy, but I actually like it. At the long end, I was using a shutter speed of 1\500 of a second and my hand shake (which you could def. see) was not apparent in teh photos. I would say at 1\150 and less would certainly make blurry pics. I plan on using a tripod at the long end for the most part. The build and feel of the lens is amazing. THe lens hood is awesome too. it goes over the lens and locks on the other way for easier carry around. and the speed of the lens is def. fast enough if you are out in broad daylight. Indoors things I believe would be a mess. Color rendition is quite nice as well. So overall, it is very sharp at the 55mm side, and decently sharp at teh 200mm size.
The only con I see is that you will need a step up ring for 58mm filters. I have a 58mm polarizer and was bummed about this...but step ups are really cheap, so its no biggy.
I bought this for my trip to AZ that I am going on soon. We will be going to the zoo and bird sanctuaries so it seems perfect for the occasion. I think this lens is amazing for the price. GO BUY IT!
*UPDATE* I just took some test shots. All from a tripod on a sunny day. I took 18 shots total, in the progression as follows: 55mm at f/4.0, 55mm at f\5.6, 55mm at f\8.0, 55mm at f\11.0, and I did this with the zoom lengths at 70mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm respectively. All were shot with a Canon 350D. What I found was 55mm-105mm were sharp w\ all fstops, 8.0 and 11.0 being the best, but you couldnt really tell the difference. Then when it hit 135 mm, it was a bit soft at 5.0 and 11.0...8.0 was decently sharp, and then at 200mm the sharpest was at 11.0. When I say sharpest, I do believe it could make a pretty decent sized print. I mainly print 12x18 w/ my 350D, and I assume I could make that size print with this lens. There was some CA in all my shots, but I CS2 could easily fix it. I will update you after I come back from my trip to AZ!
*UPDATE*
Just got back from my trip. Went to the zoo with this lens and it is great! Took many pics, got some great shots of peacocks and parrots, etc. Feathers are really sharp. I also took pics of birds in their natural habitat. The lens was pretty sharp, and def. made decent photos. Autofocus hunts a bit, but for the most part, great lens!
plastic build, light weight, surprising optics
Sep 23, 2007
i briefly had this lens and though i traded it in, it's actually a pretty good deal for the money. anyone expecting a pro-quality lens or a 2.8 at this price is insane.
the first thing you notice is that the build quality is super-plastic-y, even toy-like. that was a turn-off for me, but to get a better-made lens, you'll have to pay hundreds, if not thousands more -- the nikon 55-200 alternatives are also plastic, and sigma doesnt offer a 55-200 in an EX finish.
still, the sigma 55-200 does have some advantages if you're not overly concerned with name-brand snob appeal. it autofocuses very quickly due to its short barrel and excels at tracking moving subjects handheld due to its light weight. and the optics are clearer and sharper than you would think, although there is a bit of fall-off at 200mm. this lens would obviously appeal to budget-minded shooters, but it would also be a good backup lens for travel for someone who doesnt want to drag along a lot of heavy glass. and at the price it's being offered for, you could easily buy two in case one breaks.
note: unfortunately for d40 users, the sigma 55-200 has no internal motor, so your camera will not AF with it.
A Good Companion for the Rebel XT Kit Lens
Nov 17, 2006
Many owners of Digital Rebels have the standard Canon 18-55mm kit lens. While useful, the kit lens has some serious limitations, one of which is its lack of sharpness at the 55mm telephoto end. The Sigma 55-200mm provides a much sharper image and wider aperture at 55mm making it a good complement to the kit lens. Overall image quality of the Sigma is fairly good, especially considering the price, and the 200mm (320mm 35mm equivalent) telephoto end provides much needed reach to your photography.
The Sigma 55-200mm is one of the newer line of digital-only lenses. On the Rebel XT, it encompasses and 35mm equivalent focal length range of 88-320mm. Focus is fairly fast and image quality is relatively good. The lens is small and light compared to other lenses with similar ranges making it a great match for the rather small Rebel XT. The lens uses a 55mm filter thread, however, which means you'll need a step-up adapter ring if you want to share the same 58mm filters as the kit lens. All in all, this is a pretty good bet if you're looking for an inexpensive second lens to expand your photogtaphic horizons.
Good, not great...
Apr 5, 2006
Look, this lens will get you into the action (no problem focusing on your little soccer phenom), but at f/4 you have to compromise on either shutter speed or ISO. So you may have to choose between motion blur or noise, neither of which is attractive. Alternatively, you can use Photoshop (or equivalent)to correct these photos (ideally, your action shots should freeze your subject while blurring your background... harder to do at f4 than f2 or f2.8) by blurring the background after the fact. That said, if you are on a budget, I can recommend the lens. Just know in advance that you may have to compromise a bit on your shots and that you may be required to edit/retouch your photos to get the effect you are after.
If you have a little more cash to spend, check out the relatively new Olympus Zuiko 18-180 lens. This is one you can keep on your camera nearly all the time (f3.5-f6.3) It has just a slightly shorter range than the aforementioned Sigma. I use it and I love it. Really is a fantastic lens that didn't break my bank.
A Great Alternative To an Olympus Lens
Sep 15, 2005
The Sigma lens is a good telelens, more range for less money. I use it with my E-300 Evolt. The operation feels different from the original Olympus lenses, it takes a but more effort and you cannot use the manual focus mode on the camera, you must flip a switch on the lens. Other than that it works seamlessly and provides good quality.
Excellent Budget lens!!
Mar 18, 2007
I originally was looking into the 70-300mm APO macro by Sigma and the 70-300mm lens by Canon. I chose this one because I was reading the reviews of the 70-300 by both comapnies, and it seemed that at the 300mm length the lens was very vey soft. Too soft to make a decent print. So I looked into this zoom range and it didnt bother me that it was only 200mm because I have the Canon XT and the 1.6x crop factor would make the zoom over 300 mm, which is more than I need. Plus, I saw pictures of this lens on one of the review site, and at the 200mm end, the pictures were not that soft! THey seemed like they could make a decent sized print.
Going with my hunch, I bought this 55-200 mm lens and boy am I glad I did!! The autofocus has great speed for the money I paid. Its a little noisy, but I actually like it. At the long end, I was using a shutter speed of 1\500 of a second and my hand shake (which you could def. see) was not apparent in teh photos. I would say at 1\150 and less would certainly make blurry pics. I plan on using a tripod at the long end for the most part. The build and feel of the lens is amazing. THe lens hood is awesome too. it goes over the lens and locks on the other way for easier carry around. and the speed of the lens is def. fast enough if you are out in broad daylight. Indoors things I believe would be a mess. Color rendition is quite nice as well. So overall, it is very sharp at the 55mm side, and decently sharp at teh 200mm size.
The only con I see is that you will need a step up ring for 58mm filters. I have a 58mm polarizer and was bummed about this...but step ups are really cheap, so its no biggy.
I bought this for my trip to AZ that I am going on soon. We will be going to the zoo and bird sanctuaries so it seems perfect for the occasion. I think this lens is amazing for the price. GO BUY IT!
*UPDATE* I just took some test shots. All from a tripod on a sunny day. I took 18 shots total, in the progression as follows: 55mm at f/4.0, 55mm at f\5.6, 55mm at f\8.0, 55mm at f\11.0, and I did this with the zoom lengths at 70mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm respectively. All were shot with a Canon 350D. What I found was 55mm-105mm were sharp w\ all fstops, 8.0 and 11.0 being the best, but you couldnt really tell the difference. Then when it hit 135 mm, it was a bit soft at 5.0 and 11.0...8.0 was decently sharp, and then at 200mm the sharpest was at 11.0. When I say sharpest, I do believe it could make a pretty decent sized print. I mainly print 12x18 w/ my 350D, and I assume I could make that size print with this lens. There was some CA in all my shots, but I CS2 could easily fix it. I will update you after I come back from my trip to AZ!
*UPDATE*
Just got back from my trip. Went to the zoo with this lens and it is great! Took many pics, got some great shots of peacocks and parrots, etc. Feathers are really sharp. I also took pics of birds in their natural habitat. The lens was pretty sharp, and def. made decent photos. Autofocus hunts a bit, but for the most part, great lens!
plastic build, light weight, surprising optics
Sep 23, 2007
i briefly had this lens and though i traded it in, it's actually a pretty good deal for the money. anyone expecting a pro-quality lens or a 2.8 at this price is insane.
the first thing you notice is that the build quality is super-plastic-y, even toy-like. that was a turn-off for me, but to get a better-made lens, you'll have to pay hundreds, if not thousands more -- the nikon 55-200 alternatives are also plastic, and sigma doesnt offer a 55-200 in an EX finish.
still, the sigma 55-200 does have some advantages if you're not overly concerned with name-brand snob appeal. it autofocuses very quickly due to its short barrel and excels at tracking moving subjects handheld due to its light weight. and the optics are clearer and sharper than you would think, although there is a bit of fall-off at 200mm. this lens would obviously appeal to budget-minded shooters, but it would also be a good backup lens for travel for someone who doesnt want to drag along a lot of heavy glass. and at the price it's being offered for, you could easily buy two in case one breaks.
note: unfortunately for d40 users, the sigma 55-200 has no internal motor, so your camera will not AF with it.
A Good Companion for the Rebel XT Kit Lens
Nov 17, 2006
Many owners of Digital Rebels have the standard Canon 18-55mm kit lens. While useful, the kit lens has some serious limitations, one of which is its lack of sharpness at the 55mm telephoto end. The Sigma 55-200mm provides a much sharper image and wider aperture at 55mm making it a good complement to the kit lens. Overall image quality of the Sigma is fairly good, especially considering the price, and the 200mm (320mm 35mm equivalent) telephoto end provides much needed reach to your photography.
The Sigma 55-200mm is one of the newer line of digital-only lenses. On the Rebel XT, it encompasses and 35mm equivalent focal length range of 88-320mm. Focus is fairly fast and image quality is relatively good. The lens is small and light compared to other lenses with similar ranges making it a great match for the rather small Rebel XT. The lens uses a 55mm filter thread, however, which means you'll need a step-up adapter ring if you want to share the same 58mm filters as the kit lens. All in all, this is a pretty good bet if you're looking for an inexpensive second lens to expand your photogtaphic horizons.
Good, not great...
Apr 5, 2006
Look, this lens will get you into the action (no problem focusing on your little soccer phenom), but at f/4 you have to compromise on either shutter speed or ISO. So you may have to choose between motion blur or noise, neither of which is attractive. Alternatively, you can use Photoshop (or equivalent)to correct these photos (ideally, your action shots should freeze your subject while blurring your background... harder to do at f4 than f2 or f2.8) by blurring the background after the fact. That said, if you are on a budget, I can recommend the lens. Just know in advance that you may have to compromise a bit on your shots and that you may be required to edit/retouch your photos to get the effect you are after.
If you have a little more cash to spend, check out the relatively new Olympus Zuiko 18-180 lens. This is one you can keep on your camera nearly all the time (f3.5-f6.3) It has just a slightly shorter range than the aforementioned Sigma. I use it and I love it. Really is a fantastic lens that didn't break my bank.
A Great Alternative To an Olympus Lens
Sep 15, 2005
The Sigma lens is a good telelens, more range for less money. I use it with my E-300 Evolt. The operation feels different from the original Olympus lenses, it takes a but more effort and you cannot use the manual focus mode on the camera, you must flip a switch on the lens. Other than that it works seamlessly and provides good quality.
Sigma Telephoto
Feb 17, 2007
Easy to operate. Attaches perfectly to my A100 camera. Pictures taken with this lens are superb!
Very satisfied!
Aug 1, 2009
This lens is very sharp from one end to the other, having from taken baby portraits to flying birds and aircraft, it produces great color and it focuses quickly. I was so happy with the Sigma quality that now I have two other Sigma lenses!
Excellent Budget lens!!
Mar 18, 2007
I originally was looking into the 70-300mm APO macro by Sigma and the 70-300mm lens by Canon. I chose this one because I was reading the reviews of the 70-300 by both comapnies, and it seemed that at the 300mm length the lens was very vey soft. Too soft to make a decent print. So I looked into this zoom range and it didnt bother me that it was only 200mm because I have the Canon XT and the 1.6x crop factor would make the zoom over 300 mm, which is more than I need. Plus, I saw pictures of this lens on one of the review site, and at the 200mm end, the pictures were not that soft! THey seemed like they could make a decent sized print.
Going with my hunch, I bought this 55-200 mm lens and boy am I glad I did!! The autofocus has great speed for the money I paid. Its a little noisy, but I actually like it. At the long end, I was using a shutter speed of 1\500 of a second and my hand shake (which you could def. see) was not apparent in teh photos. I would say at 1\150 and less would certainly make blurry pics. I plan on using a tripod at the long end for the most part. The build and feel of the lens is amazing. THe lens hood is awesome too. it goes over the lens and locks on the other way for easier carry around. and the speed of the lens is def. fast enough if you are out in broad daylight. Indoors things I believe would be a mess. Color rendition is quite nice as well. So overall, it is very sharp at the 55mm side, and decently sharp at teh 200mm size.
The only con I see is that you will need a step up ring for 58mm filters. I have a 58mm polarizer and was bummed about this...but step ups are really cheap, so its no biggy.
I bought this for my trip to AZ that I am going on soon. We will be going to the zoo and bird sanctuaries so it seems perfect for the occasion. I think this lens is amazing for the price. GO BUY IT!
*UPDATE* I just took some test shots. All from a tripod on a sunny day. I took 18 shots total, in the progression as follows: 55mm at f/4.0, 55mm at f\5.6, 55mm at f\8.0, 55mm at f\11.0, and I did this with the zoom lengths at 70mm, 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm respectively. All were shot with a Canon 350D. What I found was 55mm-105mm were sharp w\ all fstops, 8.0 and 11.0 being the best, but you couldnt really tell the difference. Then when it hit 135 mm, it was a bit soft at 5.0 and 11.0...8.0 was decently sharp, and then at 200mm the sharpest was at 11.0. When I say sharpest, I do believe it could make a pretty decent sized print. I mainly print 12x18 w/ my 350D, and I assume I could make that size print with this lens. There was some CA in all my shots, but I CS2 could easily fix it. I will update you after I come back from my trip to AZ!
*UPDATE*
Just got back from my trip. Went to the zoo with this lens and it is great! Took many pics, got some great shots of peacocks and parrots, etc. Feathers are really sharp. I also took pics of birds in their natural habitat. The lens was pretty sharp, and def. made decent photos. Autofocus hunts a bit, but for the most part, great lens!
plastic build, light weight, surprising optics
Sep 23, 2007
i briefly had this lens and though i traded it in, it's actually a pretty good deal for the money. anyone expecting a pro-quality lens or a 2.8 at this price is insane.
the first thing you notice is that the build quality is super-plastic-y, even toy-like. that was a turn-off for me, but to get a better-made lens, you'll have to pay hundreds, if not thousands more -- the nikon 55-200 alternatives are also plastic, and sigma doesnt offer a 55-200 in an EX finish.
still, the sigma 55-200 does have some advantages if you're not overly concerned with name-brand snob appeal. it autofocuses very quickly due to its short barrel and excels at tracking moving subjects handheld due to its light weight. and the optics are clearer and sharper than you would think, although there is a bit of fall-off at 200mm. this lens would obviously appeal to budget-minded shooters, but it would also be a good backup lens for travel for someone who doesnt want to drag along a lot of heavy glass. and at the price it's being offered for, you could easily buy two in case one breaks.
note: unfortunately for d40 users, the sigma 55-200 has no internal motor, so your camera will not AF with it.
A Good Companion for the Rebel XT Kit Lens
Nov 17, 2006
Many owners of Digital Rebels have the standard Canon 18-55mm kit lens. While useful, the kit lens has some serious limitations, one of which is its lack of sharpness at the 55mm telephoto end. The Sigma 55-200mm provides a much sharper image and wider aperture at 55mm making it a good complement to the kit lens. Overall image quality of the Sigma is fairly good, especially considering the price, and the 200mm (320mm 35mm equivalent) telephoto end provides much needed reach to your photography.
The Sigma 55-200mm is one of the newer line of digital-only lenses. On the Rebel XT, it encompasses and 35mm equivalent focal length range of 88-320mm. Focus is fairly fast and image quality is relatively good. The lens is small and light compared to other lenses with similar ranges making it a great match for the rather small Rebel XT. The lens uses a 55mm filter thread, however, which means you'll need a step-up adapter ring if you want to share the same 58mm filters as the kit lens. All in all, this is a pretty good bet if you're looking for an inexpensive second lens to expand your photogtaphic horizons.
Good, not great...
Apr 5, 2006
Look, this lens will get you into the action (no problem focusing on your little soccer phenom), but at f/4 you have to compromise on either shutter speed or ISO. So you may have to choose between motion blur or noise, neither of which is attractive. Alternatively, you can use Photoshop (or equivalent)to correct these photos (ideally, your action shots should freeze your subject while blurring your background... harder to do at f4 than f2 or f2.8) by blurring the background after the fact. That said, if you are on a budget, I can recommend the lens. Just know in advance that you may have to compromise a bit on your shots and that you may be required to edit/retouch your photos to get the effect you are after.
If you have a little more cash to spend, check out the relatively new Olympus Zuiko 18-180 lens. This is one you can keep on your camera nearly all the time (f3.5-f6.3) It has just a slightly shorter range than the aforementioned Sigma. I use it and I love it. Really is a fantastic lens that didn't break my bank.
A Great Alternative To an Olympus Lens
Sep 15, 2005
The Sigma lens is a good telelens, more range for less money. I use it with my E-300 Evolt. The operation feels different from the original Olympus lenses, it takes a but more effort and you cannot use the manual focus mode on the camera, you must flip a switch on the lens. Other than that it works seamlessly and provides good quality.
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Sample Photos
Canon EOS 300D + Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC
Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Accessories
55 mm Filters
55 mm Polarizer Filters
- Zeikos ZE-CPL55 55mm Multi-Coated Circular Polarizer Filter 1.37 USD
- Sunpak CF-7079 55mm TW Ultra-Violet & Circular Polarizer Twin Filter Pack 0.00
- Zeikos ZE-FLK55 55mm Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit (UV-CPL-FLD) 6.75 USD
- ProMaster 55mm Circular Polarizer Filter 34.00 USD
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A200, DSLR-A300, DSLR-A350 - 55mm High Resolution 3-piece Filter Set (UV, Fluorescent, Polarizer) - Black 7.67 USD
- Tiffen 55mm Linear Polarizer 0.00
- Quantaray - 55mm Polarizer Filter 8.50 USD
- Maximal Power 55mm Circular Polarizer Filter/CPL Filter 8.99 USD
- High Resolution 3-piece Filter Set (UV, Fluorescent, Polarizer) For The Nikon D5000, D3000 Digital SLR Cameras Which Have Any Of These (18-55mm, 55-200mm, 50mm) Nikon Lenses 9.18 USD
- Opteka FW-100 Padded Canvas Filter Wallet for 6 Filters up to 82mm in Diameter (Black) 9.95 USD
55 mm UV Filters
- SUNPAK CF-7033 UV Ultra-Violet Filter 55mm 0.00
- Sunpak DF-7033-UV 55mm Coated Ultra-Violet Filter 2.24 USD
- PlatinumPlus 55mm UV Lens Filter 9.95 USD
- 7pc 55mm Filter Kit - Four Macro Filters, UV, FLD and Polarizing Filters for Sony A100 A200 A230 A300 A330 and ANY 55mm Camera Lens! 0.49 USD
- Zeikos ZE-UV55 55mm Multi-Coated UV Filter 0.99 USD
- 55mm Uv Filter [Camera] 0.99 USD
- 55mm Uv Filter 1.49 USD
- Tiffen 55mm SKY 1-A Filter 0.00
- Hoya 55mm UV Haze Protection Filter 2.00 USD
- Calumet - Filter - UV - 55 mm 2.00 USD
55 mm Skylight Filters
- Quantaray - 55mm Skylight 1A Filter 3.59 USD
- Tiffen 55mm SKY 1-A Filter 0.00
- Calumet Sky - Filter - skylight - 55 mm 2.67 USD
- HOYA 55mm Skylight 1B Warming Filter 7.99 USD
- Hoya 55SKY 55mm Sky Filter 13.35 USD
- Quantaray Skylight 1A Multi-Coated - Filter - skylight - 55 mm 13.15 USD
- Promaster 55mm Skylight 1A Filter 8.95 USD
- Calumet MC Sky - Filter - skylight - 55 mm 6.60 USD
- Tiffen 55mm Sky 1-A Filter 0.00
- Sunpak CF-7007-SK 55mm Skylight Filter 7.95 USD
55 mm Lens Caps
- 52mm Lens Cap for Nikon 55-200mm 200-400mm D3000 D5000 0.01 USD
- 52mm Lens Cap for Nikon 18-55mm D40 D40X D60 D70 D80 0.01 USD
- PlatinumPlus 55mm UV Lens Filter 9.95 USD
- 52mm Lens Cap and Keeper by Sunpak
- OP/TECH 11551 55MM FAST CAP 0.95 USD
- OP/Tech 07551 55MM FILTER CAP 0.95 USD
- Fotodiox Inner pinch Lens Cap, 55mm 1.50 USD
- 55mm Snap Cap Lens Cap 1.69 USD
- Universal 52mm White Balance Lens Cap Disk for Digital SLR Cameras 1.95 USD
- General Brand 77mm White Balance Lens Cap Disk for Digital SLR Cameras 1.95 USD