# Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon Review
If you are looking for a fast, sharp, and versatile zoom lens for your Canon APS-C camera, you might want to check out the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens. This lens is the world’s first constant F1.8 zoom lens for DSLR cameras, and it offers prime-level image quality and performance in a convenient package. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, pros and cons, and customer feedback of this lens, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also provide a purchase link at the end of the article for your convenience.
Features
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens has a number of impressive features that make it stand out from the crowd. Here are some of them:
– The lens has a focal length range of 18-35mm, which is equivalent to 28.8-56mm on a full-frame camera. This covers a wide-angle to normal perspective, which is ideal for various types of photography, such as landscapes, portraits, street, and events.
– The lens has a constant maximum aperture of F1.8 throughout the zoom range, which is unprecedented for a zoom lens. This means that you can shoot in low-light situations without compromising on shutter speed or ISO, and also create beautiful background blur and shallow depth of field effects.
– The lens has a hypersonic motor (HSM), which provides fast, silent, and accurate autofocus performance. The lens also supports manual focus override for fine-tuning the focus.
– The lens has an optical design that consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, including 4 aspherical and 5 low-dispersion elements. These elements help to minimize various aberrations, distortions, and color fringing, and deliver high-resolution and high-contrast images across the frame.
– The lens has a super multi-layer coating that reduces lens flare and ghosting, and enhances color accuracy and contrast.
– The lens has a metal mount and a thermally stable composite barrel, which are durable and resistant to temperature changes.
– The lens is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock, which allows you to update the firmware and adjust the autofocus parameters of the lens using a computer.
Benefits
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens offers many benefits for Canon APS-C camera users who want a high-quality zoom lens that can handle various situations. Here are some of them:
– The lens gives you the flexibility to change your composition and perspective without changing lenses, which saves you time and hassle.
– The lens allows you to capture sharp and detailed images in low-light conditions without using a flash or a tripod, which expands your creative possibilities.
– The lens enables you to isolate your subject from the background and create artistic bokeh effects with its wide aperture, which enhances your visual expression.
– The lens delivers professional-level image quality that rivals or surpasses many prime lenses in terms of sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and distortion control.
– The lens is well-built and reliable, and can withstand harsh environments and frequent use.
Pros and Cons
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens is not perfect, and it has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. Here are some pros and cons of this lens:
Pros:
– Fast, sharp, and versatile zoom lens
– Constant F1.8 aperture
– Excellent optical performance
– Smooth and quiet autofocus
– Durable and sturdy construction
– Compatible with Sigma USB dock
Cons:
– Large and heavy
– No optical stabilization
– Some wide-angle barrel distortion
– Modest zoom range
– Inconsistent autofocus on some cameras
Customer Feedback
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens has received mostly positive feedback from customers who have bought and used it. Here are some examples of customer reviews from Amazon.com:
> “This is an amazing lens! I use it on my Canon 80D for video work mostly but also for photography. It is very sharp even wide open at f/1.8. The autofocus is fast and accurate with face tracking on my camera. The build quality is superb and feels solid in the hand. The zoom ring is smooth and easy to operate. The bokeh is beautiful and creamy. I highly recommend this lens for anyone who wants a fast zoom lens for their APS-C camera.”
> “I love this lens! It is my go-to lens for almost everything I shoot. It is so versatile and produces stunning images. It works great in low light situations and creates amazing depth of field effects. It is also very easy to use and focuses quickly and quietly. The only downside is that it is quite heavy and bulky compared to other lenses I have, but that is a small price to pay for the quality and performance it delivers.”
> “This lens is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, it is a very impressive lens in terms of image quality, sharpness, contrast, and color. It is also very fast and bright, which is great for low light and shallow depth of field. On the other hand, it is a very frustrating lens in terms of autofocus, which is often inaccurate and unreliable on my Canon 7D Mark II. I have tried to calibrate it with the Sigma USB dock, but it still misses focus frequently. It is also very heavy and bulky, which makes it hard to carry around and balance on my camera. I wish Sigma would fix the autofocus issues and make it lighter and smaller.”
Similar Products Comparison
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens is not the only zoom lens available for Canon APS-C cameras, and you might want to compare it with some other options before making your decision. Here are some similar products that you can consider:
| Product | Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens | Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens | Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Aspherical Lens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $879 | $649 |
| Focal Length | 18-35mm (28.8-56mm equivalent) | 17-55mm (27.2-88mm equivalent) | 17-50mm (27.2-80mm equivalent) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 | f/22 | f/32 |
| Optical Design | 17 elements in 12 groups | 19 elements in 12 groups | 19 elements in 14 groups |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 (rounded) | 7 (rounded) | 7 (rounded) |
| Focus Type | Autofocus with manual override | Autofocus with manual override | Autofocus with manual override |
| Image Stabilization | No | Yes (4 stops) | Yes (4 stops) |
| Filter Size | 72mm (Front) | 77mm (Front) | 72mm (Front) |
| Dimensions (ø x L) | 3.07 x 4.76″ / 78 x 121 mm | 3.29 x 4.37″ / 83.5 x 110.6 mm | 3.13 x 3.7″ / 79.6 x 94.5 mm |
| Weight | 1.78 lb / 810 g | 1.42 lb / 645 g | 1.25 lb / 570 g |
As you can see from the table, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens has the advantage of having a wider aperture than the other two lenses, which gives it better low-light performance and depth of field control. However, it also has the disadvantage of having no optical stabilization, which can be useful for handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths. The other two lenses have optical stabilization, but they have a smaller aperture of f/2.8, which means they let in less light and create less background blur.
The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens has the advantage of having a longer zoom range than the other two lenses, which gives it more versatility and reach. However, it also has the disadvantage of being more expensive than the other two lenses, which might be a factor for some budget-conscious buyers.
The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Aspherical Lens has the advantage of being cheaper than the other two lenses, which makes it more affordable and accessible for many users. However, it also has the disadvantage of having a shorter zoom range than the other two lenses, which limits its flexibility and coverage.
Conclusion
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens is a remarkable lens that offers prime-level image quality in the fastest zoom ever made for DSLRs. It is ideal for Canon APS-C camera users who want a fast, sharp, and versatile zoom lens that can handle various situations and types of photography.
However, this lens is not perfect, and it has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. It is large and heavy, it has no optical stabilization, it has some wide-angle barrel distortion, it has a modest zoom range, and it has inconsistent autofocus on some cameras.
If you are looking for a zoom lens that has optical stabilization,
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