Sigma 17 70mm F2 8 4 DC Macro OS HSM C Review | 54 Data compared

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary lens serves as a versatile, compact, and high-performance upgrade over standard APS-C kit zooms, featuring an effective 4.1x zoom range. Key strengths include a relatively fast aperture, effective Optical Stabilization (OS), and good center sharpness, making it a strong contender for general-purpose photography. However, the review highlights notable limitations, specifically weak corner sharpness at 17mm and a very short 4cm working distance for macro shooting, which causes lighting challenges. Additionally, the lens features a rotating focus ring during autofocus and experiences a reduction in effective focal length at close range.

The LensTip review of the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM highlights it as a redesigned, high-performance upgrade over its predecessor, designed for APS-C sensor cameras. Extensively tested on its optical properties and mechanical build, the lens stands out for its even resolution performance across different focal lengths. It delivers a sensational, razor-sharp performance in the frame center, particularly at 28 mm where it hits its peak sharpness even when shot wide open. It also features a solid, downsized telescopic construction made of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) material, efficient optical image stabilization, and a quiet, rapid Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for autofocus. However, LensTip details specific optical compromises and mechanical flaws that prospective buyers should consider. The prominent downsides include problematic usability for manual focusing, as the narrow focus ring only has a short 40-degree throw and lacks full-time manual override, making adjustments overly sensitive and prone to accidental shifts by users with large hands. Optically, while it drastically improves image usability at the telephoto end compared to the previous model, its sharpness at the wide 17...

This review evaluates the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | Contemporary lens as a highly capable and portable standard zoom option designed specifically for APS-C format cameras. The reviewer notes that this lens serves as an impressive "jack-of-all-trades" by packing a generous focal range, a 4-stop image stabiliser, and true close-up capabilities into a remarkably compact and lightweight chassis. While it lacks a constant f/2.8 aperture, it maintains excellent sharpness across the entire image frame throughout the zoom range and features top-grade FLD elements to effectively minimise optical distortion and aberrations. Key advantages highlight the lens's versatility, including a sophisticated image stabiliser and an impressive 0.22m minimum focusing distance that yields a 0.36x magnification factor, making it exceptional for close-up macro work. However, a notable disadvantage is the autofocus system, which is described as good but not great; it is neither as fast nor as quiet as its Canon ring-type competitors. Manual handling is also slightly impaired by a rotating focus ring during autofocus operations and a lack of full-time manual override. Despite these minor limitations, the lens...

This review highlights the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C as an exceptional "standard" zoom lens for Canon APS-C cameras, offering a versatile full-frame equivalent focal range of 27.2mm to 112mm. Marking the debut of Sigma's "Contemporary" line, the lens blends a lightweight, compact build made from a durable Thermally Stable Composite material with a useful 1:2.9 macro capabilities. In performance testing, it earned a highly competitive DxO Mark Score of 15, matching the optical quality of high-end flagship lenses while easily surpassing older iterations and major competitors like the Canon EF-S 17-85mm in overall image sharpness. The major pros of this lens include its impressive and consistent sharpness across the entire zoom range, excellent value for money, and well-controlled chromatic aberration, vignetting, and distortion. It is also praised for being lighter and less expensive than rival Tamron and flagship models. However, a notable con is its variable aperture of f2.8-4, which is a full stop slower than the fixed f2.8 aperture found on the more expensive Tamron 17-50mm or Canon 17-55mm, making it less ideal for low-light...

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 Contemporary lens is a highly versatile and budget-friendly "do-it-all" option designed specifically for APS-C crop sensor cameras. Priced at $500, this lens surprises reviewers with its strong overall field performance, making it an appealing travel companion due to its lightweight, plastic exterior construction. Among its standout features are an extremely fast and reliable autofocus system, built-in Optical Stabilization that rivals major brands, and a surprisingly short minimum focusing distance of 8.66 inches for macro capabilities. Optically, the lens excels by displaying an impressive complete lack of chromatic aberration and showing virtually no vignetting, especially when zoomed out to the 70mm focal length. However, the lens does come with noticeable drawbacks that photographers should consider before buying. Its variable aperture design means the lens cannot hold a bright f/2.8 setting throughout the zoom range, quickly dropping to f/4 by the time it reaches 70mm. Image sharpness is also highly inconsistent; it struggles at its widest apertures, producing softer results at 17mm f/2.8 and 70mm f/4. To achieve peak, "bang-on" sharpness, users must stop down the aperture between...

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is a versatile, advanced kit lens designed for APS-C sensor cameras that bridges the gap between basic kit options and premium zooms. Manufactured in Japan, it boasts exceptional build quality featuring a robust metal mount and a compact body length that ranges from 90mm to 130mm. Photographers will benefit from its relatively bright f/2.8-4 maximum aperture, quiet and accurate autofocus system, and impressive 1:2.9 macro capabilities with a minimum focusing distance of 22 cm. It also provides excellent center sharpness even when shooting wide open, making it a reliable, travel-friendly walk-around choice. However, the lens suffers from notable design and compatibility flaws. The most critical issue is a severe firmware glitch when paired with the Nikon D7100, which causes the camera's navigation joystick to malfunction unless operating in Live View. Ergonomically, the narrow focusing ring rotates externally during autofocusing, risking accidental hand interference, and the zoom ring turns in an unintuitive counter-clockwise direction. In terms of optical performance, the lens displays noticeable vignette wide open and is somewhat soft in the corners...

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro (OS) HSM "C" is a fast, compact, and lightweight standard zoom lens designed specifically for APS-C sensor cameras, providing a versatile full-frame equivalent field of view of 26-105mm. As the debut lens in Sigma's Contemporary line, it serves as an excellent upgrade from standard kit lenses or older alternatives like the Canon 17-85mm, being 30% lighter than its predecessor and featuring a highly effective Optical Stabilization system that offers a 3-stop advantage. Built with a combination of metal and matte plastic, the lens incorporates high-quality FLD, SLD, and aspherical glass elements to keep chromatic aberration minimal, while its updated autofocus mechanism runs quickly and much quieter than previous versions. Additionally, it supports a close-focusing distance of 22cm for detailed close-ups and is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock for custom firmware and focus calibrations. The review highlights several key advantages, noting its strong optical performance, attractive pricing, and a vast improvement in flare resistance compared to the older model. Its built-in image stabilization works efficiently, and the center sharpness remains strong across focal lengths, with...

The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C is a versatile, compact APS-C lens offering exceptional center sharpness and effective four-stop optical stabilization (OS). It features a fast, quiet Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) and a 22cm minimum focus distance for macro capabilities, all housed in a durable Thermally Stable Composite (TSC) barrel. While offering high value, the lens suffers from noticeable corner sharpness degradation at wide-open apertures and visible chromatic aberrations, particularly at 17mm. Additionally, the maximum aperture narrows rapidly from f/2.8 to f/4 throughout the zoom range, though it remains a highly recommended, versatile option.

The DXOMARK review of the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C (Nikon mount) highlights it as a solid, well-performing standard zoom lens that achieves an overall score of 16 points when tested on a 16 Mpix Nikon D7000. This updated Contemporary ("C") model introduces a classy outer finish, an improved optical construction consisting of 16 elements in 14 groups, built-in image stabilisation, and a quiet ultrasonic-type motor. In terms of performance pros, the lens delivers a respectable 8 P-Mpix sharpness score, which is a 1 P-Mpix improvement over its predecessor and sits above average for a mid-range zoom lens. Additionally, it maintains highly respectable and well-managed metrics for light transmission, vignetting, distortion, and chromatic aberration. On the downside, the review notes a key optical con: the gains in sharpness are heavily concentrated in the centre of the frame, which unfortunately comes at the expense of resolution in the outer field and corners. Price is another drawback, as the updated model demands a $100 premium over the previous iteration, bringing its launch cost up from $399. Furthermore, when compared...

The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is a versatile, affordable APS-C lens offering a 4.1x zoom range (25-105mm equivalent) with a brighter f/2.8-4 aperture, optical stabilization, and 1:2.9 macro magnification. It provides a portable, high-value alternative to standard kit lenses, maintaining good balance on smaller camera bodies. PCMag UK While praised for its flexibility, the lens shows a noticeable drop in sharpness at 70mm and f/4, and faces competition from the faster, sharper, but less versatile Sigma 18-35mm F1.8, according to the review. Other considerations include a 72mm filter thread and an extending barrel design, making it an excellent choice for general-purpose shooters prioritizing zoom range over constant maximum aperture.