larslentz's reviews

  • Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    low cost

    This low-cost all-in-one lens is well-made and allows me to get great photos at a wide range of magnifications. While not as sharp as prime lenses, this lens is, in my opinion, acceptably sharp and easily corrected in DxO Optics Pro or similar programs to get great output. Overall a very good purchase.

    reviewed July 2nd, 2015 (purchased for $579)

  • Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    sharp, low-cost

    I get incredible image quality from this lens. While I cannot zoom in as it is only 17-35 in range, that doesn't matter because the sharp images I get are worth it. It does weigh a bit more than other lenses, but it has great construction and the weight of it conveys that feeling when you're shooting with it. The sharpness sweet spot starts at about f/2.8, but even wide open at f/1.8, I get excellent results. I would highly recommend this lens as a replacement for any kit lens. It is made only for APS-C cameras, so keep that in mind if you have a full-frame camera it will not work well. By having the f/1.8 maximum aperture, it levels out the playing field for APS-C cameras and puts them on par with a full-frame cameras using f/2.8 lenses. This is due to double the light being let in by this f/1.8 lens. Overall, this is a fast, sharp, well-made lens and you would benefit your photography to purchase it!

    reviewed May 23rd, 2015 (purchased for $799)

  • Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    ultra-wide

    This is a great wide angle lens for an APS-C camera. I've used it a lot in my photography of landscapes, and it is quite sharp with a nice ability to take 77mm filters. I use a polarizer on it even though it is a wide angle, and I have great results. The corners are a bit soft at the minimum focal length of 10mm, but correcting this in post production using DxO Optics Pro works for me. There is some chromatic aberration as well, but minor and correctable in post also. Overall this is a low-cost, wide lens that works well for me, and I would recommend it.

    reviewed May 23rd, 2015 (purchased for $410)

  • Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    low cost, excellent sharpness
    distortion

    This low-cost lens works well on my APS-C camera for shooting night photos. The wide aperture allows a lot of light in while the aspherical elements of the lens minimize coma around points of light (stars). It beats the higher priced Canon lenses, for example.

    The drawbacks are that there is no autofocus, no image stabilization, and no electronics in the lens to identify it to the camera (and software in post-processing).

    Manual correction of distortion is mandatory in any post-processing of images, as the lens distorts the view quite a bit.

    reviewed June 5th, 2015 (purchased for $220)