katzer's reviews

  • Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Light weight; Optics: sharpness, contrast, bokeh , color are top notch; AF accurate , price
    slow AF (but I knew it wasn't HSM when I bought it...)

    I also own the Sigma 150 Macro (which is excellent).
    Image quality wise, this one is as good, if not a tiny bit sharper.

    It is small and light, so I always have it in my bag, even if I dont plan to do macro. I bought it also a as a walk around prime that can do macro if needed.

    The only down side is that the 150's HSM is much quicker, but I knew it wasn't HSM, and the AF is very accurate.

    The only canon alternative is the EF-S 60mm, which is very good and has USM, on the other hand I plan to go to full frame at some point, so this one was better choice for me.

    Highly recommended!

    Erez Katz
    www.pbase.com/katzer

    reviewed April 28th, 2007

  • Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO Macro

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Superb optics, featured package:HSM, FTM, 3-stage Focus Limiter, build,
    none really

    Everything said about this lens is true.
    Super sharp, great color, contrast, bokeh.
    HSM focusing is very quick and accurate.
    Build is excellent. Even the tripod collar is removed easily.
    Looking at the competition in this range:
    Tamron 180 - no HSM/FTM and almost twice as expensive where I live.
    Canon 180L - good lens but too expensive for me (though weather sealing might be nice to have for some).
    Sigma 180 EX - I wanted a 2.8 for telephoto,

    If I were on Nikon I would have considered the 100mm just for the stabilization sake, but my equipment is canon.

    Highly recommended!

    Erez Katz
    www.pbase.com/katzer

    reviewed April 28th, 2007

  • Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Range, Superb OS, Sharp stopped down, Contrast & Color, Canon mount
    Slow lens, Sharpness wide open could be better

    There are macro lenses for macro photography
    There are ultra wide lenses for landscape photography.
    There a portrait lenses. There are fisheye lenses.
    Each lens has a specific usage.

    This lens is intended for times when you can take only one lens. If you can take 2 lenses and don't mind the weight/switching lenses - go for it.
    Most of the times when I am out on a taking pictures trip, I take a bag full of lenses.
    I can't do it always. In cases when I have to go lite - this lens fits the bill.
    There are compromises: It is a slow lens that benefits from stopping it down a bit. Once it is down 1-2 stops - picture quality is great. Picture is still pretty sharp in the center wide open.
    The most impressive feature is the OS.
    I get consistently sharp images at 200mm at 1/20sec (!). I have a high keeper rate at even slower shutter speeds. Couple that with extremely useful range, and you get a lens you can literally weld to your camera on vacations.

    The only other option for canon mount is the 28-300L which costs four times the price of this one, and to actually get the same range you'd need to get a full frame camera. Since this lens has to compete with the Nikon 18-200VR, the price is actually pretty darn good.

    I like this lens a lot. It is a very practical tool which is a joy to use and quite rewarding when reviewing the results. You just need to use it for what it is intended for.

    I created a gallery for this lens, in time I will add more pictures:
    http://www.pbase.com/katzer/sigma18200os

    Erez

    reviewed July 30th, 2007 (purchased for $630)

  • Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF SP AF

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp @ 2.8, Critically Sharp at 5.6, light weight, contrast, short MFD, works well with extension tubes
    slow af

    This lens is very sharp at 2.8, I stop it down just to get wider DOF. At 5.6 it can at certain distances outresolve the 400D 10mp sensor.
    Contrast is great, color seems to have a tiny bit of yellowish cast (compared to canon) which a gray card solves completely.

    Lightweight, though made out of plastic and rubber, after a year of use it is still like new.
    With an extension tube can be used as a half decent macro lens (sharp enough and can go very close).
    See: http://www.pbase.com/katzer/tamron_28_75_macro

    The only complaint I have is about the AF, a tad slow but still acceptable.

    Highly recommended

    reviewed December 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $400)