Hin's Photo Corner

All pictures were shot in South Lake Tahoe in a beach far from the the fireworks. I cropped most of the pictures to get much closer. I used tripod but forget to stabilize the tripod with more weight in the center hook provided with my tripod. I should have been more aware of the weight and steady issues in the shooting. Overall, I can't complain much about the travel lens with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5. It did the job fine for me in the Labor day long weekend trip with my family.






Impressions & Notes

• I used manual mode in f/5.6, iso 400 and shutter speed among 1/3, 1/4 and 1/2 seconds.
  
• Tripod was used along with my wireless F remote, I forgot to stabilize the tripod with added weight. Since I shot the entire series in a sandy beach location, the added weight would have prevented minor movement
  
• Some shots have overexposure clipping highlight in the core of the fireworks, less seen in my previous trial with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye.
• I should have attempted smaller apertures as in f/8.0 and smaller and see for a difference
  

Related:

• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5
  
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as walk-around lens
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 in weekend travel
• Travel Shots in Emerald Bay, South Lake Tahoe
  
• Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 on Fireworks
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 on Fireworks
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I always like to use my Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as walk-around lens when my family goes out for family trip to places in weekends and holidays. It has the wide angle that I can use for landscape pictures. It has the best macro that I can ask for in a zoom with macro ratio in 1:2.3. Its range and macro capability easily rival my best zoom in that range with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. In terms of IQ and best for portrait, I prefer the Tamron. But in terms of usefulness for walk-around with emphasis on close up on flowers and landscape shots, the Sigma with its lighter weight is my choice to bring along. Its vari-focal apertures is a concern for others and the constant aperture f/2.8 in Tamron will make it a favor among many loyal users. But I like to share with others not to think less of the Sigma as it has a better close up ratio and its useful focal range makes it a better well rounded walk-around lens that are unique over the Tamron.










Impressions & Notes

• The close up in 1:2.3 ratio along with its 17-70mm focal range makes the Sigma an uniquely outstanding walk-around lens
• Variable focal aperture and speed is its weakness and I would prefer it for outdoor use.
  
• Weight is lighter and build is great. The zoom lock is useful.
• Focus throw is too short for manual focusing
• As far as I recall IQ and sharpness are better than Pentax FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5 especially when stopped down.
• I have used another good lens with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Though it has better speed, I prefer the Sigma due to its good close up ratio and better focal range for walk-around.
  
• Its focal range makes it quite versatile that can be used as one single lens in a trip for landscape, close up, candid, and portraits.
• I highly recommend it for walk-around purpose

Related:

• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Macro
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 On Fireworks
• Pentax 1-lens choices
  
• Flickr Set in Phipph's Ranch
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 in Japanese Tea Garden
• Travel report in Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe
  
• Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II
  
• Pentax FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5
• Tamron SP 28-135mm f/3.5-4.5 adaptall-2 (28A)
  
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
• Pentax 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye
• Hin's Camera Gear

After selling Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 which I highly recommend as a dual zoom lens to go with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, I thought I am ready to stop buying zooms in Pentax. But what do you know when I see a lightly used Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 up for sale. Though it is not as fast as the Tamron zoom, its reputation as a walk around lens as well as its close focus lens make it an ideal candidate for my LBA appetite for overlapping lens.



The lens in 17-70 overlap a big portion with my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 but I pick this lens for the wide angle. While I like the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, this lens give me the extra range in 50 to 70mm and hence it will enable me as a good walk around requiring less lens change. For portraits, I will go with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, for wide angle landscape and close up shot, I will go with this zoom.













Impressions & Notes

• I love the versatility on this lens. Though the overlap with my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, its wide angle can match quite well with the better performed Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.
  
• Sharpness is good but not as outstanding as Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, I feel that the Tamron zooms are better in terms of sharpness
• The extra gain in 50 to 70mm allow me to use this lens with less lens change. The broader focal range from wide to portrait is key to me. The range is more useful than the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8.
• I am more likely to use flash to fill in the slower speed in portrait range on this lens.
  
• The close up is very good at 1:2.3 and I like the flower shots that I have tested so far.
  
• MFD is about 0.65 feet which is quite good with flowers.
  
• Bokeh is decent but I may yield the bokeh to Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
• Filter size is big at 72mm and aperture ring is absent in the lens
• Overall, I find this a great lens to use and fill in the shoe in the wide angle to portrait range needs as a dual with DA* 50-135mm
  
• For portraits with ambient light, I will choose the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 ove this zoom. With flash, it will be a toss of coin between the two.