During the last week I have filmed 9 interviews with my Canon C300 using the Canon 18-55mm f2.8 or the Canon 70-200mm f4 lens.

It’s become apparent that I need a zoom that gets me a bit more closer to my subject than the 55mm (82 with 1.5x crop), the only focal length that fits the bill is the 24-70mm zoom lens.

Looking at my options and to be quite frank there was only one option the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 at £600 as the Canon is still on back order and costs a whopping £2300.

I am of the opinion that the Canon is not 4x better than the Sigma not even twice as good so it was easy to plum for the lens I could afford, the Sigma and I am delighted with it.

This is the 24mm (36 with 1.5 crop) end of the lens as you can see due to it’s ability to focus up to 40cm the background is out of focus taken with the Canon C300 onto SD card.

I have been known to be a snob when it came to glass but the £600 Sigma is a fantastic lens for the money, well built and sharp at f2.8 both wide and tight.

I am certainly not prepared to buy into Canon’s version at almost 4x the price when I know only too well that it’s not 4x better !

A reader commented that the Canon is “Par focal” which means you can set focus on a tight shot and when you pull back it’s still in focus, I looked at Canon’s official sight and it does not mention that the lens is par focal but this prompted me to test the Sigma with my resolution chart and hey presto it also stays in focus as you would expect from a good quality ENG lens.

British Journal of Photography
’The Sigma seems comparable to the current Canon wide open… and sharper centrally than the Nikkor. The extra sharpness over the APS-C area at f/2.8 is good news as many of these lenses will be used on APS-C cameras to take advantage of f/2.8 central AF sensor accuracy. The HSM focusing is a great improvement over earlier models, and is just as smooth and silent as the branded equivalents, with similar manual override options. Colour transmission, contrast and the look of the image are hard to fault. Resistance to flare is good. Good sharpness counts more than smooth bokeh, and it’s certainly got that.’The 24-70mm f2.8 Sigma will be my standard interview lens for the forseable future.

Digital Photographer
’The new 24-70mm f2.8 IF EX DG HSM, to give it its full-name, hints at some of the new features, but it’s in the flesh that the lens impresses most. Build quality is equally impressive, several cuts above Sigma’s more consumer-orientated model, and feels solid and durable. The resolution is excellent in the mid-range at 35mm from corner to corner, easily matching the highly regarded Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L. It’s similar story at 70mm. It has superb contrast, excellent colour rendition and amazingly consistent resolution.’