Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM for Canon EF-S Mount: Right now I have an EF-S 18-55 mm IS and an EF 70-300mm II lens for my T4i. I take mostly wildlife photos in my backyard...

Voyager1 Loc: Fort Myers, FL

Right now I have an EF-S 18-55 mm IS and an EF 70-300mm II lens for my T4i. I take mostly wildlife photos in my backyard, in the Everglades or while on vacation. My old hands shake too much to get a good long shot with the telelphoto zoom at the long end and I don't like changing lenses on a game drive or in a canoe. So, I have been looking at the Canon EF-S 55-250 mm IS STM lens to minimize the necessity to change lenses and reduce the motion blur.

I came across this Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC (OS)* MACRO HSM in almost the same price range. Has anyone used this lens? What about Sigma on a Canon body? Any real world advice would be appreciated.

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

This Sigma is the lens that stays on my 70D 90% of the time. I have been happy with both its build and optical quality.

mmatus

:lol:
i bought this Sigma 18-250 two years past.
i have used it on my Canon EOS 60 and my Canon 7D, no issues
I have captured lighthouses and other Historical buildings in MKE. I have used it many times it is lightweight and captures excellent images.

You will have fun with it. I do not used it for birding or butterflies.

Voyager1 Loc: Fort Myers, FL

IHH61 wrote:

This Sigma is the lens that stays on my 70D 90% of the time. I have been happy with both its build and optical quality.

Thanks for you feedback. Looks like I will have to feed the piggy bank a little longer to get this lens.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Voyager1 wrote:

Right now I have an EF-S 18-55 mm IS and an EF 70-... (show quote)

This lens produces excellent results and was a very popular seller at $499. But when the Sigma 18-300mm version was released the price was dropped to $349 making it quite possibly the best bargain out there in a long zoom crop sensor lens. You will not be disappointed, it will out-perform both of your kit lenses.

kit_kit Loc: NYC

I have the Nikon version and it stays on my camera most of the time. B&H Photo has it for $349.00.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/873391-REG/Sigma_883_101_18_250mm_F3_5_6_3_DC_Macro.html

philz Loc: Rockaway Township NJ

I bought this lens for a vacation to Asia last year as I did not want to carry around a lot of lenses on this 30 day trip. Used it on my Canon 60D. Photos were good enough to create an excellent web album and a stunning photo book. Although the IQ does drop off at the 200 mm plus end. Even there by shooting in RAW I could sharpen the images more than enough to have great quality shots. At $349 it is a no brainer.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I was fairly happy with it on my T3i, but realized I wasn't using the higher end, which as mentioned, isn't that sharp anyway.

So now I have a Canon EF-S 18-135 for landscapes and the EF 70-300 for a little more reach. Both are sharper and I love them.

As for changing lenses, I decided to get another t3i body, lol. That's my camera gear budget for the next 5 years :)

Voyager1 Loc: Fort Myers, FL

Linda From Maine wrote:

I was fairly happy with it on my T3i, but realized I wasn't using the higher end, which as mentioned, isn't that sharp anyway.

So now I have a Canon EF-S 18-135 for landscapes and the EF 70-300 for a little more reach. Both are sharper and I love them.

As for changing lenses, I decided to get another t3i body, lol. That's my camera gear budget for the next 5 years :)

How much of a drop off in IQ did you experience with the Sigma lens? Were any of your shots above 200 mm salvageable?

I do a lot of shots at 100 meters+. I really don't want to get up close to a Cape Buffalo or a Lion or a hungry gator for that matter.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Voyager1 wrote:

How much of a drop off in IQ did you experience with the Sigma lens? Were any of your shots above 200 mm salvageable?

I do a lot of shots at 100 meters+. I really don't want to get up close to a Cape Buffalo or a Lion or a hungry gator for that matter.

I didn't really do any quantitative tests + I edit on a 14" laptop :) I just kind of thought some should have come out better than they did. Sorry

philz Loc: Rockaway Township NJ

[quote=Voyager1]How much of a drop off in IQ did you experience with the Sigma lens? Were any of your shots above 200 mm salvageable?

The shots I get are definitely salvageable but not as sharp as those from my Canon 70-200 mm f/4 L at 200 mm cropped. Not a fair test, really, as one is comparing a wide angle to long tele 14X zoom $349 lens to a much more expensive 3X zoom lens. Nevertheless, one gets the shot one can miss changing lenses.

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

I replaced my two Canon lenses that came with my T2i, the 18-55 mm and the 55-250 mm with this lens. I noticed an immediate improvement in image quality.
The 'macro' is not a true macro since it only gives a 0.9 x magnification, not quite life size but it is still a very capable close up lens that gives near macro results.
I now us it on my Canon 60D with excellent results. The only reason I take it off is put my Sigmas 150 -500 mm lens on for wildlife photographs such as small birds.

Voyager1 Loc: Fort Myers, FL

[quote=philz]

Voyager1 wrote:

How much of a drop off in IQ did you experience with the Sigma lens? Were any of your shots above 200 mm salvageable?

The shots I get are definitely salvageable but not as sharp as those from my Canon 70-200 mm f/4 L at 200 mm cropped. Not a fair test, really, as one is comparing a wide angle to long tele 14X zoom $349 lens to a much more expensive 3X zoom lens. Nevertheless, one gets the shot one can miss changing lenses.

Yeah. At list price, I could buy two of the Sigmas in place of the L glass and still have enough to stop at Starbucks.

Thanks to all for your responses. Since I am, and probably will always be, a wannabe photog, I need to match my playthings with my disposable income. I think I can get good pix, at least by my standards, with the Sigma. Thanks again for your help.