Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX OS Review

Sigma recently announced their new 50-150 2.8 OS lens for both Nikon and Canon cropped sensor cameras. This is a very interesting range, it is similar to what you would find on a full frame camera if you were to use a 70-200 2.8.

On a Canon cropped sensor camera this lens would be a 80-240mm 2.8 and on the Nikon it would be a 75-225 2.8. What this means is you have an amazing range for everything from sports to portraits.

Here is a statement new photographers make to me all the time, “im going to go full frame soon” or “Im getting a full frame camera in a few years”. What they are trying to say is they think they should not pick up cropped sensor lenses. I think that is the wrong mentality. Yes you should be picking up lenses that will serve you well for a long time. But you should not pass up a great cropped sensor lens because one day you may end up with a full frame camera.

One important thing to keep in mind about cropped sensor lenses. They are meant to compensate for the loss of the wider angle that you loose because of the multiplication factor. It is much more important on a cropped sensor camera to have lenses that cover wider angles opposed huge zooms.

Let’s take a look at this new 50-150 2.8 OS. The lens is the exact same size as the 70-200 2.8 OS. It feels great in the hands, feels well built and seems to take sharp colorful images. On top of that it has very fast focus with the HSM motors and has OS to help in situations where you need to keep your camera still.

In terms of pricing, the full frame 70-200 2.8 is $300 more than the 50-150 2.8 OS. I would break it down like this, if you have a need for a longer focal length because you shoot things at further distances I would go with the more expensive full frame lens. If your looking for an all purpose lens that will allow you to take semi wide angle shots to tight portraits than I would save the money and go with the 50-150 2.8 OS.

Keep in mind when you purchase better 2.8 lenses they will hold their value for when its time to trade them towards a full frame lens for a full frame camera. There will always be beginner photographers on their way up who will love to have a 2.8 lens even if it is used.

If you would like to purchase this lens for either Nikon or Canon please check out AllensCamera.com. If you would like to test this lens out you can always borrow it from BorrowLenses.com , please click the banner to the right.