Hello folks:

I know there is increasing interest in the new Sigma 18-50 EX f2.8 DC. I received my copy last week and today while conducting our Fall Bass Fishing Tournament at the park/lake that I manage, I captured various scenes with the 10D/Sigma combination.

To begin with, this lens is characterized by exceptional build quality. It is not a large lens by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, for a constant f2.8 lens, one would assume that a lens of this nature would require a 77MM filter...not so. It takes a 67 MM filter and is quite compact by those standards. Operation of the lens is silky smooth (well, at least my copy). It controls flare really well - not experiencing any flare during this exercise and trust me when I say that I used it in some very demanding situations. It is a contrasy lens - more so than other lenses that I use (i.e. 17-40L). All of these images were shot at AWB, and ISO 400 for the early AM scenes (sunrise), and ISO 200 for all of the other scenes, along with any fill flash using a 420 EX at -.03 FEC. I also used a Manfrotto monopod wherever possible and the filter I used was the Heliopan UV extra slim (ES). I am impressed with this lens and it is my opinion that it ranks up there with some of the best of them. Here are the images, along with a brief storyline.

1. Coming to work early (being in the park by 4:30 AM), it was a chilly morning (42 degrees F). After launching the tournament boats, I captured this gorgeous sunrise taken on one of the fishing platforms:

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177645.jpg

2. The warm sunrise glow basked this particular dock and sailboats with a pleasant glow:

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177654.jpg

3. Of course, the moment the sun came out, some early park visitors arrived to catch some of the glimpses of the anglers fishing for prizes, drinking their coffee and sitting 20 feet up above the water on the deck of our waterfront program center (a popular place to reflect or just let the stress melt away):

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177692.jpg

4. After the sun came up - yet still early, this empty scene on our open deck area was marked by lots of sun glare filtering through the trees and tremendous contrast. The Sigma lens handled it well - with no flare and little to no PF (this was a torture test to say the least):

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177748.jpg

5. This is the front of our center by the way (my office is on the left as you are looking at it...what a view, but somebody has got to work here!):

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177735.jpg

6. Standing behind our center by the playground and swinging bench area, this is the view you see. Lots of folks just enjoy sitting by these swinging benches - great view!

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177740.jpg

7. At 2 PM the anglers returned back to our center with their catch and here are just a few examples of some happy folks (all large mouth bass of course - and these are "catch and release)."

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177753.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177758.jpg

8. Our tournaments always end with a good 'ole fashioned deep south (eastern North Carolina) style barbecue and pig pickin. Here are a few shots of the anglers enjoying some fantastic food a long day on the water. Even if you didn't catch anything, the camaraderie and the superb barbecue was a welcome respite to the end of the day:

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177772.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177790.jpg

9. And should you come to our park just to enjoy the scenery, here is what you will see when you first enter the front gate:

http://www.pbase.com/image/35177706.jpg

So if you think I am highly recommending this lens...you bet!!! And by the way, the name of our park/lake is Lake Wheeler Metropolitan park in Raleigh, North Carolina. I'm the Park Manager so if you happen to be in the area, give us a call and drop on by. This is a favorite place for lots of photographers...gee, can you even reason why?



http://www.pbase.com/image/34840926.jpg