APS-C "The Equalizer" Sigma's RF-S 17-40mm f/1.8 Art

[Philnick]

After just over a year happily using Sigma's RF-S 18-50mm f/2.8 on my R7, I traded it in on Sigma's new RF-S 17-40mm f/1.8 Art in August.

Yes, it's more expensive, bigger, and heavier, but wow! (It's about an inch longer and a bit less than 1/4 pound heavier than Canon's RF 85 f/2 and 28-70 f/2.8 lenses.)

Sharp at f/1.8, it's a stop and a third faster than the f/2.8 full-frame standard zooms, more than overcoming APS-C's one-stop low-light and bokeh handicaps - which is why I've given it the Colt 45's Old West nickname.

And it's as sharp as most primes. While its range is equivalent to the angles of view of a 27-64mm zoom, my tiny Sigma RF-S 56mm f/1.4 takes me out to 90mm. And my lobbying with Sigma and DxO got it supported by DxO relatively quickly.

After selling the 18-50 the net cost of the 17-40 was comparable, giving me a very practical upgrade to full-frame quality.

 

[Archibald]

Interesting, thanks for the post. So finally we have a pro quality normal zoom for Canon APS-C.

 

[Philnick]

Interesting, thanks for the post. So finally we have a pro quality normal zoom for Canon APS-C.

As a Sigma "Art" series lens it's weather sealed. It's an internally-zooming lens (stays the same size) and comes with a lens hood. It's essentially an L lens for APS-C.

No optical image stabilization in any of the APS-C Sigmas, but the R7's IBIS fills the bill.