Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art
Announced April 18, 2013
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art is a groundbreaking zoom lens for APS-C cameras that delivers the sharpness and speed typically associated with prime glass. While its limited focal range and lack of image stabilization may be drawbacks for some, it provides a unique, high-performance option for photographers needing a fast constant aperture.
Weighted from 39 reviewer scores
Pros
- Solid, premium build quality with smooth zoom and focus rings
- Exceptional optical sharpness and performance across the focal range
- Fast and quiet autofocus performance
- Attractive bokeh rendering
- Fast, constant f/1.8 maximum aperture
Cons
- No built-in image stabilization
- Heavy and physically large design
- Restricted and short focal length range
- Inconsistent autofocus accuracy
- Lack of weather sealing
- Launch price $999 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 18-35mm f/1.8
- Mount & coverage Canon EF, Canon EF-S, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sigma SA, Sony A APS-C
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 28 cm (0.23x)
- Filter thread 72mm
- Autofocus motor Ring-type ultrasonic
- Weight & size 810g (1 lb 12.6 oz) · 78 x 121 mm (3.07 x 4.76 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 39 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 86/100
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is an extraordinary lens, offering prime-level image quality in the fastest zoom ever made for SLRs.
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Most prime lenses in this range aren't any better nor faster than this astounding Sigma and when thinking in this scope, it is actually a pretty cool thing.
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The consistency of performance throughout the focal range is very impressive. The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is one of the best DX lenses I have tested to date.
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The great image quality seals the deal for the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens. The results that this lens is capable of delivering are impressive.
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[T]his is a groundbreaking lens no matter how you look at it, and I applaud Sigma for taking a chance and thinking outside the box.
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The thing is amazing, very highly recommended.
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Such a situation a lot can be forgiven so their product didn’t have to be outstanding. Still it is obvious Sigma wasn’t contended with half measures; not only they manufactured a unique instrument but also made it optically excellent in many categories.
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All in all, we absolutely recommend this lens. It is totally worth the price, and it is one of the rare lenses that could actually elevate your photography to a new level when used to its full potential.
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[T]he question is whether it's good enough that you should have it in your bag.
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The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM A lens has excellent sharpness and is reasonably priced.
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The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is a fast and tack-sharp lens from F2.8 onwards, and one that exhibits low chromatic aberrations.
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In terms of the quality of the lens, it does everything that you would think it would do, it is very, very good.
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The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM delivers on its promise; it boasts the speed and sharpness of a prime lens, along with the convenience of a zoom.
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[...] I love this Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens. It is the best lens out there for crop cameras from Nikon, Canon, and Sony, and you really there's no other lens like it.
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[I]f you get this lens and you use these zoom ranges, you're just going to be extremely satisfied with it.
- Digital Trends 7/10
[T]he high price and short focal length make Sigma's 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM a niche lens, but it'll deliver high-quality images that justify the price.
- CNET 8.1/10
Sigma has been producing some really nice lenses, and as its PR folks will attest, they’ve had to pry this lens out of my possession; I really like almost everything about it. This is the type of lens that makes you feel like your APS-C body has gotten a full-frame upgrade.
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The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art just goes to show that getting the best lenses for your setup doesn't always mean buying the most expensive ones.
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Forget all the Art global vision USB dockery business, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art is top quality, that's all you need to know, and surely if Sigma can continue to make lenses that offer up something unique, they could be onto a winning plan here.
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The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens is truly a revolutionary lens. Sigma has achieved something no other manufacture has achieved to date. A f/1.8 aperture zoom at this price cannot be ignored.
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Sigma’s website suggests this lens is suitable for a wide variety of situations, including travel, portraiture, wedding and events and general family photography.
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If you're an artistic photographer and you need something in this focal length for your APSC DSLR, especially if you've been looking at fast prime lenses, this zoom lens is more versatile than a prime and both image capture and build quality are first class.
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What this lens does for me is that it gives me sharpness and picture. Quality that is unprecedented in APSC system, it at least matches prime lenses every aperture and focal length.
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Basically, I've talked about the positives of this lens, and I tend to like to throw in some negatives because sometimes there are things I don't like, but honestly, there's not much I don't like about this Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art.
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So basically, this is a great lens, I highly, highly recommend it. It's great quality, great price, great results, incredible results, so go pick one up if you're using a crop body and you need some sharp lens like this, definitely I would recommend this lens.
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If you don't mind the weight and don't worry about the future, the Sigma 18-35mm works fantastically well today. This 18-35mm f/1.8 is ultrasharp at every setting, even wide-open.
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If you are fairly certain that you don’t have plans to transition to full-frame in the near future, then I really cannot recommend this lens highly enough.
- Root-Nation.com 9/10
The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art was introduced 9 years ago, and in those 9 years has become the default option for crop sensors and speed boosters.
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A zoom lens with an aperture 1.8, it's very cool. So you could kind of start with this lens and really work with this lens for years.
- Darren Miles 45.5/50
[T]he Sigma gets a 45 1/2 out of 50 and earns our highly recommended rating, the final word. As you can probably tell, I'm more than a bit enamored with the 18 to35, and for good reason.
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And like I said earlier in the video, I have really enjoyed using this lens over the past 5-plus years. It's been a workhorse for me, and I don't really see it leaving my camera bag anytime soon.
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[T]his lens is a top choice for an any photographer or videographer to include this lens as a part of their camera arsenal or as a choice for beginner videographers or photographers as a first upgrade from their initial kit lens.
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This is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art. It is an extremely popular lens, but it's also personally, in my opinion, pretty much the best lens you can buy for a crop sensor camera.
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One thing I noticed about it is how sharp the lens is. It is beautifully sharp, absolutely beautifully sharp.
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The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art hands down without a doubt is probably the best, if not the best, zoom lens ever made. Optically, it is just astounding and untouchable.
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[T]here you go, that's the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art constant aperture zoom lens. It is a very interesting lens.
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[I] think it is fair to call the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is a game-changer. The f/1.8 aperture is not just a gimmick that Sigma managed to toss into a lens.
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It is the best in its class that I've ever used and it comes in at a Sigma price point. Brilliant quality, brilliant price.
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[T]his is an unbelievable lens, it's definitely my favorite, it's my go-to if I need high image quality. It's not light, so you can't use it as a run and gun kind of street photography lens, but it is absolutely, absolutely phenomenal.
