Welcome to the second episode of SIGMA Rethinking Lenses.
In this episode we're having a world premiere.
The 18-35 1.8 Art objective.
A very high speed objective.
Ivo Freriks of CameraStuffReview...
has tested this objective for us.
Hello, Ivo.
The 18-35 is a world premiere.
How did you like working with this objective?
It was fun.
Many people are now switching to cameras with a full-frame sensor.
One of the reasons is they often want a beautiful blurred background.
That's fairly easy with a 24-70 2.8 zoom lens.
Those are very expensive objectives.
If you want a beautiful blurred background, the equivalent is...
a 1.8 zoom lens.
But it didn't exist before APS-C...
or DX for a Nikon camera.
This brand-new objective fills the gap.
If you buy this objective, you'll save a few thousand euros...
because you no longer need to buy a full-frame camera.
You've also tested it with the USB dock, haven't you?
We've discussed this dock earlier. Did it work well?
Yes, and it's also very useful to be able to do this much fine-tuning.
Because when you focus on something with the 1.8 and you're close...
the focus you have really is precision work.
It's fun to go even further...
and do the fine-tuning as well.
It's the right moment to introduce both products.
We have classified this objective in line A, the Art line.
Whom can we please with this objective?
A large group of photographers.
The Art line is meant for more advanced photographers.
Amateurs that clearly want to do more...
and who want to be more creative...
but also professionals...
who wish to work with a DX or APS-C camera.
But a many other photographers will also like this objective.
What kind of photography are you thinking about?
It's great to have an objective with a fast aperture.
You can use it in low light situations, without flash.
That's convenient for people that don't like flashlight.
And more and more people are playing with a blurred background.
So if you have a camera with a smaller sensor...
you want it to have a fast aperture.
As I just said, the 1.8 is a world premiere.
It sounds good, but what do you think, Ivo?
It's a great objective to work with.
When you hold it and work with it...
you'll notice the build is of professional quality.
I like working in low-light situations...
and the view finder remains bright, even when less light comes in.
That's very pleasant.
With the 1.8, you hardly need flash anymore.
Fortunately not.
Like me, you're not keen on flash.
Sometimes it's a necessary evil...
but usually, I want to go without flash as long as possible.
I have a very strong personal preference for ISO values.
Therefore I would like to remain below 400 ISO...
and this objective is very suitable.
The sharpness is great, from full aperture.
Often you have to diaphragm one or two steps...
for optimal sharpness.
With this objective you don't have to, and that's great.
In the development of objectives in the past years...
they've gotten better and better.
However, this objective is a quantum leap...
in the development.
It's a big step.
If you buy this objective, you'll be fine for the years to come.
People ask us many questions, such as:
Why isn't it available in full-frame?
Everyone said:
for a full-frame I use a 24-70 2.8 and I have a blurred background.
I would also like to have it on APS-C...
but a APS-C 18-35 1.8 zoom lens doesn't exist.
Now a 18-35 1.8 has been launched and people ask:
How about translating it into full-frame?
The 24-70 2.8 already exists, so this question has been answered.
One could say: I would like a 18-35 1.8 full-frame...
but the front lens will become huge...
the whole will weigh 2.5 kilos...
and the objective will become very expensive.
I expect the target group...
that is willing to pay, will be a lot smaller.
For which applications can this objective be used?
For applications that need a beautiful blurred background...
and that you use the aperture for.
Or if there's very little light...
and you would like to take pictures without flash.
Could you explain this a bit more?
Concert photography is a good example.
You need a fast shutter speed.
Very often there is little light during concerts.
In that case, this objective comes in handy.
It's even better that you can zoom.
Plus night photography and HDR photography.
But also a grandfather...
who wants to take pictures of his grandchildren without flash.
That's another example.
So it's a multipurpose objective?
Don't let me get started on that! There are lots of possibilities.
This is the first zoom objective in our Art line.
Can it compete with objectives with a fixed focal length?
Of course, you can check it out on our website.
Many people wrongfully think...
that a fixed focal length objective is better than a zoom lens.
This zoom objective is one of the examples that prove...
that it is sometimes better than a fixed length objective.
Moreover, I've heard it's attractively priced.
You could be right, Ivo.
I've also heard such stories.
Thanks, Ivo. -You're welcome.
That was it for the A8 18-35 1.8 objective.
For the entire review...
please visit www.camerastuffreview.com...
or leave a message on our YouTube channel.
Thanks for watching and see you next time.