Review on Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens: Enhanced Performance for Sony Digital SLR Cameras by Kevin Shimmens

Bought, compared brands, read reviews of others. Sunsets and unforgettable skies as well as some family events. I needed something that would allow me to get relatively close-up shots while also getting telephoto shots of wildlife or distant landscapes, and not have to try to quickly change lenses when I wasn't at home, sometimes in a dusty wooded area. So this lens system for my Canon T2i/550 (for an entry-level DSLR) does the job perfectly. Having retired last year the funds are very low, I would really like a slightly better camera and even a better lens than this device, but I have found this lens to offer good symmetry for close-up and telephoto shooting. I haven't experienced any softening on the edges like some people claim in their reviews. However, I've noticed that for some reason the "color" rendition has changed slightly compared to using (3) different Canon factory lenses (tm) - I don't know why, maybe other more tech-savvy people could explain. However, by adjusting saturation, contrast, shutter speed, and other settings in the camera itself, this lens allows you to achieve deeper color rendition. One thing I noticed is that the autofocus sync can be a bit slow compared to other lenses. A recent example: ducks swam alongside me then flew away, autofocus was a bit slow as they exited the water - the queue helped get the shots which were really sharp, some shots weren't. Bottom line: from someone who is not an experienced photographer but is learning. This lens is well made, does the job as advertised, offers the overall single lens capabilities I've been looking for in my type of photography, is very reasonably priced, fits the camera well and does the job well overall. The auto focus time may be a little shorter even if you make sure the camera battery is original, fresh and fully charged. Don't be afraid to buy this lens.