Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Review
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I owned the previous (non-motorized) version of this lens and was very pleased with it. Most of my friends got tired of me talking about how it was probably the best under-0 lens bargain you could find... better performance than Sigma's non-APO version and Nikon's cheaper (non VR) 70-300, plus a life-saving 1:2 macro feature that would let you take postage-stamp sized closeups from three feet away. Unfortunately, while photographing some turtles at a local pond, I slipped in the mud and knocked over my tripod, causing the lens to have an unfortunate encounter with the water which ended its life. Looking on the bright side, I saw this as an opportunity to replace it with the newer motorized version.
Tho I prefer to deal with Adorama (usually via the Amazon web site), this time I bought the lens from Amazon directly. Big mistake... it arrived in a large box with absolutely no padding. In other words, just knocking around loose every time the box was moved. Granted, the lens was inside its own box as well as a padded zipper case... but still, who would ship ANYTHING loose in a box, let alone delicate camera gear? Apparently... Amazon.
After trying the lens, I found it to be unacceptably soft, especially at the top end where it actually had a glow around bright objects. While it is possible that I just got a bad sample (unit-to-unit variation can be a problem, especially with cheaper lenses), it's more likely that it was damaged in shipment so I returned it and got another (this time from Adorama... lesson learned).
The second unit was packed properly, and it performed as expected... sharpness was as good as my old non-motorized version (it actually seemed a bit better at the top end, which is where I use it most of the time). But there were other improvements as well... the old version had several notorious problems, most of which are fixed in this lens.
First, the zoom ring is not stiff between 200 and 300mmm, it is smooth thruout the range.
Second, the lens focuses far faster (no kidding... my initial impression was that it was 3-5x faster in most cases). Part of the reason is that it does not hunt nearly as much, part of it is that it just moves a lot faster. The practical result of this is that I am able to track birds in flight with far more sucess than with the non-motorized version.
Third, the focusing is quieter in spite of the increased speed. This will be of considerable benefit when photographing wildlife. Out in the woods, 300mm is still not much in the grand scheme of things... most people will still have to do some stalking, and a noisy lens is going to be the kiss of death up close.
Fourth, the aperture ring and f22 lock are gone (in their place is an auto/manual focus switch). For most folks with newer cameras this change will probably go unnoticed. It actually may be an advantage for those of us who accidentally mount the lens with the aperture ring off f22... and then wonder why we are getting an error message on the LCD. ;-)
Finally, the lens cap has been replaced with a front pinch type (similar to the stock Nikon cap) which is a tremendous improvement... I had replaced the cap on my older lens with a Nikon cap because the old Sigma cap could not be put on or taken off without removing the lens hood.
Complaints? Well, the macro switch is still too small for my taste. I have problems with it when wearing gloves, and I could see it as a constant annoyance for someone with larger hands. The rotating front element could be a problem if you use split ND filters a lot. The matte finish is pleasingly non-reflective but it also picks up dirt more easily. Sharpness, especially at the top end, is not exceptional... to be expected from a lens of this price. Still, reducing the aperture a stop does help, so if you're fussy maybe you should just consider this an f8 at 300mm. But even wide open, you may find the results acceptable... most of the problems are in the corners so if you are shooting wildlife or sports or air shows, where the subject is often isolated in the center, you might get by just fine.
To sum up, I still think this lens is perhaps the best buy around for anyone looking for a longer zoom in the sub-0 range. There just isn't anything else like it for the photographer on a budget, especially if you don't want to be loaded down... with it's macro capability, light weight and reasonably long reach, this lens in combination with a wider lens may be all you'll need most of the time.
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Feature
- 59.1 in. Digital Telephoto Lens
- Macro Lens for Close-Up Pictures of Small Subjects, Auto and Manual Focus, Tele-Macro Function to Make Your Subject Stand Out
- Ideal for Digital SLR Cameras, Sports Photography, Nature Photography, Macro Photography, Portraits
- Works with Nikon Cameras, Minolta Cameras, Pentax Cameras, Canon Cameras, Sigma Cameras, Digital and Film Cameras
- Advanced Coating That Reduces Ghosts and Glare, High Optical Performance for Entire Zoom Range, Dispersion Glass for Color Correction and Clarity
- 4.8 x 3.0 x 3.0"; 1.21 Lb.
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Overview
The high performance telephoto zoom lens is ideal for digital SLR cameras. This lens has two SLD glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group. It is able to shoot with maximum magnification 1: 2 at the focal length of 300 mm. It's the ideal lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range.The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. This lens has two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group, the lens has excellent correction of chromatic aberration through the entire zoom range.High optical performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range. It also has a switch that converts the lens to macro photography at focal lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a minimum focusing distance of 95cm (37.4 inches). In normal mode the minimum focusing distance is 150cm (59.1 inches) at all zoom settings. Maximum magnification between 200mm and 300mm is 1: 2.9 to 1: 2.
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 07, 2010 00:20:04
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