Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8????

[JABACo]

I've read most of this forum's reviews of the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8. However, I need to see some shots in questionable lighting with and without a flash.

All I've seen is daytime shooting and 90% look great. But it's the nighttime sporting events that I need to see.

If anyone has this lens and has such shots, please post, or at least e-mail them to me.

THanks

[Cadwell]

Well I have the lens and I love it to bits, but all my shooting with it is done in daylight. Sometimes incredibly marginal daylight which makes good use of the f/2.8 maximum aperture but it is daylight.

Sorry that I can't help you.

[mttmrphy]

Same for me.. I've taken over 1000 shots since purchasing this, surprisingly none at night... sorry.

[JABACo]

Same for me.. I've taken over 1000 shots since purchasing this, surprisingly none at night... sorry.

Well I have the lens and I love it to bits, but all my shooting with it is done in daylight. Sometimes incredibly marginal daylight which makes good use of the f/2.8 maximum aperture but it is daylight.

I have the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 and I am very happy with the results at nighttime sporting events. However, I wouldn't know the difference between it and the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8. I couldn't afford it.

I need more range and this is why the 120-300mm f/2.8 comes in. If it's is as good as the 70-200mm f/2.8, then it's a go for me. But like the two of you, all the shots I've seen have been daytime. I "hear" it is as good as the Canon 300mm f/2.8 prime, but , hearing and seeing are different dogs. Regardless, I couldn't afford, nor would my wife let me afford, the Canon 300mm.

If you know of someone who has taken night shots with this lens, please let me know.

Thanks

[Cadwell]

Well it probably isn't quite as sharp as the Canon 300mm f/2.8 prime but then that's no great surprise. For any zoom to match a good prime is nearly impossible because the design of a zoom introduces compromises and difficulties that a prime doesn't have. Also the Canon 300mm f/2.8 prime is something of a legend even amongst primes.

[Mthorpe_Davies]

Have you looked at the reviews on Fred Miranda, there are quite a few on this lense

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=104&sort=7&thecat=29

[Canuck]

Well how do you define questionable light? Here in England the light is forever changing. It can be bright sunshine one minute and cloud over the next, go back and forth a lot in a few hours. What is the intended purpose of it?

I enjoy the lens to no end. There have been many shots I had no clue if I could ahve gotten but it allowed me to. I have done pics of the moon, pics of Concorde, pics of landscape in Wales, pics at Farnborough/Fairford airshows and the list goes on and on! Unfortunately, I have not really had the time to play with pics so the airshow pics are not available yet, as they are still RAW pics.

There is one area I have not tested it in, birdwatching...however, I don't forsee this being an issue...I have pics of an F/A-18 Superhornet doing a high speed pass at over 550kts. I'd like to see some birds do that! :)

There is always things to consider...weight...it is about 5 3/4 lbs or about 2.5kg if you will. It will set you back about $1900 US or £1700ish.

[JABACo]

Well how do you define questionable light? What is the intended purpose of it?

High School football. Everyone here knows High school football stadiums have questionable lighting. Also for basketball and other indoor events on occasions.

There is one area I have not tested it in, birdwatching...however, I don't forsee this being an issue...I have pics of an F/A-18 Superhornet doing a high speed pass at over 550kts. I'd like to see some birds do that! :)

Come to my house. It seems the birds that fly into my "pain" glass window were doing about 550 knots, then slowed to 0 knots.

There is always things to consider...weight...it is about 5 3/4 lbs or about 2.5kg if you will. It will set you back about $1900 US or £1700ish.

As to the weight, no biggie. The price, well, this is exactly why I'm considering it.

[JABACo]

Have you looked at the reviews on Fred Miranda, there are quite a few on this lense

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=104&sort=7&thecat=29

Thanks. That's a good read.

[mttmrphy]

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/120-300_28_ex_if_hsm_apo

Might find somehting here

[cecilc]

I was interested in getting this lens, too .... both for the reach and the 2.8 aperture.

But I was a little put off by the reviews and message board notes regarding some errant focusing issues with some Canon camera bodies - and, among them, mine - the 10D.

I found one on e-bay (new) and e-mailed the seller (a company) to ask what their policy/procedure was for returns/exchanges if the copy of the lens I got exhibited some of these focusing issues. Could I return it? Could I exchange it? They replied that they could not sell this lens based "upon satisfaction" ..... basically, if you bought it and it wasn't up to snuff then it was your problem ..... So, I stayed away from them.

But if I could find a legitimate good copy of that lens, I'd consider buying it.

[mttmrphy]

http://www.pbase.com/sds4kst8/indoor_football

indoor football

[mttmrphy]

I use my 120-300 2.8 on my 10D and it performs flawlessly.

[JABACo]

I was interested in getting this lens, too .... both for the reach and the 2.8 aperture.

But I was a little put off by the reviews and message board notes regarding some errant focusing issues with some Canon camera bodies - and, among them, mine - the 10D.

I found one on e-bay (new) and e-mailed the seller (a company) to ask what their policy/procedure was for returns/exchanges if the copy of the lens I got exhibited some of these focusing issues. Could I return it? Could I exchange it? They replied that they could not sell this lens based "upon satisfaction" ..... basically, if you bought it and it wasn't up to snuff then it was your problem ..... So, I stayed away from them.

But if I could find a legitimate good copy of that lens, I'd consider buying it.

I've gone stupid for the moment, but you can ask the buyer to let you buy on "escrow" if you pay for it. They'll probably won't but it's worth a try.

[Canuck]

I had a rather large reply until this computer locked up. As you might well imagine there were some very colourful things said about windows and bill gates.

Ok, back to the 120-300F2.8EX/HSM/APO/Etc...the most of the reply was regarding the way I have seen it perform. I have not had a single problem with it and mine is a very early one, in fact it is one that was produced before they put out the bit about stiff zoom rings. Mine is a little stiff, but I like it that way. If you wanted to be safe, order it thru a reputable place like B&H and that way you know you're safe. That's where I got mine from. I has also imbedded some pics but I will send you a PM regarding that. So that said, there are night pics/astrphotography pics and a lot more. I'm off to sort the aforementioned PM...

PM has been sent.

[JABACo]

http://www.pbase.com/sds4kst8/indoor_football

indoor football

I didn't notice, flash or not?

[mttmrphy]

http://www.pbase.com/sds4kst8/indoor_football

indoor football

I didn't notice, flash or not?

no flash according to the exif

[JABACo]

I had a rather large reply until this computer locked up. As you might well imagine there were some very colourful things said about windows and bill gates.

Ok, back to the 120-300F2.8EX/HSM/APO/Etc...the most of the reply was regarding the way I have seen it perform. I have not had a single problem with it and mine is a very early one, in fact it is one that was produced before they put out the bit about stiff zoom rings. Mine is a little stiff, but I like it that way. If you wanted to be safe, order it thru a reputable place like B&H and that way you know you're safe. That's where I got mine from. I has also imbedded some pics but I will send you a PM regarding that. So that said, there are night pics/astrphotography pics and a lot more. I'm off to sort the aforementioned PM...

PM has been sent.

I like takeoff4. Good job and thanks