Len's identification help!

[swoop1156]

Hello there,

I am interested in the purchase of my friends Sigma 28-300 F/3.5-6.3 lens, but I cannot find anything online about it.

I see similar models, but they are in black. This one is in Silver, and has a silver hood.

I don't know if any of you all out there can help me out, but this is what I have to offer as far as information..

72mm diameter
Silver Casing and Hood
Sigma cap

The lens has the following on it.

28-300 Aspherical IF
101550 is on the casing like a tag number.

Also, if any of you know what this is, is it worth buying and at how much?

Thanks a lot!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Sounds like it pre-dates the CHZ version... thus it would be three models old...

[swoop1156]

...and is that necessarily a bad thing? Do I want to stay away?

[eosster]

...and is that necessarily a bad thing? Do I want to stay away?
Yes, try to stay away from variable aperture zoom lenses and stay with constant aperture zoom lenses.

[swoop1156]

Yes, try to stay away from variable aperture zoom lenses and stay with constant aperture zoom lenses.ok, I know I am not am expert in photography -- but aren't all [or at least most] zoom lenses variable arpeture? It gives you the max and min stop's for the whole length of view, does it not? I haven't seen one yet that didn't. I guess I'll have to give this guy a ballpark price...oh well.

Any others?

[Raj]

How much is he trying to sell you the old lens for ? Dont need to answer me but compare it with the new sigma 18-200 mm lens which is available in Japan now. As everyone indicated it will be second in quality to superior lens but may be a better buy compared to 28-300. With your 300D you will start arounf 44 mm with 28-300 which is not wide at all.
Also from whatever I have read, both sigma & tamron 28-300 are very soft in 200-300 range. So you dont beneift much there.

PS: Dont know but if it is old version then please check what f value lens will communicate to camera at max telephoto. The new DC lens is 6.3 but communicates back 5.6 to camera else 20D wont autofocus. I am not sure if this is applicable to 300D also.
More experienced members may guide better on this.

[swoop1156]

True, Raj...

He isn't actually selling ti to me yet. He said he didn't even readily use it anymore, so he brought it in to see if I liked it. I told him that if I did, I'd offer him a price. I wanted to know what a fair price would have been, considering if I do like it or not.

I am not really in the market for a lens right now, honestly. I just saw this to be a possible cheapy with an added range that I could use for an everyday lens. I am thinking about selling the Kiss Digital sometime soon and getting the 20D or it's replacement -- whenever that is announced.

Just checking my options. I will post pictures of the lens as soon as I get home. I am anxious to see what this thing really is. I will also snap a few pics with the lens on the Canon and see if it even can AF with it or not. Time will tell...

Thanks everyone.

[swoop1156]

I don't see a need to post pictures of the said lens -- you were right, it doesn't auto focus. Seems like a nice manu-focus lens though. I wonder if I can get it cheap.

What would be a decent price for a general walk-around lens that doesn't work with AF, and how much is a chip by Sigma?