Anyone seen the new Sigma 300mm f2.8

[clayk]

Has anyone seen this lens or used it? I am seriously considering buying this instead of the Canon glass and was curious if anyone here had purchased one. I would like to ask several questions.

Clay

[CyberDyneSystems]

... It's not really new.. it's been out for some years now.
It's an awesome lens.. I onlyt used one breifly.. and have searched for a used one in the U.S. for about two years after that expeirince.. I never found one.. But I did get it's big brother.. the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX HSM prime.. very similar design and ergonomics.. same awesome feel and rotating drop in filters etc,...

It is without a doubt second only to Canon and Nikon in this focal length.. no question.

It fell out of favor after Sigma released it's own 120-300mm f/2.8 zoom lens... at a lower price. This essentially eliminated the market for the prime.

I beleive the "new" lens is just another re-wroking.. this past year Sigma has "re-introduced" a number of lenses with the new "DG" moniker added to them.. the DG is some sort of improvements for the digital market..

[grego]

Double post. Whoops.

[grego]

I've used Nikon's version of the 300mm f/2.8. Really solid lens.

Lets just say, if you end up buying it over Canon's own, you won't be disappointed.

[clayk]

Yes, the DG is the "new" version I was refering to. Does this lens have lugs to attach a strap. I know the 120-300 does not. Have they imrpoved the lens shade and the tripod mount? And lastly, does this lens have a protective non optical glass element on the front or is it threaded for a filter? Thanks for the help.

Clay

[CyberDyneSystems]

I can only answer for the 500mm..
The 500mm had the lugs.. you can't put a removable filter on either though.. but the 500mm info says that the front "element" was a replaceable part for protection.

[dmwierz]

Yes, the DG is the "new" version I was refering to. Does this lens have lugs to attach a strap. I know the 120-300 does not. Have they imrpoved the lens shade and the tripod mount? And lastly, does this lens have a protective non optical glass element on the front or is it threaded for a filter? Thanks for the help.

Clay

Actually, the 120-300 lenses that are shipping now have the beefier tripod mount (from the Bigma, I belileve) and this mount has a location for a strap.

FWIW, Tom Sobey of Sigma USA told me that the 120-300 has better optics than the 300mm prime.

[clayk]

FWIW, Tom Sobey of Sigma USA told me that the 120-300 has better optics than the 300mm prime.

I have heard this before. That seems to go against conventional wisdom but I will consider it. Anyone else care to chime in on this?

Clay

[Cadwell]

I have the APO 120-300mm f/2.8 EX... it's an incredible lens but I've never used Sigma's 300mm prime. However, the lens performance survey results from photozone.de rate them as follows for optical performance.

Sigma AF 300mm f/2.8 APO EX (HSM)...........good - very good (3.59)
Sigma AF 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX (HSM)......excellent (4.71)

That would seem to back up the quote from the chap at Sigma. It's also true to say that the 120-300mm f/2.8 almost completely killed off the sales of Sigma's 300mm prime...