Sigma - 100-300mm f4 EX

[billfranklin]

Has anyone had experience with the Sigma 100-300mm EX IF USM Lens. I am returning my Canon 75-300 IS lens because the images are just too soft for my needs.

If any one is using this lens, I would appreciate knowing what you think about it. Have not really been able to find out very much about this lens on the fourms.

Thanks,


Bill F.

[Opticky]

You will like the Sigma 100-300 f4 EX - a lot. It has a constant f4 and is very sharp throughout - at f4 and beyond. It is contrasty. It is very well built - solid. It weighs about 3lbs and is about 9.5 inches in length. Its length is constant since it is IF. It has a removable tripod collar and is well balanced. HSM is very fast.

It feels good on my D60 though after an hour or so you will need to rest your hand - so a monopod or occasional rests are advisable for walking about. It is in length and weight roughly the same as the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and Canon version of that. So don't be put off by it.

Try here for a comparison against a Nikon 80-200 f2.8 which scores 4 at Photodo. The Sigma beats it! If it comes up in Swedish there is a menu item for English.

http://www.motljus.com/mot_sigma.asp

Look at www.photographyreview.com and www.photozone.de where it is highly rated. At the latter it is top of its class.

A reported comparative review http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=002UZP in which the Sigma came 2nd to other 100-300mm zoom lenses - it was only beaten by a few points by a Leica.

Finally the best thing is to try one. Good luck. let's know how you fare.

[billfranklin]

Thanks, Opticky for your reply. My lens should be here tomorrow.

[jimwong]

Would this be a good choice for a moderately priced lense for sharp sports photos . I like shooting baseball from the lower stands..

Does the focal length include the 1.6 multiplier effect of the 10D?

Any recommendation for a general lenses for moderate wide angle to portrait length photos?

[billfranklin]

The 1.6 multiplier will crop the image to 480mm. If you read the reviews from the above post, you will see that most of the photographers using this lens think it is great. It should be a good lens for sports, at least I hope so. I am also using the Canon 28-135 IS lens and so far am very please with it as a general purpose lens.

[jimwong]

I am looking at a Sigma 28 - 200mm, f/3.5 lenses on B&H Video for $219. I want to shoot sports and general purpose. Would this be a good lense to begin with a Canon 10D.

Anyone have experience with Sigma? are they a good alternative choice to the Canon brand of lenses?

[billfranklin]

Got my Sigma 100-300 EX lens today. First impression - I am very satisfied. It is a much sharper lens than the Canon 75 - 300. Only problem - man is it big and heavy. However, I think I can live with that, even though it does not have IS.

Also have tried it with a sigma 2x converter. Have to manual focus, but the lens is still very sharp. Now if those birds will just hold still for a couple of seconds.

Bill F

[Opticky]

Hi Bill

Glad to see you got the lens and like it. Birds are a damned hard to track and focus on. Especially if they are small and have dark plumage. Seagulls are better since they are white and bigger.

I have used a Vivitar 2xTC (same as 7 element Teleplus/Kenko) with good results and it still afs. A tripod or monopod is essential for the best results.

Opticky

[billfranklin]

Opticky,

Are you saying that you can auto focus with the vivitar 2x converter? How much light do you have to have to auto focus? Is the lens still sharp?

Have really appreciated your input. Thanks.

Bill F.

[Opticky]

Hi Bill

Yes it will af using this converter. If a lens' minmum is above f4, then it will not do so. Good light helps and some contrast. But it does it quite fast too and that on a D60 - a faster focusing camera would fare much better. The shots are still sharp even at f4. But you do absoloutely need to use a tripod at 600mm.

I am pleasantly surprised by this Vivitar 2xTC. I read somewhere on Photography Review that it was good and not long afterwards spotted a very cheap used one. In the UK, I see quite a few used Kenko or Teleplus TCs about. So it would not be too hard to find one and no great financial loss if it turned out not so good.

Opticky

[Me an Mo]

You can tape the pins and it will auto focus. I do forget whitch pins it is, the last three I think, but ask around it is an old trick. it fools the AF so it will focus.

[gregarpp]

Have you any comparasion to to your lens and a canon 300mm/4.0?

It seems the prices are about the same for both the lenses.

I would guess the canon would preform better, since it is a prime.

Have you used the Sigma 1.4X EX converter.

I used it with my Sigma 70-200mm/2.8 EX lens.
It was rather poor performance..
Maybe I have a bad sample.

I would be willing to post some images 70-200mm/2.8 with 1.4X converter.
This is about 98mm-280mm/4.0