Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 APO HSM

[redmule]

Anyone used, owned or have ideas or info, on the lens? Need this zoom range for low light static & wildlife pics.
Sigma

[MarkH]

The link provided is to Digital Liquidators, please ensure that you don't purchase from them!

Here is their profile at resellerratings:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2375.html

Clearly a company to avoid.

[condyk]

This is a very well rated lens for sure and would be quite formidable with a 1.4x ... good heads up from Mark tho' re the link offered. Lots of user info over at the review section of fredmiranda.com if I remember correctly.

[Croasdail]

awsome lens - brother in law has it and I have used it... best place for price and good service is sigma4less.com.

[redmule]

Thanks for the info all and for the link Croasdail. Greatly appreacated

[Hellashot]

Originally Posted by Croasdail

awsome lens - brother in law has it and I have used it... best place for price and good service is sigma4less.com.

I haven't heard good things from that site. Beware. If a site doesn't give much information about a product, stay away.

[condyk]

Even tho' I'm in UK and so irrelevent, even I remember the many good comments posted here about the sigma4less store over the last several months. Check here too:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller9336.html

I would know all about a product before buying and so don't want loads of sales and cribbed rubbish from manufacturers in my way when I go to buy an item. Personal choice ... doesn't make a shop bad one way or the other

[dmwierz]

Originally Posted by Hellashot

I haven't heard good things from that site. Beware. If a site doesn't give much information about a product, stay away.

Oh, for the love...urban legend. Have you actually SPOKEN or corresponded with anyone who actually has purchased from sigma4less.com?

Go to resellerratings.com and see that they have a 9.57/10 rating:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller9336.html (oh, just noticed somebody else also linked to this site)

I have bought several items from them, including a 120-300mm f2.8 EX HSM and have nothing but good things to say about David and the group there. They give you a soft sell for accesories and warranties, but they ARE in sales, after all. I guarantee you will NOT beat their prices. Shipping is a bit high, relatively speaking, but as with most transactions, don't be afraid to haggle.

One of the problems of the Web is folks can pretty much say anything they want and pass along any rumor they want to without anyone challenging them.

The lens is amazing, and with the 1.4x TC, you have a constant aperture 168-420mm f4 zoom (converts to an 269-672mm f4 zoom with the FOV multiplier!). Sharp images, fast AF (even with the TC), and with a monopod, it's maybe the best sports zoom combo for the buck you can get.

[danphoto1]

I agree. I have owned the 120-300 sigma for two years. It is fast and sharp. i use it to shoot volley ball and basketvall indoors . Iuse it with the 2x multipler to shoot softballbatter facing the pitcher from the outfield fence. It is a great peice of glass.

[dpurslow]

Hi there, I am a photog from the UK, I shoot a lot of sports for newspapers etc.

About 2 years ago I changed from Nikon to Canon, I had been building up my collection of equipment for years so dumped it all on Ebay and started to build up my Canon collection.

The biggest loss for me was my 300mm F2.8 Nikon AFS lens. Being that I needed to get a ton of equipment quickly I decided to go with the 120 - 300 over the Canon 300 2.8 the main reason was cost, I could buy a little more stuff with the savings of around $2000.

When shooting football before I would have one body with a 70-200 and another body with the 300

What I found is that my second body now HARDLY got used last year. The Sigma 120-300 effectivly took the place of my 70-200 and my 300mm. I shoot with a 1dMK2 and a 20D I have the 120-300 on the 1D and the 70-200 on the 20d - If I shot 5 pictures with the second body per game last year, that would be a lot. Towards the end of the season I stopped using the 70-200 (IS L USM) model all together and put on ultra wide lens for creative shots and just used the 120-300 for everything.

With the 1.3 on the 1dMK2 and the 1.6 on the 20d I think the difference is only a few mm's anyway.

I know the 120-300 is not quite as sharp as the 300mm f2.8 and its NOT WHITE but the benefits to me GREATLY outweight the slight (and I mean slight) loss of pin sharp quality.

When I first strated using it I only used it as a 300mm, it was not until I started using the zoom that I fell in love with the lens.

Lots of the other press snappers look at it with a funny expression, but after plalying with it for a few minutes, they all seem to love it.

hope this helps,

Regards,

David Purslow

Image taken with the 120-300 - at around 240mm

[condyk]

Welcome ...

Nice contribution and very nice shot. Everything I read about this lens I like. I'd love to try it with a 1.4x ... any experience of that?

Great colours and contrast on the photo and I can almost smell the grass (hope it's the grass!!!), though maybe it's because I'm at my main work computer for the first time since joining this forum rather than my usual 'go everywhere' laptop

[dpurslow]

Here is one I grabbed quickly, heading out the door now. I was tracking the player in white when this red blur came into shot, night game, so low DOF but snapped a couple of shots. this was taken using Canon 1.4 tele and Sigma 120-300 at 300

[JABACo]

Got mine today from CordCamera. Lens with overnight shipping was $1849.00. Absolutely no problems with them at all. Spoke with TobyLyn.

[LightRules]

This is one of Sigma's absolute best lenses; they might not have a better lens, period. In addition, Canon has no answer to this lens. Lastly, Sigma4Less is very reputable.

[danphoto1]

I agree It is almost always with me when ever I shoot sports. You are right Canno does not have answer for it.