Canon 100-300 vs Sigma 70-300 APO

Im referring to the Canon 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

Which of these is a better lens in terms of sharpness and usability? I know the Canon should be faster focussing with USM, but, aside from that, how do they compare optically? Is there more chromatic aberration with the Canon without apochromatic glass?

... bump.

Looks like if you get a good copy it's fine.
Canon 100-300
Pros: USM, internal focussing.
Cons: Zoom creep.

Sigma 70-300
Pros: Far wider, smaller.
Cons: External focussing (front element turns).

I would tend to side with the Sigma for the size, lack of zoom creep and wider short end at 70mm instead of 100mm.

It's odd but i seem to be the only one (?) on the forum who has used both of these lenses.
Unfortunately the first sigma Apo i bought (new) was a dud so i couldn't do a direct comparison of image quality.However after using several examples each of these models -often comparing them to the many canon 75-300's that have passed through my hands - i can say very confidentally that there are far more similarities than differences in the sharpness they offer at any given focal length or aperture.
In short have no fear about overall image quality when choosing between these two lenses.

Pluses and minuses i found with them are (in no particular order of importance):

SIGMA APO-
Good stuff- Better zoom range,free hood and padded carry case,1:2 macro ability,quite good build,very good overall image quality

Bad or possible bad stuff- Slowish focus and zoom control works the opposite dirrection to canon

Canon 100-300USM -
Good stuff- Extremely fast focus! Quite good build, Very easy manual focus control (no flipping switches),Distance scale built in,very good overall image quality.


Bad or possible bad stuff -
Some zoom creep,pricier than the sigma ,no real closeup ability.

Sorry i don't have direct comparison images but as i say-it's safe to assume they are about the same and choose based on features.The ones that stand out to me the most are the macro ability of the sigma verses the fast focus of the canon

All the best

Well I would not hang anything very heavy on the "APO" designation by Sigma (or Tamron), as most likely things will fall off from the weight.

Sigma, Tamron, and likely other lens merchants have taken the term "APO", which at one time had a rather specific meaning, and gradually eroded it into something that is now almost a trite marketing term.

The Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6 APO seems like a decent lens, especially considering the price, but its chromatic aberration performance is pedestrian. So, with regard to this lens, I think the APO designation is creative marketing, not an accurate description of its actual chromatic performance.

The APO designation on this lens may very well differentiate it from another, slightly less capable 70-300 F4/5.6 lens sold by Sigma, without the APO designation, but it hardly indicates that the lens is truly an APO lens.

Check out this review, especially the CA section.

http://www.photozone.d​e …sigma_70300_456​/index.htm

Enjoy! Lon

Sorry to revive an old thread but does anyone have anything else to say on this? Image quality will be one of my main criteria but I can't afford the 70-200 L. But could find the money for either of these 2 lenses. The Canon goes for about $100 more. Is it worth the extra money?

IQ wise the Sigma wins but AF speed, the Canon does have USM. Unless I forgot there's a non USM version, but still. Aniwho, my opinion, 70-300 APO wins overall with any cheap tele.

I can't comment first hand about the Sigma, but the Canon 100-300 that I owned produced very good IQ and true color rendition, even wide open at both the short and long ends. Here are links to a few photos taken with the lens by the person I sold it to.
https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=3144479&p​ostcount=1
https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=2860754&p​ostcount=1
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=230320

Great! Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll have to figure out if it's worth paying the extra money for a lens that focuses faster and is almost as sharp. Decisions, decisions.