SIGMA 100-300mm f4.0 EX DG

andyshandyman wrote in post #2181302
Nice little summary. Ive just bought a Sigma ex 100-300 IF HSM and have been disappointed that its not sharper than my old sigma 70-300 apo dg. Hopefully its operator error as I used to try 1/300 at 300mm which worked fine with the old lense but the light has not been good here for a decent test!

Do you have any shots of the EX 100-300 with and without monopod as I dont own a monopod yet and my tripod is too big for dragging around zoos etc.

This lens really needs tripod/monopod/bushhaw​k support. When you eliminate shake, it's magical. But without external support, results are going to be unimpressive (not the lens' fault, of course). I found the Bigma (50-500) much easier to handhold at 500mm than this lens at 300mm; I can't explain it. But get this lens a good monopod and it's a true gem.

FWIW, my copy did have to get its focus adjusted at Sigma NY (backfocusing at 300mm). I even sent one of my bodies in for reference (they don't touch the body, they just use it as reference). It came back right on. It's a great, great lens.

I agree a great lens. Razor sharp. But a monopod is a must. I don't have one yet, so I try to brace the camera some how. I pay special attention to how I hold it to.

It takes the 1.4 converter well too. But at 420mm , some type of surport is a must.

Thanks for the advice. I will do some tripod tests as I cant afford £100 for a monopod at the moment.

I got the lense from warehouse express as a warehouse return so it may be a dodgy copy, but at half price I had to take the risk! Sometimes it has given me superb results handheld but other times its awful and Ive been sticking to 1/500 sec for 300mm

EDIT: Mine's going back to Sigma. After a fairly unsuccessful shoot, we did a few basic focus tests, eg text on a page, it appears to be focusing somewhere other than the focus points which would explain a lot. I still want a replacement as Im sure it should be a good lense!