sig 100-300mm f/4

is this a good lens, what are is ups and downs?

jordan101 wrote in post #4151649
is this a good lens, what are is ups and downs?

It's a big heavy lens and will not do that well in poor light. For the cash, I'd get the 70-200. If you really need the reach, use a 1.4 TC and you now almost hit the 300mm end of the 100-300 and you'll still only be at f4. Take the TC off and you are back to f2.8 out to 200mm. It's like the best of both worlds imo.

I just rented this lens from RentCameraGear.com and it is a solid lens.

Here are a couple of images taken with it and a 40D body. exif is available in the image. Poster before this said it was a heavy lens, but I do not consider it heavy IMHO

I guess it's all relative. Handhold it for a game and I bet that relativity changes just a fuzz. Still, what some find heavy, others might not so I won't argue that. The real point isn't the weight as much as the tradeoff between a full stop and 100mm. You can make up the 100mm and be no worse off aperture wise but you can't go the other way around, hence my comments.

Sorry if it came off wrong, I was just stating for me the lens was not heavy

I agree with wanting a 2.8, any time you can get one go for it. It is so much better for backgrounds esp in youth sports. But the F4 isn't terrible either.

The 100-300 f/4 is the best one lens daytime sports solution imo. I had mine for approximately 18 months and it more than paid for itself in that time. It takes a TC extremely well. HSM is very fast even with TC. Downside: you need a monopod for it if you're going to shoot all day. Let me know if you want to see pics.

Ian

jordan101 wrote in post #4151649
is this a good lens, what are is ups and downs?

BUY IT. BUY IT NOW!

The good

• Sharp as a tack
  
• Internal zooming and focusing
  
• Great colour definition
  
• Fast focusing HSM & Full-time manual focus
  
• Comes with tripod mount, hood and padded carry bag
  
• Constant f/4
  
• Works amazingly well with teleconverters
  
• Looks cool, especially with the hood
  
• It's black (if you don't like big white lenses...)
  
• I would say it costs less than the equivalent Canon, but there really isn't an equivalent Canon....

• It's a heavy sucker
  
• 85mm filters are expensive
  
• Takes a bit of practice to get the hang of