Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 EX OS

Those were with a 2x? Looks fantastic! Hope you get your lens fixed soon.

[QUOTE=gabebalazs;1421​1246]If they do it right, it shouldn't. Or at least I hope it won't.
With the OS dead, my IQ was a bit worse too. I think that's due to something being screwed up in the OS element. Like I said, there was no way to completely disengage the OS, it was clicking and occasionally jerking the image even in the OS OFF position.

Nevertheless, a few photos from today, even though my keeper rate was down. Keep in mind that today, again, I used the 2x TC for all my photos.



Maybe they will screw up and mail it back to me instead.

[QUOTE=skater911;14211​479]

gabebalazs wrote in post #14211246
If they do it right, it shouldn't. Or at least I hope it won't.
With the OS dead, my IQ was a bit worse too. I think that's due to something being screwed up in the OS element. Like I said, there was no way to completely disengage the OS, it was clicking and occasionally jerking the image even in the OS OFF position.

Nevertheless, a few photos from today, even though my keeper rate was down. Keep in mind that today, again, I used the 2x TC for all my photos.


Maybe they will screw up and mail it back to me instead.

My one experience with Sigma service in the UK was very positive.

If it wasn't so horribly grey and cold here I'd be out taking pics of birds to fill this thread with.

IanE wrote in post #14213093
My one experience with Sigma service in the UK was very positive.

If it wasn't so horribly grey and cold here I'd be out taking pics of birds to fill this thread with.

Mine too, but one shouldn't really have to use them at all for a Pro grade lens.

Avid follower, newbie poster here.

I've had the 120-300mm OS for a few months now, and I've been very pleased with it. However I've recently started to doubt the OS, or rather if it's working properly.

The thing is, I used the Tamron 70-300mm previously, and when the VC kicked in the picture was clearly stabilized and it was almost hard to shake the viewfinder at all. With the Sigma it is hard to tell if the OS is on or off when watching through the viewfinder (there is the obvious audio cue to tell that something is going on). When doing subtle movements it's almost impossible to tell the difference between OS on or OS off, only when doing a more pronounced movement is the stabilization visible.

I'm sometimes getting framewide motion blur with shutter speeds of 1/640s or even 1/800s. I'm shooting freehand so of course there's that. But I think a 2-3 stop OS should neutralize blur on those shutter speeds, right? I'm using 1.4x TC about half the time, and I think the problem is obviously more evident with the longer FL...

Now I suppose I'm asking if there's a foolproof method of telling if the OS is doing it's job properly or not, or is the user to blame?

Edit: Okay, with a bit more testing the OS seems to be working fine at least in room temperature. Maybe the wintry conditions just make the OS more sluggish when outside... Anyone else with similar experience?

No problems so far with my Sigma.

And still happy with it...

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/brummel2010/7​008925437/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/brummel2010/6​872429452/

Photomateur wrote in post #14213447
Now I suppose I'm asking if there's a foolproof method of telling if the OS is doing it's job properly or not, or is the user to blame?

Interesting... why don't you remove the converter and have the camera in live-view mode. Set it on a tripod but do not tighten the head. Pre-focus on a subject and then turn on live-view. Max zoom into view and compare OS on and off while loosely holding the cam/lens propped up by the tripod.

I haven't tried it but that's the concept I think will work.

By the way, just got my lens and did a quick micro-adjustment testing. OMG... it's pretty sharp.

gabebalazs wrote in post #14209395
Bad update. The OS in my lens stopped working. It only clicks and jerks the image once or twice, that's it. Even in OFF mode it clicks and jerks the image.
Went to a nature refuge today, took my lens + 7D out of the backpack and it wasn't working.

I guess I have to send it in

Sad to hear. My OS crapped out with my 150-500 too awhile back. I just learn not to use stabilization any more with any lens of any brand unless necessary. Hope you get lens fixed and post some more wonderful photos.

Muteki wrote in post #14214316
Sad to hear. My OS crapped out with my 150-500 too awhile back. I just learn not to use stabilization any more with any lens of any brand unless necessary. Hope you get lens fixed and post some more wonderful photos.

Thank you.

I am the same way by the way, if there is no need for OS I don't use it. And considering that half the time I am shooting animals in quick motion, the OS gets little use.

The OS in mine was phenomenal by the way. At home just as a test I was able to get relatively sharp images at 1/6 at 600mm!

It seems like a lot of newer "hi-tech-ambitious-design" lenses like this have some teething problems. I think the 70-200 2.8 IS mark II has had some threads around about stuff dying on it. The Nikon 24-70 (new one) has had quite a few problem threads. The 50-500 OS had some problems. With Sigma's 5 year warranty for ex stuff though (and 3 year otherwise), meh. It's a damn good reason to not buy the $2500 grey market versions off of ebay though. Honestly you can bet that if there are QC issues, the parts will have them fixed by that time, so I wouldn't let that stop me from buying this thing for sure.

mellofelow wrote in post #14214218
By the way, just got my lens and did a quick micro-adjustment testing. OMG... it's pretty sharp.

When you get a chance can you post some sports shots with it?

Wish I was a Mod so I could move this entire thread to the Samples archive to replace the one already there, since that is what this thread has become. I went to check the sample archive the other day for this lens and it was like 3 pages long, then come back here (been a while), and this one is 41 pages, the last 15 of which are pretty much just samples.

arentol wrote in post #14215194
Wish I was a Mod so I could move this entire thread to the Samples archive to replace the one already there, since that is what this thread has become. I went to check the sample archive the other day for this lens and it was like 3 pages long, then come back here (been a while), and this one is 41 pages, the last 15 of which are pretty much just samples.

I totally agree. When I started researching this lens, this thread was already over a 100 pages long So I just decided to post my photos here, like som many others do.