Product Description
The high performance telephoto zoom lens is ideal for digital SLR cameras. This lens has two SLD glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group It is able to shoot with maximum magnification 1: 2 at the focal length of 300 mm. It’s the ideal lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range.Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma APO 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras is a telephoto zoom lens with tele-macro functionality. Optimized for digital cameras, this high-performance lens has two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group. It is able to shoot with maximum magnification 1:2 at the focal length of 300 millimeters. It’s the ideal lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range.
The multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and it also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. High optical performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range. The lens features a switch that converts the lens to macro photography at focal lengths between 200 millimeters and 300 millimeters, with a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches. In normal mode the minimum focusing distance is 59.1 inches at all zoom settings.
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
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I disagree with Jeff Kershaw’s review for the older version of this lens (Sigma 70-300mm APO Super), in that it’s very unfair to compare this lens to a L series lens, as those lens start at over $500 due to it’s very specific high-grade optics manufacturing process. To compare this lens to a lens that starts at over 4X the price is like comparing a Honda Civic to a Porsche. Like the civic, this Sigma lens is well rounded, good for beginner and consumer SLR photographers, and maybe some “pro-sumer” on a tight budget, or even students. For the price, this lens is a bargain, as I’ve been doing a lot of research before buying this lens (price range in the $130-225 for telephoto). What I liked most about this is the APO lenses, which prevent reflection inside the lens which creates “ghosting” (inverted light ghostly shadow that appers on your image) which is usually apparent in nightshots. During the day APO lenses decrease those “purple fuzzies” (chromatic aberration) you see against high contrast (like a bird’s wing against the sky). Granted this lens is no Porsche like the Canon L series, but for the price range, may hit the spot for some folks. I mainly use this camera for macro photography and taking photos of the Empire state building from my roof, which is 24 blocks away. This lens is definitely better quality than the Canon 75-300 USM III f/4-5.6 which is usually considered the benchmark for this price range telephoto.
Also note that there are different versions of these lenses (despite close naming), so be careful about what you buy. The is a APO DG version with Macro specifically made for digital SLRs which is what is listed here (the “official” name of this lens is: 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro), and a non APO version of this lens which is a bit cheaper (but not worth it at all). Also there’s ones listed as APO II which is the “older” version, which I don’t know the quality of, but know that it is older than the model listed here.
Summary: If you’re on a tight budget this is as good as it gets in this price bracket. The next tier where there’s significant gains in lens imaging doesn’t even start until you start spending in $600-1800 range.
Rating: 4 / 5
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First of all I must tell you that I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of digital SLR photography. Not because I had a love of film on the contrary I hate film photography, it was more like I hated the thought of lugging around lenses and all the other stuff. I managed to build my business and reputation using fixed lens “Pro-sumer” cameras. Long story short what made me move to SLRs was performance, speed, quality and lenses like this one.If you have ever read any of my other reviews you already know I am a terrible gear head and often tend to trick out my cameras to the hilt! I was buying lenses for a rebel XT when I bought this lens on a whim. To start 70-300mm is nothing earth shaking every lens maker in the business has at least one model in this range, but the real kicker with the Sigma is the macro feature, that in a word is simply amazing. The macro feature can be switched in at 200-300mm and is tack sharp for everything from flowers, to coins to whatever!! And considering the focal range this is a relatively fast lens. In a normal capacity its dead sharp in all applications no matter what your light conditions inside or out. I have even used this lens for wedding portraits and got great results. As with all Sigma lenses the build quality is excellent as is the glass giving it the feel of a lens costing a whole lot more. As for accessories I would reccomend both a UV filter as well as a good CPL. Size wise it is what I would rate medium sized (as opposed to my Sigma 50-500mm) this makes it easy to manipulate and use in the field. If you are a Nikon user remove the lens hood and you will get amazing results using your pop-up flash! (Canon doesn’t do as well with this.)
Now. If you are into pictures of the great outdoors the next thing I would add is a 2x teleconverter, Sigma claims this lens is not compatable with them and in a sense its not. But if you are willing to manually focus, and adjust the F stops your self you can pump this baby up to a 140-600mm super-telephoto!! I have one of these lenses for both of the SLR’s I use (Canon 20D & Nikon D200) and with both using the teleconverter I do have to focus manually but they will meter light! Be prepared however results may be different on your camera. So bottom line is your looking for a great quality lens at a price you can live with? This is it. Are you a new or about to be new digital SLR user? This should be your first lens no question. Canon and Nikon lenses do focus faster and quieter, but what are you doing with that camera that you need to be so fast and quiet anyway? This lens is on either one or both of my cameras all the time, and when you shoot pictures for a living that says alot. Until next time be well and happy shooting!
SiNMiN
Rating: 5 / 5
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I rarely write reviews for stuff I buy on Amazon, but I felt I needed to share my thoughts on this lens.
Sigma has always been a better “out of the box” experience than Canon, which unfortunately does not see fit to ship a $6 hood for a $600 lens. Sigma gives you a carrying case and a hood. The “feel” of this lens is excellent. It’s tight (no focus creep), and a sort of rubberized matte finish that just screams “pro”. Top marks here.
From an optical standpoint, the lens is incredibly good, considering the price. I fired off about 70 shots outside to test the aperture at the different focal ranges. Yes, there is some softness at 300mm, but this can be mostly offset by stopping it down to 4.0. The rest of the focal range is fine. I used my Rebel XT and a Canon UV filter (50mm) for the tests. In the macro mode, there’s excellent contrast and saturation, and very good bokeh.
Focus is a little slow, but then maybe I’m spoiled by the Canon glass, which focuses like nothing else. Still, there’s very little hunting here, except in lower ambient light. This is not an indoor lens, nor is it a walkaround utility one. But for telephoto work and even a bit of macro (as it were), it’s an extremely good deal.
All in all, I’d highly recommend getting this, especially as a first-time telephoto for people who are getting into DSLRs. The closest Canon equivalent is about $100 more expensive, and I don’t believe it comes with a hood or case.
Rating: 5 / 5
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I have a Canon Digital Rebel XT.
Primary purpose of the camera is to photograph my daughter playing high school soccer.
PROS
The price is right on this “prosumer” lens. You really can’t complain about 70-300 lens for $200.
Closeup / macro shots of flowers are excellent.
Outside 200mm zoom shots are crisp and look great when you load the pictures on your PC and zoom in tight with your favorite digital imaging computer program.
CONS(300 MM telephoto use for sports):
Full 300 mm zoom the picture quality is not what I had hoped. It is best described as soft focus.
Here were the cirumstances where I found the problem. I took 112 shots yesterday. Conditions were daylight and overcast. About 80% of them were at 300 mm zoom. At the 300 mm setting the pictures have a very “soft focus.” You can’t see it is the display panel on the camera. You can see the “softness” or blurriness when you load the picture into your favorite software and zoom in tight. The softness is over the whole image. I don’t think it’s a focusing issue. If it was out of focus on the primary subject you’d expect some part of the photo to be in focus, but nothing looks like it’s crisp and sharp. It’s equally bad across the image.
Yes, I am using a monopod and I know how to release a shutter. Film speed was set to 1600. I had the XT in Sport mode which forces the shutter speed to 1600. It still operates in auto focus and auto aperture in that mode.
No, I wasn’t shooting in a fog or a mist.
CONCLUSION:
With less than one week of shooting on this lens I am not yet willing to say it’s bad at the full 300 mm zoom setting. I will give it another try at a upcoming soccer tournament this weekend. This time I will force the Rebel into targeting its focus on one and only one point in the lens. I hope that improves the non-macro 300 mm zoom performance. If not, I will send it into Sigma service for them to check it out and repair if needed.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
They answer their phone quickly and are very polite.
When I called Sigma customer support they were more than willing to look into the problem. I have send it in for them to check it out and repair (if needed). Too bad, they don’t exchange, they only repair. So, I will be without the lens for 2-3 weeks. I will probably have to take some photos of the same object at 300 mm and then at 200 mm and show them the difference in the picture quality.
I will keep this review updated.
**UPDATE**
I have shot well over 2000 images with it now with most of them being at soccer games. Image quality is excellent. This lens likes bright daylight to produce its best images just put the light at your back. I do find I often enhance the constrast in my photo editor, but I wouldn’t attribute that to the lense. That’s a function of my photographic skills.
I adjusted the Canon focus to one one point and it’s really improved the issue I talked about above with the soft look of the pictures at 300 mm.
I have concluded that this lens would not be a good one to use at night time sporting events. The F4 lens just doesn’t let in enough light.
Autofocus sometimes is a bit slow to lock in on an object.
All-in-all, for $200 you cannot go wrong.
Rating: 4 / 5
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Wasn’t really expecting much from a 70-300mm zoom at this price range, but was pleasantly surprised with the results. Comes with a lenshood and nice carrying case.
Very good contrast and sharpness. I’d say that this is a “sunny day” lens, but it has also performed admirably during heavy overcast days.
Doesn’t have the fastest AF, but more than up to the task for my needs. AF is on the noisy side (sounds like Robocop!).
At this price, this lens delivers more than I expected.
Rating: 4 / 5
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