Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM for Canon

[gf350]

Has anyone got any experience with one of these.

www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/120-300mm.htm

Reviews vary wildly between people who love it while others think its pants.

Edited by gf350 on Friday 11th May 18:13

[Ian_H]

I'm sure Geoff (Monkeyhanger) will be along shortly to give you some first hand experiences but in the meantime there are a few people who use them on the Canon forum here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/f One of the guys off there has just posted these with a 1D MKI and 120-300 f/2.8

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/s



Cheers
Ian

[chris.mapey]

Met up with Phill Brett at the PH Mosler trip.

I thought he'd got a traffic cone on the front of his Canon D2MkVIII 16v, but it turned out to be one of these beauties.

I'm sure that he'll be along in a bit

Chris

[gf350]

I was considering replacing my 100-400L with one.
I'm not sure I'd fancy lugging it around especially if I've got a lot of other gear, but it looks tempting.

[monkeyhanger]

Click on the pic for something that'll give you a better idea than the usual PH 750x size

Taken through the infamous Brands Hatch fence on a 20D with 2xTC fitted. The TC takes away a bit of quality and AF performance. Without the convertor it's a superb lens.



Yes, it's heavy....but in my experience it's well worth it. I'm off to Harewood tomorrow for the Hill Climb (muchos Ferraris) so i'll post up some more shots without the TC fitted.

Edited by monkeyhanger on Friday 11th May 22:05

[gf350]

Wow, I'm really tempted now, whats the af speed/accuracy like compared to a canon L.
Any one looking for a mint 100-400L ? There may be one in the classifieds soon :-)
Thanks for the reply.

Edited by gf350 on Friday 11th May 23:37

[monkeyhanger]

gf350 said:

Wow, I'm really tempted now, whats the af speed/accuracy like compared to a canon L.

I've got the 100-400L too. The Sigma (without the 2x) is faster...

One word of caution. Don't expect to get poster sized prints with the 2x TC attached. Up to A4 and for web diplay it's fine though.

[gf350]

Thanks Geoff,
After the recent results I got from a 70-200 f2.8L I started to wonder if I actually need a 400mm for motorsports.
The sigma is very tempting.
I've got a opportunity to do some shots for a motorsport magazine and I think I'd get better shots with the sigma.

[monkeyhanger]

A few at 800x from Harewood yesterday..(PH squish in effect so click on them for full size). Just the 120-300 for these, no TC involved.

MGA.



And again..



Off centre focus points work just as well.. (Bottom left FYI)



Backgrounds like this are so much better than the Silverstone fences



One for the sheep lovers..

[monkeyhanger]

And finally, one more at 1280x (click the pic etc etc.)

[V6GTO]

Warehouse are quoting £1668:99! The Canon 100-400L IS is a bargain at £1039 then.

Martin.

[gf350]

Wow, good pictures, that's a very nice lens.
I've been doing some research on the web and there arn't many complaints about the optical performace of the sigma(except from a nikon user whom must have had a duff one). In fact most people think its very good indeed.
The only problem seems to be that the 300mm is said to be a bit optimistic, someone has done some comparisons with a canon 300mm prime and recon its more like a 260mm assuming the canon is actually 300mm.
Someone else worked out with the size of the front element and the length, if it is a f2.8 the max focal length couldn't be more than 268mm, which means its not a great deal different to the 70-200 f2.8 which I already have (and really like) except its over twice the weight and wont fit in any of my existing camera bags!!
Does that seem right to you compared to the 100-400 @300mm?
As I'm switching to a 1d mk3 from a 30d I'm going down from a 1.6x crop to a 1.3x as it is, so I'm not sure 260mm odd is long enough, plus I'd loose a lot of the advantages with it if I use a teleconverter on it.
I'm going to look for a second hand one to try it out, although there don't seem to be many around, especially the DG version.
I do think the canon 100-400l is a very good lens though, especially for its size, and of course it does have the IS as well which makes it very good value for the money as martin pointed out already, its just a bit limiting being a f4.5-5.6
Thanks for the replys, that was really helpfull.
Gareth.

Edited by gf350 on Sunday 13th May 17:43

[monkeyhanger]

I think i've read almost all the comments online about this lens, particularly the frequently trotted-out "less than 300mm" guff. It's usually posted by the same people that claim the 100-400 is 380 at the long end and sucks up dust better than a Dyson.

Whilst everyone else is doing calculations and worrying over so-called problems, i'm out using the lens and enjoying it

Edited by monkeyhanger on Sunday 13th May 18:54

[gf350]

Geoff,
Your right of course, there's always going to be mainly -ve's on the web and there isn't many for that lens.
Your results using it are suberb.
Cheers,
Gareth.

[nickd01]

Seems to get good reviews here:

www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=104&sort=7&cat=37&page=1

[srider]

V6GTO said:

Warehouse are quoting £1668:99! The Canon 100-400L IS is a bargain at £1039 then.

Martin.

The 120-300 is MUCH bigger than the 100-400 though. The front element is 105mm I think.

[seandudding]

Not really a for sale ad, but I have a Mint Hardly used less than 100 shots non DG one that I would let go if someone wants one. I have decided I want the Canon 300 F2.8

MODS:- If this is inappropriate please delete...

Edited by seandudding on Monday 14th May 11:45

[V6GTO]

monkeyhanger said:

Whilst everyone else is doing calculations and worrying over so-called problems, i'm out using the lens and enjoying it

Martin.

[monkeyhanger]

seandudding said:

Not really a for sale ad, but I have a Mint Hardly used less than 100 shots non DG one that I would let go if someone wants one. I have decided I want the Canon 300 F2.8

There was a point when i planned to use the 120-300 as a stop-gap until i bought a 300 2.8 IS....i've binned that plan now.

I'll be keeping the Sigma and putting the cash towards a nice 500 or 600 prime next year

[gf350]

seandudding said:

Not really a for sale ad, but I have a Mint Hardly used less than 100 shots non DG one that I would let go if someone wants one. I have decided I want the Canon 300 F2.8

MODS:- If this is inappropriate please delete...

Edited by seandudding on Monday 14th May 11:45

I might be, can you email me the details.
cheers,
Gareth.