Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO HSM

Review Date
April 9, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
paparazzinotebook , Professional

Price Paid
$2899.00 at Adorama, New York

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
I know a number of fellow photographers who have this lens and have seen their pictures taken with this lens. It has since become my dream lens.
So, when my IRS refund check arrived in the mail in late March, I decided to buy this lens. I purchased mine from Adorama in New York for $2,899 with free shipping (7 to 10 working days via UPS). My excitement in buying the lens made me choose next-day UPS delivery for $100.
I have since used this lens for my work shooting Hollywood celebrities for the past two weeks and all I can say is that Sigma did a good job on this one. I was contemplating of buying the Canon EF 300 /f2.8 IS, but was swayed towards the Sigma because of the zoom factor (120 to 300mm) and at the same time retaining the fast f/2.8 aperture of the Canon prime.
After using it for the past two weeks on my Canon 50D body all I can say is that this lens far more sharper than my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 (non-IS).

Strengths
Tack sharp at any zoom range, wonderful colors and bokeh, tested and proven in the field, built like a rock.....

Weaknesses
The weight.....but I can live with it.....

Similar Products Used
Canon EF 35-350L
Sigma 50-500 (Bigma)

Customer Service
I can't seem to find any link on Sigma's official website on how and where to register my lens.....

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Review Date
April 9, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Reviewed by
paparazzinotebook , Professional

Price Paid
$2899.00 at Adorama, New York

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
After reading the reviews on the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 lens, plus the fact that a few of my colleagues already use it, I bought one from Adorama last March 27 and have had the chance to use it for my work since. All I can say is that I'm extremely happy with it and I now realize I made the right decision.
This lens even beats my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 (non-IS) hands down. I'm using this lens on my Canon 50D and this combination is hard to beat. Here's a sample of pictures I took on Monday, April 6, on the set of Iron Man 2 in Pasadena, California:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=54306

http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/04/07/robert-downey-jr-gwyneth-paltrow-on-the-set-of-iron-man-2

Strengths
sharp, well-built, consistent colors

Weaknesses
weight, but I can live with it.

Similar Products Used
Sigma 50-500 (BigMa)
Canon 35-350L

Customer Service
I can't seem to find a link on the Sigma Lens site to register this lens...

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Review Date
June 20, 2008

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
MrPlumbs , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1500.00

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Sports

Summary
I bought this lens for photographing motor sport primarily, along with some wild life. Had to be special ordered though my local retailer which took almost two weeks.

The lens is quite soft when used wide open at 300mm (f2.8), especially at the edge of the frame. Stepping it down to F8 improves the sharpness, although it is still perhaps a little soft around the edge. Auto focus can struggle in low light conditions, but generally seems fast and efficient. The lens generally performs well, and I've so far taken quite a few decent shots of dear with it, although I've not yet managed to use it for motor sport.

The lens weighs a fair bit, and although you can hand hold it, you wouldn't want to do this for long periods. This lens really needs to be used on a tripod or monopod. Since the focusing is internal, the lens does not change length when zooming in or out or whilst focusing and therefore you will be able to use a been bag or similar for support with no problems.

One minor issue, when comparing this lens to Sigma's 300mm prime, is that it does not employ the drop in filter system that the prime does, so if you want to use filters you'll need ones that fit the large front diameter. Not cheap.

So far so good, but be prepared to be seriously disappointed with the build quality. I've now returned my second due to scratches on the internal elements on both examples I've received. These are clearly visible if you look into the front of the lens. If I want a third attempt at getting one of these, I'll need to wait for another new lens to come in from Japan, as there are currently no perfect examples of this lens in the UK. Not impressive. Probably not going to bother with any Sigma lens from now on, I'll save up and get the Nikon 300mm prime, which I guess is what I should have done in the first place.

Strengths
It's a 300mm lens that gives an aperture of f2.8 for about half the price of the equivalent Nikon or Cannon primes.

The 120-300mm zoom range is really nice to have.

Probably a good lens if you can find one without flaws, but do you want to take that risk?.

Weaknesses
Build quality is terrible and quality control at Sigma is obviously non existent.

Be prepared for a replacement to be a refurbished unit too (my second example was obviously refurbished, something that Sigma have now admitted).

Soft, even when stepped down to f8, even softer (I'd go as far to say unusable soft) when using the 1.4x convertor, but then I've not had a good example to be sure.

Auto focus hunts in low light.

You get what you pay for - this is half the price of Nikon's or Cannon's 300mm f2.8 lenses. You can tell.

Similar Products Used
None, but will be replaced with a Nikon lens. Either the 70-200 f2.8 VR or the 300mm f2.8 prime.

Customer Service
Absolutely abysmal. They knowingly sent out a refurbished unit as new. I will never use a Sigma product again.

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Review Date
May 2, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
RikWriter , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1800.00 at www.sigma4less.com

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
A very heavy lens, but not as heavy as the primes with which it competes. I bought this lens primarily to use with a 2x TC for wildlife, but I wound up selling my Canon 70-200 f2.8L because it works great for sports/action/low light as well. For the money, this is just an incredible buy. Its sharpness rivals the Canon L primes even with a teleconverter, and it even gives acceptable IQ and sharpness with the 2X stacked with a 1.4. Only thing I didn't like about it was the fact it came with a leather cap instead of a plastic lens cap, but I picked a plastic cap up on ebay for $10.

Strengths
Incredible sharpness, great contrast, great AF speed, built like a tank, unbelievably reasonable price. Very versatile lens.

Weaknesses
Heavy, comes with a funky leather lens cap.

Similar Products Used
Canon 70-200 f2.8L, Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS.

Customer Service
NA

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Review Date
April 13, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 6 votes

Reviewed by
Shutterbug1129 , Professional

Price Paid
$1899.00 at B&H

Photography Experience
21+ years , Sports

Summary
There's pros and cons regarding this lens, but the pros outweigh the cons by far. It's zoom range is one of the handiest things I've ever seen in regards to shooting action -outdoor sports. Read up on it extensively before I purchased my a year or so back and heard all kinds of negatives regarding its AF capabilities. From what I gather through various internet photography forums, it seems most of the AF negatives come from Nikon users. I've used mine extensively with a Canon EOS 1D with and without Canon 2X and 1.4X teleconverters and have gotten excellent results. I'm not saying its AF capabilities are up to snuff with Canon's L line of primes and zooms, but its super-impressive zoom capabilities make up for any inadequacies in my opinion. Optically, it's as good as any lens I've ever used and I give it my highest recommendation. Lots and lots of bang for the buck!

Strengths
Superb optics, zoom range, build and durability...

Weaknesses
A real heavyweight...heaviest lens I've ever used. Lacks some AF tracking capabilities. The "stock" tripod/monopod mount gets a low rating. The threading on mine stripped out after about 4 months and had to spend $150 (B&H) to get a replacement, which, incidentally, was much more durably made. Don't know why Sigma doesn't provide the "replacement" mount when you purchase the lens in the first place. Lens hood is a bit small.

Similar Products Used
Canon 70-200 f/2.8, Canon 300 f/2.8 (15-minute test run at a football game).

Customer Service
No need. Was asked by several photogs why I didn't get Sigma to replace the strip-threaded collar after only 4 months of use, but I used the 120-300 so extensively that I had to have a replacement immediately. Don't know if Sigma would've replaced it or how long it would've taken to get it replaced in the first place.

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