Sigma 100-300mm f4 EX IF DG APO

powell7

powell7

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chris
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has anyone got or used this lens ?
is it an old lens ?
would it be good for wildlife/airshow shots ?
how fast it is ?
sorry for so many questions :lol:
thanks chris.
 
Chris, I don't know anything about this lens, but I'm sure if you hit Google, you will find loads of info... I used a 70-200mm on a 1.6 cropped sensor before at an airshow, finding that I needed a bit of extra length. I think the 300 will be ok for you. The 'APO' stands for Apochormatic which are higher quality lenses that the norm. Depending on the weather, you might need bigger than f/4, but you may have to boost ISO up a bit... f/4 will be OK however....

Cheers...
 
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I have the older non DG version that I use on a Pentax K10D It gives very good results and works well with the Sigma 1.4 converter if extra reach is required. I have used it for both wildlife and airshows. The Pentax version uses the camera's autofocus motor but other versions have the motor built into the lens so should be faster. I have been happy with the speed of the autofocus. It is quite a heavy lens but versatile zooming from 100-300. It is pretty sharp wide open - improving when stopped down a little.
 
I used this lens for a year and have recently got rid of it. It is best used on a tripod and is very sharp. It let me down twice recently when I attempted to use for a cycling event but the focus would not keep up (D300s body used).
I did use with success last year at the 3 Peaks cyclo cross but I was positioned where the riders where not going very fast or carrying the bike so I got away with it.
It is heavy, long and has no VR so you can hand hold but need a quick shutter speed to get away with it.
Overall I thought the image quality the lens produced was very good but I sold due to it not being versatile enough for the sports I wanted to use it at.

I have a lot of images produced from the lens if you want a look.
 
I have the older non-DG version & despite a stellar reputation I've never been that struck on it - possibly I have a poor copy.
My 70-400 G SSM blows it away & since I got that I've hardly (if ever) used the Sigma ...

focus speed is OK but on APS-C focal range is possibly a bit short at the long end & a bit long at the short end for aviation - again the 70-400 range is nigh on perfect imo.
 
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I have the DG version Canon fit. It's now my main go to zoom for mainly motorsports, but it took a bit of getting used to after my old 70-300mm APO DG Macro, it's a bit of a lump comparatively speaking and there's no OS to fall back.

A bit soft wide open (f4) @ 300mm, but apart from that it's a cracking lens, fast, sharp, nice range and built like a brick you know what. The only other slight criticism I can quote is as is common with many Sigmas it needs -7 AF microadjust on my 7D to counter some front focussing. HTH.
 
I used it a couple of years back on a D700 - usable, light and quite good. I sold it in favour of the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 which, although considerably heavier, delivers a definite quality edge. Secondhand prices for the latter are not much different to the 100-300mm f/4 - I guess it depends on your lifting ability!
 
I've owned the DG EX APO (Nikon fit) for 2 years and it was an awesome lens used with both sigma's 1.4 & 2x APO EX DG TC's - regretted selling it for the Nikon 70-200 VR thou as was using it on a D300s - sold the VR for the 70-200 VRII but still have thoughts of purchasing the 100-300 again thou (the one I sold on here preferably :lol:

For wildlife it was highly recommended just see reviews when you google it... If you can get one then go for it :thumbs:

These 100-300 f4 apo ex dg images were taken with it on a D60 (when I had one) when we went to whipsnade - I also have some with a D90 & D300s & some with the sig 1.4x attached...
 
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