Sigma 300mm f/2.8 APO DG v Non-DG

Euan

Euan

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Hi

Does anyone have any experience of this lens? Is there much difference in IQ between the Dg and Non-DG version? How well does it handle a 2xTC?

Cheers for any info
 
I've got the DG version. Great lens, especially for the price. I mainly use it as a wildlife lens. Naked it is very sharp and focuses fast and accurate. With a 1.4X TC (which is how I normally use it) it is still very sharp although focus accuracy does drop a little, but it still very usable. I did have the 2X TC, but swapped it for the 1.4X TC as the IQ drop wasn't acceptable in my opinion.
 
Hi thanks for the reply, im looking between that one and ive seen a siggy 120-300. I thought both of these would handle a 2xTC fairly well. Id like to be able to get out to about 600mm and still get good IQ. Cant afford a true 600 or the canon 300mm 2.8 though.
 
I was looking at the same lenses my self to use the 1.4x and 2x TC on. I would love to know how well they work with them if you do get one :)
 
I got a sigma 120-300 f2.8 a canon 1.4x mk2 and a sigma 2x converter. What type of test shots do you need?
 
Great thanks Ziploc just your option would be great on how well it works with them. Is it fast enough for you with the 2x and are you still happy with the image quality?
 
Yep thats what i would like to know as well, how much does IQ suffer with the 2x fitted, focus speed and accuracy. Many thanks
 
Only just got the converters and not had time to play with them on the 120-300 yet
 
How are you finding the lens in general then?
 
The 120-300 a good lens like this one for the conditions it was taken in. a little noisey

IMG_5576.jpg


more can be viewed here

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk60/ziploc69/Wirral%20100/
 
Euan said:
Hi thanks for the reply, im looking between that one and ive seen a siggy 120-300. I thought both of these would handle a 2xTC fairly well. Id like to be able to get out to about 600mm and still get good IQ. Cant afford a true 600 or the canon 300mm 2.8 though.
Click to expand...

To be honest, any lens with a 2X TC will show a drop in IQ. What are you shooting mainly? In the end I've settled for 420mm and cropping rather than pushing the lens to 600mm.
 
Well had a bit of a play with the sigma 120-300 f2.8 DG HSM and the converters. The sigma on its own focuses faster than my canon 100-400 but would expect that from a f2.8 lens, but not as good as a prime. Quality of pics can be seen in my previous post. The flame bike shot would not of been possible with the canon 100-400 as the light was all but gone when i took that.

With the sigma 2x converter on there is only slight reduction in focus speed. But did notice when the focus is set for minimum distance and then trying to focus to near inifinty the lens needed manually prompting to get the auto focus going. This may be down to the conditions for the shot with a little contrast of subject and background. (bird in the sky). Image quality wise I did not notice any lose but I am not that good at noticeing; and the conditions are not that good today. I will be trying the combo the next motorsport event I get to.

With the canon 1.4x mk2 converter I was disappointed. There is a noticable lose of speed of focus. And the lens seamed to not want to focus unless the focus was near to start with. Now I know theres no problems with the converter as it works billiantly with my canon 70-200 f4 lens. Can only asume the combination just does not want to work that well. The speed of focus would most likely be good enough for birding but is to slow for motorsports. Now I got to decide weather to get a sigma 1.4x converter just for this lens. :thinking: Image quality wise see above comment.

Well I hope the comments above are usefull. I bought the 120-300 due to the need for a f2.8 lens and not able to afford the canon 300 f2.8 lens. And needing the f2.8 around 300mm so a canon 70-200 f2.8 and 1.4x converter might not of been workable.
 
Thanks for the write up there Ziploc. Interesting to hear about the compatibility gripes with the Canon converter. Luckily I have Sigma converters already so looks like I will have to start saving my pennies for a new 300mm Sigma. Keep us posted on how it pans out at the next race. Also great shot of the bike. Hope you don't mind but its now my new backdrop on my computer :D
 
Messiah Khan said:
To be honest, any lens with a 2X TC will show a drop in IQ. What are you shooting mainly? In the end I've settled for 420mm and cropping rather than pushing the lens to 600mm.
Click to expand...

Im mainly after doing more birding, i appreciate that any lens will suffer with a 2xTC but i thought the 300+ 2.8's would handle them a lot better than they seem to.

Thanks for all the info on the thread though :thumbs:
 
Euan said:
Im mainly after doing more birding, i appreciate that any lens will suffer with a 2xTC but i thought the 300+ 2.8's would handle them a lot better than they seem to.

Thanks for all the info on the thread though :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Well then you should be fine. I use mine mainly for birding and you can get some great results at 420mm. Just a few examples of what I have shot with the setup;

20090719155508_dsc_7320-edit.jpg


20090702085547_dsc_6315-edit.jpg


20090504205328_dsc_0165-edit.jpg


20090613213100_dsc_1581-edit-edit.jpg


20080911171719_leroy_the_longtailtit_by_messiahkhan.jpg


Plenty more on my website. All the exif should be intact. Obviously the small version arn't great to judge a lens by, but it should give you some idea of how close etc you can get with the 300mm and 1.4X TC. :)
 
Some fantastic images there! i need to get rid of my mk2n then i think one of these will be next.
 
Look at the Tokina 300mm f2.8 if you can find one. Superb lens. The image below is at 420mm, f4, 1/60", ISO400 with my 7D.

Also below is a comparison between different lenses by a very respectable Japanese website.
Mine is the 2nd from the left: Tokina ATX 300/2.8 (not the II)

robinlow800.jpg


TokinaSigmaandCanoncomparison.jpg
 
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