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Archive 2013 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S

  
 
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S
The-Digital-Picture.com posted a very informative review on the new Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport Lens.

Here is an excerpt:

"The Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Lens is very sharp throughout the entire focal length range and across the entire 35mm frame with a wide open aperture. Stopping down 1 stop to f/4 slightly sharpens the full frame corners at 120mm and the center of the frame at 300mm. Overall, the improvement in image sharpness seen at f/4 is not significant and stopping down is not necessary for excellent image sharpness from this lens. You buy a lens like this to use at f/2.8 and this lens gives you what you pay for." - Read full review

The Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport Lens is available for $3,599:

B&H Photo | Adorama



Jul 25, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Jman13
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Sigma has seriously stepped up its game the past few years. It's always had really good macro lenses and the occasional good other lens, but the past few years they've started stepping into the elite category. Their recent high end lenses in many cases are the best in their range. Nice to see them doing great things.


Jul 25, 2013 at 02:41 PM
lowa2
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


I'm surprised that he says the IQ is different between both. His samples with the S with the converters look like they were not focussed properly.


Jul 25, 2013 at 02:42 PM
acoll123
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Has anybody compared the Sigma 1.4X and the Canon 1.4x III teleconverters for use with this lens? I already have the Canon version but would get the sigma if it worked better with this lens.


Jul 25, 2013 at 03:33 PM
safcraft
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Jman13 wrote:
Sigma has seriously stepped up its game the past few years. It's always had really good macro lenses and the occasional good other lens, but the past few years they've started stepping into the elite category. Their recent high end lenses in many cases are the best in their range. Nice to see them doing great things.


+1
I can vouch for the 30mm f1.4 for crop sensors. Very very nice lens with no similar competition!



Jul 25, 2013 at 03:51 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


acoll123 wrote:
Has anybody compared the Sigma 1.4X and the Canon 1.4x III teleconverters for use with this lens? I already have the Canon version but would get the sigma if it worked better with this lens.


I'd like to know too- I'm betting that the Canon would offer improved optical performance (or less degradation, if you look at it that way), but I'm wondering how the AF will hold up between the two.



Jul 25, 2013 at 04:02 PM
OntheRez
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


I can't be the only sports shooter that finds the idea of a 120-300mm f/2.8 zoom very attractive. 300 primes are great, but my work is too fluid to use a single FL. Fred I guess you steered so much traffic to TDP that it went down.

I'll check his review latter. I keep hoping to hear from people using it in the field particularly on the question of how well it acquires focus at high ISO and f/2.8 (obviously in poor light).

Robert



Jul 25, 2013 at 05:09 PM
Scott T
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


I'm ready to spend the dough to rent it...I'm really curious how it compares to the Canon 300/2.8 IS gen 1, which is in the same price range. That it is even in the discussion with the 300 gen 2 is pretty amazing. Sigma is really bringing it!


Jul 25, 2013 at 05:34 PM
Arka
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Jman13 wrote:
Sigma has seriously stepped up its game the past few years. It's always had really good macro lenses and the occasional good other lens, but the past few years they've started stepping into the elite category. Their recent high end lenses in many cases are the best in their range. Nice to see them doing great things.


+1 - I'm using their 150mm Macro and their 35mm f/1.4 on the Nikon mount. Absolutely stellar equipment.

Arka C.



Jul 25, 2013 at 06:11 PM
John Caldwell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


What's the quality if the Sigma IS system as compared to the (excellent) current Canon IS designs, would you happen to know?


Jul 25, 2013 at 06:19 PM
dkmiles1
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Roger over at lens rentals says that optically there is no difference between this current version and the version it replaced... He did say the big difference is the ability to adjust the AF with the sigma Dock, but apart from that they're optically identical and given the previous version is still available AND is $1,200 less, it's worth a look.... My last Sigma lens was the 70-200 OS f/2.8 and it was AWESOME - I only traded it for the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 ii because of weather sealing... Credit has to be given to Sigma lately, from the 85, to the 35 to the 70-200 and now the 120-300, they have REALLY stepped up their game!


Jul 25, 2013 at 07:22 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


The EX 120-300/2.8 OS (pre-S) is a fine lens, but it's not as good at 300mm as the Canon EF 300/2.8L IS. OTOH, it covers a lot more territory.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1157717

For field sports, I generally use 1DIV + 70-200/2.8L IS II and 1DX + 500/4L IS. If I had the EX 120-300/2.8 OS S, I'd put it on the 1DX, and put an EF 400/2.8L IS on the 1DIV. OTOH, I don't have an EF 400/2.8L IS or an EX 120-300/2.8 OS S, and so I'll make due with what I have.

OTOOH, the EX 120-300/2.8 OS S does look good...

Edited on Jul 25, 2013 at 07:56 PM · View previous versions



Jul 25, 2013 at 07:42 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


dkmiles1 wrote:
Roger over at lens rentals says that optically there is no difference between this current version and the version it replaced... He did say the big difference is the ability to adjust the AF with the sigma Dock, but apart from that they're optically identical and given the previous version is still available AND is $1,200 less, it's worth a look.... My last Sigma lens was the 70-200 OS f/2.8 and it was AWESOME - I only traded it for the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 ii because of weather sealing... Credit has to be given to Sigma lately, from the 85,
...Show more

Did you find the Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS that close to Canon's? Everything I've read about the thing claims that it's soft as hell wide open and nicks it for autofocus speed and accuracy compared to Canikon. Gorgeous looking lens with stellar build quality and a great price, though.



Jul 25, 2013 at 07:49 PM
dkmiles1
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


johnctharp wrote:
Did you find the Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS that close to Canon's? Everything I've read about the thing claims that it's soft as hell wide open and nicks it for autofocus speed and accuracy compared to Canikon. Gorgeous looking lens with stellar build quality and a great price, though.


the sigma was not/is not as sharp as the canon - but it's damn close, at least my copy was damn close, I'd go as far as to say if I put up a photo shot at 2.8 - you and I as pixel peeping photographers might notice a difference, but the average client won't be able to tell... So in that case the sigma is "good enough" and when you consider that you can almost buy 2 sigmas for the price of one canon, unless you really need weather sealing or if you're printing murals the size of the side of a building, then get the canon, but the sigma will serve the needs of 90+% of the photographers out there...



Jul 25, 2013 at 08:03 PM
Jim Victory
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


acoll123 wrote:
Has anybody compared the Sigma 1.4X and the Canon 1.4x III teleconverters for use with this lens? I already have the Canon version but would get the sigma if it worked better with this lens.



Not sure about the new 120-300 but my new 180 macro won't accept the Canon version III TCs.

Jim



Jul 25, 2013 at 09:20 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


johnctharp wrote:
Did you find the Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS that close to Canon's? Everything I've read about the thing claims that it's soft as hell wide open and nicks it for autofocus speed and accuracy compared to Canikon. Gorgeous looking lens with stellar build quality and a great price, though.


dkmiles1 wrote:
the sigma was not/is not as sharp as the canon - but it's damn close, at least my copy was damn close, I'd go as far as to say if I put up a photo shot at 2.8 - you and I as pixel peeping photographers might notice a difference, but the average client won't be able to tell... So in that case the sigma is "good enough" and when you consider that you can almost buy 2 sigmas for the price of one canon, unless you really need weather sealing or if you're printing murals the size of
...Show more

Thanks for the response!

Have one shop here that wouldn't recommend the Sigma for anything, on any mount- I wouldn't be so critical if I were using the lens primarily for sports/action, but I'd be using it as my primary lens.

Still nice to see people with positive experiences with Sigma lenses. I stand ready to give them my business when they truly exceed Canon with a product that I can use .



Jul 25, 2013 at 09:22 PM
skibum5
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


Not bad, although it doesn't match the 70-200 2.8 II or 300 2.8 IS II or I in his tests (which also means that 2x TC on it might get kind of dicey, while usable on the canon primes). It is much faster, but more similar, to the 70-300L http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=844&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=5&API=4&LensComp=738&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=3 Similar in the center f/5.6 or f/8, a bit better mid-frame f/5.6 and better corner f/5.6 for the sigma certainly. I dare say that at f/8 the 70-300L almost looks a trace better though. Not that the two lenses are used for the same things. And thing is that his 70-300L was not so hot IMO, since he had the 70-200 f/4 IS + 1.4x TC III beating it at 300mm and at 70mm bare which are not results replicated by most others. So a typical 70-300L probably looks better than that at f/5.6 and comes a bit closer to the sigma.



Edited on Jul 26, 2013 at 12:43 AM · View previous versions



Jul 25, 2013 at 10:01 PM
gocolts
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


I really want this lens...I've had both the 120-300 OS and non-OS in the past...but I'll wait to hear the failure rates from Roger in a year or so before deciding. Still not confident enough based on it's track record to book an out of town trip to a location with photography as the priority, and only take the 120-300 as a telephoto.




Jul 25, 2013 at 10:32 PM
willis
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


In the TDP review Sigma lists an extra FLD element as one of the changes in the 'S' lens but the old OS version also had 2 FLD elements IIRC.

I'm not convinced that it has changed at all optically though the fine tuning via the dock is likely helpful in getting the best from a given copy.

It looks like a nice lens but I agree that the failure rate will make or break this lens. Sigma has to halve the failure rate to compete with Canons less reliable lenses. Shame it's got even heavier too.



Jul 26, 2013 at 02:55 AM
Wahoowa
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · TDP reviews Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S


I'm hoping it'll be available used at an attractive price.


Jul 26, 2013 at 07:26 AM
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