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Sigma 300mm f/4 APO Tele Macro HSM
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Review Date: Jun 7, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $310.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp. Amazing bokeh. Easily removable tripod bracket. Inexpensive.
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Cons:
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Screw-driven.
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This is about the nicest 300mm f/4 (for my needs) that I'm aware of. Mine is in Nikon F mount, so it doesn't have the HSM motor of the Canon version. It's a shame Sigma has stopped making this lens. I'd love to see an updated version with their HSM motor, but zooms dominate the market now. I far prefer a prime that does one thing really well over a zoom that does many things passably well.
Sigma are the king of bokeh, IMO. They seem to have a really consistent take on what makes attractive bokeh. I don't know if it's the 9-bladed iris or the optics themselves, but I love the look of "Sigma bokeh" and it keeps drawing me to Sigma lenses. Here's an example of this lens wide open:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_jackson/3602225858/
It's always so smooth and creamy. It almost never devolves into something busy. That said, I did manage to grab one test shot with this lens where the bokeh went a little busy, particularly in the top left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_jackson/3601412153/
So they aren't a magic bullet, but overall I really love Sigma bokeh.
This lens has the standard Sigma quick-release tripod bracket. I tend to hand-hold a lot, so this is a big deal to me. The Nikon version of this lens has a removable bracket, but it's very hard to remove.
Overall this lens is everything I expect from Sigma. It's built well, it performs exceptionally well and it has a wonderful look. I couldn't be happier.
Some notable specs:
Length: 195mm / 7.67 inches long
Weight: 1190 grams / 2.62 pounds
Takes a 77mm filter
1.2m / 3.93 feet minimum focus
1:3 reproduction ratio
If this seems like a lens that meets your needs I can't recommend it strongly enough.
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Sigma 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM
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Review Date: Jun 7, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $310.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very sharp. Amazing bokeh. Easily removable tripod bracket. Inexpensive.
|
|
Cons:
|
Screw-driven.
|
|
This is about the nicest 300mm f/4 (for my needs) that I'm aware of. Mine is in Nikon F mount, so it doesn't have the HSM motor of the Canon version. It's a shame Sigma has stopped making this lens. I'd love to see an updated version with their HSM motor, but zooms dominate the market now. I far prefer a prime that does one thing really well over a zoom that does many things passably well.
Sigma are the king of bokeh, IMO. They seem to have a really consistent take on what makes attractive bokeh. I don't know if it's the 9-bladed iris or the optics themselves, but I love the look of "Sigma bokeh" and it keeps drawing me to Sigma lenses. Here's an example of this lens wide open:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_jackson/3602225858/
It's always so smooth and creamy. It almost never devolves into something busy. That said, I did manage to grab one test shot with this lens where the bokeh went a little busy, particularly in the top left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_jackson/3601412153/
So they aren't a magic bullet, but overall I really love Sigma bokeh.
This lens has the standard Sigma quick-release tripod bracket. I tend to hand-hold a lot, so this is a big deal to me. The Nikon version of this lens has a removable bracket, but it's very hard to remove.
Overall this lens is everything I expect from Sigma. It's built well, it performs exceptionally well and it has a wonderful look. I couldn't be happier.
Some notable specs:
Length: 195mm / 7.67 inches long
Weight: 1190 grams / 2.62 pounds
Takes a 77mm filter
1.2m / 3.93 feet minimum focus
1:3 reproduction ratio
If this seems like a lens that meets your needs I can't recommend it strongly enough.
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