Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras

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Below is our lens test data. To find out how to use these graphs look at this article: How we test lenses On day 2 it was a Dog Day of summer and I was on a Photo walk in New York with the Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 DG Macro The lens seems to be coated well, tire rubber from burnouts comes off well without any issues although i recommend using 2 cloths.

The 70-300mm zoom telephoto was made in numerous versions and generations by sigma - 4 versions listed in the legacy zooms section, two in the current zooms section (see here for the current "apo" version. After using this lens again after 2 years and now able to use it correctly, I can say that it has to be one of my favorite lenses ever. Its not perfect by any means but when you use it for events, wildlife and even portraits it works so well. Images will be at the bottom for reference.The lens is quite lightweight and feels at home on full-frame as well as cropped sensor DSLRs. It is mostly constructed of plastic, which is typical for lenses of this price point. The plastics used are high in quality and the lens feel very well put together. The metal lens mount will stand up to many lens changes. A powder coated finish has been applied to the barrel of the lens and this looks very smart out of the box. From my own experience I know this coating is prone to showing marks under normal use, so it may not look so smart in time, depending on how you look after it.

This is a very average lens overall , if you can find it cheap enough it might be worth trying . In good light , and no macro , it might serve your needs well enough , certainly worth a try if your on a budget . This is where this APO lens differs from its sister, utilising two extra SLD (special low dispersion) glass elements in the front group, making three in total. SLD glass is denser, accounting for the slight increase in weight over the lesser lens. Sigma is a company that has some great products. This lens is a good example of their work. With its low cost and decent performance this lens is great for budget conscious amateurs to “prosumers”. It does not have the focus speed of the higher priced lenses but that it is forgivable. The Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens will works with APC-C to full frame cameras and perform admirably. Please Support The Phoblographer These views of the local Lifeboat along with a relief boat show the versatility of this type of zoom lens.https://www.ephotozine.com/article/tamron-af-70-300mm-f-4-5-6-di-ld-macro-interchangeable-lens-review-13028 This lens is one of two virtually identical offerings from Sigma in the extremely popular 70-300 category in which almost all manufacturers have at least one contender. Although still in the budget sector, this one, the APO version, is the better of the two offerings. We take a look at what you get for your money. Distortion is very well controlled at 70mm producing 0.07% pincushion distortion, which is an almost negligible amount. At 200mm the amount of pincushion distortion rises to 2.62%, which may be noticeable in some circumstances, but more often than not, will not cause any issues. Mission Complete, the review of the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens has ended. There is not much more to say, it’s a decent lens for a decent price. I do own this lens, so it will be used a lot. So let’s do a recap. Testing Due to the compact size and weight of the lens, it is one that you are likely to have with you when you come across something unusual. Wild hops are not common, even in Kent. 1/1600 at f/8, ISO400 and 300mm in Macro (close focus) mode. Canon 300D

Chromatic aberrations are very well controlled at the shorter end of the zoom range and will not pose any problems. Beyond 135mm, things go a little pear-shaped though, with chromatic aberration increasing, but not to an overly disturbing level. Imatest recorded a CA area of 0.7 pixel-widths at f/5.6 and 300mm, which shouldn't cause too many issues for most. Although the resolution tails off at the longer end of the lens, the clarity produced will still satisfy all but the most demanding photographers. If you want the highest quality stop it down to f10/f11, f8 seems to have a bit softness but wide open f4 its soft but not too bad.

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It is a little bulky compared to the Pentax 55-300 but not so much that I would consider an issue for me. Best sharpness is a stop or two down from wide open. I bought this lens about 6 months ago to use with my Canon 450D and have been consistantly disappointed with the results. I find that for subjects more than about 20m away, it usually does not focus accurately. The photos are not crisp and sharp as they should be. I have frequently been ashamed of my photos that are not nearly as good as photos I have taken previously. People tell me I have camera shake, which I do not believe as I have never had a problem with camera shake before and even at 1/1000 sec or using a tripod, the problem is the same. The Sigma lens does not autofocus accurately especially for further subjects. Sigma's Optical Stabilisation system helps greatly with being able to take images in low light conditions and at slower shutter speeds. I was able to take sharp hand-held shots most of the time at shutter speeds of 1/15sec at 70mm and 1/30sec at 300mm, which is pretty good performance and will help greatly to tame camera shake. i would recomend this lens to anyone looking at a good entry level lens but there a just a couple of tiny little niggles. The lens extends by around 2inches when zoomed in and focusing extends the lens barrel further. The front element does rotate during AF, which may pose issues for people wishing to use polarisers or graduated filters with the lens. The zoom action is smooth and offers just the right amount of resistance to make selecting the desired focal length easy, without risking zoom creep when the lens is pointed downwards.