Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

DieHarder · 30th January 2006

Hi, thinking of getting this lens to bring for travelling, most probably without tripod or monopod. Anybody uses this lens on 5D, care to share experience on its usefulness and its focusing speed? Thanks.

GENO · 30th January 2006

its a good lens if u can make full use of it.

obrag · 30th January 2006

Its a pretty good lens for the price. I just picked up one for my wife's 5D. The anti-shake works well with it. Here's a handheld (with no support) test macro shot using the 300mm end @ f/5.6 and 1/20 sec (yes, 1/20) shutter, on autofocus:

obrag · 30th January 2006

Originally Posted by obrag

Its a pretty good lens for the price. I just picked up one for my wife's 5D. The anti-shake works well with it. Here's a handheld (with no support) test macro shot using the 300mm end @ f/5.6 and 1/20 sec (yes, 1/20) shutter, on autofocus:

Forgot to add, shot taken @ ISO 400.

phantasia · 30th January 2006

heya,

I haf the non-DG version of this lens. Its a pretty good lens for the money. I use it handheld all the time with the 5d (just crank up the ISO if you need to). Colours are good with good lighting. But sometimes there appears to be colour-shift, resulting in more "cool" images than it should be.

Focussing is decent outdoors in good lighting, but simply dun expect much from it in low-lighting, as the focussing just cannot make it then. The macro mode is pretty useful for larger critters such as dragonflies etc.

All in all...i think its quite a good lens, but just dun expect miracles given the price you paid for it. For some samples of the colours from the lens, can take a look at my gallery, the 1st 4 pics are taken with the 70-300 non-dg.

Hope this helps.

blurboiboi · 30th January 2006

How is this lens line up against the KM 75-300mm??

tokrot · 30th January 2006

Originally Posted by DieHarder

Hi, thinking of getting this lens to bring for travelling, most probably without tripod or monopod. Anybody uses this lens on 5D, care to share experience on its usefulness and its focusing speed? Thanks.

Yes, I am using the earlier version. This is the upgrade version of APO II. Definitely worth it. You can click on my galleries for APO II samples.

http://www.pbase.com/tokrot/singapore_zoo

http://www.pbase.com/tokrot/dynax_bird_park_shots

http://www.pbase.com/tokrot/wakeboarding

But beware it hunts at low light.

obrag · 30th January 2006

Originally Posted by blurboiboi

How is this lens line up against the KM 75-300mm??

There is currently a thread running on dpreview.com Minolta DSLR forum comparing various 70-300 lenses. You can find it by doing a search on the string:
"Lens Shootout (4) 70-210 & 70-300 zooms compared"

DieHarder · 30th January 2006

Thank you all for your feedback, appreciate it

30th January 2006	#1
DieHarder Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Posts: 149	Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Hi, thinking of getting this lens to bring for travelling, most probably without tripod or monopod. Anybody uses this lens on 5D, care to share experience on its usefulness and its focusing speed? Thanks.

30th January 2006	#2
GENO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Teddy Bear Land Posts: 2,859	Re: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro its a good lens if u can make full use of it. __________________ Take both its legs down first, then cuts its tail, next is shoot between its eyes:devil:

30th January 2006	#3
obrag Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 845	Re: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Its a pretty good lens for the price. I just picked up one for my wife's 5D. The anti-shake works well with it. Here's a handheld (with no support) test macro shot using the 300mm end @ f/5.6 and 1/20 sec (yes, 1/20) shutter, on autofocus:

30th January 2006	#5
phantasia Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The North Posts: 632	Re: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro heya, I haf the non-DG version of this lens. Its a pretty good lens for the money. I use it handheld all the time with the 5d (just crank up the ISO if you need to). Colours are good with good lighting. But sometimes there appears to be colour-shift, resulting in more "cool" images than it should be. Focussing is decent outdoors in good lighting, but simply dun expect much from it in low-lighting, as the focussing just cannot make it then. The macro mode is pretty useful for larger critters such as dragonflies etc. All in all...i think its quite a good lens, but just dun expect miracles given the price you paid for it. For some samples of the colours from the lens, can take a look at my gallery, the 1st 4 pics are taken with the 70-300 non-dg. Hope this helps. __________________ Flickring

30th January 2006	#6
blurboiboi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Loyang Posts: 2,244	Re: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro How is this lens line up against the KM 75-300mm??