Sigma 100-300mm f/4.5-6.7 UC Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Covey22
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 1, 2002

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 1 of 10

Price Paid: $189.00

Summary:

This was my first telephoto zoom for use with a Nikon AF system. Note that Sigma sells this same unit rebranded under Quantaray for the Ritz Camera chain. The lens is a good bargain for first-time and casual shooters. It''s encompasses several popular focal lengths and gives you excellent images under good illumination. Sharp around f/8, f/11 with so-so contrast. From a build and handling perspective, it''s definitely a consumer zoom. It''ll hold up to casual use, but don''t take it out in bad conditions! Use fast film, flash and tripod as neccessary; the f/6.7 aperture at the long end limits your ability to shoot in low-light conditions. With that being said, I''ve taken some great photographs with this lens at the Newport Jazz Festival; excellent closeups at stage level of the featured musicians. Used properly, this lens will satisfy.

Strengths:

Good price/performance ratio. Good focal length coverage. Worked as advertised with Nikon F Mount.

Weaknesses:

Very slow maximum aperture at 300mm. Not a robust build. Not particularly contrasty.

Customer Service:

None needed.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: desmosome_2000
(Intermediate)

Review Date
January 23, 2002

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 10

Price Paid: $100.00 from Jessops (a UK store)

Summary:

This lens is great! Well done Sigma! Good sturdy quality with an impressive zoom, at excellent value for money! I use this lens for fine detail on landscapes, and as an ecology undergraduate, I find it sturdy enough to cope with the variety of weather conditions experienced in the Scottish highlands! I am not a fan of the hood, though, but hey, I dont have to use it!

Strengths:

Zoom range Weight Focusing is quick Manual focusing is good also c.f. Sigma 28-80

Weaknesses:

Lens hood (at a push) Doesnt work well with my (cheap) teleconverter Doesnt focus outside 2 meters - not a huge problem for me, but could be for others

Similar Products Used:

Pentax own 100-300 (very unimpressive for double the price!)

Customer Service:

None needed - touch wood!

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: bunyack
(Intermediate)

Review Date
November 29, 2001

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 3 of 10

Price Paid: $250.00 from LD

Summary:

For the money you pay, the lense is great. Decent sharpness throughut all focal ranges, but in low light, the slow f4 hurts, you need a tripod, or an f2.8!

Strengths:

cheap good focal range made in Japan

Weaknesses:

slow f4 zoom ring is awkward at times front rotating lense on focus focusing wonders at times

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Customer Service:

i''m about to find out,

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: KHALID SIDD
(Expert)

Review Date
September 26, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 4 of 10

Price Paid: $80.00 from ebay

Summary:

Excellent lens for a small price, I used it without tripod or monopod, result did''nt come out sharp. Then I shot couple rolls with my silk monopod results came out razor sharp. Its a great lens for taking people pictures.

Strengths:

sharp when use with monopod or tripod. light wt. and cheap

Weaknesses:

minimum focusing distance is 7 feet.

Similar Products Used:

tokina 80- 200 2.8, nikon 50 1.8, nikon 28 2.8

Customer Service:

never used

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Eddie Y
(Beginner)

Review Date
December 13, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5,
5 votes

Review 5 of 10

Price Paid: $150.00 from Wolf

Summary:

Great lens. Good for photographers who like to take pictures of animals and flowers.

Strengths:

Great Zoom. I can shoot birds flying on the sky at 1/2000 with extreme sharpness. I also shoot flowers with great depth of field. It really makes you feel like a pro when you look at the prints.

Weaknesses:

Be careful in mounting the lens. If you do it too rush, you can still mount it but the camera and the lens CPU won't communicate.

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Customer Service:

n/a

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.