sharp built quality focusing speed price lens hood is gorgeous looking.

when attached with 1.4x, the focusing sometimes goes crazy!

just bought this lens used and 1.4 x converter, and ran a roll of test shots. I must say this lens is adv-amateur & pro lens. Built quality is equivant to L series lenses. Focusing speed is very fast. I felt somewhat faster than my 70-200 f2.8 L. when using 1.4x, the sharpness is good from f8-f11. But you definately need tripod under certain conditions.

Customer Service

never used one.

Similar Products Used:

70-200 L

Build quality build quality build quality! Near-Canon L lens strength. Absolutely sharp-I would not say it is as sharp as Canon's sleeper lens, the 300mm F4L, but pretty dang close, and with this you get a zoom and something black that isn't as obtrusive to others. Super high contrast, and super fast focusing-VERY QUIET TOO!! Tried it on an EOS 3-wonderful. Oh yes, it is compatible with the EOS 3/EOS 1V!!!

I haven't had a problem with the zoom direction, and as far as getting 82mm filters, there are a few guys on ebay that sell high quality ones for cheap, but I do a lot of Adobe PS editing, so the only filters I use are UV's for protection and cir-PL's since Adobe can't take care of that.

Ever since this lens was first reviewed in Pop Photography, I have been trying to hunt one down used (I almost never buy my equipment new; I'm too cheap for that and I trust my fellow ebayer more than most of those two-timers in NYC (save Adorama, BH, etc). So when one finally popped up, I knew it was mine. This summer I shot about 20 rolls with this lens (alternating between it and a 24mm 2.8). All I can say is that this lens is SHARP. Folks, if you're getting unsharp results with this lens, either change your film (I shoot nothing but Astia and Provia, sometimes Velvia, and with print film I shoot only Reala and NPH400) or stop it down-not to reduce vignetting, but to increase your field of focus if your subject requires it! I hate how everyone thinks that using a lens means shooting wide open all of the time...maybe for sports and wildlife, but there comes a time for stopping down...

Customer Service

Never had to use it, but I hear they are wonderful, especially if you have problems with this lens and a newer type A canon EOS body like the EOS 3 or EOS 1V.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 80-200mm 2.8L, Canon 70-200mm 2.8L, Canon 70-200mm F4L, Canon 35-350mm 3.5-5.6L, and Canon 300mm F4L.

Build quality, 100-300 range, Optical quality. HSM (makes a non AF user want to use AF)

Size. Won't fit in most camera bags.

I'm not loyal to any brand. I've used many over the years. Every brand has some good lenses along with dogs. Although I've just run a couple of rolls through this lens, I can tell it is no dog. Early results show better than my 180mm 2.8 Nikkor at around the same focal length for sharpness, but perhaps giving some away in saturation. Don't expect it to compete with legends at 100mm range (I've used Leica, Contax, and Nikon 85 1.4), Though it still beats zooms I've tried at that range. The build quality is great. I usually shoot landscapes and manually focus. The focus mechanism works silky smooth with no hard stops (good idea). In AF mode, the HSM is fantastic. Bottom line: Early results show optical quality that is comparible to primes. This lens is a keeper.

Similar Products Used:

Older 80-200 f4 nikkor, Leica 90mm 2.8, Contax 90mm 2.8, Nikon 85mm 1.4, nikkor 75-150mm f3.5, Canon 70-210 f3.5 FD

Great value for the price.

This is a very sharp product. Its heavy but has great balance and a good tripod mount. I have developed 7 rolls of film with this lense and I''m very impressed. Image quality is sharp and clean. A must have for any one who shoots nature and sports and has a budget.

Customer Service

Not needed

nice box... hard to find ggod things when the final need is so dissapointing. who cares if it zooms and looks good.. it''s a siloned lenss.."looks great but aint real"

only after you take out of the box... before it''s doing really good as a paper weight

I was so very excited to open the large box and get my hands on this awesome looking hunk of glass... slaped him on my D1h and even a D1X.. and down hill from there.. I know alot of people are writing how Great this lens is sharpness wise resolution the whole bag of goodness.. well all the rugged good looks fast auto foucus and great price get tossed out.. if you do a simple test. compare any image to a nikkor 80-200 2.8 and your left sayin--- "what''s the deal"? it just don''t get even close in terms of sharpness.. and even if you can live with a little less resolution which is normal the real horror is if you find tack sharp on an image say an eye ball or the edge of a tree or anything.. it looks like you took an 80-200 and slapped an old nikon 1.6 conveter on it..remember those.. the auto focus convetter for your manual lens.. the images produced by this sigma 100-300 f4 lens are 85% there. and mine aint broke it''s just a fact you get the sharpness you pay for.. I have tried the sigma 300 2.8 and it''s tack sharp as a prime would be but it''s tack sharp and most important compares with the nikkor''s and canon''s in image made... so the 100-300 is on it''s way back to Adorama Fred is taking care of me a good guy!! and I''m gonna drop the extra 1,300.00 for tack sharpness not "tele close and cheap what did you want anyways sharpness"

Customer Service

so far so good

Similar Products Used:

nikon 80-200 2.8 sigmas 20-40- sigmas 70-200 2.8 canon heck too many to list val

f4 ! Zoom Range HSM APO SHARP Well Balanced, weight is heavy, but so well placed it doesn''t feel much different on your neck. PRICE PRICE PRICE PRICE PRICE !!!!!

Zoom ring would be more comfortable in opposite direction (if you can call that a weakness) Tripod Collar a little obtrusive to hand holding Large front lens means expensive filters, rear lens would have been nice with the exception of a CP.

This new Sigma lens originally appealed to me for two reasons. The reviews I heard about it seemed to suggest that it was a quality lens, that could compete with some of the big boys, and secondly it seemed to get you there at a bargin price. I orginally was going to get a Canon IS 100-400, but realized I would have to wait a much longer time to get it. So, I decided that it would be wiser to get this and a monopod. The IS is great, and I have used it a little, but the image quality of the Sigma just as good, and you get a constant f4 lens. The lens itself seems very rugged, although I am careful not to bang any equipment around. There are only two real downpoints that I see, one the zoom ring would seem more natural if it worked in the opposite direction, and two, the tripod collar is just a little too short. If it were a little taller you could more easily leave it on the lens when hand holding and not have it interfere with your grip. The auto manual override is really one of the greatest things about the lens. It''s nice to be able to override without hitting a switch and all, but the real strength comes from being able to have the camera off and focus easily while looking at possible shots. And then being able to turn on a shoot. The HSM works extremely well too. Now Canon just has to make cameras that advance and shoot silently. The autofocus, can be a touch slow when shooting a non-contrasty image. It can hunt in those cases, but when you have a clear good image it''s as fast as anything I''ve ever tested. After shooting a couple of rolls so far, I have determined this lens to be a great investment especially for a the avid amateur as well as pros who are on a little more of a budget. No one else, with the exception of Tokina really makes a lens that can compare with this lens at this price range, or even close to it for that matter. And the Tokina gives up a few of the conveniences to the Sigma and is about the same price. Also Sigma throws in a terrific case. All in all, this lens is great, and can be used through the whole zoom range by a steady hand. At 300 it''s a little tough but still possible with good results. Go out and get one.

Customer Service

Have never had the need for any of my Sigma products, but I am told that they are pretty good. Take care of the product and it will last.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100-400 IS L Tokina 100-300 f4 Sigma 100-300 DL Tamron 200-400

Zoom range, construction, constant aperture

None

First of all I am not a sigma fan, I took a chance on this lens due to budget, and the fact that Nikon didn't have something in this range and aperture. I bought helens and took it to a MLS Soccer game at the Meadowlands, I also bought the 1.4 ex converter. I have to say I got better result than I expected. This lens is not as fast as Nikon AFS, but it does the job. My pictures had good color, contrast & Sharp. I was impressedd for a third party lens, it performed very well. It handles very nice on my F100, and feels very solid. For now I am keeping it for sporting events until Nikon can come up with something better. Great value. Finally a sigma lens I talk well about, let see if last over time.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

NIKON AFS

Sharp throughout the zoom range-fast focusing on Nikon F-100-no "hunting license required"

Personally would like the zomm operation in opposite direction

Great lense. I'm glad I held out for it.

I recenly switched from a Minolta 600si to the F-100 (great camera!) and had to start all over. I tried the listed lenses: they all liked to hunt-the Sigma 100-300 did very little-and were dissapointing in focus speed. I noticed that the MB-15 definitly improves focus speed on this lense.
I haven't had problems hand holding this combination-it is a little heavy.
I do mostly basball and have not had a problem following field and runner play action.
If you are a serious sports clicker and can afford it do it.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 200-400
Sigma 50-500
Nikon 80-400

constant F4
fast autofocus in good light conditions
manual over-ride in AF mode
high quality construction; very rugged
Internal Focus Mechanism makes for easy use of polarising filters
Great Price Deal from BH
Sharp Images across the whole zoom range!
AF Compatible with 1.4 APO tele

Perhaps a little large and heavy, but still possible to hand hold with fast shutter speeds
Fairly expensive filter size
AF hunts a little on my EOS30 in low light conditions

Alot of research went into the decision to buy this lens; and its so new, that reviews have to be sought out!
I use it primarily for airshow photography, and it is able to keep up with the aircraft flying by at fast speeds; Where the jets are too fast, the manual focus over-ride is perfect for the job.
Easy when used via a tripod/monopod; the pod mount is well positioned and doesnt restrict access to the zoom ring. A great lens comparable in quality to the Canon 100-400L series lens but at half the price. AF is a little slower but the difference on my camera atleast is not enough to warrant the extras dollars!
Works very well with the APO 1.4x teleconverter with negligible quality loss; I havent yet tried it with the 2x converter.
A winner from Sigma in my mind, and highly recommendable for sports/aircraft photography, primarily suited to Tri/Mono pod use unless you have fairly strong, steady hands.

Customer Service

I received a fast, considerate accurate answer by return phone call. No complaints

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 30/Elan7e
Canon AF 28-135 IS
Canon 100-400L used;sadly not owned!)

The lens looks great, it has a good feel. The HMS is fast and good.
The focalrange 100-300 is great for outdoor sports.

A little heavy.

Nothing wrong with this lens. I lent this lens from another pressphotographer. And i loved it. The imeges are better the my 50-500, but not much. Some people say it should be at 2.8 but the it would cost WAY MORE $$$$. And it would be bigger and heavier. I have no problem with it being a f/4. Works for me.

Customer Service

no

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100-400 L