Very sharp for a cheap lens, especially at long focal ranges Well built Good package (includes lens hood and pouch) Heavy (!)

Noise of AF, slightly slow 300 mm is not really 300 mm, more like 220-230 mm My lens has no creep prevention

I used this lens a lot on a trip around Venezuela recently. I am very delighted with the sharp pictures at long focal ranges especially shooting birds handheld. Last week I took pictures during a Barcelona game in Camp Nou with this lens, again using it at long focal ranges. I am very pleased with the sharp pictures of the action. The lens is a bit slow in the AF in combination with the AF-point on my EOS bodies. But choosing the AF-point manually, the AF is sufficient when shooting action like the aforementioned soccer and birds. The lens is cheap, but you get a good package, including hood and pouch. I like the fact that the lens is heavy. It helps me shooting handheld at long focal ranges.

Customer Service

Used to upgrade the motor to the EOS 30 body. It took a couple of weeks, but it was free of charge.

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Similar Tamron lenses Sigma 20 mm 1.8 EX

Cheap and versitable.

Heavy lens. Hard to hand hold steady at 300mm. Other weakness is customer service. See below. Filters are pricey because of size.

Lot of lens for the price. Generally seems to perform well with faster films and good lighting, like outdoors. I got this as my only lens for now and it was probably a good choice because of its range.

Customer Service

This became a problem. After 2mos the lens had to go for repair for due to locking up. It was in repair for 3mos and customer service was non-responsive to questioning the status of the lens. At one p

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For the price, this is one of the best lenses I have ever owned. I''ve read the other reviwes and read one gentleman''s comment that the Sigma lense falls short, but I''ve found that this simply is not true. When compared to the price and performance of a Nikkor lense for my camera, there can be no comparison. This lense is great value for excellent optics and performance.

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Fantastic quality, great range, light, very durable, good price.

Lens creep when hanging from your neck. No macro mode. (3ft min. focus)

Best multi-purpose lens that I've found yet, especially for outdoors.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-80, Sigma 28-80, Canon 70-200, Tamron 28-300, Sigma 170-500

Extremely versatile, due to wide range of focal lengths. Suited for travel photography where you do not need to be bogged down with equipments & super quality picture.

Lens creep when hanging from neck. Significant flare, vignetting & barrel distortion, almost all hyperzooms suffer the same problem.

A zoom lock mechanism will be appreciated as it will eliminate the lens creep problem which can be very exasperating, it is also useful for taking angle shots--Sigma should consider improving this aspect. Multi-purpose but aperture f3.5-6.3 too small or slow which limits it capibilities but I suppose this is inherent in 'best-value' zooms. Overall great lens for the CASUAL photographer.

Customer Service

Never need any.

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Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro EX; Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX.

Huge focal range, compact, lightweight, optical quality, ideal for casual travel photography

Distortion, some vignetting, aperture in tele range not sufficient, not ideal for architecture photography

I borrowed this lens for a trip to the desert to complement my Sigma 28-70 f/2.8. I was simply astounded at the optical quality even at maximum aperture of this zoom. The prints in normal enlargement (i.e. for any practical purposes) are not distinguishable to the shot taken with my 28-70 zoom (Fuji Velvia 100, Minolta Dynax, tripod and lens hood) and visibly better than any from Minolta consumer zooms. I noticed a generally warmer tone in test pictures compared to other lenses. This makes it an ideal travel compagnion for the casual photographer, who likes to enjoy quality memories from his vacation. I'll borrow it again, Mom!

Similar Products Used:

Minolty consumer zooms, Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 EX

-Wide zoom range
-Extremely sharp image at all range
-very, very fast focusing with AF assist beam
- light weight
- around 90 degree at most rotation of zoom ring
- good price
- Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens

- focusing ring rotates during AF
- Lens creep when hanging from neck. *Easily fixed by attaching a wire(detachable) between the body and the lens hood/cover
- no HSM
- no macro
- common hyperzoom problem(e.g. distortion)

I'll stick with this for travelling. Suggest using ISO400+ film especially for telephoto and nigth scene.

Customer Service

- got some clicking sound when zooming after some misuse. Quickly and nicely fixed by Sigma service centre.

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Zoom range
Price

Slow auto focus.
At 200 to 300MM clarity is very poor.(seems out of focus.)
Aperture freezes.

Happy til the aperture frooze.
Let me see how good customer service is.

Customer Service

I will be calling
regarding a frozen aperture.

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Canon 70-200L 2.8
Canon 28-135 IS

Lightweight, compact, wide range that covers most of the casual photographer needs, affordable, works great with filters that need a fixed angle like circular polarizer (because of the IF).

Large minimum focusing distance (no macro option),
Lens creeps out when camera is hanged on the neck, very slow auto focus.

Since I purchased this lens I almost never hook the old 28-80 back on my camera. However, the large minimum focusing distance introduces a problem when the desired composition is a close subject in wide angle, or when room size is an issue.
Recommended mostly for travelers, outdoor photography and people
close-ups when enough light is availabe.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 28-80 F3.5-5.6

All in one, relatively fast, don't know yet about the sharpeness

CHEATS!!! In a BIG style! It is not 300mm!!! A bit heavy but that's not the point

WOW!! Thay claim 300mm but it is merely 220!!!! I did direct one-to-one comparision with Canon's 75-300 on EOS Elan II body and I could not believe what I saw! When I zoomed my Canon to what Sigma claimed 300 it stopeed barely at 220mm!!! Who will join me in the class action.. :-)) That's not fair. If I will decide to return it I will still pay $50 extra only for the experience that Sigma is short! I will see how will it look on my D30, that is coming in two days...

Customer Service

N/Y

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-80 USM
Canon 75-300 USM