For the price you can't go wrong. Professional photographers might want to look elsewhere, but for consumers this lens is great. Macro function is good, although limited to the 200-300mm end. I read a review in a magazine that reported that their tests showed that this lens is sharpest at F8. It was a great tip. Set your aperture to F8-F11 and you can't go wrong.

Can be very slow to focus in low light, and hunts alot in macro mode.

Mine is the "F4-5.6 II" version. Good all round value lens. Nice for impromptu portraits and macro. On a tripod the 300mm end is very useful e.g. sitting on the beach near the water photographing surfers.

Customer Service

They actually reply to emails. :-)

value for money good range 80-300 light but still give you the feeling of a good build quality. Sharpness is ok.

AF could be faster

After replacing my old Pentax Powerzoom 100-300 I went bought this great sigma lens. It is a small lens with acceptable 4/5.6. Of course it can't measure with pro lenses, but I don't want to carry 2.5kg and spend $2500 ( I rather make holidays with the difference! :-) ) The AF is slow, but I was even faster that the pentax lens. When you use it on 300, the lens doubles the size and it looks quite fragile, but it has always return safe from my trips (desert/jungle/beach/sea....)

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

Pentax SMC-FA 100-300 Powerzoom

Price, Macro, Weight

Goddam jerky zoom, cheap feeling macro switch

Read other reviews for more technical info. In my limited experience, this is a good lens, however after my first day using it, I knew I would be forever frustrated with the lack smooth motion when zooming. I don't know how much I paid for it, it came as a kit with a 24-70 Aspherical.

Customer Service

Cameta camera was awesome when my 24-70 didn't work when delivered. Great place to buy gear.

- Overall sharpness (as good as the Nikon 70-300ED, even better at 300.) - Excellent macro, zommable from 200 to 300. - Excellent balance between light weight and rugged construction. Yes, it's "plasticky" but, unlike any of the Nikon G-series lenses, it doesn't "feel" like you're handling a toy. - Particularly indicated for a DSLR, thanks to a very hand-holdable 105~450 range and unheard of 300~450 macro excursion.

- Image gets slightly softer over 280, especially at edges. Still, much sharper than what you'd get with the significantly more expensive Nikon 70-300ED. - The zoom ring is not smooth, especially in the mid-range. - AF hunts like crazy when in macro and it's still a little on the slow side even in regular mode. - The regular/macro mode switch feels too cheap, use care when switching.

I bought this medium tele-zoom on EBay (brand new from World Trade Camera in NYC) because of the positive reviews I read on this site and because it was *unbelievably* cheap ($114.) A friend of mine bought the APO version of this lens from a similar outfit on EBay for some $30 more. I thought I had made a mistake and I was considering returning the lens and getting the APO version, when my friend and I decided to test both lenses side-by-side (we both have a Nikon D100 + regular SLR bodies such as F100, N80 etc.) on the same subjects and in the exact same conditions. To our utter amazement, we found out that the DL Macro Super is overall noticeably SHARPER, while the APO slightly wins (but not by a big margin) on color faithfulness. Needless to say, my friend is exchanging the lens for the DL Macro Super version. The macro is simply SWEET. You can zoom it from 200 to 300, which of course on my D100 becomes a 300~450 range. Not bad for a macro lens!!! Anything comparable to this in a pro lens would cost you a fortune and basically you would only pay for the extra one or two f stops, which you would probably never use in a macro shot.

Customer Service

Never used so far.

Similar Products Used:

- APO version of same lens - Nikon 70-300ED

Sharp - sharper than Nikkor 70-300ED at all focal length. Use it as a 70-200 and it shows no weaknesses. Equal performance, and faster than the Nikkor 29-105mm from 70-105 Little Distortion Fast enough at 100mm (f4) Macro function useful lightweight hood works filter size 58mm PRICE PRICE PRICE

Macro function can only be used at 300mm Focuses Slow - Takes abt 1.5 s to go from one end to the other Focus hunts ! so sometimes U'll take 3 seconds to get an object sharp. Focus ring undamp Zoom Ring not smooth ( no creep though )

An unbeatable lense for its price.

Light weight and smoth in manual focus and zoom ..

The only compliant I can think of is the autofocus is a little slow compared some of my other lenses .. (ex Nikon 300mm f/4 ED)

I use this lens when out shooting macro work. when set in macro mode and used on the Nikon D100 the lens takes on a new persona as a macro 450mm lens .. It is clear and crisp and has very little distortion. I have won awards using this lens.

Customer Service

No problems

Similar Products Used:

promaster 70-300mm Nikon 70-300mm ED

Sharp, lightweight, good macro function, a bargain for travellers.

warm cast

This is a superb lens for traveling light. Close down to F8 and you get excellent sharp images from 70-200. The bonus 300 end is of course not too good, but I think that would be too much to ask for from a lightweight lens. I've made a close comparison with the Nikon 70-300ED lens on my S2pro. The Sigma is slightly sharper at all focal lengths(more at 300) but produces a light yellowish tone while the Nikon was more neutral in color. Be sure to get the newer "macro super" version which allows macro from 200 up. This lens does not have a solid construction, but the nikon is not any better.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 80-200/F2.8 Nikon 70-300 ED Nikon 85/F1.8

1:1 Ratio at 45cm. Ask yourself, how many lens in the market can give you 1:1 at this distance.

Bad AF

I've the version for EF mount. I love the way it focus down to 1:2 at 90cm. If I need that extra magnification, I add the dedicated 2+ Sigma Close up lens and have a 1:1 at 45cm. This lens is very sharp at the 70~180mm range. It is even sharper if you shoot with 300mm in the marco setting. On the other hand, the AF is slow. My lens have AF problem when I set to the Marco mode at 300mm. Finally, the AF just stop working completely. It bother me a bit, but it is still OK since I only use it with a tripod and use MF most of the time. I've this lens for 4 years now and it does not show any other mechanical failure or fungus growth. For its price, it is excellent value.

Customer Service

No, I rather buy a new one than to spend 1/3 of the cost price to repair the AF.

Similar Products Used:

EF 80-200mm F4.5-5.6

Light, sharp, Macro

build, slow at 300mm

I bought this lens for my wife to use on her Canon Rebel X and I found myself wanting one too. The chrome we have gotten back are sharp and contrast with nice edge sharpness. The macro function works nice and gets fairly close (a true macro it’s not). The lens is light with a nice build quality although it will not take a beating. It’s a good buy if you’re looking for a lens to carry around with you at the zoo and other places.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Tokina 75-300, Nikon 75-300ED

Price/performance, macro

All those that allow for the low price.

First of all, the high price is due to the 8% cutoms & 25% tax among others. I bought mine used 2 years ago. Optical performance comparable to the similar Nikkor. Bought it for the macro. Mine fell head first (while fully extended) from a height of 2,5 metres. Broke the zoom mechanics and dislodged one element. My man at Hassy fixed it for ~USD40. Slow and loud af, manual a bit too loose. Turning front element's weight is a bit hard on the batterries. Soft corners. Zoom ring too easy between 70-100, too tight between 200-300mm. Noticeable pincushion at close focus. So no problems one couldn't make do with. Effective aperture stays 4 up to about 125mm. Good colors. Hood's teeth break off easily. Overall, it's a very good lens for the price and possibly a best buy in its category. Gives photogs on budget like myself cheap tele and macro in one.