Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon) USA

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

very good with 2x converter (canon iii)

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

takes teleconverter canon 2x iii very well on 5d2 and t2i, much better the canon 100-400L but much heavier (you will need a mono pod or tripod if you use it for a long time)

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

Exceptional image stabilization, very sharp focus and great image quality. I thought the focus was a bit slow, the lens has no focus limiter, especially with a 1.4 extender. The lens hood is flimsy and doesn't attach well either. For the caliber of this lens it should come with a solid lens hood. Still a great lens though.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

This new OS version is outstanding. I felt like I was taking bit of a chance when I bought this lens but am very happy I did. It is a great value alone as a 300 2.8, but with the zoom it is in a class by itself. It is also surprisingly small considering it is a zoom lens.

Image quality is fantastic, even wide open. Photos are sharp and contrasty with great, neutral color. It works extremely well with the Canon 1.4x vII, making it even more versatile. Comparing the overall quality to the Canon 300 2.8 IS it is only very slightly softer wide open, but that lens is the sharpest I have ever used, hands down. It definitely is not so soft as to be a deal breaker and stop me from using it for nighttime sports.

I was surprised how well the optical stabilization works. I have been able to hand hold as low as 1/30 a second with consistenty good results. In my opinion it is even better than the IS in the Canon 300 2.8 IS, which is saying a lot.

The build quality is fantastic. Both the focus and zoom are very smooth with just the right amount of resistance (and they both turn the same direction as Canon lenses). Recently I had a mishap where my lens fell on a concrete floor from about 4 feet and it suffered no ill effects at all except the lens hood cracking in half. The hood is plastic and flimsy, and should be of much better quality for this type of lens. The hood on the older versions is better, but unfortunately it does not fit this version (Boooo!). The tripod mount is solid, and I love the handle, but I wish it rotated a little smoother. I would also prefer it if a strap attached onto the lens body like the Canon as opposed to the tripod collar.

The autofocus is very fast for a third party lens of this type, even in low light. The Canon AF is faster and does track better, but this lens is a close second. I'm finding only a few out of focus images with fast action compared to the Canon 300 2.8 IS. That being said, the versatility of having the zoom makes using the Sigma well worth it for me. It has almost completely replaced my Canon 70-200 2.8 IS for sports.

If you are thinking of buying this lens for sports or wildlife I would definitely recommend it.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

I've only had this lens for a few days and I can't believe how nice the quality is, both the build and optics almost completely justify the price.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

Very good sharpness wide open, excellent around a 1/3 stop more. Lens is well-constructed and feels it. If you want something that is light or small, this IS NOT IT. OS, as usual from Sigma is outstanding. AF is a can be a little slow going from MFD to infinity, so chipping your focus or some presetting will help. Zoom ring operates smoothly. Takes the 1.4x TC with very, very little hit in IQ or AF speed - excellent at 4.5 (so faster, more reach and better OS than the revered 100-400). 2x is a little soft at 5.6, very useable at 6.3 and very good at 8.0, but AF speed takes a slight here for sure.

Lens lacks a limiter which would really make the AF system smoke, but certainly not a major negative. I don't feel the weight is overbearing but I like heavier lenses. A solid tripod or monopod will be very useful useful for some.

Overall, great range covered by the lens and takes TCs well, so, IMO a better value than a 300 2.8 prime as you get a zoom and flexibility.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

I use this lens with a EF 2XII in order to get at 600mm and also to stay at that magic threashold of f5.6 when the Canon AF is active. The main use for this lens is wild birds photography and the fact that I can zoom out helps me when larger birds, such as ducks, come too close to me.
Using this lens with 7D gives the advantage of 1.6 crop factor, so that sometimes the bird's image fills the frame completely, and no cropping is needed. However the sharpnees and color saturation is not as good as when I use this lens with Canon 5DII. Somehow I have the feeling that this lens is at its maximum potential with a full frame camera.
In the last four days I mounted this lens with EF2XII exteder on a Canon 5DIII and since then I can't stop chasing birds. It is almost like this lens was designed for 5DIII. The improvement is unbeliveable. I can count the feathers on a blue jay and the colors are well better than I ever got with the older cameras.
I use this lens on a tripod or at least a monopod. Yes, it is heavy but when you mount this lens on a good camera the results are quite impresive. A Canon with somehow similar features will be double the price so I didn't see any reasons for spending that money. I gambled and it paid back; this is only my second non-canon lens. I still experiment with this lens and so far I am very pleased with it.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

Very pleased with how sharp the images are at 300mm - especially considering the price. I had to compromise, since the Canon 300mm f2.8 is now $7200. But so far, I am very happy with the results.I've shot three football games with the Sigma 120-300mm OS mounted to a Canon 7D. It tracks action very well. The flexibility of the 120-300 mm zoom means I now take very few images with the second camera I carry (Canon 5D with a 24-105mm f4 IS or 70-20mm f2.8 IS).I shot one video sequence of a team intro at 720p on my 7D mounted to a Manfrotto video monopod. It looks great.This lens is very heavy and has a very solid build quality. However, Sigma says the lens is splash resistant. I assumed wrong that there would be a rubber gasket on the lens mount to provide a better seal with the body, as on the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS. Since this lens will mostly be used outdoors, I hope the lack of the seal won't let dust or moisture into the camera body.The tripod mounting arm is very sturdy and comfortable to use as a carrying handle.Considering how solid this lens feels, the lens hood is a disappointment. It feels like cheap plastic and I'm wondering how long it will last.Overall, this is a great value for those of us who can't afford $7200 for a new Canon 300MM f2.8 IS, and want the flexibility of a zoom lens.

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

I purchased this lens for sports photography. I used the lens once at a night time football game shooting at ISO 2000, F2.8 at a 320th on my Canon 7D. The results were poor with less than 5% in focus. I went back to my Canon 70-200 II. I did not shoot any daylight photos so I can't comment on that

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

Wide open this lens is great! I had the previous version of this lens & everything about this lens including finish has been done right. 4 stop OS works great! Have not seen any CA or ghosting & wide open this lens is sharp. This is my second one, because OS on the first was jumpy. Both lenses were tack sharp wide open. Sharpness & paint finish were my only gripes with the older model. This lens is Top Shelf!

Comments about Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM AF Lens (For Canon):

Sold my Canon 300 f2.8 IS for the Sigma 100-300 f2.8 OS for the 4 stop IS and the flexability of having a Zoom and glade I did. The Lens is just as sharp to my eye even though technically is not. I would say it is equally as sharp as my Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II. Also when used with the Canon 2x III the two lens are equal in sharpness, which for me is saying a lot! This pleases me because my intent was to use the 2x III a lot to get out to 600mm at f5.6 since this is where most of my wildlife pictures are taken. The ability to back off some with the zoom is a great asset when wildlife sometimes gets closer than normal.

The OS works as advertised and is a big improvement over the 2 stops that I was use to. I also found the using my Brush Hawk allows me to get much sharper pictures at lower shutter speeds just as it does with all my IS lens. Even more so than using a tripod! Noise level from the OS is just a little louder than the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II but less than my 500 f4 IS.

Tracking I feel is good enough for 90+ percent of any sports you may shoot. Of couse it does slow down with the teleconverter as most lenes do.

Love the lens hood as well as the easy on and off of the lens cap. Easily able to take on and off with hood attached. The lens has a smaller diamiter than the Canon 300mm f2.8 and fits very nicely in my backpack making room for other gear which I was not able to fit before. Also love the built in carring handle / lens mount which I use a lot. As far as wieght is conserned, it all depends on what your use to. Not heavy when compared to the 500mm.

All in all the biggest plus was saving over $3000.00 over the new Canon 300mm f2.8 IS II which was what I was origionally going to get. Also think that this is a much better alternative to the Canon 200-400 f4. Unless you have an expensive Pro-body you will loss autofocus with that lens using a 2x TC which will give you f8 at 800mm. Try this lens out! You have nothing to lose and can return it in 14 days!