Quality of cheap sigma 70-300 APO.

[madmacs]

Haiz.....at the end of the day, its the person behind the camera who depress the shutter button that counts, no point having all the L, A, C, D, Z grade len when all you take is craps

er..yes i think we have all established this fact over the past months in various threads. let's assume for a change that the person making the choice of L vs non-L vs 3rd party lenses already takes decent photos.

 

[madmacs]

I am intending to get this lens...but was in doubt of the quality of the build when my friend told me that Sigma lens coating comes off easily. Is it true now?

And can anybody contribute a macro shot from this lens? Want to see see...

i heard that it was the body coating that comes off, not the multicoating of the lens itself. if its just the body then it won't affect picture quality. i don't have a sigma lens myself but one of my friends has a sigma and it still looks fine.

 

[ericpooi]

I am intending to get this lens...but was in doubt of the quality of the build when my friend told me that Sigma lens coating comes off easily. Is it true now?

And can anybody contribute a macro shot from this lens? Want to see see...

Not sure about the coating.. didn't own that long enough :lol:

But for some big telephoto zoom lenses, there is a tendency to fog in the middle element, not sure why though...

Personally I use Tamron 90mm delicated macro lens, with regards to macro shot, I tried it out before but it was a far cry from Tamron 90mm or Sigma 105mm (deleted all of them ), nevertheless, cannot complain the quality from a non-macro lens...

Hope the above helps.

 

[medallion]

Not sure about the coating.. didn't own that long enough :lol:

But for some big telephoto zoom lenses, there is a tendency to fog in the middle element, not sure why though...

Personally I use Tamron 90mm delicated macro lens, with regards to macro shot, I tried it out before but it was a far cry from Tamron 90mm or Sigma 105mm (deleted all of them ), nevertheless, cannot complain the quality from a non-macro lens...

Hope the above helps.

Nothing beats dedicated stuff, just like computer graphics cards...

So that means to say that the macro only so-so only ar?

Actually my main concern is the lens coating...coz my friend kept reminding me about it.

 

[ericpooi]

Again... it voice down to individual demands on the picture right? If you talk to a serious macro photographer, then this lens is certainly not acceptable, but to average user, it is impressive enough. Same goes to the 300mm scale for birding... it is good enough as you can see from my postings but not excellent compared to my 400mm pics.

Not sure how true that the lens coating will drop over time, but sure about some middle element fogging up in some lenses though (can't say for this lens as it didn't happen in my case previously).

 

[DeSwitch]

To me, I will use this lens for the time being because I will seldom need the long range. The reason I bought this is its a good lens to me and its there when I need it and also to try out macro photography. Maybe in future if I'm into birds which is quite unlikely, then I will get a better L lens. For macro, the expert here all recomend dedicated Macro lens which is what I'm going to get real soon as i'm already hooked on Macro.

i'm a beginer and a poor one. Poor man use Value for money Lens until they are rich enuf to get a L. No complain so far on this Lens considering the low cost spend on it.

 

[medallion]

Again... it voice down to individual demands on the picture right? If you talk to a serious macro photographer, then this lens is certainly not acceptable, but to average user, it is impressive enough. Same goes to the 300mm scale for birding... it is good enough as you can see from my postings but not excellent compared to my 400mm pics.

Not sure how true that the lens coating will drop over time, but sure about some middle element fogging up in some lenses though (can't say for this lens as it didn't happen in my case previously).

Icic...

Of course i dun expect a good macro capability from this lens lor...coz i am a student, dun have much money to splurge on.

 

[madmacs]

maybe you can pm squalle. he uses this lens to shoot butterflies. here is one of his threads. he may have used the 70-300 for some or all of these pics.

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=117980

 

[syc77]

sorry but just want to borrow this thread to ask a question.

sigma's 70-300 vs nikkor's 70-300.
which one's better for zooming?
correct me if i'm wrong but sigma's len is a better choice for macro,yes?
pls comment/feedback if u have owned/used these 2 lens before.

Thanks

 

[sriram]

The sigma gives you 1:2 magnification with no extension tubes etc. The Nikkor (last time I used it) gives approx 1:4 magnification, i.e., half of the sigma. Macro mode on the new sigma works only between 200-300mm zoom, otherwise the macro switch is disabled.

 

[Pr0t0type]

Hi guys, the Sigma 70-300 APO DG is my first telephoto. Took a few rolls using this lens, i notice something which i am not sure if its the lens issue or a characteristic of a telephoto.

For example, when i took a shot of a group of people standing side by side, i notice only the person which i focus (i use center af pt) is sharp, the rest of the people are blur off even if i use f.8. I find it hard to capture both the subject and people/things beside it sharply.

Is it a characteristic of a telephoto?

 

[sriram]

Post a sample image, then you will get more help.

 

[ricohflex]

amazing at f8, as depth of field may be enough
if they stand side by side in a straight line, should be same plane of focus
and sharp as well

the only lens I know that can do the effect you mention is perhaps
the famous Minolta VFC 24mm (MD mount for X700) which is an amazing lens.

VFC may stand for variable focus control

 

[DeSwitch]

Hi guys, the Sigma 70-300 APO DG is my first telephoto. Took a few rolls using this lens, i notice something which i am not sure if its the lens issue or a characteristic of a telephoto.

For example, when i took a shot of a group of people standing side by side, i notice only the person which i focus (i use center af pt) is sharp, the rest of the people are blur off even if i use f.8. I find it hard to capture both the subject and people/things beside it sharply.

Is it a characteristic of a telephoto?

Did you switch the macro switch back to normal? Just my 2 cents thought.

 

[Nike]

Yes, worth owning this len. Just got it less than a month... started to like it...yet to take any Macro.... will do it this weekend.
Previously own a similar len for my SLR,... but can't be used for DSLR. Although I have a 70-200 f2.8L, but heavy to carry around. thus decided to spend $320 to get a sigma 70-300 APO for non-serious shooting.

:thumbsup:

 

[Xpose]

i heard that it was the body coating that comes off, not the multicoating of the lens itself. if its just the body then it won't affect picture quality. i don't have a sigma lens myself but one of my friends has a sigma and it still looks fine.

yes, this one i confirm its true, my 70-300 zoom marking on the len is peeling off and some of the rubber grip is starting to get flaky......dunnoe why also ut nvm coz this len only costed me a 100 bucks:bsmilie:

 

[squalle]

samples here:

random pick of my collection, shot using sigma 70-300 APO macro II (watever the model is, it's just 1 version short of the DG version)

my lens' body still ok. not flaking, still quite pristine despite my macro shooting out there in nature reserves

as comparison:

and
1 more at the post below, cant put more than 5 images

both pics above were shot using sigma 70-200 f2.8, with extension tube, cant remember how long the tube was

 

[squalle]

 

[sriram]

Looks like this thread has served its purpose. More pics from the sigma at the nature forum from my trip to botanical gardens here:
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=170054