Best Digital SLR Cameras

The high performance telephoto zoom lens is ideal for digital SLR cameras. This lens has two SLD glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group It is able to shoot with maximum magnification 1: 2 at the focal length of 300 mm. It’s the ideal lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Pick up a used MF Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 70-300 for half the price
I bought this lens for the auto focus, not for me but for my wife who wants auto-everything. My intention was to replace my Tamron lens with this one provided the performance was similar. First the good news: on a tripod using mirror lock-up at f8 and 300mm results can be quite good. Sharpness not as good as the Tamron lens but surprisingly better than some older primes I tested it against. The APO designation shows with a bright subject too – I tested it with pictures of the moon and while the Tamron produced the most detail if the exposure was pushed in post processing an obvious blue halo appeared around the moon in the Tamron shot where there was absolutely no such distortion at all on the Sigma lens (note that the halo was not visible on the Tamron pic at normal exposure though). However, you don’t buy this lens for tripod use, you buy it for casual use and the 300mm length is utterly useless for this in my opinion. I found it impossible to get a decent shot at moderate shutter speeds. The lens is very difficult to hold steady because it doesn’t have ENOUGH weight to counterbalance a hand underneath and is incredibly susceptible to vibration as a result. The image wide open in bright sunlight was so soft that I had to switch to MF because I was convinced the AF wasn’t working. In doing that you find another problem – there’s virtually no damping at all on the focus ring, making manual focus trying at best. Contrast all of this with the stately and criminally ignored Tamron lens which handles like a dream and is very sharp throughout its range. With its perfect balance and solid build I can shoot as low as 1/125 at 300mm and still get a good shot. The Tamron’s achilles heel is in very high contrast areas, but I can live with that thanks.

Buy the Sigma if you are on a very tight budget and have to have auto-exposure or auto focus, there’s really no competition then. Just don’t expect greatness (or much at all handheld at 300mm) and you won’t be disappointed. Btw I’m not a Sigma hater – I have an Sd14 which is a great *photographer’s* camera and the 15-30EX is a very good zoom lens, but the consumer end of the Sigma range is a bit hit and miss. I’d take an 18-50DC over the 70-300.

4 Stars Great lens for the price
After much flip-flopping over my desire for perfection and budget restraints, I thought I’d gamble $200 and try this lens. I was extremely pleased with my Sigma 105mm Macro lens, so I gave them another shot. While I found some unacceptable CA in 300mm in, of course, high contrasting borders, mostly I have found some pretty sharp and fine images. This lens is well worth the money, and if you can’t afford the $450 for ,say, a Nikkor 70-300, then take the plunge and you will not be disappointed in adding this lens to your arsenal.

3 Stars For handheld shooting, go with the Nikon 55-200 VR instead
I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars for this. It might not be fair, but while on it’s own it might rate 4 or even 4.5, given the alternatives–specifically the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX for ~$20 more–I have to go with 3.

I’ve been shooting snapshots and kids sports on a D40 and D60 with the Nikon 55-200 VR for a few years, but was looking for something with just a bit more reach. I have the Nikon 70-300mm VR on my wish list, but at $400+ I can’t really justify it at the moment so I thought I’d give the Sigma a chance. It only took a few hours and some test shots side-by-side with the 55-200 VR to decide to pack up the Sigma and return it.

The Sigma is heavier, longer, and louder than the 55-200 and unlike the 55-200, the filter and front of the lens rotates and extends in and out while focusing. I might be willing to live with that if the Sigma let me get a bit closer. The thing is, shooting handheld and comparing the results I realized very quickly that 200mm with VR cropped down yields photos at least as sharp as 300mm without VR… and that’s just shooting against stationary objects.

I can imagine if you were shooting stills with a tripod or wanted the “macro” functionality for insects or other small subjects the Sigma might be the way to go, but for the average soccer mom/dad whose main use for a telephoto getting closer to the action, just grab the Nikon 55-200 VR.

Meanwhile, I plan to use the credit from returning the Sigma to get a head start on saving up for the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR.

5 Stars Sigma 70-300mm DG APO Macro Sony @lpha
This my first review on amazon and for a good reason, this lens is worth every penny, just look at the sample images left by others. The Build quality is superb, the glass not being top notch (you would pay hundreds more) is also very good. You want regret it. Bought it a few months and been using since than, no problems so far. Give it a shot.

5 Stars Awesome
If I had the money I’d still buy this lens

Why well it does everything a thousand dollars lens does and more:

Its affordable…

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