Are there any Sigma 120-300 users here?

NSNO

NSNO

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Rob
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I'm thinking of buying one to use with my 550D but wondered if the lack of IS would be a problem. I assume it wouldn't as I'll be using it for birds and aircraft using fast shutter speeds but views from current owners would be nice. I don't want to wait and spend more on the new version with IS if there's no need.

Thanks
 
Thanks for the reply, I should have added that I'll be using it hand held
 
Yip i use one and keep an 1.4 tc on it 99% of the time. See my flickr site, most of images of birds and animals are with this lens with the exception of the Osprey and Peregrines. Its a heavy lens and takes a bit of getting used to but when you do you can get some great results from it. I really need tthe zoom feature hence i never changed it for the Nikon 300mm f2.8.
 
markyboy.1967 said:
Yip i use one and keep an 1.4 tc on it 99% of the time. See my flickr site, most of images of birds and animals are with this lens with the exception of the Osprey and Peregrines. Its a heavy lens and takes a bit of getting used to but when you do you can get some great results from it. I really need tthe zoom feature hence i never changed it for the Nikon 300mm f2.8.
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Wow, some stunning shots on your flickr. Thanks for your input.
 
I got one use it either hand holding or on a bushhawk rifle grip. Heres a example from it.

IMG_3576.jpg


But thinking of selling it as I main use it at 300mm. Just need to find a good 2nd hand canon 300mm F2.8 first.
 
I use one on my D300s. Like any 300mm f2.8 it's big and heavy. :gag:

I use it mainly with a monopod but also I handhold quite often without the TC's. When I use it with the 1.4x TC I stick with the monopod. I also have the 2.0x TC, but results so far have been slightly dissapointing compared with the 1.4x.

Here's some shots handheld.

120mm @ f4.0

5296111265_bcb22cea87_b.jpg



300mm @ f4.5

5296705840_3509b38e9e_b.jpg



With 1.4x TC and monopod - 420mm @ f7.1

5360510172_444d035896_b.jpg
 
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Thanks for all the replies, I think I'll bite the bullet and order one this week.
 
Well done.....there is an OS version hitting the market, but as other have said the original model is superb. It may be heavy, but it is well balanced believe me. If secondhand models tempt you, make sure it's a DG version as they come with the larger TS-41 tripod foot which doubles as a carrying handle; the smaller affair attached to the non-DG is pretty useless apart from tripod attaching.
 
x777 said:
If secondhand models tempt you, make sure it's a DG version as they come with the larger TS-41 tripod foot which doubles as a carrying handle; the smaller affair attached to the non-DG is pretty useless apart from tripod attaching.
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Not entirely true. I've just picked up the non DG version which had a TS-41 on it, as plenty of people upgraded their tripod bush when the new one came out (Neil was one of them IIRC from his posts), and you can still pick them up second hand.

Would I want OS on it? Yup sure, for non sports work, but I'm not certain that it's worth what is probably going to end up as the £1,000 extra that I would have had to pay over my used copy.

It is possible to hand hold at some fairly low speeds, but OS would up my keeper rate - although that's probably more down to lack of practice with the lens at the moment.

All of the pictures on this thread were shot handheld, with the exception of the wolf where it was on a monopod, although I was kneeling for a couple:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=288972

Exif intact for speeds etc.
 
NSNO said:
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'll bite the bullet and order one this week.
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Just noticed this comment after I'd reviewed my post.

In view of that post I need to temper what I said, because I read that to mean that you are intending to buy a new copy.

I wouldn't consider a new copy of the lens to be good value at the moment for a couple of reasons:

a) You will get massive depreciation once the new version comes out (probably about May according to some sources).

b) Once the price of the new lens settles it will probably be around £2000-2300 ish, ie around 25% extra on the cost of buying new now, which is probably worth waiting for.

c) A second hand Canon 300mm non IS in good condition can be had for the same price as a new Sigma, if you don't need the zoom range.

In summary, if you are buying used at around £1000-1300 it's probably a good buy, if not have a rethink.
 
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DemiLion said:
Just noticed this comment after I'd reviewed my post.

In view of that post I need to temper what I said, because I read that to mean that you are intending to buy a new copy.

I wouldn't consider a new copy of the lens to be good value at the moment for a couple of reasons:

a) You will get massive depreciation once the new version comes out (probably about May according to some sources).

b) Once the price of the new lens settles it will probably be around £2000-2300 ish, ie around 25% extra on the cost of buying new now, which is probably worth waiting for.

c) A second hand Canon 300mm non IS in good condition can be had for the same price as a new Sigma, if you don't need the zoom range.

In summary, if you are buying used at around £1000-1300 it's probably a good buy, if not have a rethink.
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Too late!! I've already ordered one but in answer to the points you raise:

a) I'm not too bothered about depreciation as I plan on keeping it for a good few years unless I can't get on with it at all, in which case it will be sold before the new version comes out.

b) I don't want to wait for another 6 months+ for the OS version if I don't need it, plus I'm in a position to buy now which may not be the case in 6 months

c) I wanted the flexibility of a zoom

Thanks for taking the time to reply though, hopefully I'll enjoy the lens and if not I'll be selling it on quickly so the hit shouldn't be too bad as I'm getting a pretty good deal on it.
 
You're getting some nice shots with that lens Richard! ;)
 
DemiLion said:
Not entirely true. I've just picked up the non DG version which had a TS-41 on it, as plenty of people upgraded their tripod bush when the new one came out (Neil was one of them IIRC from his posts), and you can still pick them up second hand.
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nearly.. when i bought mine 2nd hand the thread in the tripod mount (was already a larger one) was stripped so i sent the collar off for rebushing, sigma sent me back another brand new larger one FOC :D
 
awp said:
You're getting some nice shots with that lens Richard! ;)
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Thanks Andrew, I'm trying (or so my wife says :D)! :lol:

The weather has been pretty grim and not condusive to nice long walks out in the Forest of Dean and Slimbridge (wildfowl reserve), but I have been on a few outings with the beast! I'm missing not having VR, but I do get away with the occassional handheld shot at lowish shutter speeds. Here's one at 1/200 sec at 420mm (with 1.4x TC) at f5.0, cropped from about 1/3rd of the frame.

5364911376_4db3070d43_z.jpg
 
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I've got one, and I absolutely love it! Puts a smile on my face every time I use it as well. I use it mostly for sports, where a fast shutter speed means IS isn't really useful. Having said that I was doing some motorsport at the weekend, and IS would have been handy when doing slow pans, but apart from that while it would be nice, to be it wouldn't be worth the extra cash.
 
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