Confirmation before I buy please

[Gonetae]

Hi folks, looking to make my first major purchase next week since buying my camera. I am intending buying a Sigma 70-300mm APO DG lens for my Canon 400D, but today at my local camera shop the owner was telling me to forget about the APO as it's generally junk and very soft throughout the focal range and should get a Sigma DL lens instead as it's much better. (and he just happened to have one in store, yeah right)

Basically it goes against everything I've read about the APO as I'd assumed it was one of the best choices in the price range for a 300mm zoom. Can someone please allay my fears and confirm this was just a salesman trying it on before I buy please.

 

[Graham_P_Clarke]

The APO is the one to have not the DL but a lot of people are saying the new canon 55 - 250 IS is better.

 

[AndyB]

I would agree - APO is worth having. I suspect it wa just a case of the sales guy wanting to shift the stock he had already.

 

[dav_83]

I have the 70-300 APO DG Macro (red ring) and I have also used a friends Canon 55 - 250 IS. I prefer the Canon as the IS makes it much more usable at the long end, this maybe because my hands aren't the steadiest! I have not changed as I want to upgrade to a higher spec lens soon.

 

[Gonetae]

Thanks guys, has put my mind at rest and I'll go forward with buying the APO.

 

[Welsh Dan]

I've got the 55-250IS and the 70-300 APO. You won't miss the extra 50mm if you get the canon, and it is a nicer lens to use as it focuses much more quickly. Someone on another forum asked the same thing so I took some comparison pics, the weather was poor though and I was too lazy to drive anywhere so I took pics out of the living room window as they were only to show sharpness/focal length.

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/55to250at55.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/55to250at131.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/55to250at250.jpg

http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/70to300at70.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/70to300at133.jpg
http://www.xen0phobiak.f2s.com/canonvsigma/70to300at300.jpg

Hope that helps .

 

[tbm]

Whatever you buy, I trust you won't be going back to "captain comission" at your local shop. And I hope you'll be telling them why, as well.

 

[Cranky]

I was advised the APO is the better lens and i'm chuffed to bits with it, couple of shots I took.

Still a total novice though

 

[Gonetae]

I did give a little consideration to the canon 55-250 IS lens but it's just a wee bit over my budget atm I'm afraid. Thanks for your thoughts though and cheers to all who posted sample pics.