Sigma’s APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG - any views??

dougdarter

dougdarter

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Douglas
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Hello,

I'd be grateful for anbodies views on this lens. If I want it at a very special price (£450), I have to pull the trigger in the next 48 hrs.

I am interested in AF speed, sharpness at 200m and 70mm, handling quirks, and general IQ.

This is for use on my new D300. I sold my Nikon 80-200 f2.8 a few days ago, because it would be tooooo heavy on this body, and that lens is going to be a hard act to beat.

Thanks in advance.
 
From what I've read the QC is a bit hit and miss but the good ones are an improvment over the old model. The old one was a little soft wide open but much better at f/4 and I think the new one is probably about the same.
 
Excellent - I've had two copies, the pre DG version was superb, and the newest MkII version is also excellent.

Avoid the MK1 macro version, its not as good optically as the DG or the MKII.
 
My ol' Sigma 70-200mm now resides in my brothers camera bag, but it was a cracking lens.

AF speed was fast with the HSM motor, sharpness wide-open at both ends was acceptable, and general IQ was excellent - most of the Granite City Rally 2007 shots on my website were taken with it. Handling - well, it's a fair old chunk of lens! Only slightly smaller and lighter than my 100-300mm f/4...
 
All this recommendation makes me want to pull my eBay auction..... I'll just sell the TC by the looks of things....

Yeah, it's a great lens, but not much smaller/lighter than the 80-200 Nikon. The APO non-DG is considered excellent, and if you find a sharp one [as I did], keep it [and if I can get onto eBay, I will! - Anybody else noticed eBay's down at the moment?]. The DG is equally good, but there've been mixed reviews of the early macro version, as mentioned above. Can't remember where I read them, but I researched my lens like crazy before committing.. The newest lens is of course superb, but pricey. All models have HSM [as quick and reliable as AF-S] and fulltime manual focus override. All come with a tripod mount [hello, Canon?..]
 
I had the previous version ( Macro HSM, not HSMII) and I am afraid it was not a good one and went back to Jessops. Make sure you get a good sharp one, mine was very poor.
Are you sure you would rather have the Sigma over the Nikon? The weight isnt really very different and I think you will notice a big difference in the build quality, not that a good Sigma will be much different in IQ
Allan
 
I had the non macro DG. I preferred it to my Canon F2.8IS. In terms of quality control with new lenses I've had more problems with Canon than Sigma :shrug:
 
i have the non macro version

it'll take a lottery win before i replace it.
 
allanm said:
I had the previous version ( Macro HSM, not HSMII) and I am afraid it was not a good one and went back to Jessops. Make sure you get a good sharp one, mine was very poor.
Are you sure you would rather have the Sigma over the Nikon? The weight isnt really very different and I think you will notice a big difference in the build quality, not that a good Sigma will be much different in IQ
Allan
Click to expand...

It's a pragmatic choice Allan, I'm on a pension, and I've spent far too much recently:lol:

On balance, I've decided to buy one.

Thanks for all who offered their experience.
 
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