Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

When it worked it was fine, less than 12 months in and the focus mechanism stripped.

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

I really enjoyed using this lens, the reach is great and i found it to generally take nice photos with much better image quality than the standard bundle lens's. However after only a 1.5 years it gave up. The auto focus gear stripped which after searching online is a common problem. I had probably only taken 200-300 photos on 6 or 7 seperate occasions which is really disapointing. Manual focus is still accessible but thats not much use.

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

This is the first DIGITAL spec lens that I have found worth fitting to your DSLR. My collection numbers some 12 lenses, if only they made an OLYMPUS 4/3 fit, I would be first in line for another. As Sigma fail to supply my need, I will just have to be content with one fitted to my SONY. [Yes I started a new kit so as to use this lens]

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

I got this lens as my first upgrade from the kit 18-70mm lens with my a350, the improvement in build quality and image clarity right out of the box was quite suprising for a lens that isnt exactly top of the range.

I have been able to produce some of my best images with this lens, its even proved to be quite a good portrait lens at mid focal lengths (admittedly if you dont mind standing about 15 feet away from your subject). The image quality is amazing for this price, but it is a little soft fully extended at 300mm, as a tip stick to about 280mm max(and stop down to about f8).

The macro setting is handy for close focussing but be aware this is not a true macro lens - the macro facility only works from 200mm to 300mm and the lens extends significantly making it a little difficult to handhold for long periods of time. I have used the macro facility on the lens fairly extensively and can say that the results arent bad when using a tripod but lack a little sharpness compared to a proper macro lens, still not bad for a bonus feature of a telephoto lens however.

To be critical my least favourite part of this lens would be the weight and extension at longer focal lengths - not good when your out and about trying to get shots handheld, and the fact that the front element rotates considerably when focussing - making the use of a circular polariser difficult (but not impossible). The auto-focus tends to hunt mainly when you are standing a bit too close to your subject a step back will often go from a hunting lens to a nice sharp picture.

I gave only 3 stars for auto-focus because there is one area where it may not seem immediatley obvious for a telephoto lens but the AF performance in low light conditions is very poor, you will have to manually focus and be prepared for long exposures (tripod is recommended).

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

I bought this lens for my Sony Alpha 330 DSLR, as I wanted to have an entry level telephoto lens, without having to spend thousands of pounds on it.

It turned out to be exceptionally good , especially if you take the price in the count.

It produces very nice, sharp image with no chromatic abberations due to having extra low dispersion glass elements inside.

The lack of built in stabilisation wasn't the problem as Sony Alpha DSLRs all have image stabilisation (steady shot) built into body.

It also has a Macro switch that you can use between 200-300mm focal lengths.

The macro mode is really good and it's a nice feature to have in this lens (although it might require a good tripod !).

So, over all this is excellent choice if you are looking for a telephoto lens and your budget is bit tight, or just looking for an entry level kind of things.

The only thing you should take in mind before buying is the fact that this lens is quite heavy (due to extra low dispersion glass in it), which can make it difficult to use on cameras without built in image stabilisation. In this case you might want to look at similar model but with OS in the name (optical stabilisation).

Comments about Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super DG Lens - Sony/Minolta Fit:

This lens works a beauty on my Sony Alpha 350. Excellent AF and The macro 1:2 works amazing.
You can get great results. Build and quality is outstanding and general package, of lens, hood and case is one not to be missed.
I only have an 18-70 and this was the real first lens i got for the camera and if you are in need of a versatile telephoto this is the one for you.