|
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO Fast Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras | 
| Brand: Sigma
Category: Photography
List Price: $1,600.00
Buy New: $1,379.00
as of 9/5/2010 06:29 PDT details
You Save: $221.00 (14%)
Seller: Ace Photo
Rating:  8 reviews
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: No
Maximum Focal Length: 300
Minimum Focal Length: 100
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 12.8 x 6.4 x 6.1
MPN: B000A7B9TO
Model: B000A7B9TO
UPC: 085126134457
EAN: 0085126134457
ASIN: B000A7B9TO
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | Large f4 aperture with minimal light fall-off for bright images | | • | Inner focusing system allows attachment of petal-shaped hoods and filters | | • | Special low dispersion glass for high image quality | | • | Focal length: 100 to 300 millimeters | | • | Designed for Pentax digital SLR cameras |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This telephoto zoom lens provides a large F4 aperture at all focal lengths. With minimal light-fall-off, superior peripheral brightness is ensured. It's the ideal lens for digital SLR cameras.The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range.This lens uses two pieces of SLD glass elements in the front lens group and another two in the rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration. High optic performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range.This lens incorporates an internal focusing system, which eliminates front lens rotation, allowing the use of a Petal-type Hood and more convenient to use of circular polarizing filter. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use.The use of an Apochromatic design and 4 SLD (The Special Low Dispersion) glass elements (two SLD glass elements are utilized in the front lens group and two in the rear group) provide for full correction of chromatic aberration and a high level of optical performance.The DG designation applied to certain newer Sigma lenses (mostly wide-angle and wide zoom type lenses) indicates that the lens is especially suited for use with digital SLR cameras. The DG lenses feature improved (more even) light distribution from image center to edge, especially at maximum aperture, compared to conventional fast wide-angle lenses. This is important in digital photography, but is also useful in 35mm photography, especially when slide film is used. Also, the shorter focal lengths are desirable, because most digital SLR cameras have image sensors whose dimensions are considerably smaller than a 35mm negative (usually by a factor of 1.3X to 1.7X), making the lens' angle of view equivalent to that of a longer lens on a 35mm camera.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Good lens, inaccurate Amazon description April 1, 2010
GJL (Madison, WI)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a fine piece of glass, sharp enough to rival primes at 300mm. Good choice for aircraft, birds, and other odds and ends in flight. Some birders will want a bit more reach but 300mm on a APS-C camera works rather well in many cases.
Very good sharpness and IQ at f/4 and only improves from there. Easy to handle given its heft.
Size and weight are considerable but those attributes are very subjective. I'm certainly not carrying it around on my neck all day but I am investigating the BlackRapid system. That may be fine way to handle two bodies - one with a whacking great telezoom.
Please note that the Pentax version does NOT support HSM, in spite of the Amazon title and listing.
I submitted to Amazon a request for correction that included the URL for the Sigma Web site page that noted the Pentax exception for HSM. Amazon rejected my correction, indicating that Sigma's Web site did not substantiate my submission.
You all can check Sigma's site for yourself. No point in arguing. Perhaps Amazon has a model no other retailer does? Ummmm. You decide.
Now I understand that I must research Amazon's product descriptions for myself. I've no interest in asking my bank to reverse credit card charges.
The lens, though, is fine. The fifth star is removed owing to the lack of HSM.
Excellent telephoto for portrait January 20, 2010
T. Luong (Lake Forest, CA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I got this lens a year ago from Amazon for a little more than sevenhundred, much cheaper than today price. Somehow HSM is not implemented on Minolta or Sony mount so AF is a little bit slow on my Sony Alpha A200, not super fast like on Canon or Nikon mount. Couple with 1.4X extender, I tried to take some birds but AF is slower than w/o the extender, I got like 50% of success rate. Chromatic aberration is visible if 100% crop. So my experience with birds were not very successful, but I used this lens to take my wife portraits and it did a good job. Colors were vivid and pleasing.
I think I used this lens wrongly for bird photography, I know that Canon 400 2.8 is good for that, but hey it cost maybe 5 times this lens cost. Overall I like this lens and I will keep it for a while.
 Excellent optical and build quality. May 30, 2009
Gary Craggs (Houston, Texas)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I can only add my unreserved enthusiasm for this lens to the technical reviews out there. I had one off ebay, rarely used it and sold it when strapped for cash, but then spent months craving it back. Finally a wonderful person in my life bought me a new one from Amazon and since when I've taken hundreds of sporting and street journalism images.
It handles and balances really well on my Nikon D2X, has solid zoom ring in a great position, smooth movement of manual focus override if needed, near silent use, non-rotating and non-extruding front element, removable tripod clamp. It feels like its hewn from solid volcanic rock and glass -in stark contrast to the Nikon 18-200mm which has essentially and almost literally fallen apart after 3 years. The long end of this is so much sharper, brighter to compose, and richer in quality (as well as longer in telephoto) than the Nikon. The wide end of that will soon be replaced by a 16-85mm. Highly recommended, and can't find the slightest niggle to complain about.
Sigma 100-300mm F4 EX DG IF Zoom Telephoto August 7, 2007
D. Hills (Ottawa, Ohio)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This lens is the third Sigma lens I have purchased for my Sony A100 digital SLR. The lens is very well constructed. The mount is all metal. Auto focus is quick and accurate. I especially like the fact that all movement is internal. At 3 pounds, this is not a lightweight lens but it does not change length when zooming or focusing. This keeps the system very well balanced. The tripod mount is somewhat small compared to the Sigma 50-500 zoom but it secures the lens very well. Image sharpness at the minimum focusing distance of 71 inches is excellent. Image sharpness on distance shots at f4 is not good but improves at f5.6 and is very good at f8 thru f16.
I also own the Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3 EX DG autofocus zoom lens. The image quality of the 100-300 zoom is better at all focal lengths than the 50-500 zoom. Image quality with the 50-500 zoom is best at 300mm but the 100-300 zoom is better.
Sigma 100-300mm F4 - Great lens for the price. July 31, 2007
John Nelson (Livingston, Montana USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this lens because the Canon 100-400mm was alittle to much for my pocket book. I have had the lens over 5 months and used it mostly outdoors with a monopod. A monopod is a must, Living next to Yellowstone Park I use this lens alot, however it is alittle heavy, and needs alot of light to get a perfect picture. Its not a L lens but it has its qualities that are very close, this lens doesn't get the attention it deserves for outdoor photography.
If you are looking for a good F4 lens without spending over $ 900.00 this is a good alternative. If you shot in low light tripod is a must.
Overall I am very happy with this lens, I would give it 5 stars if it handled low light better.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
|
|
|
| |
