Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 at
12:45 pm
SIGMA 4.0-5.6/70-300 DG NAFD… more >>
Rating: 
(out of 35 reviews)
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Review by S. Leggett for Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
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Wow, you will not believe just how good this lens is until you try it. It’s very rare that a product surpasses your expectations even when the majority of reviews you may have read are good, but this does trust me. Autofocus is fast and accurate and only very rarely gets caught ‘searching’. I shot about 500 frames at two wildlife parks recently and only a couple of times did it struggle to find the subject behind bars (and we all know what fun and games that can be!!)
Results are very sharp straight out of the camera and colour saturation I found was even better than the kit lens. You really will be getting pro quality results in no time with this baby. As for needing a tripod, what a load of old cobblers. Unless you’ve got seriously shaky hands you’ll have no problem getting great pictures. A couple of tips on this point, firstly try and make sure your shutter speed is at least equal to the focal length, for example if your at 200mm then 1/200 sec, or more if possible. If you think your on the limit for hand holding use the continuous shooting mode and whack off 3 or more frames, your bound to get at least one in sharp focus. If the light isn’t great just up the ISO – most of my recent animal shots were at 800 ISO and they look excellent.
A lot has been said about the noisy mechanics on this lens. Sure it’s louder than the kit lens but as for scaring off a herd of wildebeest two miles away, get real!!! Again you’ll have to trust me it’s not a problem.
Finally I’ve noticed that not all that much has been said about the macro mode on this lens. Guess what, I’m gonna rave about that too!! It really is superb. I’ve done a fair amount of macro on my D40 and whilst the images have always been vibrant from the kit lens the Sigma takes it all to a completely new level. Even when there isn’t a great deal of distant between subject and background you get fantastic shots, with those milky blurred backdrops seen on magazine pages. This is the real deal, and at this price a total steal. Go for it and have fun.
Oh, and one more thing, of course it bloody autofocuses on a D40. It says so in the description for starters, but if yours doesn’t you’ve either ordered the wrong one or it’s faulty in which case send it back.
Review by K. Davenport for Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
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bought this lens through amazon from 47th st photo in new york to use with a nikon d60, i received it in the UK two and a half days later(excelent service), i have to say i have only used it for a day but i am amazed at the quality of the shots especialy in macro mode the finnished pictures are professional like, but macro can only be engaged between 200-300mm but still great, unless you have a really steady hand a tripod is possibly required after 220mm , internal focus is fast and precise and depending what af setting you have your camera on ie continuouse for instance it can re-focus on something else if you move it , internal motor is louder than my nikkor 18-105mm but i dont think its as noisy as some of the other reviews indicate, what i am not keen on is the rotatinng element to focus as this is the reason i sold my 18-55mm kit lens , in genral a very good lens which is at least double the quality that i expected, some say you get what you pay for which goes to show how much we as consumers get ripped off as this is double what i paid for, personaly im glad i bought this and can recomend it just for the macro alone, i hope to take it down to silverstone in a couple of months for the renault world series and give it a proper field test and hopefuly review it after that
Review by Helen Evans for Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
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I read the reviews before buying this lens and must say I agree mostly with whats been said.
Firstly the lens was delivered within 4 days from the states, amazing considering the time it takes a package to be delivered in this country.
Works great with my D40.
The lens itself looks the business. Its quite big but has the feel of quality. I’m reasonably new to digital photography but was impressed with the images. The motor is not that loud, i can’t see what all the fuss is about. it focuses so quickly its hardly noticeable.
For me the lens is a great price, takes good images, looks good. Reckon it will last a good while.
Review by Emma Gorman for Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
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I’ve only had this lens for a couple of days, but so far I’ve been really impressed with the picture quality. I’m new to using Digital SLRs, and currently have a Nikon D60, with the 17-55mm standard kit lens. The sigma lens comes with a macro facility between 200-300mm, which so far has given great picture quality and detail, even without a tripod (although a tripod would definitely be recommended as the lens and camera together are quite heavy). I’m planning to use the lens for some nature photography, and for the money, I think this is a great buy, particularly if you’re new to digital photography and are not keen on spending hundreds of pounds on lenses. The autofocus also works well, and is not too loud for nature photographs (although the manual focus is easy to use if the noise is a concern). If you are an experienced photographer, then the difference between an expensive 70-300mm lens and this one may be obvious, but for a beginner, I couldn’t fault this piece of kit so far. Also, the distributor, 47th St Photo, is excellent, service is really fast and efficient.
Review by Richard Brittle for Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film Cameras
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Sigma have a good reputation I know but this was brought for a friends son who was looking for an all round, all in one (almost) lens for a sensible price – and he got it. This is a fine optic, not up to Nikkor but not far off given the price tag – good value.