Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM first impressions

[popo]

No more samples yet, but I gave the lens another workout today at the British Wildlife Centre (BWC). Leaving the 100-400L at home, I used it almost exclusively, with and without the Sigma 2x teleconverter.

Of course, this gets you up to 600mm zoom.

The following will re-cover some old ground, so I may be repeating myself a bit.

Negative 1: I knew this already, but if you need to go wider with a single lens, adding/removing the teleconverter in the field is NOT fun. In the end, to save time, I found myself stuffing the TC into my pocket without caps when not in use so I can switch it more quickly. Overall, in this application, I think the 100-400L would have covered 80%+ of the shots, and cropping would have adequately covered the remaining 20%.

Negative 2: It attracts people. The BWC is quite a camera magnet, but on this day I had the (physically) biggest lens. I got asked on several occasions what it was.

Negative 3: It is not parfocal with focal length. e.g. if you focus at one focal length, then change focal length, the focus shifts and you need to refocus. This is VERY annoying, because any zooming to track a subject will throw off the AF. For comparison, the 100-400L does not noticeably suffer from this. The 70-300L and 35-350L both do.

Negative 4: You can get 600mm... but it's f/5.6 then. And you still need to stop down one unless you like the soft look. 600mm at f/8 = high ISO at any sane shutter speed.

Negative 5: The hood still sucks. And so does the lens cap.

Negative 6: The minimum focus distance is rather massive...

Negative 7: It still weighs a lot...

Positive 1: 600mm for when you do need it.

Positive 2: f/2.8... ok, I've never liked f/2.8 zooms, but with more distant bigger subjects where adequate DoF is not limiting, I did play a little with seeing how bokehlicious it is. Seems good, but not perfect.

[Thomas]

Interesting report from the field, popo!
Lots of negatives, too. But I feel with you regarding #1: hassle of switching to/from TC, esp. with such a large lens. I don't know if you can do it, but I never managed that with putting everything on the ground. I can also relate to #6: MFD.

[Thomas]

Well, with the new(-ish) Sigma 120-300/2.8 OS (to be released feb/Mar) we get a list price of 3,600 USD
---
"Newish" because the optical fomula is said be remain unchanged...

[popo]

We'll have to see if the street price of the new one is more sane. For example, the one I have is listed on Sigma UK's website as SRP of £2499! In a look on a price check website, I see 3 known dealers selling it currently at £1599. I got it when it was £1960 from memory, and the price crashed when they first announced the new one.

[4xxxx]

Interesting read Popo, You mentioned the yellow beak bird shot at 600 mm with the 100% crops was not particularly good, I’m not sure what you would expect from 100% crop. If you shot a persons skin at 600 mm and cut a 100% crop, would it not look like a mountain face?. Personally I would not fault it.


Cheers

[popo]

The key point was that I was using high ISO in that example. So that wasn't good for pixel peeping ultimate detail.

[4xxxx]

Thanks for the info Popo, guess you can fault any shot with pixel peeping, then all the enjoyment of the chase for the shot is gone.

I think watching the grass grow is more exciting than Pixel P.


Cheers