Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX

I've used this lens with a nikon d70 and D200 for local sports photogrphy, mainly soccer. Auto focus is fast and the zoom control is smooth and firm. I especially like the tripod collor for use with a monopod or just to support the bulky lens comfortably in my hand. The way people get out of your way when you pull this lens out is pretty cool. I have also used sigma's 2x teleconverter that woks well with the lens. The only problem I have had with the lens is that on a rare occurance the auto focus will stop working with no notice. You'll shoot several frames before you realize the AF has stopped. Simply turning the camera on and off has always solved the problem. This has happened with both of my cameras, with and without the teleconverter. This may happen once very 600 shoots. It's not so big a problem that I would spend the extra money for the nikon version. The lens hood can be stiff to put on and off. Image quality is great. Have not noticed any problems at any f stop. For the price I paid, I am happy with the lens and would purchase again.

Great price
Great desighn, very ergonomic
Great image quility

Stiff mount and dismount of lens hood
Auto Focus freeze, rarely

This lens when compared to the Canon 70-200 2.8 is no brainer for the money, just buy it directly from 47th Street Phone for under 700. This is a heavy lense as other's have said previously so in order to get the best photos possible USE a tripod (period). I shot a ton of pictures right out of the box a couple days ago using the top of my car as a tripod and went through every focal length at every f stop shoting a fire hydrant about 100 feet away. Doing this type of test you will quickly learn which f stops will serve you well when in the field. One of the major issues I believe is often overlooked in these comments is camera metering. You must know your metering or you could potentially be dissapointed with the results. What I am saying is the Canon 20D has a tendency to meter on the non target subject so you will need to understand how to quickly adjust your spot metering to get the best results. F9 to F11 ROCKS and will give you great results almost every frame shot. I have a degree from the only photographic equipment school in the US so I can honestly say this lense has some serious glass elements in it. I have taken a part tons of lenses in the past and the Sigma adds real value with it's top of the line glass and housing unit in thid lense. Just remember use a tripod or mono pod as there is no IS in this lense so you may get lots of pictures which could be on the soft side and if this happens you will blame your lense when it's really your own fault. Images blown up to 200% look slightly on the soft side especially if the wind is blowing but at 100% they are great. Color saturation and contrast are also great. If you go to http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_70200_28u you will see tons of the Canon 70-200 which show similar results of what I am trying to say. Do a search on the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and do the comparrison. I know this lense will bring in the money shots at 1k cheaper than the Canon if I remember to use my tripod each and every time.
Hope this helps...

Color saturation, Comes with a lense hood

Extremely Heavy. Buy a Canon lense cap as Sigma's really is cheap and doesn't fit weel

The lens, overall is pretty good. The optics are great even though it's a third party lens so you'll be sure to get some good photos with it. When used on a smaller camera body, I use the 20D, it becomes a bit topheavy which after a while becomes very annoying. The main qualm that I have is the autofocus. I generally use this lens for sports and when you're trying to get that special frame, this lens like to make it hard. Especially in low-light, it has problems with searching. Overall it's not a bad lens, but if you're a professional dont settle for less than the best. Canon and Nikon is still the way to go.

- Price
- Image quality
- Build
- F/2.8

- Hunting in low light
- Heavy
- SLOW AF

Canon 70-200 f/4
Canon 70-200 f/2.8

I was leery about purchasing this lens because for an additional $200 I could have had the Nikon 80-200mm 2.8. However after taking some pictures with this lens and comparing them to pictures from the Nikon I can actually say that the Sigma is sharper. I must have an exceptional sample because I shot a test series of shots from f2.8 to f11 and only noticed a few lines per inch drop in sharpness, basically not perceptible except in the largest enlargements. Contrast on the other hand is noticeably worse wide open, but I can live with that, as it is easily fixable in Photoshop. I am very pleased with this lens optically and am glad that I did not purchase the Nikon. I am not afraid to use this lens f2.8, something I can’t say of other 2.8 zooms I have used. Mechanically the lens seems very rugged. All those old stories about Sigma lenses falling apart might have been true at one time, but not anymore, at least not in their EX line of lenses. Plastic is used on the outside of the barrel for rotating controls and metal is used internally. As for other things like focusing, HSM seems to work fine, it's fast and accurate.

Optical performace. HSM Price

plasic threads for filters

This is absolutely one of the best buys available on the market for the serious to pro level photographer. At 30 feet, handheld, with an aperture of f4 I had solid crisp detail in a piece of tree bark the size of a quarter. This and the Sigma 100-300mm (which I also own) are amazingly sharp. The later lens is THE sharpest in its category bar none. The former is every bit as sharp as the Nikkor f2.8 80-200mm, for a lot less money. FAST autofocus, fast enough to easily keep up with the basketball players I cover for the newspapers in my area. I also shoot weddings and portraits and it works great for it all.

Solid build, very very nice feel to the zoom and focus collars. Excellent arrangement for the tripod mount. Lets you decrease the weight by a couple of ounces by taking it completely off. Excellent OEM hood. Did I say FAST autofocus. Sharp, sharp, sharp. A REAL bargain.

Slightly heavy, but not obnoxiously so. You have to make sure you are getting one that has the upgrade chip in it if you want to use it on a Nikon N80, D100, or Fujifilm S2 Pro.

Nikkor f2.8 80-200mm, Nikkor f4 70-210mm, Nikon 75-150mm, Sigma 70-300mm

Haven't needed it. But there was no response when I inquired before purchase about the focussing issue with the above mentioned camera bodies. I understand they do the "rechipping" for free if your lens needs it.