 "Well worth the price" | 2008-09-12 |
| - Reviewed By abhi_chaos |
This was my first lens after getting started with the world of SLRs. Initially as a novice, I was much apprehensive on seeing such number of available lens but the reviews here helped me choose this one and I am way happy with the results I am getting.
So how do i feel about it? Let me summarize it in a line. For money's worth this is a real good starter Telephoto lens.
Its tack sharp. Some of the photos I have taken recently on a trip are way better than expected. Many of them are on 300mm and so tack sharp! Even the Bokeh looks nice :)
For Telephoto: Its a perfect amateur lens that one can take to the zoo or outings. The DOF is just right and captures things real well. Though the zooming and focus might take some used to.. Zoom out, focus and then Zoom in. Well you cannot USM like performance from a $200 lens. In good daylight (around sundown) this can still well work in a hand-held mode for taking photos with a shutter of around 1/50
For Macro: A valued Added feature, but many times i have to wrestle the button to change from Macro to Normal, but the lens is sturdy to handle it. I haven't tried it extensively for Macro as I seem to have to back up a bit to get subjects into perspective (200 to 300 mm range). And it seems that the DOF is a bit thin for the macro range.
So will i buy a new telephoto lens? Unless you are considering a 70-200mm 2.8L(1200$, into wildlife photography or need ultra fast focusing) as your next choice this is a much versatile and did i say well-worth-the-money lens.
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| "Best Lens for the Price" | 2008-08-05 |
| - Reviewed By jvguilbault |
| I've owned this lens for several years now, and I've used it on both 35mm and digital SLR's. I have to start off by saying that it's a wonderful lens for the price. People who claim the lens isn't sharp might be referring to the non-APO version, which is about $100.00 less. This version, I have found, is tack-sharp between 70-200mm, and still very sharp from 200-300mm. The macro feature gives a 1:2 reproduction ratio, which is more than sufficient for most subjects. Keep in mind, on a digital camera with an APS-sized sensor, this lens is really a 112-480mm lens, taking into account the 60% crop factor. If my math isn't fuzzy, that should also make the reproduction ratio 1:1.4 on a digital SLR. That's pretty darn good for a consumer-grade lens. Sure, it's not "L" Series glass, but you're not paying over a grand for it, either. For someone on a budget, this lens is as good as it gets. |
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 "Owner/user for 7 years - non-professional (duh!)" | 2008-07-26 |
| - Reviewed By sroberts178 |
Attached to a Nikon D70 - purchased with a Nikon N80 in December 2001 for use at the 2002 Winter Olympics in SLC. I had it on the D70 at John Mayer ([...]) and it peformed in a way that was as enjoyable as the show.
I wish is opened at to f1.8 - but you can purchase 10 of these lens for the price of 1 f1.8. It's a matter of getting used to knowing when to shoot fast with low light and correct with your photo software - pretty easy to add lighting - or shoot numbers on - and hope that there isn't much movement or you get the blurs.
It's been packed throughout Southern Utah's redrock country, numerous sporting events - and it's an outstanding value for outdoor shooting with adequate light. If you link to the flickr site you'll see some pretty good detail on John Mayer's tatoos - shot in the dark - about fifty rows up. You'll not get image stabilization, or HSM, but you'll get zoom results once you get used to this lens!
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| "Great Lens for its money!" | 2008-07-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: AXF321XQCTMCG |
I bought this lens for a back up because I have to send my main lens Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM in for repair. At first I did not like it because I was used to the IS feature and the camera shake was horrible. But after attaching it to a mono pod and actually taking it out for a real test drive I was simply amazed. This lens is really really nice. And you can't beat the price. Have only had it for a few weeks and finally can control the camera shake a little while holding hand held. The camera that I use is the Canon 40D so the two combined it works wonders.
I read the reviews in here first before I purchased the lens and a lot of people complained about the auto focus. Well the reason why you are having problems with focusing is because you are to close to the subject. Its a macro/telephoto lens. You don't have to stand on top of the subject to get the shot. If you back up a little or till the point it will focus you will get a clear shot. It just takes time and patients.
This lens also makes a good portrait lens! It has become my every day lens here of late! Highly recommended it! Forgot to mention the colors are amazing. I have noticed since using this lens I do very little editing in CS3. Hopefully one day amazon will allow me to upload pictures. Keeps saying they are having problems. You can view the pictures I have taken with this lens at my better photo site. www.betterphoto.com?sadonna |
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| "Great lens for half the price!" | 2008-07-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: ACX58BUBALHFV |
| I was looking for a newer, replacement lens for my Canon digital SLR, and stumbled across this gem. Half the price of the equivalent Canon brand lenses, it immedaitely caught my attention. Once I satisfied myself that it would indeed be compatible with my camera, I bought it and tried it out. Not only did it work, it was easier to use than the lens I had bought it to replace! I highly recommend this lens to any Canon owner looking for a telephoto lens, whether they have a digital or print camera. |
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| "very satisfied customer" | 2008-07-01 |
| - Reviewed By garsteck |
| I was looking for an AF lens a bit less expensive than the actual canon lenses. I am a casual picture taker, and the response from the lens is better than I was expecting given the price differences from the "name" brand. I have actually been looking at other sigma lenses first now. |
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| "great" | 2008-06-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2XNI4DVRX9VAM |
| being a novice, I love this lens. It is priced right and has some great features including the macro. Would definitely recommend this lens to anyone. |
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| "great lens! Awsome quality! Especially for the price!" | 2008-06-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1LDE329R312EJ |
| not much to say. Only two hundred and I get birds wake boarders and tiny flowers and bugs |
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 "It's OK" | 2008-06-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A105B7QW50Z1YN |
| This lens is ok for the price. It has a nice zoom, but the autofocus is kind of squirley. It's loud adn it never seems to want to stop focusing. It really doesn't compare to any of the canon lenses that I own. The "MACRO" feature is not really macro at all. It basically allows you to focus on a subject slightly closer than you could without the macro switch. If you are looking for a lens to do macro photography I would suggest saving your money until you can buy one that does it at 1:1 - I do feel like this is a good alternative to a costly zoom lens for someone who would like to have one in their bag, but doesn't spend majority of their time at 300mm. |
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| "Good for the price, but leaves you wanting more" | 2008-05-06 |
| - Reviewed By sage_ross |
I've had this lens since September 2007, and have used it with a Digital Rebel XTi. I don't have any regrets about buying since I couldn't (and can't) afford either a better long telephoto lens or a better macro lens.
However, it's limitations become apparent in short order. The zoom action is a little awkward...sometimes too stiff, sometimes with too much slippage. It's annoying have to manage the macro switch, which can only be engaged at certain zoom and focus ranges.
This lens produces sharper photos than my previous camera, a Canon PowerShot S2 IS. However, it usually isn't quite sharp enough to take full advantage of a 10 megapixel sensor; comparing apples to oranges, it's somewhat less sharp than the 18-55mm kit lens at 18mm. Without image stabilization, it's also a tough lens to keep steady. On just about any shot except in full daylight (and sometimes even then), compromises have to be made between ISO, shutter speed (and the risk of motion blur), and aperture. Don't expect to use this lens indoors without a flash or a good tripod.
All that said, it's a versatile lens in daylight, for costing what it does ($177 when I bought it). Anyone shopping for this lens should absolutely own the ($80) Canon 50mm f/1.8, if they don't have any primes in their bag. |
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