Product Description
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. Two types of camera-shake compensation modes to handle all types of shooting conditions. In Mode 1, the system detects and compensates for vertical and horizontal movement of the camera for ideal still-image photography. In Mode 2, the system detects and compensates for vertical movement of the camera for motor sports and other situations where panning may be desired. This lens has two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group for correction of chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range. The rear focus eliminates the need for the front of the lens to rotate, thus allowing the use of circular polarizing filter. A zoom lock switch is built in to prevent the lens from extending due to its own weight, and the lens is easier to use. 9 Diaphragm Blades Minimum Aperture F32 Minimum Focusing Distance - 180cm (70.9 inches) Maximum Magnification - 1 - 5 Filter Size - Diameter 77mm Dimensions - Diameter 95mm x Length 192mm, 3.7 x 7.6 inches Weight - 1750 grams (61.9 ounces)
Customer Reviews:
Sigma APO 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 EX DG OS Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.......2006-08-14
Very pleased with this lens.. espcially like the OS for hand held shooting. Photos are sharp. Debated betwwen this lens and the Canon 100-400mm... Selected the Sigma based on reviews and cost savings of $450. Works well with my Kenko 1.5 teleconverter for a Zoom of 600mm though the auto focus is slow with the Kenko unit.
Not a bad lens, not perfect........2006-07-17
I purchased this lens in lieu of the Canon 100-400 L OS, to save a little money. It wasn't a bad decision, but I will qualify it with the following note. I've used this lens on the Canon 30D crop sensor and on the 5D full-frame sensor. This lens works much better on the crop sensor. You'll get more telephoto and less distortion. On the full-frame 5D, the lens is at its limits on vignetting most of the time and I've found the results to be mostly unacceptable. It produces reasonable sharp shot and the OS works very well. It is a slow focuser though. Build quality is good and solid, though a bit heavy it isn't difficult to carry around and use. Final thoughts...if you are shooting a crop sensor camera, this is an excellent walk-around lens with good range and good results. If you're shooting full-frame, I'd avoid it.
Excellent Value.......2006-06-06
I was considering both the Canon 100-400 and this lens. I opted for the Sigma for cost and I very happy with it. Though it's not a light lens, with the OS, I can hand-hold it even with a 1.4 extender in daylight. I prefer the ring zoom over the Canon push-pull because all of my other lens have it.
A great alternative to higher priced "L" lenses.......2006-04-15
The Sigma EX 80-400 provides the same optical clarity and sharpness as the Canon 100-400L lens, but for $400 less. The image stabilization works beautifully; I've taken handheld shots at 400mm with a shutter speed of 1/100 - try THAT with an unstabilized lens! AF is a little noisy, and is said to be slower than the Canon, but by all accounts it's not much, and the only time it's really noticeable is when trying to change focus from a very close object to one far away. And since you can use manual focus at any time, it's easy to give the focus ring a quick nudge with your thumb or finger, to lessen the distance the AF has to move the glass internally.
I have had my Sigma EX 80-400 lens for about a month, and am very pleased with it. It's extremely sharp and clear, and provides good clarity even at wider apertures. The zoom is smooth (although it's hard to zoom from one end to the other without repositioning your hand), and the image quality is excellent. It is a heavy lens, but not too heavy to carry around. It comes with its own padded nylon carry-bag and a lightweight but very functional lens hood, and the tripod mounting collar doubles as a nice carry-handle for the lens and camera when not mounted on a tripod.
Highly recommended!
Great alternative to the Canon 100-400IS, and just a great lens to have.......2005-11-15
This lens is a great alternative to the Canon 100-400IS. The advantages over the Canon are:
-Twist zoom vs. the Canon pushh/pull zoom (personal preference)
-Less conspicuous black lens (versus Canon white lens--again a personal preference)
-20mm wider (VERY useful)
-and of course ~$400 cheaper!
The Sigma does lack HSM, so it is slower to focus (and louder) than the Canon or the Bigma, but once you have a target locked in your sights it keeps up with most birds/planes/cars. You will notice the slower AF most when going from close to far subjects (and visa versa).
I have used the Bigma (Sigma 50-500) and would recommend this over the Bigma for everything except for people who truly need the 500mm (birders especially). The OS (Sigma's Optical Stabilization) is truly amazing on the 80-400. When it kicks on at 400mm and you see your subject hold steady, well it's amazing. I've been able to get handheld shots at 1/125 at 400mm. You CANNOT do that with the Bigma. :-)
This is a heavy lens, but so are the 100-400, Bigma, and anything else in this class. Seriously, it's very heavy. Seriously... :-) If weight is an issue, check out Canon's 70-300IS. You'll lose 100mm at the long end, but you'll save a GOOD couple of pounds.
Having said that, I have no problems hiking around with this lens for 6+ hours (though I'm stronger than the average person, but not a muscle-head). The Sigma 80-400OS coupled with the Canon 17-85IS makes an amazing combination, and makes you ready for anything you may encounter.
Product Description
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. Two types of camera-shake compensation modes to handle all types of shooting conditions. In Mode 1, the system detects and compensates for vertical and horizontal movement of the camera for ideal still-image photography. In Mode 2, the system detects and compensates for vertical movement of the camera for motor sports and other situations where panning may be desired. OS system can be used with Nikon cameras, which are compatible with image blurring compensation mechanism. This lens has two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group for correction of chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range. The rear focus eliminates the need for the front of the lens to rotate, thus allowing the use of circular polarizing filter. A zoom lock switch is built in to prevent the lens from extending due to its own weight, and the lens is easier to use. 9 Diaphragm Blades Minimum Aperture F32 Minimum Focusing Distance - 180cm (70.9 inches) Maximum Magnification - 1 - 5 Filter Size - Diameter 77mm Dimensions - Diameter 95mm x Length 192mm, 3.7 x 7.6 inches Weight - 1750 grams (61.9 ounces)
Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma APO 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG OS Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras is a telephoto zoom lens with an F4 aperture throughout the entire zoom range. It also has performance features that are perfect for digital and 35mm SLR cameras. Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements are used in the front lens group and two in the rear lens group for superior correction of chromatic aberration. Because its length does not change during focusing or zooming, the lens is easy to hold and use. The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) makes fast AF speeds and quiet shooting a reality, and it is also capable of full-time manual focus.
Customer Reviews:
Great for capturing nature and moving subjects.......2007-07-30
I was really impressed while hand holding I was able to get every photo taken quickly of jumping horses. I also had the same success with tracking flying birds ( cranes, other water birds) . All the images were sharp at the widest f stops. It is an amazing lens, the OS is great- no need for a tripod. I also got some great flower photos. I highly recomend the innovative lens.
I think it is a fine lens. Possibly better than Nikon's version.......2006-07-30
I disagree with the below user's review. He could of possibly gotten a bad one. I agree that out of the box the rings are a bit stiff but with time and use they became much smoother.
Also, this lens does not have Sigma's HSM motor but it DOES have a focusing motor which the Nikon 80-400 VR does not. Thusly it focuses a tad faster.
It took me a little while to get used to using this lens. At first most of my pictures would not come out as good as I would like them to. Lots of them were very blurry. As time went by and I improved my technique, my pictures are getting better and better. Many pictures are starting to come out excellently. They make you say - "Wow! Look at the color". I believe this to be true for the Nikon 80-400 VR also.
This lens is a bit heavier than the Nikon however, it was still designed to be hand-held (thusly the OS). It is also several hundred dollars cheaper.
Get the Nikon lens instead of the Sigma........2006-06-22
I have had my Sigma 80-400mm for about 6 weeks now. On the surface the Sigma 80-400mm lens looks like a great bargin over the more expensive Nikon version (a few hundred bucks cheaper). However, after having used both the Sigma and Nikon versions there are differences in other areas besides the price.
Goods:
- The Optics are fine on this Sigma lens. You get an 80-400mm lens. If you like to get close to a subject then the lens does the job.
Others:
- The Vibration Reduction works pretty good on this lens. It will facilitate better pictures if you are taking pictures with out a tripod or if you are not using a remote shutter release. However, I have also used the Nikon lense and it's Optical Stabilization system is better.
- The Sigma VR tends to drift over time as you hold the shutter release (even when you are using a tripod).
Bads:
- When using the adjustment rings for the zoom and manual focus I was not satisfied. Unlike the smooth movement on the Nikon lens the Sigma tends to stick as you adjust (to me this is the mark of inferior craftmanship). This is the primary reason that I will stick to Nikon Nikor lenses from now on.
- I am not impressed with the clarity of the lens as well however some of this may be atmospherics during the times that I have used this lens.
Bottom Line: You get what you pay for. If you can afford it, stick with the Nikon 80-400mm lens. If you can't afford it, save your money until you can purchase the Nikon. Trust me you will be 100% satisfied in the end.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma APO 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 EX DG OS Lens for Sigma Digital SLR Cameras is a telephoto zoom lens with an F4 aperture throughout the entire zoom range. It also has performance features that are perfect for digital and 35mm SLR cameras. Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements are used in the front lens group and two in the rear lens group for superior correction of chromatic aberration. Because its length does not change during focusing or zooming, the lens is easy to hold and use. The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) makes fast AF speeds and quiet shooting a reality, and it is also capable of full-time manual focus.
Customer Reviews:
Great lens for the money........2007-09-02
I rate this lens ABOVE AVERAGE, but since it does not have the HSM focus
motor, it is not as fast as the Canon 100-400 (push pull)l lens, since I shoot mainly PGA Golf Tournaments for publication, it is less of a problem
for me. It's battery use is high (my 10D'S), IF LEFT IN CONSTANT IS mode.
Purch/ from B&H, early in production cycle, 2006.
Built like a tank.......2006-04-23
I bought this after looking at many reviews. The quality of the photos and the test results convenced me that the saving was worth the difference between this lens and Canon. I also did not care for the push pull of the Canon.
I have been shooting with this lens since August 2005, and have a collection of beautiful nature photos. From birds flying to bees sitting on flowers. Some scenic shots to shots of my great niece. All are very sharp and clean.
The lens is heavy, but any lens in this class will be. One becomes use to this very quickly. It focuses a little slow, but I have missed very few shots because of it. I prefocus when I believe there may be a problem arising.
The zoom was tight at first, but after using the lens it has loosened up a little so zooming is no problem.
All in all I am very satisfied with the lens and have many beautiful photos to print and share with family and friends.
Cheap Consumer Electronics:
- Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
- Sony 256MB MEMORY STICK PRO-HIGH SPEED ( MSX-256N ) (Retail Package)
- Sony DPP-EX5 Digital Photo Printer
- Sony DPP-EX7 Digital Photo Printer
- Sony DPP-FP30 Digital Photo Printer
- Sony DUO MSH-M128A 128 MB Memory Stick (Retail Package)
- Vivitar A35 Splash Proof Battery Charger (Equivalent)
- Western Digital WDXMS1200TN Passport 120 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive
- Zeiss Ikon M-Mount Rangefinder Camera Body, Black
- 512MB Expansion Card
Cheap Consumer Electronics List
Cheap Consumer Electronics
Zoom
|
Lenses
|
All Accessories
|
Accessories
|
Camera & Photo
|
Categories
|
Electronics
Tiffen 77mm UV Protection Filter
Canon 77mm UV Haze
Canon BP511A 1390mAh Lithium Ion Battery Pack for Select Digital Cameras and Camcorders
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras (Black with Greenish Accent)
Tiffen 77mm Lens Kit includes Digital Ultra Clear Filter, plus Circular Polarizer Filter and Accessory Wrap
Lowepro Lens Case 5S (Black)
