 - Susan Jane Allen  Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Canon EF 75-300 vs Sigma 70--300 DG vs APO DG Hi. Was planning to buy the Canon EF 75-300 tomorrow but the fellow just informed me by email that they don't have it in stock and offered the Sigma 70--300 DG instead, saying he personally recommended it and it had great reviews. Have to go tomorrow (a few hours away in Hong Kong) or postpone for some time and so can't wait for them to order the Canon. I've done some hasty internet searching and would like appreciate some opinions on whether it's a good idea. Read some discussions on the internet and found that in addition to the DG there is also an APO DG and that there is a significant difference in quality between the APO and non-APO. So, I'd really appreciate hearing some opinions on that. I'll be getting a Rebel XT at the same time with the kit lens. If anyone with a Rebel XT has any photos they'd like to share taken with the Sigma 70--300 DG would REALLY appreciate seeing some. Apparently, to my surprise, it also seems to work as a macro lens, so if you have both macro and distance photos, that would be great. I know it's unlikely, but if anyone has photos of both the APO and non-APO, I'd super really appreciate seeing them. I have to be up and out by 6:00 am, which is in about 6 hours, am hoping for some quick responses! The person I often ask doesn't seem to be around---probably out with his camera! Thanks for any help!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Cyndee Wanyonyi |
Hi Susan, I have that lens and camera. The photos in my gallery of the wildlife are with that lens. I used the macro (I think) for "Harley Green Eyes". I like the lens okay for the price...eventually, however, it will only be a back-up lens, because I noticed some blur in my photos. I am assuming it's because I was shooting without a tripod. I'll be splurging on an IS USM lens next time. FYI...if you are dealing with BH Photo, I had the same thing told to me. I wonder if it's a marketing ploy..hmmm.
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Thanks loads! Going through your gallery was a pleasure! Had no time to make comments, but will visit again when there is more time! Harley Green Eyes was amazing and judging by the fact that there was clarity in some shots, I am also assuming that a tripod would make a difference. When you said that you had the same lens, did you mean the APO DG or just the DG? Clock is ticking and better get to bed, but if you are still around and anyone else can answer, will be up for another 20 minutes!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Cyndee Wanyonyi |
Hi Susan, I really have no idea whether it was APO DG or just APO. Heck, I just had to look up the definition of APO on the internet. Give me some clarification and maybe I can figure it out without checking my lens at home. Cyndee ><>
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Heading out the door in 15 mins... Join the club. I have little to no idea what it means either. Looked it up but was too stressed to take it in. All I gathered was that it was "good" to have and one poster said that there was a significant difference between APO DG and non-APO DG. So, with mind fogged from lack of sleep and eyes propped open with toothpicks, I head out the door in a quest for greater beauty, I'll buy that APO DG. And later will buy an IS...but that's later.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Peter K. Burian |
Susan: Sigma's APO lenses are very good to excellent. Lenses marked DG are digitally optimized, for better results with digital cameras. But in a telephoto zoom, digital optimization is not all that important. So, either Sigma APO zoom would be fine. Regards, Peter Burian, Instructor,
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Thank you! Got the camera, the kit lens and the Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro. But clearly I've got some reading to do, and reading that is not supplied either by the instructions which come with the lens or the camera guide. Though it performed adequately (I mean, at least it focused) for distance photos, in its supposed macro mode, I have yet to get it to focus on anything at all within the ten or so feet in the confines of my home office and am wondering how they get away with pretending it could do macro work. I've set it at its maximum telephoto setting as it instructed (300mm), have put the camera in close-up mode, have adjusted the lens to the macro setting and remembered to put the camera in Autofocus, all to no avail. But it's my first SLR, the first time I've ever inserted a lens in a camera--or even touched one, so it might be me. In fact, I'm so awed and afraid I might break something that one of my friends laughed and said I looked like I was holding a bomb. But if it really can't focus for macro work under less than ten feet, what use could it possibly be for macro? You can't get dramatic angles at that distance, or even at five feet. Really miffed---it was that little word "macro" appended to it that clinched it and brought me to my decision. Can't afford the Sigma 105 dedicated macro lens yet, so, believing that it could do macro as well as distance telephoto, I thought I'd at least temporarily kill two birds with one stone. Another thing which clinched the decision was looking at--I think it was Cindy's gallery and also someone else's butterfly (very macro), but am now wondering if they took those photos 20 feet away? How close were you, Cindy?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Peter K. Burian |
Susan: Your lens will focus MUCH closer than that: as close as 37 inches. That's about three feet. At the long end, you should be able to fill the frame with a large blossom. But not a butterfly. That calls for a true Macro lens that can focus MUCH closer: to 12 inches, for example. Try it with manual focusing sometime. Although it should work with autofocus, as well. Regards, Peter Burian, Instructor,
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Okay, thanks, that's useful to know. I'll keep trying, reading and trying some more.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Robyn Gwilt |
Hey Susan - glad you've finally taken the plunge :) Just PLAY PLAY PLAY and shoot shoot shoot (then delete!!) I agree, these are not full macro lenses, but do a pretty good close up - I would suggest as well that you change to manual focus, and either use a tripod (also read up on MLU - mirror lock up) takes away a lot of camera movement. Or if you're in the garden (taking pix of night bloomers!) steady yourself on your elbows!! Have fun - look forward to your posts!
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||