01-25-2012, 10:22 AM
This was an amazing lens from Sigma. The latest 300/4 from Nikon took a lot from Sigma's project: short mfd, lenshood, size...
HSM and not HSM are the same lens.
Pros
Compact, smooth tripod collar (SO MUCH better than Nikon's). The lens is tack sharp, and it's optimized for shorter focus distances. It isn't as good af infinite, but still good. Perfect lens for flowers and small animals.
Cons
Slow AF (as any "geared" AF); a little vignetting wide open; the "rubberized" coating is easy to be worn out.
I had it for years, than I switched to the 300/4 Nikon AFS, and istantaneously regretted the move. I sold the Nikon after a month, because of its ugly tripod collar.
The Sigma is a catch, if you don't need fast AF.
But watch out: it could give you trouble with the most recent Canon bodies. With "most recent" I mean all the digital era ones. You should be able to check it first, before to buy it.
HSM and not HSM are the same lens.
Pros
Compact, smooth tripod collar (SO MUCH better than Nikon's). The lens is tack sharp, and it's optimized for shorter focus distances. It isn't as good af infinite, but still good. Perfect lens for flowers and small animals.
Cons
Slow AF (as any "geared" AF); a little vignetting wide open; the "rubberized" coating is easy to be worn out.
I had it for years, than I switched to the 300/4 Nikon AFS, and istantaneously regretted the move. I sold the Nikon after a month, because of its ugly tripod collar.
The Sigma is a catch, if you don't need fast AF.
But watch out: it could give you trouble with the most recent Canon bodies. With "most recent" I mean all the digital era ones. You should be able to check it first, before to buy it.