Sigma APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG Vs FA* 400/4.6

[netuser]

I'm still thinking about FA* 400/5.6 but someone pointed me to this lens

Sigma - Lenses
I'm talking about the new one.
(This lens is for APS-C or FF ?)

So, what do you guys think of this lens as a review ?
FM Reviews - 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM

Anyone owns one and care to give some feedback on first hand ?

It takes a front 77mm filter ? Or a bigger one ?

Thanks

[Ben_Edict]

Originally Posted by netuser

I'm still thinking about FA* 400/5.6 but someone pointed me to this lens

Sigma - Lenses
I'm talking about the new one.
(This lens is for APS-C or FF ?)

So, what do you guys think of this lens as a review ?
FM Reviews - 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM

Anyone owns one and care to give some feedback on first hand ?

It takes a front 77mm filter ? Or a bigger one ?

Thanks

A 300/2.8 can never use these SMALL 77mm filters ion the front threads The standard size is 112mm for basically all of these lenses, independend of manufacturer...

Ben

[netuser]

Got it

Thanks

[PePe]

I have been using one of these for about a year and a half. Some time ago I wrote a short summary of my experiences with these long Sigmas in the lens review section of the forum.

To answer the two direct questions:
-The Sigma 300/2,8 EX DG APO (no HSM with Pentax or Sony mount) is FF compatible, works fine with APS-C bodies too. I am using mine with K 10, K 7, and film bodies.
- The lens has no front thread, hence no front filters either. Instead there is a 46 mm filter holder in the rear of the lens. The lens holder is pretty smart, allowing the filter to be rotated while in the holder. A circular polarizer comes with the lens.

[netuser]

PePe

All my lenses have UV filter so I can clean them and keep my glass mint.

How do you manage to keep the glass clean ? Or how do you clean it ?

[KjetilH]

Gently, I guess.

On a more serious note, the front element will probably be able to withstand cleaning, if you take care not to grind the dust and sand into the coating. Most modern lenses will, at least.

[pentaxman]

So you are not put off just a little by the $4400 price tag for the Sigma?

Originally Posted by netuser

I'm still thinking about FA* 400/5.6 but someone pointed me to this lens

Sigma - Lenses
I'm talking about the new one.
(This lens is for APS-C or FF ?)

So, what do you guys think of this lens as a review ?
FM Reviews - 300mm f2.8 EX APO HSM

Anyone owns one and care to give some feedback on first hand ?

It takes a front 77mm filter ? Or a bigger one ?

Thanks

[PePe]

Originally Posted by netuser

PePe

All my lenses have UV filter so I can clean them and keep my glass mint.

How do you manage to keep the glass clean ? Or how do you clean it ?

Me too, I also have a UV filter on most of my lenses. Used to have one even on my MF Tamron 300/2,8.
However, lack of front thread in the long Sigmas ( Sigma 500/4,5 is similar in this respect) has not caused any real problems. I have the lens hoods on all the time, and the lens caps only come off when shooting. With lenses of this size the hoods alone are big enough to keep much of the dirt away.
The other thing may be that because of the sheer size and weight of these things you treat them with care. Actually I have found the barrel of the lens to be more prone to scratches. Therefore I have LensCoat protectors on these lenses.
When needed - which is not that often after all - I clean the front element using lens cleaning liquid, lens cleaning tissue, and micro fiber cloth. Of course you have to be careful, but I have not found this to be a big issue.

[netuser]

Originally Posted by pentaxman

So you are not put off just a little by the $4400 price tag for the Sigma?

On a friendly disclosure note let's say I don't smoke, I don't drink alchool and I don't use drugs. This means money being saved every day

I only have a few healty vices and photography is growing as one of them

I have DA*300 + 1.4x tamron adapter but I'm saving for FA*400/5.6 or Pentax ??? new longer lens or maybe a lens like this one, 300/2.8 + 2x adapter when needed.

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm really happy with DA*300 I just want longer reach

[Ben_Edict]

Originally Posted by netuser

On a friendly disclosure note let's say I don't smoke, I don't drink alchool and I don't use drugs. This means money being saved every day

I only have a few healty vices and photography is growing as one of them

I have DA*300 + 1.4x tamron adapter but I'm saving for FA*400/5.6 or Pentax ??? new longer lens or maybe a lens like this one, 300/2.8 + 2x adapter when needed.

Don't take this the wrong way, I'm really happy with DA*300 I just want longer reach

The 300/2.8 (whichever brand) is a very versatile choice then. You can add a 1.4x or 2x tc and get a still reasonably fast longer lens. As almost any 300/2.8 sports very high IQ, the image degradation by the tc (provided it is no real crap) is of not much concern. I use my old Tamron 300/2.8 with or without tcs much more often than my Pentax A 400/5.6, despite the latter is easier to hold.

Ben

[netuser]

Can someone with a DA*300/4, FA*400/5.6 or DA18-250 and also a sigma 300/2.8 take a image of one them side by side with the sigma?

So I can have an idea of size.