| Author: | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: June 17, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | very sharp lens | | Cons: | some CAs wide open inspite of APO correction | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: pentax k-5 k-x k200 k-s1 Fuji x-t100 x-e1
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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I've got 2 items of the latest version with golden ring, and I'm very happy with them.- unfortunately both without the achromatic 1:1 macro lens element / diopter for the top screw mount  -
++/+ high sharpness  , but not very high
+/++ good correction of CAs (my advice: stop it down to f 8-11)
++ integrated macro tube up to 1:2  but only for 210 mm
++/+ high contrast
+/++ good to very good color rendition
for 100 Euro a super bargain
nearly full recommendation with 8.5 points (latest version)
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My advice: try to find a gold ring SIGMA APO super 4.5-5.6/70-300, additionally - the correction of CAs between 70 and 135 mm is a few still better / phanatastic - and the sharpness, too
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2020 Posts: 70
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 8, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Faster than modern telezooms, sharpness throughout focal range, useable wide open, CAs well-controlled, very handy macro mode at 210mm (up to 1:1.1 with accessory lens), creamy bokeh | | Cons: | Build quality doesn't inspire confidence, AF hit or miss in macro mode | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 6
Value: 7
Camera Used: APS-C, FF
Autofocus: 6
New Or Used: Used
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I was looking for a reasonably-priced telephoto zoom lens with macro capability and after some research, narrowed the search down to this film-era Sigma lens from the mid-1990s. What drew me to this particular model was the fast(er) aperture compared to contemporary offerings, and built-in 1:2 macro mode at 210mm. It came with a very long but reversible lens hood made of hard plastic, and also the matching achromatic screw-in lens for 1:1.1 magnification. Not too shabby!
I've since used it on both APS-C as well as FF bodies and came away pleasantly surprised. I'd rate sharpness as very good throughout the focal range (at least for a dated lens of this type) with only slight weaknesses in the extreme corners on FF. That's also were I found some minor purple CAs, but these were well-controlled in the other areas of the frame and easily removed anyhow. My copy of the Sigma was usable wide open in a pinch, but I'd recommend stopping down to at least F5.6 for better performance. If there were any significant vignetting or geometric distortion going on, I didn't notice them. OOC contrast, glare resistance and ghosting (resp. lack thereof) certainly seemed to be above average compared to some of my other film-era lenses as well, which is nice.
The biggest selling point, at least in my eyes, has to be the Sigma's close-up capabilities. Over time, I've really come to appreciate this very handy feature with or without the screw-in accessory lens. Macro mode is only available at the tele end, so steady hands or a bipod are needed, and engaged with a little switch on the barrel, overriding the focus limiter. While it cannot match the sharpness of a dedicated macro lens (no surprises there), I found it to be an acceptable substitute for my needs when A) at least stopped down a little and B) when the focus was spot on. It was possible to make F4.5 work for better front-background separation and extra creamy bokeh, but usually not at or close to MFD, which is 0.75 in macro mode and 1.5m otherwise. One can get a little closer still with the screw-in lens, but then the lens is set up for macro work only in terms of focusing.
I was very happy with the bokeh. Neither plain nor busy, just creamy to very creamy depending on distance-to-subject and the aperture.
Downsides? Well, there are a few. I got the impression that the lens wasn't build to the highest standard and may not last as long as I'd want it to. The macro setup just seems pretty fragile, and I'd imagine it would be quite easy to permanently damage the mechanism by forcing the switch when the lens isn't all the way at 210mm. Or something with the focus ring limiter going wrong. At full extension, the tube also wobbled quite a bit when the AF was doing its work. Unfortunately, the AF also wasn't very accurate in this case either and hunted a lot, however it was fine in regular telezoom mode. For an affordable multi-purpose AF lens, MF feel and precision were perfectly fine in my opinion. The long focus throw probably didn't do the AF any favours, though.
Never much cared for the easily-damaged Zen coating, but at least the chemical composition is of the second generation and thus not the sticky type.
Conclusion time then. If you're looking a decent old lens in the 70-200 range with respectable macro capability and don't have much more than $100 to spend, you may want to give this Sigma a try. Ideally bundled with the (optional) accessory lens! Just to be prepared to focus manually for close-up shots for more consistent results.
   | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2017 Location: Ronneburg Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 3, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | very sharp f8 to f10, APO lens inside, aperture | | Cons: | none for old glass | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-3
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: Used
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The autofocus works well for a rod drive.
Solid built, barrel made of metal, as well as the metal bajonet. Old school aperture ring.
Nothing missing, nowadays well-priced rarely to find.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: July 23, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp lens, stopped down to f8-11, but macro not so excellent as promised | | Cons: | some AF problems in macro mode, plastic housing, must stopped down to f 8-11 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: k-5 k-x k-s1 k200d mz5 z20p sfx
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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****** changed review ****** I'm not totally convinced of promised so high quality of SIGMA APO
the test shots with HSS flash in a room were really good, the outdoor shootings were showing some weaknesses, unfortunately, especially in macro mode at 210mm with APS-C !
stopped down to f 8-11 +++++++ 9.5 Points ++++++++
++ very good sharpness for portraits / landscapes etc.
++/+ no visible CA's - in the corners, too / well corrected, but not in macro mode at 210 mm (the edges shows some small visible purple fringing, not disappearing when stopping down !!!
++ high contrast
++ neutral color rendition
******************MACRO FUNCTION ****************** ONLY 7.5 POINTS
+/++ good to very good macro sharpness
O/+ but AF is not so precise, if macro function is activated ******* 
rare to find for Pentax
totally a good performer, but in macro mode not an totally excellent performer. I'd expected much more because of the APO design !!!
this sigma lens is nevertheless much more better than later produced apo 70-300 macro lenses of Sigma in extreme tele range !!!
recommendation because of many good shots of landscapes and portraits!!! AF weakness in macro mode !!! ****** 8.5 points, totally ****** 
The Cosina / Soligor / Pentax 3.5/100 with sioccore 1.8x High Defenition front converter is still few sharper for macro shootings | | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: July, 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Posts: 5,481
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, good value | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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I bought this lens new about 15 years ago to use with my MZ-5n. I was on a limited budget and had ordered the standard Sigma 70-210/4-5.6. When this lens turned up in its place I did the ethical thing and queried it, but I was told it was the right one. So I got a great lens for the standard lens price (lenses cost much more in Australia back in those days). This lens has been a great work horse for me. The only review I ever found on it described its output as bordering on professional quality. I believe that is a fair assessment. The lens is certainly better than I am. It is heavy, but well constructed and still gives excellent service on my K10D. A used one in working order and at the right price would be worth considering. Attached images taken with K10D. Light PP mainly to adjust contrast.
Lace Monitor (100 per cent crop)
Young male Red Deer (first antlers beginning to bud)
Young male Red Deer (100 per cent crop)
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 5, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Aperture, sharpness | | Cons: | Weight | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
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This lense is a little on the bulky and heavy side, the manual focus ring is inconvenient (short course, near front of lense, too loose), the aperture ring is recessed, and the minimum focus distance (except at 210mm) of 1.5m is not very practical for portraits.
Ouf, that's it for the negatives, everything else is great. The aperture of 3.5-4.5 is way more convenient than the one of many modern lenses (4 to 6.3), and this lense is sharp at all apertures. There is a light loss of sharpness at 210mm, but it is still good enough to take great photos.
The autofocus works well, and the macro functionality very useful.
Well built, barrel made of metal, as well as the baionet; zoom and focusing rings made of good quality polycarbonate.
Despite being the 'APO' version of a cheaper Sigma lense, it was still affordable, and I was amazed by the sharpness of this lense.
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