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Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4 Review RSS Feed

Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4

Sharpness 
 9.7
Aberrations 
 9.2
Bokeh 
 8.5
Handling 
 8.6
Value 
 9.5
Autofocus 
 8.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
33 109,319 Thu April 27, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $979.23 9.66
Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4

Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4
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Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4
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Sigma APO EX 100-300mm F4
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Description:
According to sigma history pages this lens was introduced in 2001 as an EX HSM IF. However Pentax versions are not HSM - screw drive only. Presumably the DG designated lens came later. No longer in production.
Comes with hood and well padded case.

Weight: 1440g/51 oz
Length: 226.5mm/8.9 in
Filter Diameter: 82mm
Max. Diameter: 92mm
Min. Focus: 180cm/70.9 in
Max. Magnification: 1:5
Horizontal FOV: 24.4 -8.2 degrees
Horizontal FOV on APS-C: 16.3 -5.5 degrees
Min. Aperture: F32
Optical Construction: 16 Elements in 14 Groups
Autofocus: Yes, screwdrive
Mount Type: Pentax KAF2/KAF (screwdrive AF)
Price History:



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Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2012
Location: Below sealevel
Posts: 1,100

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 7, 2013 Recommended | Price: $1,200.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness, speed (AF and aperture), build, doesn`t extend when zooming
Cons: No OS (sigma`s OS is better then SR imho), no focuslimitter
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 9   

After a tamron 70-300 and a DA55-300 I finally purchased this lens new with the sigma 1.4x APO DG teleconverter a few years ago. Initially I was divided between this one and the DA*300 F4 but after reading lots of reviews and numerous samples I decided on this one because of the flexability of the zoom.

The bear lens is an excelllent piece of work: it`s relatively fast and while the sweetspot is around F5.6, F4 is still very usable on closer distances. It is well build and, like Digitalis allready pointed out, it`s not afraid of a little rain. Furthermore it doesn`t change lenght when zooming, which is a good thing for balance. Abberations are really well controlled and focussing is quite fast and snappy under most circumstances (and it`s screwdriven).

On the downside:
The bokeh can be a real PITA sometimes, busy and harsh. It has no OS (which I believe is superior to SR on longer focal lenghts) and no focus limitter which would be helpfull for BIF`s and lowlight situations. It is somewhat heavy but what do you expect from a 300mm F4. Personnaly I like the weight because it better to stabilise and eliminates a part of the sway you get with the lighter consumergrade lenses like the DA55-300.

Like stated above, I also purchased the 1.4x TC with it. Coupled with the lens gives a noticable dent in IQ, esp on longer distances. Also PF becomes visible.
(EDIT: I`m using the TC now without SR and results are much better, my theory is that the TC is not recognized so the SR will not take the multiplier into account and will compensate for the wrong focal length)

All-in-all highly recommended. If you are looking for a relatively fast wildlife zoom with allmost primelike sharpness, this is the one you want.

Some fullsize SOOC testshots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tenznl/sets/72157626200136484/

Fieldsamples:


With TC, handheld 350mm (250mm) @ F5.6


300mm, F5


Seriously cropped (60-65%)


Closeup though 2 inches of glass


Bokeh


Bokeh 2
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,448

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 7, 2013 Recommended | Price: $1,000.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, Sharp as 300 Prime, Did I mention Sharp?
Cons: 82mm filters are pricey, and yes it's heavy
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 10   

I have the original DG IF version, and the only complaint is that the AF is a little messy at times when trying to track fast moving objects or it you have a lot of limbs and leaves in the way of your subject. If only it could read my mind an KNOW what I wanted it to focus on, it would be the perfect lens.

So why did I sell my Bigma to buy this lens? Because it weighs about 3 lbs less and when hiking over many miles that's a huge plus. Also, my images at 300mm cropped are better than anything I could get from the Bigma at 500mm, even with a tripod.

There's a reason this lens doesn't show up for sale very often, because no one is willing to part with it, in fact I think I'd rather lose a kidney first.

Oh, I did think of another issue as a type this review, the 6ft minimum focusing distance can be a pain in the butt because I find myself preferring this lens to my DA* 50-135. In fact, I find myself using this lens more than every lens in my bag except for my FA20-35 because the IQ is so awesome.

To wrap things up, one thing that's not ratable apparently, is the Lens Envy it evokes from others around you. It's like carrying around a sniper rifle, it's that big and heavy. But I can't help but smile every time someone walks by and I hear the comment, "Look at the lens that guy has!"
   
Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2009
Location: egypt
Posts: 435
Review Date: December 16, 2011 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: tac sharp
Cons: may be heavy
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10   

It is my favourite lens. this is what a lens should be.tac sharp. pro build quality.
   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2007
Location: Europe - Belgium - Antwerp
Posts: 213
Review Date: April 13, 2011 Recommended | Price: $1,600.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: superb image quality - fast focusing - build quality
Cons: the weight , the size but what would you expect

this was my first professional telelens and after 4 years still my favorite.
The imagequality is stunning.
Autofocus is real fast.
Lately i've been using it with a kenko 2x tc or tamron 1.4tc with great results. (autofocus is slow then)
It's sorry that Sigma stopped with this lens, I only hope it comes back.
   
Review Date: February 14, 2011 Recommended | Price: $1,200.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Exceptional sharpness, colors, contrast and bokeh
Cons: Cumbersome auto/manual focus switch

I used this lens for two year and was very impressed. Image quality is comparable or even better than fixed pentax lenses (I have pentax 100mm F2.8 macro and Pentax 300mm F4.5). Sure you pay quality in terms of weight but I can't think it's possible to have constant F4 and such performance packaged in a lighter lens. Only one minor issue: to switch between auto and manual focus you have to move both the switch on the camera an on the lens.
   
Senior Member

Registered: September, 2010
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 104
Review Date: December 19, 2010 Recommended | Price: $1,300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp, solidly built, easy to control on tripod (well balanced)
Cons: Heavy as walkaround (to me)

Very good lens.

I used it with the 1.4 TC and have sharp shots of the moon as well as birds. I found it too heavy to carry casually. Would recommend a tripod but, given its expected use, this should not be an issue. Solidly built. No wobble of the camera even with the TC.

Have sold mine as have got into Macro and want to buy the Macro 150 OS next year.

That said, if you want distant nature: strongly recommended.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: November, 2008
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 102
Review Date: November 5, 2010 Recommended | Price: $950.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp at 100mm thru 300mm, Good Detail
Cons: A bit heavy

I've been using the A*300mm for the past four years. It is a fine lens and image quality is excellent; however, I'm at loss of words to explain how this third-party zoom is every bit as good from my first tests here today. Kudos to Sigma for making this stellar glass.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: January, 2007
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 13,793
Review Date: July 29, 2010 Recommended | Price: $1,100.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very sharp throughout the range
Cons: Perhaps a little weighty

I actually have 2 of these. I bought the 1st one new for my K10D, and I bought a used one this week for an old Canon 1D Mk II N. The HSM on the Canon mount is absolutely silent and I hope Sigma will eventually add it to the Pentax mount. This is a very versatile lens to use in Yellowstone. I've used it with the Sigma 1.4 TC and except for being a stop slower I can't tell from the IQ of the images that I've used it.

K20D, 300mm + 1.4 TC, 1/320 @f/4 (f/5.6), ISO 400. http://wtlwdwgn.smugmug.com/Animals/Gentle-Ben/Ben-IV/599304065_zy3rb-O.jpg
   
Junior Member

Registered: February, 2009
Posts: 38
Review Date: June 18, 2010 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Well built, excellent IQ, very good IQ even with 1,4x TC
Cons: some (correctable) front focus, weight - but they all are heavy :)

Now that's how telephoto zooms should be made. Although throw of the focus ring is only about 90 degrees, it is still great gor manual focusing - ring is huge and excellently damped, almost like oldschool stuff. No plastic feel there - except maybe for aperture ring, but at least on digital it has not that much of use anyway. Superb mechanics.

Only drawback may be related to the lack of the HSM, but not because of the lacking itself, but because this causes the lack of the full-time MF possibility - there is a push-pull clutch mechanism on the focusing ring and of course the lever on the camera body.

It is just a bit tricky to switch over, nothing more. On the other hand - there's less stuff to break down in the lens - and what a great lens this is...

P.S. About the weight - although it is regarded as "70-200/2,8 on steroids" specifications are saying, that 70-200 has weight of 1370g and this lens here has 1440g. Dimensions are different, but the weight pretty much equals them transporting-wise.

Other thing may be the tripod collar, which can not be used as carrying handle like on Bigma and other bigger lenses - there is a solution for all Sigma telezooms with this small collar. Sigma has a TS-41 collar as optional accessory, which solves the problem.


   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2007
Location: Florida Gulfer
Posts: 3,054
Review Date: December 25, 2009 Recommended | Price: $1,034.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very Sharp, Very Well Built, Awesome Lens
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 9   

I agree with what everyone else said.
I think it's the best lens in my bag. It's like owning a 100 thru 300 Prime lenses.
Throw in a great teleconverter and you won't need a 400mm lens either.
Anyone who buys this lens will never be dissapointed with it's quality.
   
Senior Member

Registered: July, 2009
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 180
Review Date: September 20, 2009 Recommended | Price: $2,300.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp all the way from f/4 | Super fast AF | IQ | Build Quality
Cons: None that I can think of

I bought this lens in favour of the BIGMA. I had two BIGMA copies that I took back with AF issues.

What a great lens this is. Absolutely crisp from 100-300mm with no degregation in IQ. It is tac sharp all the way from f/4.

Performance in low light conditions is very admirable considering it's only f/4.

I am completely in love with this lens, and can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good quality zoom. Team this up with a Sigma 1.4x TC and you have an effective range of 140-420mm f/5.6.
   
Senior Member

Registered: February, 2009
Location: SLovakia
Posts: 141
Review Date: September 3, 2009 Recommended | Price: $900.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very sharp, very good in direct sunlight, perfect build quality
Cons: could be dust sealed

Direct sunlight test:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41918127@N03/3883273677/
   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2008
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 194
Review Date: April 19, 2009 Recommended | Price: $1,100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: While others may say it's heavy. It is somewhat, but I like that, as I don't want to feel like I'm holding crap. Sharp, smooth, just great!!
Cons: Uh, none.

For the price, pretty darn fast and just plain daman great!!
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2007
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 2,978

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 28, 2009 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, can be easily used with 1.4 TC
Cons: Weight, and size with the lens hood

I have no reservation in giving a 10 for this. Extremely sharp throughout the range, good contrast, buttery smooth bokeh. A perfect lens except for the weight and size. But, it is hand holdable, as in the image below.



I've tested the Vivitar 2X TC, and the Pentax 1.7 AFA both gave poor results. 2XTC Bower MC Pz/AF that I just got is giving me results I can live with, like the image below. Not bad for a 2X TC..but very difficult to use, tripod and a very steady subject.

   
Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,901

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 14, 2008 Recommended | Price: $1,099.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: SHARP, balances well and versitile.
Cons:

I have found absolutely no fault with this lens. Very sharp. The balance of this lens makes it handle with ease. also to handhold.
Simple switch from MF to AF with the push-pull on the zoom with a fast AF.
The 100mm to 300mm range makes it very versitile. Moderately fast f/4 thoughout.
IQ of a prime!!
With the use of the Sigma APO 1.4x TC there is minimal IQ loss and you have a SHARP 420mm at f/5.6 for around $1100.00. Hard to match ( if you can ).

This is with the Tamron 1.4X MC4


Standing alone


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