| Author: | | New Member Registered: December, 2011 Location: Kineton, Warwickshire, England Posts: 16 | | Review Date: October 20, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fantastically sharp | | Cons: | Screw drive autofocus not comparable to current lenses | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: Used
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Bought from a fellow Pentaxian on the GB Pentaxuser forum.
What a lens! I use it primarily on my K3iii, and the results it produces are fantastic.
No need to say anything further.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2020 Posts: 131
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 19, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $393.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | beautiful appearance, built like a tank, very sharp, great handling, nice tripod collar | | Cons: | somewhat big and heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: D800
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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I bought this lens last year for my Nikon D800 full-frame camera (F-mount), primarily for astrophotography (but also for terrestrial nature photos). It is built like a tank and very easy to use/focus. I have obtained excellent photos of the moon and planets (in the same field) and of a partial solar eclipse with this lens, showing its exceptional sharpness. For my work, I have not observed aberrations (they would be mainly chromatic). On my D800, the autofocus is superb, even in low light (this ascertained from terrestrial photography, not astrophotography; for the latter, I do all manual focusing).
The zoom ring has nice, textured, hard rubber and is about an inch wide and in a good location halfway between the camera and the focus ring; it rotates very smoothly about 100 degrees from 100mm rightward (clockwise as seen from behind the camera) to 300mm. The optics move internally, so there's no change in length of the lens while zooming and no chance of "zoom creep" that is common in lenses that change their length while zooming. The focus ring is about 2 inches wide, with the same textured rubber; its smooth focusing turns through about 150 degrees from infinity clockwise toward closest focus (closest focus is 3-4 feet away at 100mm). This is a big, heavy lens, but then anything this good is going to be that way. It balances really nicely hand-held on my D800 with the tripod plate sitting on my left hand -- but 99% of my shots with this lens are done on a tripod (if I were still shooting my son's sports games, I'd have no problems hand-holding this lens if sitting in the stands). The plastic lens hood is very useful but is somewhat finicky to put on.
The reviews here is what caused me to buy this lens, and I found it for quite a bit lower than the average price given here in this review thread; my copy came in mint condition from Japan via eBay, and as with all my reviews, the cost (listed above) includes taxes and shipping. I have lots of telephoto lenses in the range 100-300mm for my Pentax cameras so won't be seeking this lens out in K-mount, but if I didn't (as was the case for my D800, for which I purposefully keep my lens count low, since I have so much invested in Pentax glass), I'd surely try to get a near-mint K-mount copy especially if the price were under USD $500. A couple photos of my lens on my D800 camera are given below; the third photo shows the lens off camera with caps on and lens hood reversed for storage, along with the very nice dedicated case.
 
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2016 Location: Paris Posts: 124
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 6, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | AF speed, IF, zoom ring, IQ, construction | | Cons: | hard to find | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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this lens is overkill. spent 2 weeks with it from the day i finally managed to find one. used it at 30-35°Celsius for hours and some rain with no protection, better built than most of pentax's recent wr lenses. fast temperature/ pressure change didn't do anything, the lens is so well built.
IQ is crazy sharp at all focal lenghts. it's impressive. I love the fact that it's like the FA* 80-200mm 2.8 in terms of contrasts, very nice smooth shadows rendering.
autofocus is crazy fast too. AF tracking is excellent in daylight and almost dark situations. smooth fast and spot on.
it's becoming my best lens for sports or any moving subjects, tracking, where i honestly don't see the point of having a 2.8 ..at 200 to 300mm. honestly for what? just to focus miss out more? 
It's an excellent lens for portraits too.
I think it's the best zoom Sigma ever made and will ever make.
And one of the best zooms ever.
this lens is not only a 70-200 and 80-200 killer, but a 300mm prime killer too.
Never been so impressed by a zoom lens.
Voilą.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 212
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 17, 2017 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp output, Excellent color, and excellent bokeh. | | Cons: | There are no negatives to report | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-70, K3, and K5iis
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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Bought this version two lens in almost new condition two weeks ago. It had just been listed, and I wasted no time in sealing the deal. Everything good I had read about this lens was 100% true.
I have taken it out on four photo treks already, so have had the opportunity to get a real feel for this lens. The photo quality has been nothing short of phenomenal. So far I have used this lens on the K3 only. In the near future I will introduce it to my K5iis.
Update 4-24-2018: This lens continues to perform great on all three cameras (recently added the K-70 for higher ISO). The photos are very sharp in camera and razor sharp with some photo editing. The lens is big but not overly heavy for its size. The bottom line? It is a great lens. It's too bad Sigma no longer makes the updated lens for Pentax mount.
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,697
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 19, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Pretty much everything! | | Cons: | No longer available new (Sigma - Listen UP!) | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, K-3, K-3 II
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: 8
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Apologies if I have reviewed this lens (V2) before, but if I have then I can't find it!
Anyway, I "robbed" someone in the UK around 2010 when I got it for around £570 to go with my newish K-5 - wont' be selling anytime soon as it's still working well with the K-3 II.
Edited Oct 2017: autofocus is lightning quick on the K-3 II - unless it overshoots! MUCH faster than the 150-500 OS HSM, which is totally "turgid" by comparison.
Can't add much to all the previous reviews in this thread, but I love it.
The only thing I might add is that, if using the body AF mode then keep the lens in (screwdrive) manual focus mode as you then effectively get the same sort of "quickshift" manual override that you get with many Pentax (and other) lens - OTOH, if you put it in lens AF mode then you lose that override.
However, a warning: there are few if any spares available for this lens, so "try before you buy".
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 29
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 22, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $865.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build, focus option, sharp | | Cons: | Weight, hood design | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 7
Camera Used: K20D, K-30
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
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Wonder of wonders I never would have expected owning this lens knowing this had been a discontinued Sigma model but I was carried by the many positive reviews about it. So I never would have expected seeing this lens popping up on ebay in 'mint' or 'New (other)' category on ebay UK. On the first try I failed winning the bid but fate must have caught up with me so when the winning bidder failed to pay for the lens and it was relisted by the seller, I took my chance which had me risking selling 3 of my lenses to afford it. I let go of my Pentax DA 55-300mm f4-5.8 ed, DA16-45 f4 ed al and my 'prized' pentax dfa 100mm macro wr (which I suffered a few sleepless nights afterwards). The only benefit I'm looking forward was to be able to avoid hiring a DA* 300mm F4 from SRS Microsystems when shooting airplanes on airshows and to that regard, I wasn't disappointed.
When I got hold of the lens it was literally 'clean' inside out despite my fears of fungal signs that one must gamble when buying used lenses at ebay. As technology do have its 'quirks' however which you get as a bonus after paying to own a device which promises to deliver it, it isn't perfect but came just all 'too perfect' to fulfill my intentions of doing away with hiring a dedicated telephoto lens to shoot airplanes on airshows. One notable aspect of this lens is rendering propeller blur just as appropriate when shooting propeller driven airplanes and helicopter main and tail rotors. It's simply awesome. As for a macro lens, it's not that bad when you need it without a dedicated macro lens for the purpose. You could judge by my sample pictures.
This was a sample of the macro capability of this lens taken handheld on a Pentax K-30 with focal length at 280mm, 1/200 shutter speed, f/10 aperture at 100 ISO on shutter priority.
Royal Navy Merlin HM1 helicopter with lens at 300mm, 1/250 secs shutter speed, f/10 aperture and 100 ISO using spot metering at shutter priority mode on a Pentax K-30 mounted on a monopod.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress taken at 300mm, 1/250 secs shutter speed, f/8 aperture and 100 ISO.
DC-3 Skytrain taken at 300mm, 1/320 secs, f/11 aperture and 100 ISO.
A RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, a mach 2 class air superiority, multi-role fighter taken at 300mm, 1/1250 secs. (should be 1/2000 or higher), f/4 aperture and 100 ISO on shutter priority (handheld). The image may not be that perfect at closer look but I suppose I knew the exact settings when I have another chance at a similar opportunity as this one. | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2013 Location: Barcelona Posts: 659
7 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 18, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, colours, bright, quality of the lenses | | Cons: | weight, discontinued. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K3 and K5
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: Used
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Bought this lens after having the Pentax 55-300mm DA F4.5-5.8 ED four years, wich is a lens I have had lots of fun with, but I wanted to go a step forward, and improve.
In my K5, this lens that I have been using for about 2 months, it's just perfect for motorsport like rally.
This past weekend I have been at Sweden for Rally Sweden, and I have had amazing pictures at low light I could have never dreamed about with the Pentax 55-300mm.
Overall is better in everything, except of losing some focal range at the beggining, and because it is bigger and it weights much more than the Pentax. But image quality is far away. And this is what I was looking for.
Got it for 600 euros after being asked for 900 to 1000 euros quite a few times, so I think I was lucky.
It is a shame Sigma does not sell this lens brand new anymore, because I believe this is a gem, and I will not sell mine! 
Here goes an example of what you can do with a copy of this wonderful lens.
 IMGP5296 by danigonzi_2000, on Flickr
YES, I recommend it!
UPDATE : January 24th 2019
I do still have my copy and still love it as the first day.
I have updated my opinion on it's bokeh because it compresses so much the image that can produce beautiful bokeh.
I'd also like to share more images taken with my copy.
I have been shooting at Rally Events like Rally Sweden for years and also Rally Catalunya with no problems but producing beautiful images. I did also shoot at Formula 1 Events in the support series (F2, Porsche Supercup) at Monaco and shooting Formula 1 at Spa Francorchamps last year.
Here you'll see some images taken with that beauty,
Formula 1 Images
 _IMG4160-2 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG6644-2 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG8020-2 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
Formula 2 Images
 _IMG6901 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG6887 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG4235 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
Rally Images
 _IMG0936 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG6353 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
So, as you can see if you wonder: Is it good for sports? Well, it is indeed! Very good!
I also have been shooting wildlife for fun and the lens is great also for that purpose.
Nowadays I do use it mostly with a Pentax K3 and it pairs very well with it, better than with the K5 (and it used to pair well together).
As said before, if you find one and you are wondering what to do.... you will not regret yourself grabbing one 
UPDATE March 2020:
Indeed still having it and loving it every single time. This lens is amazing for motorsport.
 _IMG7721 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
 _IMG8598 by Daniel Gonzalez Aguilera, en Flickr
Works great on a K3-II, there is no reason to get one if you can.
Update 12/11/2023.
So my copy had some issues, and I just bought another one but the Non APO version. It seems to not be as fast focusing. Yes is a small difference but I noticed it.
Ended up buying a Pentax 150-450mm and it is a great lens (and heavy and hard to carry) and passing the Sigma away.
Now I just received another APO version. Today. I am very much looking forward to the next race weekend
To me the Sigma has slightly better quality and focusing is as quick. But manages better low light situations.
I am using it now with my K3-III and the apperture ring doesn't communicate with the camera at all, so you need to let it in automatic.
Looking forward to start using again my copy! It is 0,8kgs lighter than the 150-450mm so it's more handhandable, portable and you won't need a monopod as I am using now with the big boy. The 150-450mm does a great job with the 1.4x TC though.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 14
3 users found this helpful
| | | | | 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
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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
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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.
| | | | | 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.
| | | | | 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
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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.
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