Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 For Canon SLR Cameras

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM APO IF Ultra Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.

The Sigma APO 300-800mm f5.6 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras provides a constant fast maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range and is optimized for digital SLR cameras. By continuously varying the angle of view from 8.2 degrees to 3.1 degrees, the lens takes a lot of the footwork out of picture composition.

The multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and it also creates an optimum color balance. Two Extra Low Dispersion (ELD) glass elements in the front lens elements reduce chromatic aberration to a minimum and also ensure sharp, quality images of high contrast.

The lens’ Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) provide silent, high-speed and precise auto-focusing with full time manual focus override. The lens also features a drop-in 46 millimeter filter holder in the rear part of the lens barrel, which can be rotated to facilitate the use of filters, including a polarizing filter. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use. In addition, since the front of the lens does not rotate, a circular polarizing filter can be easily attached and used.

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 accepts both 1.4x and 2x APO EX Tele-Converters (sold separately).

Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 for Canon SLR Cameras
More technical details and full reviews.

User’s reviews Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6

“This is a great lens and is a must-have for birders and other nature photography. The zoom range is extremely flexible and the f-stop fairly quickly, but keep in mind that this is a very, very specialized lens. Firstly, yes, it’s huge! This is not something that you carry daily. It can be very difficult to get sharp images at focal lengths over 400 mm or more. You must must MUST use a solid end, and high tripod head gimbal. This will also prevent the “fall” described in another review.

The only purpose is very heavy, and once you throw in a sturdy tripod you talking 25 + pounds of equipment to a minimum what is really going to limit your mobility and affect the way you shoot. It costs a lot of foresight to use, but I prefer to think this as an advantage.

When used properly, this lens has fantastic image quality — very sharp, excellent contrast. When I say sharp, I am talking L-series sharp, even wide open. The HSM focus speed is fast, perhaps slightly slower than Canon’s USM but not appreciably so. The only thing it’s really missing is image stabilization (or optical stabilization, as Sigma calls it), which would really help out on those long shots. This is a minor limitation, though, to a great lens. If you have the discipline to learn how to use this lens properly (and if you can afford it!), you’ll reap some great rewards.

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