Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro for Nikon AF-D

Pros: Reasonable Price, light weight, smaller filters, quick focusing and zooming. Macro capability from 200-300mm!!!!!
Cons: Not as smooth as a Nikon zoom for manual focusing.

This is Sigma's offering in the 70-300mm focal length, offers macro capability from 200-300mm and competes directly with Nikon's offering in the same focal length and lens speed.

Like many people new to Nikon, I would have preferred to equip...

Pros: Durability, easy to focus and zoom
Cons: None that I can think of

I shopped and I shopped and I shopped for a 300mm zoom lens for my Nikon 6006. I was stuck on getting a Nikor lens because I knew the quality was what I wanted. While shopping, I came across several recommendations to try out a Sigma lens. So I...

Pros: Light, fun and okay quality
Cons: None really at this price point-see review

I own some of the best Nikon glass there is, but the Nikon name does not mean you get superb quality every time. Like all other designers of fine glass, Sigma has their good stuff and their more consumer oriented "junk." The 70-300 falls into that ...

Pros: Excellent price and Good optics
Cons: Not the best out their

I purchased this lens off of my sister-in-law around a year ago and I am very pleased with the results that I have received. The macro aspect of the lens is probably it's strongest asset. The lens when locked on 300mm can zoom in on a grain of sand from...

Pros: Compact with a wide zoom range.
Cons: Low Contrast, Not sharp.

I am using this lens on a Nikon N80. Comparing this lens along side higher quality glasses on the same roll of film, it shows a distinct low contrast with undersatruated colors compared to higher quality lenses. It is very slow in focusing and has...

Pros: Reasonable price for lens that can sometimes achieve professional results
Cons: Zooming beyond 250mm requires at least f8 for details

I used this lens for wildlife photography for more than two years with decent results. I believe pictures speak louder than words. You can see a gallery of example images with this lens at http://www.pbase.com/ccraft/sigma_70300

I find this lens is a good all-round inexpensive lens that can sometimes achieve professional-level quality. It is okay in low-light situations. I do find that auto focus varies in quality between 250mm and 300mm. You really need to set the aperture to at least f8 or f9 if you zoom in at 300mm, even on a sunny day. I find the auto focus is slower than my other telephoto lenses, but it still offers good value for the money. I also find the lens is decent for macro photography. I was able to achieve some very nice DOF effects with this lens, even when the aperture was at f6+.

Pros: Sharp! Nice range. Great price.
Cons: Barrel does creep, slow to focus at high zoom and sometimes has to hunt.

I have used this lens for over a year now and have been very pleased with the consistently great results I get from it.
I bought this lens because I needed an affordable zoom with macro capabilities.
I have been most pleased with how sharp this lens is. In macro mode shooting between 200 and 300, the results are needle sharp. You can view an example here:http://jesse_nikki.tripod.com/Fauna/images/bee_and_mangrove_flower.jpg This is a low res pic but the detail in the prints is unbelievable.

Pros: PRICE, sharpness, colors, contrast, build quality (for the price)
Cons: Somewhat slow AF

I just bougt this lens in replacement of the Nikon 70-300G. This one isn't more expensive but it's a lot better.
Colors and contrast are better, and build quality is uncomparable.
It's even better than the expensiver Nikon 70-300 ED. Nikon and Sigma are almost equal from 70-200mm, but Sigma is sharper above 200.
For less than 200 bucks, you get a reasonable quality, well built lens. You even get a free bag and a hood.
There are better ones at +1000 $, but I can't see anything better under the thousand barrier...
On the bad side, AF is a little slow.The same with HSM would be perfect !