WHICH LENS? - SIGMA 70-300mm DL MACRO Super-II or 28-300mm AF Super Zoom 4 - for Canon 300d Rebel D

SIGMA 70-300mm DL MACRO Super-II or 28-300mm AF Super Zoom 4 for
Canon 300d Rebel Digital SLR?

A local dealer is offering these lenses for a reasonable price.

Any advice on these lenses or best choice of the two would be
appreciated. I already have the 18-55 to go with them, and am aware of
the conversion factor thanks.

I like the facility of the macro and price on the first,
but the 2nd choice would mean no changes of lenses at all, with loss
of macro facility, at almost double the price.


-----------------Be Kind _ Cut the Spec Before Reply---------------

SIGMA AUTO FOCUS ZOOM LENS:
70-300mm DL MACRO Super-II TELEPHOTO Price: £109

Sigma's New 70-300mm DL Macro Super II F4 - 5.6 Lens Uses DL (Low
Dispertion Glass). This allows the user to obtain super crisp images
even in very bright conditions or where there is high contrast.Sigma
lenses are rated amoungst the very highest quality range of lenses
available for moden SLR Cameras.
A Favourite with Professional Photographers using both film and
Digital Media and highly regarded by Wildlife Photographers.

It incorporates only MC (Multi-Coated) DL Glass lens elements
throughout.

Resolving the highest resolution (LPM) from corner to corner this is
an unbeatable lens in the sub £300 class!

A lens hood is included to ensure no lens flair will creep into your
shots.

The lens materials used in this new lens are newly developed, lead and
arsenic free ecological glass.

This highly cost effective telephoto zoom lens enables macro
photography at a magnification of 1:2 at a focal length of 300mm.
Special Low-Dispersion glass (SLD) compensates for colour aberration.
The minimum shooting distance is normally 59.1" / 1.5m and 37.4 " /
0.95m in macro mode. The lens compensates for the fluctuation of
aberration due to focussing, and is the ideal lens for portrait, sport
and nature photography, all of which frequently require the use of
more powerful telephoto lenses.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGMA AUTO FOCUS ZOOM LENS: Price: £189.00
28-300mm Compact Super Zoom

Sigma's Latest 28-300mm IF (Internal Focussing) Compact Super Zoom.
One lens for all occasions! The highest optical quality available over
this impressive zoom range. Sigma lenses are rated amoungst the very
highest quality range of lenses available for modern SLR Cameras.
A Favourite Walkers, Climbers, Travellers and all those who want the
benefits of SLR Photography without the size and weight associated
with all the lenses required to cover the full range of angles.
Suitable for both film and Digital Media and the first choice for
those who don't want to carry a gadget bag around with them.

It incorporates only MC (Multi-Coated) Asperical Glass lens elements
throughout.

Resolving the better resolution (LPM), it is an unbeatable lens over
this range.

The lens materials used in this new lens are newly developed, lead and
arsenic free ecological glass.

100% Feature Compatable with all current AutoFocus SLR's - Both Film
and Digital.

 

I haven't seen a "Super Zoom" rated above "average" on www.photozone.de ---
for good reason. Construction of an 11X 28-200 involved too many
unacceptable compromises. The two Sigmas listed at the site are rated
"sub-average." In the user data base they are rated the worst of all --
optically (poor), focusing speed (very slow) and build quality (bad & OK).

Since you've already covered the low end well with the 18-55mm, I'd
definitely look for a 70-300. The gap from 55 to 70 is insignificant. The
Sigma 70-300 rates, although it's only rated average, is much better than
the 28-200.

Best of Luck!

 

Have you thought about the Tamron 28 to 300. I have one on my 10D and am
very happy with it. It has some minor CA problems but when you consider it
dollar for dollar (or in your case Pound for Pound) it's good value.

regards
Don

www.photozone.de ---

 

Thanks Don

CA Problem?

I Thought perhaps Tamron/ Sigma might be the same lenses.

Any other makes ?

 

Chromatic Aberration. Different lens manufacturer.
regards
Don

 

The hype doesn't get around Sigma's low build quality or the fact that
Sigma has compatibility problems that they will not address. The Canon EF
75-300 gets high marks in this type of lens and all 28-300s are marginal at
best.

 

The reasonable price, at least on the 70-300, is due to it being a DL lens.
This line is discontinued, and as Sigma lenses often don't work on Canon
bodies newer than the lens i'd be most surprised if you could focus with it.
I have a colleague whose 50mm EX macro that worked on his EOS film body fail
to focus on his new 10D.

Try them out thoroughly on the body first. If they fail to function in any
way, look for the cheapest Canon alternative (Tamron and Tokina apparently
are less problematic too).

As for focal length range... i'd consider the telephoto zoom as opposed to
the uberzoom. A budget zoom's quality is often inversely proportional to
it's zoom ratio. Note this is not true with "kit" 28-70 and similar lenses
which somehow manage to be almost as bad as lenses with three times the long
end of the zoom range.

 

Per PhotoZone:
Tamron AF 3.5-6.3 28-300 Asph. LD-IF 2.37 (sub-average)

After you've spent $900 for a camera body, it doesn't make much sense buying
cheap lenses. Kind of like putting cheap speakers on a high-price stereo
system.

Super Zoom almost universally are poor performers -- relatively speaking.
Even the $1400 Canon 35-350 L glass is only rated "average" and it's the
highest rated.

 

Paolo

I assume from your comments that you actually own the Tamron? As I
indicated in my post I have one on my 10D and regularly shoot with it. When
using the mid range and comparing it to my two canon lenses I am pushed to
see the difference when printed out on A4 size prints from an I950. My
Canon lenses are the 50mm 1.8 and the 20 to 35mm. I have shot the same shot
with the 50mm Canon followed by the Tamron set on 50mm and as I say above,
no real discernable difference. It is only when you push it out to the far
end (300mm) do you start to have real world problems. However, I have
managed to take a lot of good bird shots with it and as I cant afford L
Canon lenses, it will do for now whilst I develop my technique and skills.
In other words, its a good tool for a learner. Just as an aside the current
prices here in Oz for a 35 to 350 Canon is $3,071.00 (oz$) to the Tamron 28
to 300 $688 (oz$). In my view this makes the Tamron good value for us
beginners. Yes, one day I will get the equivalent range by buying Canon's
but whilst I develop as a photographer having the 28 to 300 is very useful
and I recommend it for the above reasons.

regards
Don

 

I'll add my .02 worth.

I bought a 300D a few weeks ago and then bought a Tamron 28-300. I was
reasonably happy with it until it got cloudy and I found that because it was so
slow, the shutter needed to be open a LOT longer than I was used to with my
C2100...and I was getting fuzzy shots (and I didn't wwant to drag a tripod with
me all the time). So..I rented a Canon 28-135 IS and took some comparison
shots...same thing, same length (to the 135 max) and in EVERY case, the 28-135
was noticeable sharper. I have to admit...when people said the 28-300 was a poor
performer, I didn't beleive them...but...I returned the Tamron and bought the
Canon 28-135. At some point, I'll get a longer lens as well.

I'm not anti-Tamron...I also have the 90 macro and like it a lot. But...as
people have said, 28-300 is just too wide a range for good performance.

rr

 

I've never used the 28-300, but here is a shot from my 70-300 DL Macro @
300mm...
http://www.pbase.com/image/23540341/original

It's even cheaper (per lens) if you buy it in the Zoom-set, and the 24-70 HF
included in the set (a 28-70 is included in some sets) is a tremendous lens
for the money. Both are super values, mine are good sharp lenses for their
focal ranges from corner to corner, but they aren't as rich or contrasty as
my EX glass. The budget-minded DSLR owner can fix both of those things, to
some degree, these days.

 

Thanks for that George

The sharpness of the tiger image is very good.
(Similar to the animal I photographed in Vegas the week before last?)

Which of the photographs in the gallery were taken with the lens?
Are the macro shots with the lens?
What 'MP' camera took the images?
Is the lens shown on the camera the 70-300?

Yes the Lens Kit with wide angle/tele zoom looks a good deal,
unfortunately I live in the UK, but will be back in LA in January.
I wonder where these can be obtained at the best price?

For the time being having forked out nearly $1000 for the Rebel
the canon Lenses are out of my reach.

In the uk I can get the 70-300 for the equivalent to $175

 

The Tiger-face and the Moon shot are from the 70-300 DL at 300mm
http://www.pbase.com/image/23540341
http://www.pbase.com/image/23550330

The house cat close-up is the 70-300 in full zoom macro mode (taken from
about 3 feet away)...
http://www.pbase.com/image/23010761/original

The cat face is the only macro shot in the gallery, the rest are from
non-macro lenses shots at normal focus distances.

An SD9 which is either 3.43MP or 10.3MP depending on how you measure. The
pics might be a bit deceiving for you, the SD9 has been called a lot of
things, but one thing its never been called is soft.

No, this is the 600mm mirror...
http://www.pbase.com/image/23237723

This is the 15-30 EX...
http://www.pbase.com/image/23256593

I added these to show the lenses in the Sigma Zoom-set fully extended and
also buttoned up...
http://www.pbase.com/image/23550332
http://www.pbase.com/image/23550331

You can see the 70-300 is a lot longer than the 28-300. Also consider that
24mm is a fairly significant WA difference from 28mm.

That's reasonable, about $150 in the States for a Canon mount. You also
might want to consider the better APO version which is only about $50
more...
http://sigma-photo.com/html/pages/70_300_ams2.htm
http://sigma-photo.com/html/pages/70_300_ms2.htm

Both are really great lenses for the cash, with the APO being the best
value, I think, close to a pro caliber lens. Here is a nice comparison of
the 70-300 APO to the 70-200 EX, which is generally considered one of the
best, if not the best, pro 70-200...
http://www.lightreflection.com/lenstests/lenstests70300/lenstests.70300.htm

 

Sigma 70-300 APO is a better choice than the 70-300 DL.

Phil

 

I paid $250 for my Tamron 28-200XR and it works like a champ with my
300D digicam.

The digicams are more forgiving of these lenses, since the smaller focal
plane means that the peripheral areas of the lenses are not imaged.

I also have the Sigma 70-300APO (a better choice chromatically than the DL).

Phil

 

A good point Phil

With only the centre portion of the lens used by the digital version,
perhaps this will result in improved results at longer focal lenths of
the zoom range?

Possibly many of the adverse comments made refer to use on 35mm
cameras where all of the lens element is used.

I gave my Digital Rebel it's first run out today. The results are
excellent with the Canon 18-55 lens.

The only drawback I have found with the Canon Rebel 300d so far is the
lack of availability of a Motordrive for this particular model.

 

What is a "motor drive" for a digicam? They do support image sequences
up to some speed limit, but you must mean something else.

Phil

 

What about this Canon 75-300?
Anyone have any comments on this one

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=169267&is=USA

Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens USA

Mfr Catalog # 6473A003 • B&H Catalog # CA7530043EFQ

List Price: $ 270.00
Our Price: $ 154.95
Mfr. Mail-In Rebate: $ 10.00
Price After Rebate: $ 144.95
Availability: In Stock

 

I knew someone would fall for that one

 

I own one. It s a good lens - the best in that class of lenses in fact. IT
will also work on every Canon EF body ever made and every Canon EF body not
yet made.