- Features a large aperture of f/2.8 at the 300 millimeter focal length
- Multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduces flare and ghosting
- Features SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements for superior correction of chromatic aberration
- Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for ultra-quiet shooting
Product Description
*THE NEW DG MODEL IS HERE*A telephoto zoom lens, which retains a constant fast aperture of F2.8 at all focal lengths.This telephoto zoom lens has a large aperture of F2.8 that is constant throughout the zoom range. The angle of view of the 120-300mmF2.8 varies from 20.4degree to 8.2degree and offers great versatility of composition from a fixed position. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements in the front lens group and two in the rear group offer effective compensation of color aberration. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens offers ease of handling. HSM ensures a quiet, high-speed, AF as well as full-time manual focus (for Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts).
Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma APO 120-300mm f2.8 EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras features a large aperture of f2.8 at the 300 millimeter focal length and is optimized for used with digital SLR cameras. This lens transforms a large-aperture f2.8 300 millimeter lens into a zoom lens that allows you to determine the picture composition you want without having to change your vantage point. It has two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in front group and another SLD element in the rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration.
The latest in multi-layer lens coating technology and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and it also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. The lens’ AF drive is equipped with a silent, responsive and high speed Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), which also provides full-time manual focus function. 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. High-speed focusing is possible when this lens is used with dedicated APO EX 1.4 x or 2x tele-converters (sold separately).
Randall L. Steffens @ 10:12 pm
I’ve had this lens for about 1 year now and am very happy with it. I have no complaints with the quality of the unit or its photos. Some other reviewers have had a complaint with the mount screw holes, stating that they were of poor quality and stripped easily requiring the purchase of a new upgrade mount from Sigma. After using this lens extensively, I can authoritatively say that the mount is very good quality and should provide years of service free use. If you treat it respectfully, you won’t have any problems. If you are interested in this lens, I would advise that you get it ASAP, because its price is rapidly rising every year. It has increased a full $400 in less than 8 months!
Frederick Gaston @ 12:16 am
I shoot 2-3 sports events a week and while I love my D3 needed more reach (had been trying to shoot soccer & track meets with Nikon 70-200 & Sigma 100-300). I concluded after a lot of thought & soul searching it would be more strategic for me to buy D300/Sigma 120-300mm combo than a 200-400mm for the D3. [the 100-300mm is a great lens too, but that extra stop is so sweet!]
For me, I definitely wanted a f/2.8 lens and felt a zoom would be more versatile than the Nikon 300 f/2.8 (& cheaper too).
There’s no question it’s a heavy lens by most people’s standards, but I always use with a Monfrotto 681B monopod (which I love too).
Have only had this combo for about a 2 weeks but love it. The pictures are tack sharp, and the bokeh is awesome–rivaling Nikon 70-200mm IMHO. People always mention you have to get a good copy from Sigma but buying new I was fairly certain this would not be a problem, and I knew I could always send it right back to Amazon for another copy with no problem.
[....]In summary this combo has helped me take my game to a whole new level, and I’m very, very happy with this lens.
Paul Johnson @ 1:21 am
I purchased this lens in the Fall of 2008 from Amazon, and unlike another reviewer, it was very well packed when I received it. I was shooting a lot of HS and college sports from the sideline with a 70-200 2.8 and sometimes had to crop my shots heavily, but still with with excellent results. Years earlier I had outgrown the marginal images of the consumer grade 70-300. I struggled with a 300 2.8 prime I rented as it lacked the range and flexibility I grew to love in a zoom. I tried this lens and have been hooked ever since!!! Beautiful tack sharp full frame images with excellent color. This lens definitely took me to the next level and is the tool I needed for true pro results. The zoom is like silk and holds perfectly. This lens is heavy and built like a tank, but mounts well with a Manfrotto 234RC head on a 680B monopod. While the head is quick release, it is rock stable. I don’t miss the image stabilization that would have added $2500 to the price tag.
If you’re looking for pro action images at an outstanding value price, this is your lens.
Sky Mitch @ 1:34 am
I bought this lens for $2,260 from Amazon -(excellent seller,very fast,best prices). The lens generally performs well, F8 improves the sharpness, but is quite soft when used wide open at 300mm (f2.8), especially at the edge of the frame. Auto focus can struggle in low light conditions, but generally seems fast and efficient.
It’s a 300mm lens that gives an aperture of f2.8 for about half the price of the equivalent Nikon or Cannon primes.
The 120-300mm zoom range is really nice to have.
Donald Lu @ 2:35 am
Got this lens for use with a Nikon D3 and D300. I shoot mostly sports and needed something a bit longer than my old 80-200/2.8 for field sports like baseball and lacrosse. I also have used this lens indoors for volleyball on my D3 so I can sit way up in the stands and still get close enough while looking down onto court at a cool angle. The 2.8 really comes in handy since my gym’s lighting is absolutely horrible.
Anyway, I also got the Sigma 1.4x TC (which only AF and meters with a few lenses, including this one and the 300/2.8 prime, but they don’t tell you that until you read the booklet insde the TC box!) So combining my 1.5 crop D300 with the 1.4x TC and this monster lens, I get about 250-630/4. In the full-frame D3 I get about 168-420/4 with the same setup. I have heard that some copies of this lens don’t zoom all the way out the the claimed 300 mm but my metadata shows that my max focal length is actually 420 mm with the 1.4 TC on the D3, FWIW.
I thought about getting the 300 prime but really wanted the zoom feature since moving around a lot is not really an option for most sports shooting. I would love to get the Nikkor 200-400/4 but at $5K, that’s not really an option and besides, I have a 2.8!
Pros: Good image quality, even with 1.4x TC, on par with or better than my Nikkor 80-200/2.8; great in low light at f/2.8; fast and quiet focusing that can keep up with fast action sports; way cheaper than anything Nikon makes (especially since they don’t even make a 120-300/2.8 zoom!)
Cons: Cheap metal finish quality (thin, matte paint that shows scratches easily, if it doesn’t chip off entirely); the zoom ring is reverse of Nikon direction (not bad if zooming is slow and deliberate, but I have issues when I need to snap in or out quickly and old habits take over from using Nikon lenses); zoom ring feels a bit stiffer than my 80-200 (don’t know if it’s just my copy, but I only need gentle fingertip pressure on the 80-200 to zoom but the Sigma requires a firm finger “squeeze”) which affects how fast I can zoom in and out and thus how I shoot; lame lens cover “sock” that doesn’t stay on when the hood is deployed
Other thoughts: Great lens for the money, especially when paired with 1.4x TC. The zoom ring issues I’m dealing with ok, it’s just annoying at times, but not a deal-breaker for me. The biggest niggle is the cheap paint that flakes off (especially on the handle of the rotating collar and the edges of the hood–places that see the most action)