Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens Review
This lens is one of two virtually identical offerings from Sigma in the extremely popular 70-300 category in which almost all manufacturers have at least one fighter. Although still in the budget sector, this is the APO version the better of the two offers. We take a look at what you get for your money.
Build and handling technology
Physically identical, it is cheaper, not sister APO lens with the first 12mm longer to accommodate the AF MF switch on the barrel has left office, the next third is of the zoom ring, marked at 70, 100, 135 reception , 200 and 300mm. Although not difficult to move, you know you are moving a fair amount of glass as a front element travels forward some 55mm through the range.
BUY SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG MACRO LENS NOW FOR ONLY $159!
The next part of the race marked a depth-of-field scale and then on the left leads the change to enable “macro” photography. The last 25% of the barrel forms the focus ring, which is in manual focus, nicely torqued. When focusing on, it can not be over-ridden and becomes stiff for that reason. In normal mode you can focus the lens to extend a further 17mm. It is a red ring around the lens to the APO version, which is needed when you call, the two lenses side by side!
One of the features of this lens is the “macro” mode, which allows photography to a ratio of 1:2. Not true Macro, but a useful function exactly the same. It works between the focal lengths of 200-300mm and is activated by the switch as soon as the lens extends 200mm past. This allows the focus ring to travel further and extend the lens to another 14mm to focus closer. The extension brings the number to 300 mm and at the narrowest focus, some 86mm. On this track, more than half of the lens during focusing is turning what his embarrassing, yet can hold. The AF performance is adequate for a lens in this price class. Not fast, but fast enough for most purposes, and although the motor makes noise, it is not so loud as to deter the target.
BUY SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG MACRO LENS NOW FOR ONLY $159!
Optical quality
This is where this APO lens of his sister, the use of two different extra SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in front group, so that a total of three. SLD glass is thicker, accounting for the slight increase in weight in the lower lens. What is with this kind of performance standard zoom lens is better at the shorter focal length, tailing is a little like the zoom extends. But in contrast to some, the drop-off is not too marked, and in its class, this lens also in the entire bandwidth.
BUY SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG MACRO LENS NOW FOR ONLY $159!
The expanded focus, offers the 1:2 macro facility is particularly useful and well done to give good definition at close quarters. The new multi-coating, the lens is DG (are optimized for digital) classification’s help, a design that is good to start with that extra bit of help in controlling artifacts. CA is well controlled and distortion fairly well, although there was a slight pincushion effect at the end 300mm. (Easily cured in software on digital images) The extra SLD elements, in fact, help to improve the resolution.
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