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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Comments on Sigma 28-300?
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07/11/2005 05:50:50 AM · #1
I recently entered a photographic competition and was fortunate enough to have one of my photos chosen for the cover of a coffee table book.

With this I won three nights at one of the exclusive game lodges next to the Kruger Park.

This is apparently one of the best areas in Africa for leopard photography, and will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.

I have one problem though : I only have the stock 18-55mm lens with my 20D. I am currently looking at the Sigma 28 - 300mm lens which I can get for about ZAR 2600. (Money as well as wife's approval is a factor!)

How is this lens? I will appreciate comments or suggestions from anybody currently using a similar lens. What I like about the Sigma is that it feels well built (for the price) and covers everything from wide ange to telephoto...

Thanks!
07/11/2005 06:31:44 AM · #2
I have the 28-300 and it does have good range and performs about the same as the 18-55 kit lens. It also comes with the petal lens hood and is very compace. Once I tried the 17-85 EF-S IS lens I saw a huge difference and that lens is now on my camera most of the time. While I have not done any close comparisons I would prefer to take an image from the 17-85 and crop it down over one taken with the 28-300.

As $'s and WAF play into your choice you will need to decide what is right for you.

I don't know if you can borrow or rent a long lens for your three day safari. Many stores allow you to buy a lens and try it for few days to try it out.

Congrats on the contest and book cover.

Message edited by author 2005-07-11 06:32:16.
07/11/2005 02:42:58 PM · #3
Originally posted by p3wiz:


I don't know if you can borrow or rent a long lens for your three day safari. Many stores allow you to buy a lens and try it for few days to try it out.

Just remarking what i think it's a good idea i waf cases.

Message edited by author 2005-07-11 14:43:55.
07/11/2005 02:50:00 PM · #4
I think it's performance at the tele end is not so hot. Might be better off with getting a Sigma 70-300 APO II and using the kit lens to cover the wider angle. My personal feeling is that you may need more reach like 400 or 500mm, but 300mm shouldn't be too bad.

Message edited by author 2005-07-11 14:50:55.
07/11/2005 02:58:57 PM · #5
I have the Tamron 28-200, whilst the quality and feel of the images are not as good a my Nikon lenses (for me, it more the bokeh than the sharpness) it is an essencial lens in my bag. Basically, for me it turns my camera into a damn good prosumer, and at the end of the day it's better to get 90% of the images at 90% of the quality than 30% of the images at 95% of the quality.

If the 28-300 is what your budget will allow then go for it, we all know that you can spend thousands on a much better lens but back on the real world we have to make compromises.

One thing though, if you can (in any way) afford it, get a 50mm 1.8 in addition and use this when you don't need the wide angle of your kit lens or the reach of your new telephoto.

Also, if you don't mind changing lenses then consider a 70-300mm, these have a little more quality and you will not suffer with the 55-70 gap.

Hope this helps :)

Darren
07/11/2005 03:11:00 PM · #6
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Message edited by author 2005-07-11 21:25:54.
07/11/2005 03:16:55 PM · #7
Sigma 50-500 gets decent reviews and would be a hell of a safari lens if you only had that plus the kit lens... Considering the range, it's not that pricy, thouhg it may be out of your reach.

R.
07/11/2005 03:46:11 PM · #8
Stay away and save your money. Renting a prime tele or a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS is probably the best option is money is tight.
07/11/2005 03:54:13 PM · #9
Sigma 28-300 reviews on Fred Miranda

Lenses with such a wide zoom range (10 times) are always going to be relatively poor quality. If you can put up with images being somewhat soft at 300mm then you may not mind, but be very careful what you buy/rent if this is a once in a lifetime trip.

As well as the Sigma 28-300, there is also a Tamron version, which I believe is newer and better, but also slightly more pricey. You might want to check out that.

Tamron 28-300 reviews on Fred Miranda

Alternatively, I highly recommend a Sigma 70-300 over the 28-300. It's going to be better quality, even though it's not superb itself.
07/11/2005 04:20:24 PM · #10
I can vouch for the 70-300 APO. Not L glass, but neither is the price, and if you don't crop too much, the softness is not much of an issue.

I'll make you a deal. Help me sell the F828, I'll buy the 175-500 and 50F1.8 and you can use them for the trip, hehe.

@300mm
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