Options
Sigma 120-300 F/2.8 DG OS HSM
For anyone (particular Nikon shooters) waiting for this bad boy to hit the stores, go ahead and breathe. You'll turn blue before you can get happy. The Sigma BS machine is up and running. Here's what the Sigma website says as of today: "The updated 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM lens will be available in early May for the street price of $3,599 in Sigma and Canon mounts." OK, first thing, that means screw you Nikonians. Second, it is no longer "early May" in case you hadn't noticed, Sigma.
John :
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
0
Comments
I don't see how this is a "screw you" to Nikon like it's a personal thing. I've long learned to not get hopes up on new releases. Nothing to get your underwear in a wad.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
If anybody is laughing in the face of their market right now, it's not Sigma or Nikon...
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Nikon mount:
http://www.adorama.com/SG120300NNK.html
B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/909811-REG/Sigma_137306_120_300mm_f_2_8_DG_OS.html
http://www.adorama.com/SG120300NCA.html
B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/909812-REG/Sigma_137101_120_300mm_f_2_8_DG_OS.html
Sigma mount:
http://www.adorama.com/SG120300NSG.html
B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/909810-REG/Sigma_137110_120_300mm_f_2_8_DG_OS.html
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Matt, if you think the price on the NEW 120-300 is awesome, check out the existing model, (EX DG OS APO HSM) which also gets great reviews. Try $2500.00. Near as I can tell, the optics are pretty much the same, but it does not have a focus limiter, nor all the customizable tweaks that the new lens has. I don't know those bells & whistles are worth a 44% premium.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Apples and oranges.
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
Really, for the price of the new Sigma I highly doubt it is anything less than flawlessly sharp, and so the only major advantage of the 200-400 is the ability to get to 280-560mm f/5.6 with the flip of a switch. And to get that convenience, you forfeit f/2.8 in the same lens and the ability to fine tune your autofocus calibration very precisely. (Although the latest Canon cameras can calibrate any lens at the long and short end, which probably will suffice in many situations)
Now I'm not a full-time telephoto sports shooter, but I have shot my fair share of extreme action telephoto sports, and I'd take a 120-300 f/2.8 with a 1.4X and/or a 2X TC any day. I know others may have different needs, and in that case maybe the 200-400 is the right apple or orange for them.
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Well, guess what. Sigma has done just that. Their website is a bit clunky, but I found the MTF charts for both lenses and it's pretty much what I'd suspected. They are optically identical. Decision made. I'm sticking with old school.
Somebody else can try to figure out all the AF fine tune micro adjusting, etc. Think about this: when you're fine tuning your AF in the camera, you take a shot, analyze what you see on the screen, hit the menu button, tweak the setting, and take another shot. It's an iterative process, no? Someone please tell me how you're going to do that if EVERY TIME you shoot your target, you have to demount your lens, put it on the USB dock, plug it into your computer, open the Sigma software, and GUESS what microadjustment to make. Then remount the lens and shoot your target again to see what difference you've made. Are you REALLY going to do that??
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
I agree with you, but I was just stating the fact that a $12000 200-400/4 and a $3500 120-300/2.8 from two different manufacturers aren't worth comparing.
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
This is like saying hmm, that VW Passat is a little expensive, but hey it's cheaper than the Audi A8, so it's a good deal.
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
Not worth comparing? Why not? They're both insanely sharp. They're both built rock-solid, with current generation autofocus and stabilization, and they're both in roughly the same focal range.
Think of it this way: basically you are saying that because the price difference is so huge, the cheaper one shouldn't even be considered as an option or alternative if you can afford the more expensive one.
Let me put it this way, even though the analogy is pretty weak: If I'm ever filthy rich some day, I'm not spending a quarter-million dollars on some new high-tech Ferrari just because it's the best.. I'd buy Magnum PI's Ferrari, (308) or Sonny Crockett's Ferrari. (Daytona Spider) ...even though they only cost about $30-50K used these days... :-D
I know that analogy doesn't really work when comparing the performance of two different lenses, of course. I'm just saying, if it's the best tool for the job, who cares what it costs?
=Matt=
My SmugMug Portfolio • My Astro-Landscape Photo Blog • Dgrin Weddings Forum
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
You own or have used the new Sigma 120-300/2.8? Wow, you have more connections than I thought.
No. I'm saying if you can't afford the 200-400/4, it's not worth mentioning. See my Passat vs. A8 comment. If you can afford it, then you can buy whatever you darn well please.
308 GTS is one of the hottest cars ever made. But if you buy a Daytona Spyder I will lose all respect for you. ;-)
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
Spoke to Sigma yesterday, they claim the Nikon version will hit USA Monday next week and should hit their vendors sometime late next week. They did not say how many, but apparently around 24 come at a time from Japan... Canon version first round supposedly hit last week....
14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
85 and 50 1.4
45 PC and sb910 x2
http://www.danielkimphotography.com
Nothing for Nikon @ B&H on the 3rd, and still nothing as of today (June 10, 2013)
Even the Sigma website shows the Nikon version available only for pre-order.
Just got mine from Beachcamera.com, will arrive tomorrow. They are smaller than BH/Adorma so the few they got were not on an endless backorder. No dock though, so Im not sure how much fun I will have with it until it arrives. The strength of this len's customization is also a bit of a weakness. Without the dock i miss much. As for the samples pics out there already, the sharpness is amazing for a zoom lens and rivals a prime. I will see how the autofocus performs...