Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a Sigma 300-800 f5.6. Reviews are good for such a zoom. I know it's heavy. 12lbs. All I want to know is real world sharpness and focus speed results without a teleconverter. Thanks.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Bump

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Lens Rentals in Tenn. rents them - at least for Canon .....

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I have read a lot of reviews. They appear to perform quite well for a zoom of that range. Was hoping someone here had personal experience. Lol. Might have to get my own experience from the looks of it. Thanks for the info

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

The biggest problem with any lens of this size and focal length is stability! A lot of people complain about a lens' image quality when it is actually the expertise of the person using it.

Use a good solid tripod or keep the exposure time short, short, short (with probably a corresponding higher ISO). Shoot a suite of subs and pick the best one. Watch out for atmospheric motion in landscape shots.

Rent one and try it out...

bwa

rweddle

I have had the lens for 15 plus years and it has taken a lot of good bird photos primarily. It is HEAVY at about 13 pounds with the lens hood and then you add the camera body. I bought a Gitzo system 5 tripod and presently am using a Kirk gimble head, the new, not the King Cobra which I used earlier but prefer to not side mount because of the weight. It worked well for years and I have been satisfied with the pictures I obtained. I did tend to keep the shutter speed up and with the inertia of the combination I had little problems with blurred pics if I did my part. This is the original 300-800, not the latter digital version which had some new lens coatings but as I remember the same lens formula. I quickly found a picture taken in the last couple years to show that it does have decent feather detail. It was taken with 1/50 sec shutter speed.
I use it rarely now because of some more modern lenses in the 600 mm range but it is a good lens from a blind with good support. It will be used again for birds but little else. It can be obtained much cheaper than a 600/4.0 prime.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Thank you so very much!! That was what I was looking for. An actual user. You just cost me 3300.00 bucks. Lol

Larryshuman

I used my Sigma 800mm F:5.6 AF since 2002 when it was new at $5900.00.I've won a photo contest in 2012. I use it mostly with my D3, D600 or the D810.

Idahomw

12 lbs. That's not a lens, that's a small observatory!

Rodeo Lensman

I also own the Sigma 300-800. I mount it on a Katana jr Gimbal head, attached to a TR344L Carbon Fiber tripod, both made by Pro Media Gear (Chicago). I use either a D850 or D500 with the 300-800. I have gotten some beautiful bird shots with it, and plan on taking it to Alaska for some work with grizzly bears in Denali National Park. It's a very sharp lens, but its' weight lets you know your packing a "monster lens". To avoid any excessive movement, I attach a 7" monitor to the camera body, for focus checking and composition, and use a wireless remote for shutter release. I'm very happy with the lens, my only wish is that it would have come with a sherpa to tote the monster.