Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Autofocus Zoom Lens for Canon or Nikon $149 + free shipping

I'm not quite sure if they're the same lenses http://www.jr.com/product/product...6+DG+MACRO . If they do, slightly cheaper at J&R.

Quote from evo3rs : I'm not quite sure if they're the same lenses http://www.jr.com/product/product...6+DG+MACRO . If they do, slightly cheaper at J&R.

I dont think they are the same. The motorized one is here: http://www.jr.com/sigma/pe/SGA_5A...TabDetails and sells for $239

I have been hearing alot about the Nikon 55-200 VR, beside the VR, what is good (or bad) about it?

Quote from cnganesh : I dont think they are the same. The motorized one is here: http://www.jr.com/sigma/pe/SGA_5A...TabDetails and sells for $239

Thanks for pointing this out!

Bad reviews
Optical 2 out of 5
Price 2 out of 5
Mechanical quality 2.5 out of 5
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/3...ew?start=2

Quote from hyogen : awesome. When I used my friend's T2i for one weekend, I almost made the small but significant upgrade to it from my T1i. I'm going to wait a couple years and go full frame at that time, though. Enjoy the lens

I would not be thinking about jumping from a T1i to a T21..it's more of a horizontal move as the T1i will handle just about everything as the T2i. Heck, one of our group members shoots a XS and routinely wins our challenges. And conversely, I have seen some lame results from a Mark II user. About 95% of photography is the Indian and not the arrow.

This Sigma will hopefully give me some great landscape and wildlife images when used with a tripod. The fact that it's a non IS lens is a plus for me as I know that many turn off their IS when shooting at full length...fingers crossed on it's quality.

Quote from bogatas : Don't be afraid of macro photography for those reasons; you certainly don't need a tilt/shift lens (DIY macro lens = inverting mounting of lens), and while a studio is preferred, it's certainly not necessary. Even a studio can be improvised as long as you have what you need on hand.

Thanks, maybe I'll give it a go. I have some extension tubes somewhere or I can buy some more if need be.

I'm not so afraid of macro photography (though I am a bit) so much as I'm afraid of product photography. For a proper watch photo, I can't imagine shooting without T/S or a view camera, and I lack the skill to properly light studio photography of highly reflective objects. The dance of light source, subject, and lens seems a bit overwhelming for those really beautiful watch ads, whisky ads, etc. and I think they must use studios for most.

Curious how one learns, though. I know for cars they use twinky lights or big diffusion frames, both extremely expensive, and shoot in studios. I applied to be a photographer's assistant once but I don't have a degree in photography so I couldn't make a good case for qualification!

Quote from clump : I have been hearing alot about the Nikon 55-200 VR, beside the VR, what is good (or bad) about it?

The optics. The 55-200mm VR has a better optical design than the non-VR lens, even discounting the addition of VR, so while the autofocus is not that fast, and the build quality is entry level, it has pretty respectable image quality, as long as you can put up with its limited aperture. I usually don't even enable the VR, although it is useful in a lens of this focal length. I often grab this lens when I have my 300mm f/4 on my camera, as it is relatively tiny and gives me intermediate focal lengths, just in case.

The 55-200mm VR is a lens that you absolutely get more image quality than you should for its price.

Quote from jimx200 : I would not be thinking about jumping from a T1i to a T21..it's more of a horizontal move as the T1i will handle just about everything as the T2i. Heck, one of our group members shoots a XS and routinely wins our challenges. And conversely, I have seen some lame results from a Mark II user. About 95% of photography is the Indian and not the arrow. This Sigma will hopefully give me some great landscape and wildlife images when used with a tripod. The fact that it's a non IS lens is a plus for me as I know that many turn off their IS when shooting at full length...fingers crossed on it's quality.

it's not a huge difference, but most reviews give the new sensor a pretty significant improvement especially in sharpness. It is, afterall, the same sensor that's used in the 60D and 7D. I only tried out the T2i for a weekend, but I am pretty sure I saw visible improvement in the sharpness area... For someone like me it could be worth the maybe $100 lateral upgrade in price or less... sell mine and buy used.

Quote from Policar : Thanks, maybe I'll give it a go. I have some extension tubes somewhere or I can buy some more if need be. I'm not so afraid of macro photography (though I am a bit) so much as I'm afraid of product photography. For a proper watch photo, I can't imagine shooting without T/S or a view camera, and I lack the skill to properly light studio photography of highly reflective objects. The dance of light source, subject, and lens seems a bit overwhelming for those really beautiful watch ads, whisky ads, etc. and I think they must use studios for most. Curious how one learns, though. I know for cars they use twinky lights or big diffusion frames, both extremely expensive, and shoot in studios. I applied to be a photographer's assistant once but I don't have a degree in photography so I couldn't make a good case for qualification!

it's actually bad even handheld if you are willing to spray and pray a little the "left eye focusing" technique is quite good--even though I still use my right eye--I just brace the camera with my left shoulder. This technique has further improved my keeper rate

Will this lens work on a Canon 40D?

Quote from hyogen : it's not a huge difference, but most reviews give the new sensor a pretty significant improvement especially in sharpness. It is, afterall, the same sensor that's used in the 60D and 7D. I only tried out the T2i for a weekend, but I am pretty sure I saw visible improvement in the sharpness area... For someone like me it could be worth the maybe $100 lateral upgrade in price or less... sell mine and buy used. it's actually bad even handheld if you are willing to spray and pray a little the "left eye focusing" technique is quite good--even though I still use my right eye--I just brace the camera with my left shoulder. This technique has further improved my keeper rate

Hey, if it's a inexpensive move up, go for it. Check out Canon refurbished too..some great deals can be had.
Btw, sharpness can be easily increased/decreased via post processing and don't see how or why the T2i would render a "sharper" image.
Here's a side by side comparison of the two Canons..you decide:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon..._Rebel_T2i

Quote from hyogen : It's not a Canon L lens. Skip. *rolls eyes* http://www.digitalsecrets.net/sec...0-300.html this shows the difference between the APO and non APO version of this lens. This is the review I mentioned earlier

Has nothing to do with apo vs non apo. The point is you will still get false color, something that APOs are supposed to corrected for. Your article only shows that the non APO version is an even worse lens. You don't need L series to get a better lens. Add $20-30 bucks to the $150 this thing costs and you can get a canon 55-250mm.

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos...ew?start=1

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos...ew?start=1

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/sup...f_4_5_6_is

As you can see, compared to the 55-250is the sigma has higher CA when shooting beyond 70mm, is completely soft around the borders, and of course has no IS. The canon has a better MTF chart.

I am not trying to hate on this lens or anything. After all most people crop their photos, down rez them, etc.. and post them on FB or Flickr and you'd never see the shortcomings of a lens. But IMO, for extra 20 bucks your money can go farther.

Quote from rainforest : how about the older models like D90 series ?

It will work with a D90... D90 has a focus motor and works with all af-d and af-s lenses...

Quote from gder03 : Has nothing to do with apo vs non apo. The point is you will still get false color, something that APOs are supposed to corrected for. Your article only shows that the non APO version is an even worse lens. You don't need L series to get a better lens. Add $20-30 bucks to the $150 this thing costs and you can get a canon 55-250mm. http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos...ew?start=1 http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos...ew?start=1 http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/sup...f_4_5_6_is As you can see, compared to the 55-250is the sigma has higher CA when shooting beyond 70mm, is completely soft around the borders, and of course has no IS. The canon has a better MTF chart. I am not trying to hate on this lens or anything. After all most people crop their photos, down rez them, etc.. and post them on FB or Flickr and you'd never see the shortcomings of a lens. But IMO, for extra 20 bucks your money can go farther.

that, and if you use a crop sensor you're not gonna see those edges anyway. I've had the 55-250 before.. i can't remember--is it also a macro lens?