Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Lens for Canon - $165 shipped

Quote from smallcapguru : this statement doesn't make sense at all. You infer that you have to have IS to make a macro shot? baloney. i have two macro specific lenses. both of them do not have IS. Most of my macros' are done with a tripod. i would highly suggest people use tripods and remote shutter release/timed shutter release when doing still macro....that and good lights for a faster shutter speed.

I don't infer. I, as the sender of the message, would imply.

You can infer from my implication, though.

And you misunderstood what I was saying. I was saying that the lens does not have IS, for those people who don't intend on just shooting macro.

Quote from izx : As you seem to suggest, current IS is not supposed to help for macro shots (in fact, Nikon even recommends turning off VR on their Micro-Nikkor lenses). This is because IS/VR is currently designed to compensate for motion in 2D (up-down, left-right), I.e hand/camera shake. If you've ever shot macro, you know that at that distance your concern is not that kind of motion, BUT forward-backward motion (that's the difficulty in trying to keep the subject in focus handheld). None of the current stabilization technologies from any mfr will compensate for that motion.

Interesting! Good to know!

There is absolutely zero reason to buy this lens if you can swing a used 70-300/4-5.6 IS/VC from Canon or Tamron. It's a piece of crap that'll frustrate you unless you're outdoors in broad daylight.

Quote from izx : The lens has a special macro switch you can activate between 200-300mm which IIRC let's you get as close as 2.5-3 feet and DOES provide a 1:2 "macro" reproduction ratio. Long macro lenses are useful precisely because you can keep a greater distance from the subject, because you don't want to disturb it and/or need ambient light.

Here is a 1080p video I took of a bee pollinating a flower in my yard from about 5-10 ft away using a tripod. It was taken with a Sigma 70-300 DG APO lens, the same lens in the OP.
Link to video [youtube.com]

Edit - Bee sure to watch the video in 1080p! Shot with Canon T3i and used a UV filter

Quote from shockz420 : Here is a 1080p video I took of a bee pollinating a flower in my yard from about 5-10 ft away using a tripod. It was taken with a Sigma 70-300 DG APO lens, the same lens in the OP. Link to video [youtube.com] Edit - Bee sure to watch the video in 1080p! Shot with Canon T3i and used a UV filter

Nice vid.

Quote from sshlyk : Nice vid.

Thanks! I just wanted to show the lens isn't "worthless" as some have claimed here.

Quote from KnightRT : There is absolutely zero reason to buy this lens if you can swing a used 70-300/4-5.6 IS/VC from Canon or Tamron. It's a piece of crap that'll frustrate you unless you're outdoors in broad daylight.

I completely disagree! I purchased this same lens last fall and have been very impressed with it's sharp images. I use it mostly on my Canon T2i and it surprises me with much better than expected results. I had the Canon 55-250mm EFS lens and it was fine..but at full length, showed soft outer edges. I could crop a little and it's not a issue, but there are images that I did not want to crop. I then tried the Canon 75-300 EF, not stabilized, and I was getting lots of chromatic aberration (CA) in bright sun. I also found it slow to focus..especially at full focal length.
Enter the Sigma: build quality is very good, auto focus motor seems quieter than both of the Canon's, focus is good at all lengths, and it's sharp IF there is good light. But all of these big lens need good light. Is it perfect? No..I get a little purple fringing in certain sunny situations and very light CA..but it's usually when I'm shooting with more sun facing me. Btw, I have captured some really sharp photos at all lengths handheld..that said, bracing on a solid object or a tripod/monopod will definitely work, especially if windy.

Go here (my favorite lens site) to see actual images captured by the Sigma..pretty darn good for a budget priced lens! Btw, click on the full size image tab to see some really good resolution.

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/lense...none&res=3

Quote from shockz420 : Here is a 1080p video I took of a bee pollinating a flower in my yard from about 5-10 ft away using a tripod. It was taken with a Sigma 70-300 DG APO lens, the same lens in the OP. Link to video [youtube.com] Edit - Bee sure to watch the video in 1080p! Shot with Canon T3i and used a UV filter

Fantastic vid! It's definitely a good lens for the money.

Quote from smallcapguru : Most of my macros' are done with a tripod. i would highly suggest people use tripods and remote shutter release/timed shutter release when doing still macro....that and good lights for a faster shutter speed.

any recommendation for a good "remote shutter release/timed shutter release"?, is it easy to use?