The Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM is a fast telephoto zoom lens targeted primarily at sports and nature photographers who wishes a fast lens, allowing for photography in low light.
The Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM is quite unique for the focal length as it is of today the only F2.8 300mm lens with the ability to zoom to 120mm and still maintain a F2.8 aperture.
The lens itself is fairly compact for a 300mm F2.8 and with the relatively short lens hood this lens fits in most bags and although it is bigger than for example a 70-200mm F2.8 it´s not much longer. It measures 112.8 x 268.5 mm and the lens hood is roughly 65mm long, much shorter than the OEM counterpart. Using the 120-300mm coupled with a 1D series body it looks kinda small and nimble but once you see it up close you recognize why it weighs 2.6 kg.
Built quality is as with most of Sigmas expensive lenses top notch. It feels and is very sturdy with the typical Sigma coating. I would rate the built quality better than the Sigma 100-300mm F4 EX but not as good as the 500mm F4.5 or 300-800mm F5.6. The lens is not water sealed.
On the 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM there´s surprising only one button which switches from auto focus with full-time manual override to regular manual focus. - It´s surprising there´s no focus limit selector which most photographers, who needs the speed of a 300mm F2.8 use on a regular basis.
Short and beefy. The Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM features a huge zoom ring that sits in front of the smooth focus ring. The zoom ring allows for quick zoom between 120 and 300 mm. It has a soft rubber padding and fits hands of all sizes no mater how big.
The focus ring is short and somewhat smoother which I suspect was chosen intentionally as it feels more natural for it to be faster. It also lets you know which ring is which without looking a the lens. You could easily zoom with the hand while the little finger maneuvers the focus ring.
The tripod collar is quite big for a 300mm F2.8 and it has a finger like pattern for easy carrying. The included strap also uses the tripod color.
Another major reason to buy a 300mm F2.8 is they typically take teleconverters extremely well. Although this is a zoom lens and not a optically perfected prime lens, it naturally is less sharp than it´s prime counterpart. It was obvious using the 2x TC and less obvious with the 1.4x. That being said I used a 2x TC and 1.4x TC quite a lot and found both to be very useful. The above shot is with the 2x TC.
It has always been a concern and issue of mine and I often ponder why nature / wildlife photographers buy a 300mm F2.8 as the primary lens. I found 300mm to be too short for almost any wildlife related photography and relied of either the 1.4x TC or the 2x TC nine out of ten times. I guess I´m focal length addicted.
It quickly became clear to me this lens is much better for the sports photography whom´s subject are typically much larger. I could see this as a superb motor sport lens.
The HSM focus engine is quite quick. Not as quick as the OEM 300mm F2.8 certainly as least as fast as the Canon 100-400mm L and slightly slower than Sigma´s own 100-300mm F4 EX.
Slightly insecure with the 1.4x TC and somehow picky with the 2x TC pretty much on par with the aforementioned 100-400mm L, but to my surprise not as fast and precise as the 100-300mm F4 EX.
The Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM is very sharp/ sharp from 120 to 300mm shot wide open with the ability to capture very fine detail. It gains a little stopping down but it is already close to as sharp as you want.
Using a 1.4x TC takes some toll shot wide open. Stopping down one stop improves performance dramatically and it gains the same sharpness as without the TC shot wide open.
Stopping down two stops when using the lens combined with a 2x TC, improves sharpness a lot managing close to the sharpness of it shot without the TC at F2.8.
Overall optically impressive especially for a zoom lens
Downloadable samples straight from RAW files (right click and choose save as..)
Sample 1
Sample 2
Conclusion
I was impressed with the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG APO HSM as it featured a large F2.8 aperture, a relatively quick focus HSM engine and was in fact sharp wide open. If I didn´t own a 300mm lens, which I have in my 300-800mm, this lens would be a choice I would consider as a secondary lens. A small nit is that it isn´t as fast focusing as it´s little brother the Sigma 100-300mm F4 EX which I think would be the decider for me.
Now if I was shooting Le Mans or some other motor-sport event where I could use a monopod, this would be the ultimate choice along with a 400mm F2.8.
Overall a great tool primerily for the sports photographer.
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A special thanks to danish Sigma distributor Fovitech for once again supplying me with a review sample.
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dear Tobias i am in the loop for buying the new 120-300 os sigma ex dg hsm lens but where i live Medellin Colombia there is no store etc so i have first to wait for a review hopefully by you and than make my choise and sell my old Sigma 170-500 APO and Nikon 70-300 vr thanks already for this one.
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Hi Edward
Did you had a chance to try the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 OS? I would like to hear your opinion about it.
Tobias
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