In a post from September 2008 (Sigma 70-300m APO zoom – problems with Canon EOS 450D) I told that I could survive with the old, non-DG Sigma telephoto zoom lens with my Canon EOS 450D, despite the fact that in many occasions, especially outside it just made the camera to hang. Well, now the time has come to make an end to this miserable situation, since I am again interested to use a the wonderful (overall quality/cost ratio) APO lens more often. Therefore I purchased from Amazon a Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG. Not too expensive with its 226€. There was a non-APO model for about 155€ but I picked this one, because I have so good experience with my old APO lens.
Old, non-DG model on the left
Click the image to see more details: the old model is made much better, and it also feels much more robust in hand. But the new one is lighter.
Important improvement to the old model is that with the new model you can use macro function in 200-300 range. That helps a lot, having used the old model for years and cursing not being able to zoom at all but myself and the camera instead. Take a look at the zoomed macro example shot of my Crassula-family plant below.
I am very pleased with the Sigma products. Of course, you take a risk with non-Canon products because there is no backward compatibility guarantee when you change your EOS camera. Thumbs up also for my new tripod Velbon CX 560 3D.One day when I will in lottery, I will go and buy that EOS 5D plus some 10 k€ worth of best Canon lenses. Until then, I will enjoy of what I got !
Church tower at sunset full zoom 300mm
My Crassula plant seen through the new APO DG
