Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro Aspherical Lens for Nikon AFD Cameras

I bought this lens about three weeks ago and immediately set out to test it. I compared it to 3 other lenses: Nikon 28-80, Nikon 70-300, and Sigma 28-135. I testing the four lenses using a magazine page with pictures and various size fonts at about 20 yards and another "target", a house at about 150 yards with various details that include brand name decal of air conditioner. I tested the lenses at 28, 50, 70, 135, and 300. Obvious not all the 4 lenses had 135 or 300. All of them were mounted on a tripod and a remote was used. To make a long story short. I downloaded the pictures on the computer and compared each degree of magnification. To make a long story short, the Sigma 28-300 eaual to the Nikon 28-135, but was the best one of the four lenses at all magnifications as far as definition, and reproduction of color. It was even better than the Nikon 70-300. There was little difference between the two in regard to the speed of focus since the diference is only one f-stop. The Sigma was the only lens that made it possible to read the brand name on the airconditioner at 150 yards.Don't believe the standard nonsense that you read on forums. When those "experts" talk about a reasonably priced lens like this one, they always say "good for the price", or "soft at both extremes" without testing it.

It is what you would expect for a lens in this price range. It is a perfect everyday lens especially well suited to photograph outdoor events where there is close and far action. It is made of light plastic which makes it easy to carry but I would not want to drop it - especially when extended to 300mm. Overall I am very satisfied with my purchase.The focus speed is slower than my D50's kit lens and it is also noisyer, but not annoying. The only odd fuction is the manual focus; the internal gears do not disengage so you feel the gears whirring as you turn the focus ring, it feels a bit rough. The Nikon model of this lens does not have a manual focus switch on the lens, you have to use the camera body switch.A bonus with this lens is that is does good macro photography. I was able to get sharp shots of flowers at close range with totally blurred backgrouds.The lens needs a lot of light but 300mm is not very practical indoors so it is perfect for outdoor daytime photos. With the hotshoe flash the lens performs very well indoors.The zooming action is a bit quick for my liking. Just a half turn of the barrel and you go from 28 to 300! You need a gentle touch to get just the right focal length.I bought this lens instead of the Nikon 70-300 G. The 28-300 is a more useful range but you sacrifice speed (6.3 instead of 5.4 max aperture at 300mm). The Sigma is lighter and at least half an inch shorter than the Nikon at the smallest focal length. The Nikon had smoother zooming and faster focus.

I've had this lens for nearly 5 years. For the most part it provides good image results. The zoom feature has been sticky on and off since I got it (I should've returned it immediately when this happened). The inevitable happened last weekend when it no longer zooms! I have to push/slide it out (still getting good photo results).I emailed the dealer to see if it is still under warranty. Not happy as this is about a $300 purchase. I'll cope with it the way it is as I'm too broke to buy a new lens. I use it with a Nikon D50 and have always been pleased with photo results.

For the money, it's a decent lens.My only complaint is that it photographs softer than I like. Rarely use it anymore. Would put the quality of the glass to that of a kit lens, based on sharpness.So the only thing you're really buying is the convenience of not having to switch out lenses. The quality of the images isn't any better.This review is based on 3 years of use.

This lens was not a bad lens, however 47th Street Photo was not a good website for you to buy stuff. they put on the picture of the good lens and send you a different one, the lens i received don't have the AF-M ( auto focus ) switch on it. But on the title and the picture the lens have the AF-M (Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro Aspherical Lens for Nikon AFD Cameras by Sigma ) this is the tittle. You can find another lens just like this with the AF-M switch on the website and they are 250$ , not 209 $. 47th Street photo try to scam people for cheap price.And i did ask them to give the right lens , the one that i ordered but so far they didn't answer yet.

You get what you pay for...normally, but I've found this lens to be more useful than it's cost, yes it is slightly slow and doesn't have an awesome F-Stop, but for it's price its a great lens to have for multiple style shots.Excellent

used it for a very long time with my D80 .. after about a year after i bought it .. the zoom lock started malfunctioning but i didn't care at all as long as it hadn't something to do with the actual lens. It's a very affordable close - long range lens and it takes great quality pictures for the price. Autofocus mechanism feels weird .. even in manual you can feel all the mechanisms moving when you "manually" focus. Auto focus it's also a little slow and sometimes it wont work right.

This lens was the best investment I've made in a long time. Focusing with it is smooth and steady, picture quality is great, and it is extremely versatile. My two main focuses are landscapes when I'm in the country, and macro photographs of human skin when I am here in NYC. This product is perfect when having two opposing interests, a love for film, or just experimenting. I would definitely recommend it!