Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS APO HSM Sports Lens for Nikon F

2022-12-21T09:08:07

I would not buy this lens as I traded it in as it?s a very slow focus for z series Nikons. Get a quality nikon lens.

JEREMIE M.

2022-03-13T18:03:01

Very sharp out of the box. Zoom control is anti-Nikon, so my brain had to adapt. The tripod collar is weak for the weight of this lens, so remove it and apply grease to make sure it doesn?t bind up. But the mount will wear out over time, so look for a genuine replacement on eBay from Japan (not cheap Chinese junk) shortly after purchasing. The ?nubbins? that the tripod collar rubs against need tightening often, so invest in a set of small jeweler?s slotted screwdrivers. Sigma needs to improve the tripod collar mount. But the optical quality is impressive.

Don V.

2020-08-11T00:36:53

Recently bought the Sport version for Nikon after weeks of pouring over owners' reviews and opinions. Man! Is this lens heavy for the focal range it offers! Still early but after several hours out and about with this lens I find its performance to be all I had hoped it would be. Purchased primarily for sports, auto racing and indoor no flash events. Amazing right out of the box. It is tack sharp and works with all my Nikon bodies, DLSR and Mirrorless. The fit, finish and build quality is very very good. It is a statement "I am worth every penny." I am not a pixel peeper nor do I anguish over test charts. In the field it has performed flawlessly and the images could not be any sharper at most any f stop. For me that's f/2.8 to f/8-11. It is about 8 pounds of lens. Add to that the weight of your camera and you're looking at 10-12 pounds. So be prepared for that. I thought I was. Was not. Focus and zoom ring turn like a Canon NOT a Nikon. Not an issue for me as I have other Sigma lens. Do not over tighten the locking screw on the lens hood. The tripod foot is plain. It could've come Arca-Swiss compatible. The dot on the lens you reference to when mounting it to the camera is not offset to the side. It is located top dead center of lens barrel. Makes for odd mounting to camera. Do read the instructions. The case is alright. It has a permanent strap so the case is carried horizontally. A strap is also included for attaching to lugs on the lens. I have not found it to be an asset yet. Do consider the USB dock as part of the cost when purchasing the lens. The ability to customize settings is not to be discounted. If you don't already own a quality tripod or monopod with a quality head that can handle a lens of this weight, get one or both. The object stabilization works great so it can be hand held but your mileage may vary. Remember, it's at least 10 pounds of camera and lens you're attempting to handhold. And how long is a football game? The lens does not change length when zooming from 120-300mm. However the internal elements move a quite a bit. So getting it balanced on a gimbal head might be tricky. Balance for 120mm and when you zoom out to 300mm it might not be balanced. Not a big deal for me. The zoom range 120-300m might not be wide enough or long enough for some so consider what you shoot and how you shoot. But if 120-300mm zoom seems like the way to go this lens is the answer at a about 1/3 the price of that other 120-300mm zoom lens. Even if you factor in getting the Sigma 1.4 teleconverter separately. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. Now back to the gym.

DAVID G.

2019-12-27T07:38:28

I love this lens for indoor or night time sports photography

JAMES G.

2019-05-05T20:00:45

I bought this lens mainly because of the constant f/2.8 coupled with the ability to zoom. I have borrowed and used a Canon 300 f/2.8 and found that I wished I had zoom like my 70-200, just to be able to adjust my view without having to always move. This lens is heavy, right around 7 pounds. I have used it hand held and got some great pics with it this way. It would not be something I would want to do all day. I used it on my mono pod which let it hold the weight and was still great to use. The construction and durability seems good. The zoom ring is stiffer to turn, more so than my Canon lenses, but not terrible. Just takes some getting used to. I have used on two separate shoots of events thus far and got great results. I was very hesitant about buying a Sigma lens at first but I now have two and have no complaints. The pics are sharp. In the real world settings I have shot and in viewing without going super deep into each pixel, it compares well with the Canon 300.

Robert C.

2019-01-28T07:09:21

I love it. I shoot with this lens 90% of the time. It is usually attached to one of my Canon 1DX2's. It's perfect for me because I can't move and the action comes to me. It allows me to get more shots because it can zoom. It's perfect. I just wish it would focus a tiny bit faster (I've adjusted it to the max with the Sigma Dock)

OLIE M.

2018-07-12T18:42:14

Well. Yes. The lens is really very nice and produces very sharp shots. Better than any other zoom I know. 110mm filter size gives you LOTS of light so it is f2.8 all the way from 120 to 300mm. Only one problem. I thought it could be a countermeasure for Canon's 70-200 f2.8 but it is much larger and several times heavier than 70-200. If you think you can do a wedding with it, think harder. You will need to be a body builder first.

Michal W.

2018-02-22T19:56:06

I wish that I purchased this beast years ago. Long time Nikon guy, Nikon has nothing like this lens. This lens does what a Nikon 300 f2.8 will do and more....for a lot less money. Having zoom capability makes this lens super practical for sports and concerts. I haven't used my 70 to 200 f2.8 nikor since purchasing the Sigma. The Sigma does the same job with the extra reach to 300mm. The lens is heavy but manageable when using a monopod. Very well made. High quality glass and construction. Nothing but praise for this lens.

SCOTT M.

2017-04-28T02:51:03

this thing is heavy! But this is the price for solid build Quality. I put a Neoprene Cover over it for protection and carmoflage. it is focussing fast and acurate- the pictures are stunnign betther than with my 70-200 from nikon - I retired this. IT can keep up with focussing racing motorcycles on a racetrack and foodbal players in the night on a field. get a good tripod or better monopod. the teleconverters are allos recommended. the fixed focus might be a little bit sharper but not that versabie and don't justify the higer price

PETER J.

2017-04-13T09:56:47

This lens is a great lens and is a great price option instead of buying the Nikon or Cannon 300 2.8 Lens.

Joe M.

2016-10-21T08:39:31

I bought this lens after owning the older DG, non-OS version. I loved that lens as well, but the focus speed was SO SLOW. This new lens is a dream. I love it for portraits and I'm hoping to use it for sports soon, as well. Focus speed is extremely fast and accurate, and the lens is incredibly sharp. It's a big chunk of change, but it's worth it.

Nicole B.

2016-10-03T15:22:27

Nice pictures but too heavy for hand held.

CHEONG W.

2016-08-27T20:31:23

I use this in capturing sport, so far football. I use this lens wit my Canon EOS 1Dx Mark II. I am very please with the result. is zoom lens will never compare with the Canon 300 2.8 but for the price is great. The advantage to have a zoom lens 120-300 2.8 across make my life more easy. Still is a 7pound lens. to I like this lens glad I got it. I recommend this lens.

Jaime R.

2014-01-20T19:00:00

I've had this glass less than a week and haven't had the chance to put it through its paces but the few images I have captured are amazing. I'm looking forward to using this on the pitch this summer and capturing some great images. In all honesty, I was hesitant to purchase through Adorama because of a bad past experience. Wanting to give them an opportunity to win me back I went with this large purchase. They did not let me down. The package arrived sooner than anticipated and well protected.

Christopher C.

2013-10-02T21:00:00

OK you know a 300mm F2.8 is going to be heavy, that is a given and since you know that up front it is not a negative. First of all I needed this for a trip to Alaska, Adorama got to me a day early. Woohoo to them. The lens is remarkable for several reasons. Primarily because it is sharp through its ZOOM range, and also because no other player has a zoom in this range and at this speed. This is important more often than not when the action is coming toward you and you have have no room to move back-this would stop a 300mm prime in its tracks, not so this Sigma. Also of huge importance is the USB computer adjustments. Know you are shooting birds then prior to leaving dial in the focus range for 100 meters and up, then the lens will only focus in that range and up greatly increasing an already fast auto-focus. Tank like build is another plus. Personally I love the black color-it just matches my Canon bodies. Metal hood too! I even appreciate the 'S' for sports symbol embedded into the lens body in a classy silver. p.s. Tripod or monopod required.

ROBERT M.

2013-08-13T21:00:00

I rented a new Nikon 80-400 which I thought was going to be my go to zoom when I needed a longer reach. The 80-400 didn't impress so I continued my search. Other reviews on the new 120-300 Sport from Sigma convinced me to take the plunge and buy it. I liked the idea of having a fast (man it'sheavy) tele zoom and being able to add a 1.4x TC and still have a moderately fast f/4 400mm+ focal length. A 600mm f/5.6, if IQ was good enough, would be icing on the cake. So I ordered the two TC''s with the lens. Ok, the lens is big. Its heavy. Those are the negatives. But a lens this fast and this good by any manufacturer is. The build is on the plus side of excellent. AF is super quick, even with the 1.4 TC, less so with the 2.0 TC.This lens is very very good when used with my D800. At 300mm from 2.8 to 8 it maintains its sharpness/detail/IQ or whatever you want to call it (I'm not a peeper), all I know are the pictures are clear, detailed, correctly exposed, have great contrast and are very pleasing to look at. They compare favorably with the results from my 200mm f/2 VR and thats saying something. I haven't gone beyond f/8 yet but expect it to work well with the smaller apertures as well. The OS works very well but I tend to bump my ISO up to 800-1250 to maintain a quick shutter. So I'm shooting at 1/1000th or more although a few times I have dipped to 1/320th and the OS kept things tidy. Early on I switched to the 1.4X TC and everything above is ditto when using it. I have a difficult time selecting "native" shots from TC shots without using Lightroom. I'm using LR with 3:1 mag too when I evaluate these photos. The last couple of days the 1.4 TC has just stayed on the lens. I am impressed. This is my second Sigma, the first being the 35mm/1.4. That one was all I had heard it was which to be honest was another reason I went ahead an bought versus rented one to try. I hoped (expected?) the 120-300 to be good, honestly not this good, but good. Oh, the 2.0x TC results as it turns out is wayyyyyy better than hoped for. Totally useable. There is no question that the results with the TC 1.4x at 420mm and f/4 beat ANYTHING the 80-400 produced at any aperture. Maybe I got a bad rental copy of the Nikon. Its possible, but the 120-300 IQ and available options (fast 2.8 zoom up to usable 600mm) with a TC is what I was looking for and I got it. I've also taken many shots from 120 up thru max zoom and the results stand. I bought this more for range which is why my review has concentrated on the long focal length. Now, if the hummingbirds would just come around the yard.

WALTER K.

2013-06-28T21:00:00

Pictures are tack sharp and color fidelity is superb.

STEPHEN H.

2013-06-17T21:00:00

I have been trying the lens out at horse shows and on wildlife and birds. The focus is fast. The pictures are crisp, with no vignetting or chromatic aberrations noted. I did notice very slight vignetting at the furthest zoom when using the 1.4x teleconverter, however it is minimal and easily fixed. It is a large lens and while it could be hand held, it is too big for me to personally hand hold it. I mount it on a monopod for the horse shows and a gimbal head for wildlife/birds. I have a Canon 1dx and love the fact that this lens is weather resistant as I do have photoshoots out in the rain (part of being an Oregonian).....

derid

2013-06-10T21:00:00

Lens is used with a Canon XSi, a basic DSLR, to shoot birds. Lens is mated to either a sigma 1.4 X or a 2.0X converter. After early shots and tests the following is observed: AF is fast, quiet and dead on; sharpness or clarity of detail after zooming in to just before pixel stair stepping is superior to the canon 55-250 with identical framing (canon at 240mm and sigma at 120 w /2.0X). I am very pleased with the lens but recommend a teleconverter to justify it. It is sharper by far than the canon package lens, but for that much loot I want more brought to the party. The lens is heavy. My new tripod claims 15 lb capacity and it seem just adequate. I have the product version that precedes the ' sports' version ( which has a /s added to type and cost 1K$ more). I recommend this product but suggest getting a converter. F2.8 allows it.

Clifford C.

2012-08-15T21:00:00

Hello, I had the chance to try it in two different stores and the result is same: very high quality pictures. I took some shots with my 5dMKII and the sharpness is excellent at 2.8. I also try my Canon 2X III and yes the result was amazing. This give you a 240-600 f5.6 lens perfect for wildlife and day sport action. I plan to buy it into next 3 month. I also try the Canon 300 2.8II in store and after photo comparison, Canon is a little better but 3 times the price of the Sigma.

M G.

2012-07-29T21:00:00

Sigma has finally done it. They've gone and made a lens that can top Canon and Nikon. Until now Sigma lenses, in my opinion, has had equal quality optics. This 120-300 2.8 OS gives image quality better than Nikon and Canon. The detail color produced are amazing, not to mention the beautiful bokeh.

TONY T.

2012-06-29T21:00:00

If you want the very best possible image quality , you will need a prime lens. Does not matter if you shoot Canon, Nikon .... A zoom is very convenient when at the sidelines for photos but if using for cropping and enlarging for action photos of events for clients only a dedicated prime from camera manufacturer will give you the best quality you are looking for . The MTF charts look really good on some non dedicated lens but just don't compare to real tools. Let's face it, for the money, GET THE REAL THING , just pay a little more. The difference will amaze you . There is just no free lunch when it comes to lens.

clearwater

2012-04-29T21:00:00

Works very well with a 2x tele-extender for wildlife photography.

Joedifco

2012-02-08T19:00:00

Bottom line. Lens has great build quality and super fast focus. But it is no sharper than my Nikon 80-200 af 2.8 at 200 compared to the sigma at 300. After a series of comparative photos zoomed into pixel levels I saw no advantage. So, in my case it went back. Either my 80/200 is spectacular glass or the sigma is just average.

DAVID S.

2012-01-30T19:00:00

I like the lens for outdoor photography. It is a fast focus lens and works well with my D300s. It is sharp and the f/2.8 is exactly what I neeed for birding. I intend to us it with a Sigma 2x teleconverter to get greater range and the f/2.8 will allow me to do it.

EDMOND W.

2011-10-10T21:00:00

I use this for nature and wildlife here in Wyoming. I have a large focal length gap between my Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 and my 500 f/4 so I decided to try this lens - my first ever non-nikkor lens. The first one I received had an AF problem and Adorama promptly sent me a replacement which is wonderful. Note that I needed -18 AF Fine-Tune on my D3S to get sharp images, but once it was dialed-in it is fantastic. Very sharp wide open and works really well with Sigma's 1.4 and 2 Teleconverters with very little loss of image quality. It doesn't AF quite as fast as some of my Nikkors but it is definitely acceptable for what I shoot. This is a super-versatile lens with much better than expected image quality, even wide open with a 2x teleconverter. The stabilization works great. I shoot handheld with excellent results at 300mm and with the 1.4 TC. When using the 2X TC I find that I need to use a tripod to get sharp images. Highly recommended as a versatile wildlife lens!

STEVEN M.

2011-09-12T21:00:00

I use this lens almost exclusively at indoor dog agility events - with poor lighting and fast action. I shoot at ISO 25,600 wide open (f2.8). The only way to get sharp (if not noisy) images where I shoot. Previously, I used my Nikon 70-200 VR. The extra 100 mm reach is a huge help (especially with the small dogs). I did have an issue with the lens the first time out. After about 5,000 frames, I got a few occasional dark frames (the lens was not communicating with the D700, and the aperture was closed to minimum). I called Sigma in N.Y. and was told this was due to weak contact springs (a problem only with the Nikon mount lenses). They paid shipping back and forth, and installed a factory upgraded, stronger contact spring. The turn around was just a few days - excellent service. The lens worked fine at the next event (although only about 4,000 frames taken. But, I'm assuming the problem is corrected). I would imagine Sigma has since corrected the issue on the Nikon mounts with later shipments (I got one of the first imported, in June). But, I would recommend Nikon buyers to confirm that with Sigma (and get the serial numbers of the upgraded version). I just ordered a Sigma 1.4x multiplier, and will do some wildlife shortly.

TERRY T.

2011-08-26T21:00:00

The zoom range is great and w/a 14TC would be a poor man's Nikon 200-400VR for half the cost! The images I took were tack sharp and the zoom was great for recomposing close wildlife images to ones including habitat. The rear mounted manual focus ring is very handy. And, although I don't use it much, the OS functions as advertised. Lastly, the large foot on the tripod ring is great for carrying the system. the only negative (it's a small one) is the tripod ring doesn't rotate as smoothly as Nikkor but, for thousands less i can live with it!

MARK M.

2011-07-15T21:00:00

I do lots of dog agility trials (mostly in poorly lit arenas), some horse events, stage events (operas), and weddings. This is the only fast, zoom lens made with this range. I also use a Nikon 20-200 VR - sometimes with the TC 1.4 (on a D700). This lens should give me the extra reach that I've been looking for - with the fast speed needed where I shoot. So far, I've just tested this lens outside for some wildlife, scenics, etc. Very impressive. Sharp, great contrast and color, and the OS works very well (300 mm at 1/50, tack sharp). I'll be putting it to the test with a couple of weeks of horse events and dog agility starting next week. I'll report back on the results.

TERRY T.