The Sigma 100-300 lens is my absolute favourite Sigma telephoto lens. For the price that you are going to pay, you are getting a long reach and optical perfection. In addition, you will get the f/4 aperture.
Sigma made this lens for Sigma
If you have been on the photography field for a while, you will know how expensive a prime 300mm f/4 lens can be. This lens will give many photographers a chance to shoot with the 300mm f/4 focal length at a very affordable price. The good thing is you are getting the 100mm and 200mm focal length as well.
The typical use for this lens would be for wildlife photography. However, the f/4 aperture will make this lens suitable for sports photography as well under enough light condition.
In terms of optical performance, this lens is simply perfect. This is one reason why you rarely see this lens available on the market. At the time of this writing, Sigma is still having problem fulfilling the demands from this lens.
If you see one in the market, I highly recommend you get it and try it out. This lens will give you excellent optical performance for your money.
If you want to see some proof as why l recommend this Sigma 100-300 lens so much, then see my complete review below.
Specs • Performance • Sample Image • Conclusion • Where to Buy
Sigma 100-300 Specs
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Official Name:
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO HSM
Focal Length Markings:
100, 135, 200, 250, 300mm
Features:
EX – Excellent – Sigma’s designation for their high end lenses.
DG – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.
APO – Apochromatic – Sigma’s technology to control chromatic aberration. Lenses with this term has a better chromatic aberration control.
HSM – HyperSonic Motor – Sigma’s smooth and fast autofocusing technology. Very similar to Canon’s USM. Lens with this designation can autofocus with Nikon’s entry level DSLR such as D40, D40x, D5000, D3000 and D3100.
Full Technical Specs (from Sigma’s website):
| Technical Specifications | |
| Groups / Elements | 14 / 16 |
| Angle of View | 24.4 – 8.2 |
| Number of Blade Diaphragm | 9 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 70.9in. (1.8m) |
| Filter Thread | 82mm |
| Weight | 52.2oz. (1480g) |
| Dimension (Diameter x Length) | 3.6 x 8.8in. (92.4 x 224mm) |
| Macro Magnification Ratio | 1:5 |
| Available for | Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax |
Optical Performance
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Sigma 100-300 Sharpness
The center sharpness on this lens is excellent at any focal length and aperture. Border sharpness is also excellent at any focal length and aperture.
The sharpness is just one of the reason why I like this lens so much.
See the full sharpness test table below.
Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO HSM Center Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 100mm | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 200mm | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Great |
| 300mm | Excellent | Excellent | Great | Great |
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO HSM Border Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 100mm | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Great |
| 200mm | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| 300mm | Great | Great | Great | Great |
Distortion
Distortion is very well controlled on this lens. You will not be able to see it at any focal length.
See the distortion test result for this lens below.
Vignetting
Vignetting is also very well controlled on this lens at any focal length and aperture. Even at 100mm f/4, you will barely notice it.
Sigma has done a fantastic job here and you can see the vignetting test results below.
Chromatic Aberration
This lens finishes off the optical performance test with a great chromatic aberration control.
You will not be able to see any chromatic aberration control even wide open at any focal lengths.
See the full chromatic aberration test result below.
Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO HSM Chromatic Aberration
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 100mm | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible |
| 200mm | Negligible | Very Low | Negligible | Negligible |
| 300mm | Great | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
Build Quality
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Materials
The build quality of this lens is simply EXcellent, as implied by the EX designation. It is made of combination of plastic and metal with tight tolerance.
This lens has a detachable tripod mount.
Zoom Ring
Zoom ring operates very smooth with no wobbling or zoom creep.
Focusing
Focusing ring also operates very smooth here. The HSM autofocus is very fast and silent.
The Sigma provides a focus limiter on this lens which will be very helpful when you use this lens for non-macro shots.
The front element is an no-rotating one so you can use polarizing filter with this lens easily.
The HSM motor enables this lens to autofocus when used with entry level Nikon DSLR such as Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D5000, D5100, D3000 and D3100.
This lens is compatible with both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
Image Stabilization
There is no Optical Stabilization built into the lens.
Compatibility
Being a DG lens, this lens is compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.
Sample Image
Back to: Menu • Introduction
The following are some images taken with this lens. Click any of them to enlarge the image.
Get the best price online from Amazon: Sigma
Conclusion
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Here are the conclusions for this Sigma 100-300 review.
Drawbacks
- Heavy
- 82mm filter thread – you will spend quite a bit of money to find a filter with this dimension
Positives
- Superb optical performance – the best from Sigma telephoto lens
- Excellent sharpness on the center and borders at any aperture and focal length
- Negligible distortion at any focal lengths
- Excellent vignetting control at any focal length and aperture
- Negligible chromatic aberration at any focal length and aperture
- Superb build quality
- Fast, silent and accurate autofocus mechanism
- Amazing value for money
Good For
- Wildlife photography
- Sports photography
- Portrait photography
- Any photographer wanting to get the best image quality from a telephoto lens
Not So Good For
- Street photography due to the size, weight and bulk of this lens
What Others Are Saying…
by “M. Farell”
I bought this lens to use with my Canon 30D for high school sports (soccer, football, baseball, etc). I already had the Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras and needed more focal length. Like…
Click here to see the full review
by “John Nelson”
I bought this lens because the Canon 100-400mm was alittle to much for my pocket book. I have had the lens over 5 months and used it mostly outdoors with a monopod. A monopod is a must, Living next to Yellowstone Park I use…
Click here to see the full review
Where to Buy
Support this site, buy the Sigma 100-300 lens from Amazon (best price online):
Buy for Nikon DSLR
If the mount you’re looking for is not available on Amazon, check out B&H Photo (Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax) or Adorama (Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax)
To see the related Sigma lens review, check out the following posts below.
Thanks for reading my Sigma 100-300 lens review and I’ll catch you in the next one!
The Sigma 100-300 lens is my absolute favourite Sigma telephoto lens. For the price that you are going to pay, you are getting a long reach an…
The Sigma 100-300 lens is my absolute favourite Sigma telephoto lens. For the price that you are going to pay, you are getting a long reach an…
| Lens Score | |
|---|---|
| Optical Quality | |
| Build Quality | |
| Value for Money | |
| Overall | |
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