Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO Fast Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000A7B9TO
• Item model number: B000A7B9TO
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The Sigma 100-300mm EX DG HSM lens is the ideal telephoto zoom lens for Digital SLR cameras. This telephoto zoom lens provides a large f4 aperture at all focal lengths. With minimal light-fall-off, superior peripheral brightness is ensured. It's the ideal lens for digital SLR cameras.

SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass for high image quality.
This lens uses two pieces of SLD glass elements in the front lens group and another two in the rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration. High optic performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range.

Inner focusing and inner zooming systems
This lens incorporates an internal focusing system, which eliminates front lens rotation, allowing the use of a petal-type hood and more convenient to use of circular polarizing filter. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use.

APO lens
The use of an Apochromatic design and 4 SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements (two SLD glass elements are utilized in the front lens group and two in the rear group) provide for full correction of chromatic aberration and a high level of optical performance.

EX Lens
The exterior of this lens is EX-finished to denote the superior build and optical quality, and to enhance its appearance.

APO Tele-Converter EX (optional)
High-speed focusing is possible when this lens is used with dedicated APO EX tele-converters (1.4x and 2x). With the optional APO tele-converter 1.4x EX, it works as AF zoom lens from 140mm to 420mm at f5.6. With APO tele-converter 2.0x EX, it works as a manual focus zoom lens from 200mm to 600mm at f8. It is possible to use AE (Automatic Exposure) function, even EX Tele-converters are attached to the lens.

Product Description

This fast telephoto zoom lens maintains a large f/4 aperture at all focal lengths, providing excellent optical performance for Digital SLR cameras and film SLR cameras. The multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, while maintaining minimal light-fall-off and ensuring superior peripheral brightness. Four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements are used - two in the front lens group and two in the rear lens group - to provide correction of chromatic aberrations for superior image quality throughout the entire zoom range. Sigma s Hypersonic Motor (HSM) ensures a silent, high-speed AF function as well as full-time manual focusing capability for Sigma, Canon, and Nikon-D mount lenses. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the petal-type lens hood supplied and circular polarizing filters. High-speed focusing is possible when this lens is used with optional, dedicated APO EX tele-converters (1.4x and 2x). With the optional 1.4x EX APO tele-converter, it works as an AF zoom lens from 140mm to 420mm at f/5.6. With the optional 2.0x EX APO tele-converter, it works as a manual focus zoom lens from 200mm to 600mm at f/8.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good lens, inaccurate Amazon description, April 1, 2010

By 

GJL (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO Fast Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is a fine piece of glass, sharp enough to rival primes at 300mm. Good choice for aircraft, birds, and other odds and ends in flight. Some birders will want a bit more reach but 300mm on a APS-C camera works rather well in many cases.

Very good sharpness and IQ at f/4 and only improves from there. Easy to handle given its heft.

Size and weight are considerable but those attributes are very subjective. I'm certainly not carrying it around on my neck all day but I am investigating the BlackRapid system. That may be fine way to handle two bodies - one with a whacking great telezoom.

Please note that the Pentax version does NOT support HSM, in spite of the Amazon title and listing.

I submitted to Amazon a request for correction that included the URL for the Sigma Web site page that noted the Pentax exception for HSM. Amazon rejected my correction, indicating that Sigma's Web site did not substantiate my submission.

You all can check Sigma's site for yourself. No point in arguing. Perhaps Amazon has a model no other retailer does? Ummmm. You decide.

Now I understand that I must research Amazon's product descriptions for myself. I've no interest in asking my bank to reverse credit card charges.

The lens, though, is fine. The fifth star is removed owing to the lack of HSM.

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good lense, June 29, 2007

By 

Yvan Frechette "Navy" (Quebec) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO Fast Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I use it with a 1.4X teleconverter and it still give me a very good image quality