Sigma 120-300/2.8

[drbondod]

I have been considering the new Sigma 120-300/2.8 for Nature Photography. Has anyone used this lens on a full frame nikon? Any thoughts? I have never bought any brand but Nikon.

 

[Overread40]

Which 120-300mm are you considering? The current edition has OS and a revised optical formula (its sharper) and there is a second revision of that same design (Sigma basically adding a USB port so that you can download new firmwire instead of having to have the lens rechipped if a future camera release requires it).

The OS edition is very popular and can even take up to a 2* teleconverter and still give good results. Have a peek at this thread
Sigma unveils 120-300 f/2.8 EX OS - Canon Digital Photography Forums
for examples of the OS edition in action with and without teleconverters (you might have to jump a few pages in to get to the pictures)

 

[Judobreaker]

I have the previous version of the 120-300 OS (the one before the version that was released a few months back) and I'm very happy I got it.
My camera is not fullframe though (D7000) so I don't have any experience there.
The reach on a DX is pretty neat. Of course I'd like to get closer quite some times but bear in mind that I haven't got any teleconverters.

The quality this lens is giving me so far is great. Right now I'm still the limiting factor in my photography, this lens definitely isn't.

You should remember though that this is a pretty heavy lens. Carrying it around is rather tiring, especially if you're not using a monopod.
I'm using it both with and without a monopod depending on my mood and my subject. I sometimes find the monopod slightly annoying when I walk around a lot, then again if I don't use it I can't really go for more than an hour because after that my arms will start shaking because of the weight which will introduce blur.