Sigma 70-200 f2.8, need opinions

[KHarmon1971]

I am, as always, on a tight budget but want a good solid lens for some portrait work and possibly shooting baseball from right behind the back stop.

I don't have the money to shell out for a Canon 70-200mm 2.8. Is the Sigma a good alternative or is there another brand that you would consider?

 

[jcdeboever]

If you can get a good copy, that is the question and chances are not good. I think a Tamron would be a better choice. TAMRON | SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2

 

[SCraig]

If you can get a good copy, that is the question and chances are not good.

I disagree. I have several Sigma lenses and would not hesitate to purchase another one. My "Go-To" lens for many situations is my Sigma 18-300 because it is an outstanding lens for a superzoom.

 

[jcdeboever]

If you can get a good copy, that is the question and chances are not good.

I disagree. I have several Sigma lenses and would not hesitate to purchase another one. My "Go-To" lens for many situations is my Sigma 18-300 because it is an outstanding lens for a superzoom.

Well, if you say so. In my opinion, they are junk. I've never had one that focused right and I'm not alone. Common issue. The G2 series are a much better build, plus 6 year warranty, and less money. The best sigma I had was the 17-50 2.8 and it focused a little to the left but I could compensate for it. The 70-200 one I had was just plain aweful and the colors were wierd. The 150-600 couldn't nail focus no matter what you did to it on the dock and many hours. It either back focused, or extreme left. I vowed never to own one again. It actually made me switch camera systems. I just want to buy it and have it work. He may get a good copy, like you, and be a happy camper. I thought it was me but I confirmed it with other photogs and focus charts.

 

[SCraig]

What I say below is absolutely NOT pointing a finger at you, and if it seems that way I apologize. That was not my intent so please keep that in mind.

Regardless of the manufacturer one can always find someone having focus issues. No manufacturer is perfect which is why they provide a warranty. Part of the problem is that those who have focus issues are more vocal about it than those without focus issues. This is just human nature; nobody says a word when everything works properly however if something doesn't work properly it is understandable that they will complain about it.

Is Sigma worse than some? No question of it. Are they better than some? Absolutely. We get what we pay for and if we aren't going to pay Nikon or Canon prices for a lens then we can expect a difference in quality. The level of difference is what is important, and in my personal opinion Sigma provides very good quality for the price. They have never disappointed me.

I presently have three Sigma lenses; 17-70 (bought in 2010), 150-500 (bought in 2011), and 18-300 (bought in 2015). All of them have hundreds of photographs taken with them, all of them have been used on three different camera bodies (Nikon D90, D7000, D7100), and all three of them do exactly what I want from a lens (with the exception that the 150-500 doesn't like dim light and tends to have low contrast in those situations). As far as focus goes I've never had ANY issues with them. I shoot a lot of motorsports during the summer and fall months and birds during the winter and spring months. Both of these are rather demanding situations at times but I always get what I (emphasis on "I") want in my photographs.

 

[pendennis]

I've owned the 70-200 f/2.8 DG HSM for about a year now, and it's been a great lens. I use it on both my D750 and D500 cameras, the A/F has been spot on for each of them, and the colors have been very accurate.

I owned a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 AF D ED, and sold it to fund the Sigma. Haven't regretted it at all.

I'd probably have opted for the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR-II, but honestly, it was out of my price range at the time, and I was a bit leery of the original VR and its mechanical system.

Yes, you get what you pay for, but in my case, I did just fine.