Great Lens for a great price!
Pros:
High Quality, ease of operation, Excellent focus speed and great results.
Cons:
None found.
The Bottom Line:
Don't hesitate to purchase this lens over the higher prices Names, results are great!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
This was my first dive into a quality zoom lens for my new Digital Rebel. The reason for this purchase was for taking youth ice-hockey pictures in arenas that don't have the best of lighting. I was told by other hockey photo-bugs that I would definitely need an f2.8, like their Canon L series lens, otherwise the pictures would not turn out that well.
I couldn't afford the Cannon 2.8 so I tried to decide between the Tokina 80-200mm 2.8 and this Sigma 70-200mm 2.8. I actually tried to order the Tokina first, but it happened to be out of stock, so I went with the Sigma. After a lot of research I was really split between the two, so it really did not make a difference to me either way.
I was able to try the lens the day after I got it at a hockey tournament, and I was really impressed. The quality of construction seems very good (heavy) and the operation was very easy. The lens came in a very nice case and a nice hood and tripod collar were also included. Not having much time to really experiment with the lens, I set the camera into AP priority (setting at 2.8), and let the camera give me the fastest shutter speed possible to stop the action on the ice. I shot about 200 pictures and was very pleasantly surprised at how well the majority of the shots came out! There is definitely no comparison between pictures with this lens and pictures that are taken by point-and-shoot digital cameras.
The focus was fast, quiet and sharp, and the color was excellent. It took me a little while to get comfortable with the operation of the zoom and focus, but the pictures still came out great. I did run out an buy a mono-pod after the weekend so that I wouldn't have to hold the whole unit next time.
Overall and am very happy with this lens, and my pictures look just as good as the ones taken by my friends Canon L series lens, but at half the price. I would highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a large aprature zoom lens, but doesn't have the cash to go with the L series professions lenses.
