Sigma Camera Lens APO 100 300 4 EX IF HSM User Manual

Lens Review...  
Sigma APO 100-300/4 EX IF HSM  
Text and Photography Copyright Jim Erhardt  
All rights reserved.  
The decision of what lens to buy for wildlife photography always seems mired in  
compromise. Along with the budget limitations most of us face in buying equipment, the  
debate over prime lenses versus zooms, and "original equipment manufacturer" versus  
"third party manufacturer" cloud the decision making process as well.  
While just about every manufacturer offers at least one model in the 75mm (or 100mm) to  
300mm range, just about all of these lenses are variable aperture lenses, typically f/4.5 to  
f/5.6. Along with the slower shutter speeds associated with the use of these models, the  
addition of a teleconverter will usually result in the loss of autofocus operation and  
substantial degradation of optical performance. However, for the nature photographer  
there's no denying the utility of a telephoto lens in this zoom range.  
Sigma's latest telephoto zoom lens, the APO 100-300/4 EX IF HSM finally provides a very  
viable alternative for the serious nature photographer looking for a telephoto lens in this  
range of focal lengths. Along with the handy range of focal lengths, it provides a constant f/4  
maximum aperture, internal HSM focusing and internal zooming. In other words, regardless  
of zoom or focus setting, the lens does not change in physical length and the maximum  
aperture of f/4 is available at all focal lengths. Additionally, the lens can be used with  
Sigma's EX series of teleconverters. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with  
this lens (and Sigma's matching 1.4X teleconverter) in a Canon mount.  
Like Sigma's other EX super-telephoto lenses, the lens is far more solidly built than the  
typical "consumer" version of the 100-300 zoom. It features a wide, very smooth turning  
focus ring and a separate zoom ring, which is large and smooth in operation as well. The  
Sigma, Canon and Nikon mount versions of this lens include Sigma's HyperSonic Motor  
(HSM) focusing motor, which also allows for full-time manual focus override. The lens also  
includes a removable tripod mount collar, a very handy feature for the nature photographer.  
The lens features Sigma's attractive black-speckled EX finish and is supplied with a large  
matching lens hood. Overall, the build quality of this lens is very impressive.  
Other specifications include -  
16 elements in 14  
groups optical  
construction, including  
two Special Low  
Dispersion (SLD)  
elements  
9-blade aperture (f/32  
minimum aperture)  
180cm/70.9 inches  
minimum focusing  
distance (1:5  
magnification ratio)  
92.4mm (3.6 inches)  
maximum width by  
224mm (8.8 inches) in  
length  
1480 grams (52.2  
ounces) in weight  
 
All content copyright 2000 - 2001, Nature Photographers Online Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.  
 

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