Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 300mm; 1/640 sec; f8; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

James Rispoli (USA) Team Traction Control, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 235mm; 1/640 sec; f10; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Chris Walker (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS-1D X, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 120mm; 1/640 sec; f10; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Ian Hutchinson (GB) PBM Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 161mm; 1/200 sec; f11; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Josh Waters (AUS) Halsall Suzuki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 252mm; 1/200 sec; f5; ISO 200; Manual.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Chris Walker's Be Wiser Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 269mm; 1/125 sec; f13; ISO 200; Manual.

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 5th March 2015.<br/>Danny Buchan (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki

Chris Walker (GB) Be Wiser Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM, Focal length 139mm; 1/200 sec; f10; ISO 200; Manual.

The all-new Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM is one of the revised lenses in Sports Category of the new Sigma Global Lens range.

http://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/cas/product/sports/s_120_300_28/features.html

Sigma says it is a “Durable high performance lens, redesigned with the photographer in mind.”

They certainly seem to have listened to professional photographers needs, as straight away the lens feels solid, tactile and well made. The mount connection area, manual focus ring, customization switch and other controls, switch panels and cover connection areas are all designed to be dust and water-resistant (not that I needed the latter in Spain).

After updating the lens firmware with the Sigma Docking Station, I set about putting it through its paces at the BSB pre-season test in Cartagena, Spain.

My previous kit in this focal range was the Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM, and 300mm f2.8L IS USM. The Sigma large aperture 120-300mm F2.8 zoom lens eliminates the need for changing lenses, allowing the photographer to concentrate on composition and filling the frame. There is absolutely no compromise on quality whatsoever with the 2.8 aperture running throughout the entire focal length. For me however, the added advantage of not missing shots because of not having to change lenses is huge.

This is a very, very versatile lens. The quality, as you would expect with an f2.8 is simply outstanding. Images are crystal clear. It is equally comfortable capturing head on action, panning, candid portraits in the garage and PR portraiture. The attached images I hope illustrate its versatility and performance.

It is that good, I think it will stay on a camera body for the entire length of a race weekend, when the season starts at Donington Park in April.

Out of the box it was spot on, so I did not ‘play’ with the docking station, which enables you to adjust the focus position and other parameters. I will come to that over the next few days.

Okay the lens is heavy to hand hold for prolonged periods of time, but when you take into account what it replaces, then it is no heavier and if anything, more convenient. When shooting in the pit box, the OS comes into its own, enabling you to shoot pin sharp images at slower shutter speeds. The only issue I did encounter was lens flare when shooting some pit lane portraits towards the sun. The lens hood will have been designed to accommodate the 120-300mm focal range and so when shooting at the 300mm end, the lens could do with being a little longer, like on a prime 300mm f2.8. Whether this could be overcome in the future with a slide out extension to the existing hood, or a petal lens hood?

In conclusion, this is an outstanding lens. Well thought out, durable enough to meet professional needs, extremely versatile with exceptional optical performance. Sigma no longer just make good value for money lenses, they are making some serious professional performing quality pieces of glass to rival (if not better) the big two.