I feel that this lens is great with its fantastic zoom and brilliant macro setting. This lens for me is great for nature and sports photography because of its zoom. However when you try to focus it does make a slight noise so if your close to a animal it may get scared, but that happends rarely.

Sigma AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO macro

Throughout modern times the Sigma 70/75-300mm APO variants were always positioned as a supposedly superior alternative to the base offerings of the genuine manufacturers in this lens group. The latest incarnation is the Sigma AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO macro.

Overall, this is one of the best budget telephoto zoom lens that is in production. I bought this to compliment my Canon 350D, and it has treated me well. The alternatives all leave much to be wanted.

#1 Price; Without a doubt this is the star shining upon this lens; At less than $200, this lens provides fantastic results, #2 Macro Mode; With a 1:2 macro mode, this is not true (1:1) macro, but in this price range, there is nothing near this lens.

#1 Focusing, a) Speed; The focusing motor tends to be a little sluggish, especially when at the end of the focal range, b) Accuracy; I am fairly certain that this ties in with the speed of the focusing, but I find that probably 1 in 10 shots is slightly misfocused, c) Sound.

Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

This lens is one of two virtually identical offerings from Sigma in the extremely popular 70-300 category in which almost all manufacturers have at least one contender. Although still in the budget sector, this one, the APO version, is the better of the two offerings.

Excellent optical performance for price; Good close focus ability (1:2; Light enough to carry all day

Long extension when close focussed and zoomed; Front element and extension rotates during focussing