Hello David, When I got this lens, I had quite specific needs. I already had a Tokina 80-200/2.8. I found that lens to not really fit me. For my wedding work, it was too big and bulky to use comfortably - I replaced it with an A 70-210/4 and for my baseball work I needed a lens that went to at least 300 and could be used at f4 with good results. There is always the teleconverter route and I tried that first. Just didn't like the results all that much. Not to mention that AF is slowed down a bit when having to go through the converter. About the only time I use AF is for this baseball stuff. So the only lens that would really fit my needs was the Sigma 100-300/4 EX. I can say that through testing, I am satisfied with it's wide open performance. Overall, optically it is very good. The tripod collar is very nice and quick to switch the lens orientation and the hood is very good - bayonet both ways so can be stored on lens when not in use. Build quality seems to be quite good - doesn't have that indestructable feel of the Tokinas though. Both zoom and focus are internal so the lens body doesn't change length at all - very usable that way.
So yes, I would recommend it, if that is the kind of thing you are needing. I generally shoot it from a monopod. -- Best regards, Bruce Thursday, August 18, 2005, 9:33:17 PM, you wrote: DS> G'day Bruce, DS> I'm already saving for my Christmas present to myself <g>. I've been DS> eyeing either the Sigma 100-300 f4 or the 70-200 f2.8. DS> I'd be interested in the hear your thoughts and opinions of the 100-300 f4. DS> Dave DS> On 8/19/05, Bruce Dayton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hello Igor, DS> <snip> >> At one point I owned this lens. The two issues I had with it were >> that at 200mm and f2.8 it was too soft. It sharpened up by f4 or >> shorter focal lengths. The second issue was that for most of my use >> (wedding/portraits) it was just too big and heavy. I finally ended up >> with a Sigma 100-300/4 EX for sports shooting on a monopod and the A >> 70-210/4 for my wedding and portrait work. >> DS> <snip> >> Bruce
