Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1 review: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro

For the opportunity to review lens Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi coated Macro for Nikon many thanks to Alexander Logachev, who sent me for a review.

Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro

Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1 review: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro for Nikon

The Sigma AF-APO F / 4.5-5.6 75-300mm is an old, motorless, 'dark' telezoom lens for Nikon full-frame film cameras. It can also be used on modern SLR cameras without any problems. The lens has an old piston design - to zoom, you need to pull or push the front of the lens away from you, thus changing the focal length of the lens. The zoom ring is rubberized and very comfortable. The lens does not spontaneously change the focal length, but when zooming, the lens is very strongly chases the air with the rear lens... I prefer single-ring piston lenses, in which the zoom ring and the focusing ring are combined. The Sigma AF-APO F / 4.5-5.6 75-300mm has a separate focusing ring near the front lens.

The focus ring is narrow, rubberized, rotates 270 degrees. When focusing, the front lens rotates around its axis and drives forward with the trunk of the lens. Auto Focus Slow. MDF is 1.5 meters, at 300 mm you can get a macro with an increase of 1: 4. The lens has a focus distance scale and a depth of field scale.

Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro with MDF and 300mm

Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro with MDF and 300mm

Lens weighty, Lens made in Japan. The diameter of the front filter is only 55 mm. Of the design flaws I want to highlight flimsy focus ring. But overall the lens is a good old battle hardening. Designation APO says that it apochromat (Apochromatic lens). Such a lens has poorly expressed chromatic aberration or does not have them at all, usually APO lenses also have increased contrast and improved color reproduction.

Nikon has a similar Nikon AF Nikkor 75-300mm 1: 4.5-5.6 lens, which can also focus from a distance of 1.5 meters, has the same piston design and is very similar to Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75 -300mm.

Enlightenment of the front lens and 6 aperture blades

Enlightenment of the front lens and 8 aperture blades

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

Sample Photos

In fact, the prefix 'APO' in the name of the lens works well, reducing it to almost zero chromatic aberration Is a big plus for this lens. At the long end, the lens is very soft, even at closed apertures. Attention: despite the fact that the lens flaunts 'multi-coated', the lens very yellow-green... In the optical viewfinder, everything immediately turns into a somber bottle green. Auto white balance cannot cope with such a situation at all. I rarely encounter such severe problems with the color rendering of the lens. All photos below are taken on Nikon D700 and Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro, on-camera JPEG.

Personal experience

I do not know if the Sigma AF-APO F / 4.5-5.6 75-300mm can transmit the focusing distance to the camera. Sigma has a very large variety of lenses in the range of 70 (75) -300mm, for example, Sigma 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 D DL Macro. Finding an exact list of lenses and their modifications is simply impossible. If there is a focus motor in the camera (for Nikon owners), such a lens can serve all lovers of the telephoto range of focal lengths. When using Sigma AF-APO F / 4.5-5.6 75-300mm on Nikon DX cameras EGF lens will be 113-450mm. At flea markets, a variety of Sigma 70 (75) -300mm 'screwdriver' can be bought for a penny.

All Original Similar Nikon FX Telephoto Lenses

Below is a list of all Nikon Nikkor telephoto lenses without high aperture and with auto focus support:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4, 1986-1987
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6, 1987-1993
  3. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-300mm 1:4.5-5.6, 1989-1998
  4. Nikon AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1991-1999
  5. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1:4-5.6D, 1993-2000
  6. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm 1: 4.5-5.6D ED, 1997-2005
  7. Nikon AF Nikkor 75-240mm 1:4.5-5.6D, 1999-2000
  8. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D ED, 1998-2006
  9. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6D, 1998-2006 (?)
  10. Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G, from 2000 to 2014, black or silver
  11. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G ED VR IF SWM, from 2006 to 2017
  12. Nikon AF S Nikkor 70-200mm 1: 4G ED SWM VR IF N Nano Crystal Coat, from 2012 to the present day
  13. Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6E VR ED, 2017 to present

The names of the lenses are indicated according to their spelling on the case.


On sale Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm can not be found new. It is preferable to look at a newer model for use. Sigma APO DG 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6, prices for which you can see hereor in the price block located below:
All prices Sigma AF 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 APO MACRO DG
The catalog of modern Sigma telephoto lenses can be viewed here.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Conclusions:

Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm - simple piston affordable telezoom with slow focus. The lens is 'weak' in the range after 200 mm, the maximum macro is possible only with a magnification of 1: 4. Can serve as a budget telephoto lens for simple photography tasks. The Nikon version requires a motorized focusing camera.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Denis

 

 

Comments: 19, on the topic: Sigma Zoom AF-APO 1 review: 4.5-5.6 f = 75-300mm multi-coated Macro

  • Denis

    I liked the bright red ring on the lens :) "Nikon has a similar lens ..." - perhaps there are thin threads of ties between Nikkor and Canon lenses, and third-party lenses - some lenses are tested on models from one manufacturer, and then installed in lenses from another manufacturer , i.e. essentially one manufacturer. Nikkor has its own "companions" in lens manufacturing, Canon has its own.
    Regarding the effect of the lens on the automatic WB, I noticed that when converting from (NEF) RAW, pictures, for example, with Nikkor 50 mm f / 1,4G require frequent adjustments of the color temperature, i.e. when shooting, autoBB gives a noticeable scatter of values ​​from the visual optimum (or from that “zero”, which is given by the gray card). And pictures with Nikkor 70-200 f / 2,8 VR II (shooting conditions are similar) after shooting in the same autoBB require minimal (or do not require) color temperature correction.

  • Alexey

    I have a more modern heir to the ARC series, the DG 70-300 with a focus motor. Although Arkady writes about the yellow-green effect, it seems to me that there is something)) The pictures are warm, and sometimes this adds a special charm. By the way, in my lens there is no such effect, the BB of the camera copes well. And the pictures of Arkady really liked.))

  • Roman

    Arkady, the very first shot is very different from the rest. As if foliage and apricots glow. Impressive. Although not very natural. Other pictures in more pastel colors

    • Arkady Shapoval

      All photos are without processing. The different “effects” depend on white balance and Picture Control. For example, apricots were shot in VI mode (Nikon's rich color mode). The second turned out to be warm due to the BB 'shadow', etc. Well, the pictures from the S5pro, of course, differ from the D700.

  • Oleg

    Hello, at the maximum approximation, objects on a snow background seem like in a fog, how to deal with this lens, thanks in advance, Nikon3100

  • Maksim

    Good afternoon.

    > 7 aperture blades

    Please correct: there are clearly 8 of them.

    > Finding an exact list of lenses and their modifications is simply impossible.

    I have.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed
      Send.

  • Vladimir

    Thank you Arkady for the review, which helped to decide on the purchase of such a lens. I am not a pro, but a pensioner who has not played enough of such toys in childhood and expensive equipment I simply can not afford. This lens, without checking on the camera, was purchased for 2 thousand rubles. What came of it can be seen here http://my.mail.ru/mail/kur23/photo?album_id=5113 . The distance to the camera does not transmit and the aperture 4 is written in the properties 4,2.

  • Oleg

    Hello, thanks for the review, if you can advise how to disassemble the front lens, I got this lens for a penny, but with a motor. There is a little fungus under the front lens, but as I understand it, the ring is glued, I searched the entire Internet, but I could not find the information.

  • Alexander

    Hello! I have a Sigma 75-300 4,5-5,6 aro for canon. Canon 600d does not work with the camera in all modes. On most, it gives an error 01. I took it to a decent service. The master said the diaphragm is jammed. And then he says that the lens will still not work with this device, because it is imprisoned for film. Aperture ring no. Is it really so?

    • Lynx

      yes, you need to disassemble the back, no it’s not a film, master-lomaster

  • Alexander

    They told me in the service, to get to the front lens, I need to pick it from behind. Those. make out the whole! Not 100% sure

  • Ksenia

    Is it worth taking a nikon 5200?

  • Ksenia

    Does it have a macro on it? Well, to see a smile from a bee?

    • BB

      The maximum macro is possible only with an increase of 1: 4 (indicated in the review)

      See examples shot with S5pro - sensor size is the same as 5200

  • Somebody

    so far I shoot them 80%
    I took a lot at one local European auction for inexpensively:

    1. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm 1: 3.3-4.5 (MKII)
    https://radojuva.com/2014/11/nikon-af-35-70-3-3-4-5-mk2/
    2. Sigma Zoom AF - APO 75 - 300mm 1:4.5
    3. photo film
    4. bag
    5. filters, macro lens, lens hood covers, all pedals

    I like both glasses.
    the first one holds focus. good, all things
    the second refocuses often during bracketing, turned off the response and order.
    rarely misses. I didn’t notice bottle shades, maybe it’s warm. always and on everything I shoot BB day

    • Somebody

      I like to shoot HDR Panoramas at the maximum focal length))
      lightroom often bulls and does not want to glue

  • Somebody

    22

    • Somebody

      3

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