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I am after the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro II lens. I have seen it online for around $275.00 AU shipped (from the USA). Is this the "best price", or should I shop around some more and see if I can get it cheaper?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers
Kristine

Mr Poon, via Birddog

Poon sells Sigma

Hi Glen

Thanks for the heads up - I hadn't even thought of Mr. Poon or Birddog for Sigma glass.

Cheers
Kristine

Kristine,

B&Hphoto and Adorama have it listed new for 209USD + Shipping around 50USD. So if you have a cost of 275AUD including Shipping from the USA, I think you would find it hard to bet.

Although, please refer to the following:

Sigma 70-300APO AU$305.00 on

http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php ... aaa0635b01

I do not whether that is the same ie Super Macro II.

If it is the same I would go and pay the extra 30AUD and order through Birddog. That way you have guaranteed delivery and back up should the lens be faulty during manufacture from Poon or go direct yourself:

D70Gear@D70Users.com

Cheers,

Kristine,

Tristate camera have the lens for $US160. Don't know about shipping costs though.


Dave.

Forgot the link.

Try this.

Kristine,

I got the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II APO MACRO SUPER
in August from the US for USD$179.99 + USD$50 shipping = USD$229.99

If you are going to get the Sigma 70-300 macro,
make sure that you are looking at the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II APO MACRO SUPER and not a lesser model.

have a look at this URL and notice the RED colour band around the top of the lens.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3864432446

There is a model with YELOOW/GOLDEN band which is a lesser model.

HTH
Regards
CD

Christiand, what do the different bands signify? On Nikon a Gold band signify ED glass (usually used on top line lenses). I notice that on the B&H website in the 70-300 they list a red band version and a plain black so I cant tell where the gold fits in. Anything over a grand (eg 500mm 4.5 $3,399) seems to have a gold band. I am not asking for no reason, I am a few seconds away from getting a 12-24 Sigma and was with sirhc55 when he got his. We both commented on the gold band and how similar it was to Nikon's. Is there a better version? Should I tell my mate he got the no 2 version This would be my first Sigma lens so I am really in the dark

I am also thinking about the sigma 70-300 lens. However, I was thinking that maybe a better bet would be the Nikon 28-200mm, as that and a sigma 12-24mm would provide great coverage with only two lenses (useful for travelling).
Does any one know the relative merits of either the sigma 70-300 v nikon 280200mm? Also, I do not have any price information on the nikon 28-200mm. Does anyone have an idea of what it might cost, as this would be a decisive factor in choosing.

Thanks.

Kristine

I paid $305 through Birdy and Mr. Poon for the Super APO Macro II delivered to my home address

Haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet - but with the little play I have had, am very happy indeed.

Cheers

Graham

Glen,

I have done some research since my last post and have actually found 3 different images regarding the Sigma 70-300 mm lens.
I no longer can say that the lens with the yellow band is inferior to the one with the red band.
However it seems to be that the 70-300 mm lens WITHOUT any coloured band is the inferior one. It appears to be a DL lens, not APO.
This matter is actually a little bit unclear.
I guess research is necessary and confirmation from the supplier that you are getting what you want once you have clearly identified the lens you are after.

Cheers
CD

Hi Bago,

is there any chance you could post an image of the lens and also the box the lens came in ?

Greatly appreciated.
CD

Glen wrote:Christiand, what do the different bands signify? On Nikon a Gold band signify ED glass (usually used on top line lenses). I notice that on the B&H website in the 70-300 they list a red band version and a plain black so I cant tell where the gold fits in. Anything over a grand (eg 500mm 4.5 $3,399) seems to have a gold band. I am not asking for no reason, I am a few seconds away from getting a 12-24 Sigma and was with sirhc55 when he got his. We both commented on the gold band and how similar it was to Nikon's. Is there a better version? Should I tell my mate he got the no 2 version This would be my first Sigma lens so I am really in the dark

Glen,
The Sigma 70-300 APO has two version and one with the red band and other is plain. The one with the redband is more expensive than the plain,
and no other gold ring or letter in gold with this series. I confirmed with the Sigma catalogue and handbook in my hand.
The Sigma 12-24 or 70-200 come with gold band EX HSM (In gold letter) same as the Bigma, the gold band + EX and HSM is new design from Sigma to compete with new Nikon AFS series

From the Sigma website:

+++++++++
Q: What are the differences between the 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Macro II and the 70-300 F/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II zoom lenses?

A: The major difference between these two lenses is the optical performance. The DL Super model features a more conventional, achromatic optical design and uses one element of Special Low Dispersion glass (SLD). Its sharpness and contrast are rated very highly, however it is not quite as good as the APO Super model, which uses an apochromatic optical design and uses three SLD glass elements. This model has been top-rated by independent photo magazines. The APO Super model is also somewhat more expensive than the DL Super mode. If you plan to make very large enlargements from your negatives or slides, the APO Super lens may be your better choice.
+++++++++

I have the APO II model, and it has a red band, but to make it even easier to figure out which model it is, it has APO written on the side. I guess the "APO" stands for apochromatic, resulting from the use of the low dispersion glass elements.

The pictures on the site are a little unclear, but it looks like the DL model has no coloured band.

Cheers

Hi Birddog114,

I'm really getting confused.
Have a look at the larger picture (click for large image) on this site:

http://www.adorama.com/SG70300SNKAF.html BTW I have the one with the RED band.

Cheers
CD

Thanks Christiand and Birddog, makes it a clearer. Looks like I might have to put a bit of red pinstriping as well as the gold on my 12-24 if I want to one up sirhc55

christiand wrote:Hi Birddog114,

I'm really getting confused.
Have a look at the larger picture (click for large image) on this site:

http://www.adorama.com/SG70300SNKAF.html BTW I have the one with the RED band.

Cheers
CD

This picture looks like the previous model to me.

Cheers

Christiand, maybe someone is forging Sigma's and the only part they got wrong was the band? (joking)


Maybe red is top of the consumer products and gold top of their pro products?

christiand wrote:Hi Birddog114,

I'm really getting confused.
Have a look at the larger picture (click for large image) on this site:

http://www.adorama.com/SG70300SNKAF.html BTW I have the one with the RED band.

Cheers
CD

OK Christiand,
The red band and the plain are the old stock of Sigma, all new stock now are with gold band and APO letter in gold, and it's the same price with the red band version and it's APO. The plain one is not APO and it's a cheaper version.
I only think Sigma did it with the marketing purposes, all new lenses from Sigma with APO, EX or HSM are in gold letter with gold band.

Thank you for the clarification Birddog114.

It must be confusing the compost out of potential buyers.

Regards
CD

Christiand

Photo attached. Probably the worst photo ever on this forum but rather than try for a better shot, thought I'd post given the currency of this thread.

Given Birdies description above, I don't know what I bought.




There is no gold ring or lettering. Gold box though, so that's something

The instructions say 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro Super II

The box says 70-300mm F4-5.6 II APO Macro Super

Invoice just says "lens"

Thanks for all the replies. The lens that I was looking at for $275 AU was the Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO Macro Super II with the red strip. Think I will contact Birddog and get the model with the gold strip.

Cheers
Kristine

Bago,
It's the one Christiand and digitor got, It's the Sigma APO series.
The other one is not APO.
If you received the lens which doesn't have the red band or the Gold band with APO in gold letter then you should return the lens.
Lot of reseller are still receiving the lens with the red band.
So you're safe now and can go to bed
Hope you enjoy the lens.

Thank you Bago100,

I appreciate your effort and I have the same lens as you.
A 70-300 APO super Macro II.

I hope this helps Kristine.

When I first started looking into buying the Sigma 70-300mm it turned out to be a confusing task.

Thanks
again

CD

christiand wrote:Thank you Bago100,


When I first started looking into buying the Sigma 70-300mm it turned out to be a confusing task.


CD

Christiand, by this thread it still is! Thanks all for making sense of Sigma marketing

Glen wrote:

christiand wrote:Thank you Bago100,


When I first started looking into buying the Sigma 70-300mm it turned out to be a confusing task.


CD

Christiand, by this thread it still is! Thanks all for making sense of Sigma marketing

Yes, I am confused - but I am pretty sure I should be looking at the lens with the gold band...

Maybe I should just grab a 24-120VR off Birddog if he has any left?

Cheers
Kristine

Kristine, get the 70-200 while you are there, they definitely have a gold band

Why not look at the specs of the lens and forget about coloured bands - the colours are meaningless compared to the makeup of the lens. BTW I have the 12-24mm with the gold band but they only make the one 12-24mm so the band means nothing to me. . . .

Chris

Glen wrote:Kristine, get the 70-200 while you are there, they definitely have a gold band

I would love the 70-200! But it is out of my budget so I have to just purchase more affordable lenses...

Cheers
Kristine

Edited:Posted info that was already up...
One of them nights..
Bed time.

SIGMA AF 70-300/4-5.6 DL MACRO SUPER II F/NIKON (58MM)

http://www.tristatecamera.com/LookAtAll-c5uoa7zl-SIGAF70300DLSN-1-00310073-0-store.php3.html $119.99

SIGMA AF 70-300MM F/4-5.6 APO ZOOM MACRO SUPER II F/NIKON AF (58MM)

http://www.tristatecamera.com/LookAtAll-c5uoa7zl-SIGAF70300ASN-1-00310073-0-store.php3.html $159.99

Both at tristate camera as mentioned. I don't know how, but wow that seems cheap.....all prices US

Andy

Kristine wrote:

Glen wrote:

christiand wrote:Thank you Bago100,


When I first started looking into buying the Sigma 70-300mm it turned out to be a confusing task.


CD

Christiand, by this thread it still is! Thanks all for making sense of Sigma marketing

Yes, I am confused - but I am pretty sure I should be looking at the lens with the gold band...

Maybe I should just grab a 24-120VR off Birddog if he has any left?

Cheers
Kristine

Kristine
Heaps of them in stock atm. 10 units