Sigma 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Background - Besides image quality and affordability, I must consider two factors to suit my personal needs: 1) Since I can no longer carry around 35 pounds of photo equipment like I used to, and since I get an intense neck and/or backache from too much weight hanging there, weight is a significant factor for me. 2) I dislike changing lenses for multiple reasons: potential dropping, dirt entering the camera body, the need to carry a second and even third lens. In short, I wanted a DECENT lens with a significant zoom range. The two "kit lenses that came with my Canon T3i were GOOD, but that meant carrying a second lens and changing them. NOTE: I do have a 90mm Tamron full frame format macro lens that I do use for special purposes. So I DO still switch lenses occasionally. But I do NOT travel with this lens.Given those requirements, I did a lot of research before buying this lens from Amazon.com (more about incidental benefits to buying from them at the end of the review). I read professional reviews and I read the comments of other consumers such as myself. Ultimately, my decision came down to either this lens or the Tamron 18-270. The professional reviews appeared to favor this lens SLIGHTLY. The fact that the Sigma lens is a few ounces lighter was a benefit for my needs. The 20mm extra length in the telephoto range that I was losing, was not such a big deal to me. I had NO qualms about buying either Sigma or Tamron. Both have been around for decades and both make excellent "after market" products.In the month that I've had the lens, I've shot perhaps 2-300 images of a wide variety of subjects and under a wide variety of lighting conditions. I have been uniformly pleased with the results. Even at extreme magnification, I have not seen the color fringing mentioned in professional reviews. I HAVE observed the pincushion and barrel distortions. My test subject to examine these image defects was my garage door with rectangular raised panels, the horizontal siding of my house, and a set of steps. YES, the distortion IS present. BUT, it is my understanding that NO extreme range zoom lens will be completely free of such distortion. It is the optical price you pay for the flexibility of keeping a single lens on your camera and being able to go from a full frame (or 35mm) equivalent of about 28 to 400mm with just one lens. I also found that the distortion is readily correctable using Photoshop Elements 11. This distortion is only noticeable to MY eyes in photos presenting subjects with parallel lines or geometric patterns.I find the contrast, color saturation and representation to be fairly accurate with this lens. Other than cropping, the images have required little or no "post" correction in Photoshop Elements. This is likely at least partially due to the abilities and software of my Canon T3i, but also to the lens and its color correction, optical design and coatings. Please see my review of the camera.Notably, I used the camera and lens combination to shoot four images of the Montgomery Village Lake from the boat dock. Photoshop Elements stitched these together beautifully into a crisp panoramic image!While the lens is light in weight, it feels solidly built. The camera mount is metal. I have not observed "lens creep," although the OP/TECH USA Bino/Cam Harness - Webbing (available from Amazon) that I use to take the weight off my neck generally keeps the lens pointing ahead and not down. The image stabilization appears to work very well. I cannot tell if it affords a 3 or 4 stop advantage. Advertising for the lens says 4 stops; professional reviews say 3 stops. As noted in professional reviews, the controls for manual versus automatic focus, image stabilization on or off and zoom lock are all very conveniently located,Finally, a word about buying from Amazon.com. At the time of my purchase, the MSRP of the lens was $550 with a $150 "instant Summer Rebate." I paid $400 for the lens. SO FAR, shopping with Amazon is tax free. Congress may change that! Had I purchased the lens in a local store, I would have had to pay the 6% sales tax on the FULL MSRP. In addition, the extended warranty that I purchased, which is basically an insurance policy, would ALSO have been based on the FULL MSRP. Buying the IDENTICAL lens at a local store would have cost me approximately $75 MORE than buying through Amazon, who - of course - shipped for free straight to my door, costing me no gasoline! The savings approximately paid for the extended SquareTrade Warranty. There was ANOTHER, unexpected, benefit to buying through Amazon with respect to the warranty. Had I bought the warranty directly from SquareTrade, I would have been limited to a total of three years coverage from the date of purchase. Amazon offers a SPECIAL that is NOT available directly from SquareTrade: FOUR years of coverage from the date of purchase for only a few dollars more than the three year direct plan! UNFORTUNATELY, Amazon does NOT offer the optional "ADH" ( I will call it human factors coverage: the acronym stands for "Accidental Damage from Handling"). I wish they did. While all photographers care lovingly for their equipment, stuff happens!If you are looking for a wonderful, virtually all purpose, walk around or travel lens, I can recommend this one to you!

A terrific Lens bargain for my Pentax K-5 ii. Simply, a travel lens that gets the details, and more just right.A little background 1st. I am by no stretch of the imagination, a pro photographer. Not even close. I am just a hobbyist that loves the fun of taking images to share with others, and to view later myself.The Pentax K-5 ii has soldiered on with a cross country travels, and more, but always needed a great lens that I could leave on the camera. I always envisioned this with my Nikon D90, D200, it just never happened. Now with the Pentax the Sigma 18-250mm DC Macro HSM, and Amazon's Warehouse deal made it a reality.Anticipation.I was eagerly awaiting the lens, wondering what condition it would be in based on the description in the Amazon Warehouse Deal. I needn't have worried. It arrived in perfect condition. Typical packing from Amazon.Installation was a snap, all automation functions are perfect.In use.In use I couldn't be happier, though had to get used to the zoom control, backwards to what Pentax does with their lenses, no big deal. Focus, and Zoom Ring are smooth in operation, and yes NO Zoom creep at all. AF and MF, and Lock switches on lens barrel easy to use, and positive. I have to say as I used this lens, I really am glad I got it. Using a friend's Nikon d50 with her 18-200mm convinced me of the Convenience. It just can't be beat. Yes I get all the caveats of an all in one solution. I am okay with that. I will still buy a 50mm prime etc. some time in the future, but this lens just complements my K-5 ii no end. Getting up close, and personal was never so easy.Enjoying the 21st Commemorative National Corvette Museum celebration of which there were plenty of folks there, I was able to get the shot I wanted without getting in anyone's way. Using the Zoom to get that just right shot. In combination of my Pentax using no flash shots by the way, I was very happy with the output I got with this lens. Far exceeded my expectations. Color, and detail are just fine for me.Seeing it all including the Sink Hole Corvettes in their mangled glory. I was able with this lens to get it all. The Competition engines, have all the detail I could want.My other passion is aircraft, and with a 400mm zoom per the rule of 1.5 crop, I think this lens will be great for my air shows, and airplane watching I do. Auto Racing will a natural for this lens too I think.Carrying around this lens was nice as the composite barrels keep the weight down. I wanted initially to get the Pentax Zoom, I am glad I got this instead, and saved lots of money. Like i said, I am not a pro, but I love capturing the memories of my travels, and this very lens is making that so easy. Easy to see why DPreview.com says this is best the Travel Lens to pick. http://www.dpreview.com/products/sigma/lenses/sigma_18-250_3p5-6p3_os to read all about from them.I would recommend this lens to anyone looking at a bargain one zoom travel lens, but if you are doing critical photography, your primes are the way to go. But as in all in one solution. This Sigma is very good indeed.