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

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

Sigma
71 Overall Score
vs
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

Meike
88 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

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

84 out of 100 medium confidence 16 reviews

This Sigma 70-300mm lens is widely praised for its excellent value, delivering sharp images, good bokeh, and a useful macro function at a budget price. Many users note it's ideal for amateur photographers, though the autofocus can be slow and noisy, and image quality softens slightly at 300mm without a tripod. Overall, it's considered a fantastic performance-to-price winner for those not needing professional-grade telephoto capabilities.

Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Sharp image quality
  • Good bokeh effect
  • Useful macro function
  • Solid build quality
Cons
  • Slow autofocus in low light
  • Noisy autofocus motor
  • Softness at 300mm without tripod
  • Rotating front element for polarizers
  • Weighty for long hikes
👍 Value for money 10
👍 Image quality 12
👎 Autofocus performance 8
👍 Build quality 7
👍 Macro function 5
👍 Optical stabilization 5

Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

88 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

The Meike 55mm f/1.4 AF lens for APS-C Nikon Z cameras is a compact, fast-aperture portrait lens that delivers excellent sharpness and creamy bokeh at a very affordable price. Autofocus is quick and reliable, with good eye detection, and the lens handles well on smaller bodies like the Z30. Some users noted the minimum focus distance is a bit limiting and the build feels plasticky, but overall it offers outstanding value for money.

Pros
  • Excellent sharpness
  • Creamy bokeh
  • Fast and reliable autofocus
  • Great value for money
  • Compact and lightweight
Cons
  • Plasticky build feel
  • Limited minimum focus distance
  • No image stabilization
  • Some chromatic aberration wide open
  • Vignetting at wide apertures
👍 Sharpness 12
👍 Bokeh 10
👍 Autofocus performance 14
👍 Value for money 15
🤔 Build quality 8
👎 Minimum focus distance 4

Scores

Portrait
Sigma
77
Meike
91
Macro
Sigma
67
Meike
83
Budget
Sigma
73
Meike
78
Wildlife Sports
Sigma
62
Meike
73
Street
Sigma
63
Meike
71
Video Cinema
Sigma
64
Meike
71
Professional
Sigma
59
Meike
70
Landscape
Sigma
59
Meike
55
Travel
Sigma
55
Meike
52

Specifications

Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG MacroMeike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
Optics
Typetelephototelephoto
Focal Length Min70 mm85 mm
Focal Length Max300 mm85 mm
Elements145
Groups108
Aspherical Elements—1★
ED Elements3★2
CoatingMulti-layer lens coatingMulti-layer coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/4f/1.4
Min Aperture4-5.6f/1.4
Constant✗✗
Diaphragm Blades911★
Build
MountCanon EFL-Mount
Formatfull-framefull-frame
Weather Sealed—✓★
Weight0.55 kg★0.91 kg
Filter Thread58 mm77 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSTM★
Stabilization✓✓
Focus
Min Focus Distance950 mm85 mm★
Max Magnification1:2★—

Pros & Cons

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

  • Strong versatility (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Strong bokeh (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
  • Strong social proof (81st percentile)81st %ile
  • Strong stabilization (79th percentile)

Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

  • Strong bokeh (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)

Pricing

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

No current pricing available

Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm

Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.

Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Better at:

TravelLandscape

Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetPortraitProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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