06/22/2026
Gallup Lions Club Barrel Racing
Lens Review: Sigma 120-300mm F/2.8 on a Nikon Z8
This is a pretty phenomenal lens and could be a real game changer for me. I've been using the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 for the past two years, but after seeing how many professional sports and rodeo photographers rely on lenses in this class, I decided it was time to invest.
There are a few drawbacks. First, it's not a NIKKOR lens, so there's a bit of an adjustment period. The zoom ring rotates in the opposite direction of Nikon lenses, and I caught myself zooming the wrong way several times while shooting. Second, the lens hood can be frustrating. There isn't a clear indicator that it's installed correctly. If it's not seated properly and you tighten it down, it can still fall off. I've learned to double-check it all the way around before locking it into place.
That said, the image quality, speed, and versatility of this lens have been impressive so far, and I'm looking forward to putting it through more events in the coming weeks.
I have more photos coming soon. I'm currently refining my workflow for photo selection and publishing, so stay tuned.
Also all these photos and more are avaliable for purchase at the QR code link or here: https://www.leebegayephotos.com/galleries/2026-rodeo-1/gallup-lions-club---barrel-racing?ct=2
