Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Sigma vs Tamron 150-600 zoom.
Page 1 of 4 next> last>>
May 22, 2017 20:59:51   #
r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL
 
Looking for something to reach out about 600mm full frame but also a zoom. Any comments on which makes one better than the other will help my decision. Maybe the 200-500 Nikon is an option if I feel I don't need the extra 100mm reach. All three are about same price. Body is a D750. This lens will be used for wildlife and birding.

Reply
May 22, 2017 21:08:37   #
bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.
 
you can never have enough reach. I weighed pros and cons of each lens and bought the sigma 600.
I bought it thru Greentoe and saved over $100.00 and it came from a very respectable dealer, who then also gave me $20.00 towards my next purchase so I couldn't complain. and I love the lens.

Reply
May 22, 2017 21:12:00   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
I really like the 200-500 - but, with a full frame body you WILL need the extra 100mm the others provide ! - Flip a coin ..... If you are serious, only look at the Tammy G2 or the Sigma Sport .....

Reply
 
 
May 22, 2017 22:02:17   #
ggttc Loc: TN
 
Take a look at a teleconverter...my wife uses one with her 810 and 200-500. The results are excellent.

Reply
May 23, 2017 05:35:17   #
mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois
 
I've owned and used all three - the Sigma Sport is head and shoulders better than the other two (Tamron & Sigma Contemporary). The Sport image quality is better, it is weather sealed and built of more metal parts in critical places, instead of plastic. Downside: it's really heavy.

Reply
May 23, 2017 05:37:31   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
r.grossner wrote:
Looking for something to reach out about 600mm full frame but also a zoom. Any comments on which makes one better than the other will help my decision. Maybe the 200-500 Nikon is an option if I feel I don't need the extra 100mm reach. All three are about same price. Body is a D750. This lens will be used for wildlife and birding.


https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr/

This has everything you need to know about the lenses you are looking at, some with and without a 1.4X TC. The Tamron G2 had not been released when the review was written, but from what I have seen the G2 is as good as the Sigma Sport, and both are better than all the lenses reviewed in the article, including the 200-500.

Reply
May 23, 2017 05:38:38   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
mikegreenwald wrote:
I've owned and used all three - the Sigma Sport is head and shoulders better than the other two (Tamron & Sigma Contemporary). The Sport image quality is better, it is weather sealed and built of more metal parts in critical places, instead of plastic. Downside: it's really heavy.




I tested them all except for the G2 and found the same thing. Ended up buying the Sigma Sport - and a gym membership.
I bought it as a lightweight alternative to a 600mm F4, and so far have not been disappointed.

Reply
 
 
May 23, 2017 07:12:17   #
mleuck
 
Nikon 200-500 is your best choice.

Reply
May 23, 2017 07:39:36   #
Jim Bob
 
Gene51 wrote:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-200-500mm-f5-6e-vr/

This has everything you need to know about the lenses you are looking at, some with and without a 1.4X TC. The Tamron G2 had not been released when the review was written, but from what I have seen the G2 is as good as the Sigma Sport, and both are better than all the lenses reviewed in the article, including the 200-500.


This is very informative article that I thoroughly reviewed in deciding on whether to purchase the 200-500. I have no experience with the Sigma Sport or the new Tamron G2. But I do own the Tamron version 1 and the Sigma Contemporary. In my opinion, the 200-500 is easier to hand-hold (obviously very subjective), has more effective image stabilization and consistently produces better images than either of those two. And while I agree with Imagemeister that the added reach of a 150-600 should be considered, especially since the OP intends to use the lens on a full frame camera, the attached image was taken with the Nikon 200-500 mounted on the D750, hand-held with the bird at least a hundred yards out. You might consider this review: https://www.cameralabs.com/tamron-sp-150-600mm-f5-6-3-di-vc-usd-g2-review/ It's a tough decision. Good luck to the OP.


(Download)

Reply
May 23, 2017 08:28:49   #
jwkeith
 
I recently returned from a trip to South Africa with a group of photographers. 7 out of the 12 photographers on the tour were shooting with the Nikon 200-500 on both cropped and FF bodies. Most of them had purchased it for that trip and at least two of them had replaced their Tamron 150-600 (GI?) with the Nikon. Never heard a complaint about AF or sharpness and the results that I am seeing posted online are excellent.

Reply
May 23, 2017 09:06:20   #
Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.
 
Nikon 200-500.

Reply
 
 
May 23, 2017 09:17:04   #
russelray Loc: La Mesa CA
 
r.grossner wrote:
Looking for something to reach out about 600mm full frame but also a zoom. Any comments on which makes one better than the other will help my decision. Maybe the 200-500 Nikon is an option if I feel I don't need the extra 100mm reach. All three are about same price. Body is a D750. This lens will be used for wildlife and birding.

After reading a few billion articles about Tamron and Sigma's 150-600, the last article I was reading had an advertisement along the side from a local computer store that would rent the lenses at $120 for 7 days. So I rented the Tamron G2, Sigma Contemporary, and Sigma Sport.

I take handheld pictures only of wildlife and landscapes; tripods are for videos and then only if the video will be more than 10 seconds. My rental goal was to determine if I could lug these behemoths for eight hours around the San Diego Zoo (100 acres), San Diego Zoo Safari Park (1,800 acres), Ramona Grasslands (4,400 acres), and the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge (11,100 acres). I could. No problem.

The Sport is supposed to take visually sharper pictures than the Tamron or the Contemporary. With my handheld pictures, I did not detect that visual superiority.

The Sport is waterproof, but I live in San Diego where it rains very little, and I don't do underwater photography.

What did affect things came down again to living in San Diego. It's sunny and hot here, and the Sport, being made of all metal, got excessively hot. It didn't seem to affect any controls or functions, but it sure got uncomfortable when I went to use that metal zoom ring. The Sport, then, was out, especially when I considered its $1,999 price versus the Tamron's $1,399.

That left the G2 and the Contemporary. Ultimately, it came down to the zoom ring. I use a Canon Rebel XSi, Rebel T2i, and Rebel T6s, and I have used a Tamron 28-300 as my walkaround lens for the last 8 years. So I'm used to how it zooms, i.e., zoom ring rotates left to right, 150 to 600. The Contemporary zoom ring rotates right to left, 150 to 600. When I was out shooting birds in flight, rapid zooming with the Sigma was uncomfortable because I'm right-handed, supporting the camera with my right hand and the lens and zoom ring with my left hand. That position allows my left hand to very naturally use the Tamron zoom ring. With the Sigma, I had to give up support of the lens in order to move my left hand into a position to comfortably rotate the zoom ring. I almost dropped the camera a couple of times, and I lost a lot of potential BIF pictures.

I settled on the Tamron G2. An extraordinary lens.

This all is in addition to my immediately-after-rental-review and my buying decision here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-458752-1.html

Reply
May 23, 2017 09:47:33   #
MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"
 
r.grossner wrote:
Looking for something to reach out about 600mm full frame but also a zoom. Any comments on which makes one better than the other will help my decision. Maybe the 200-500 Nikon is an option if I feel I don't need the extra 100mm reach. All three are about same price. Body is a D750. This lens will be used for wildlife and birding.


I upgraded from Tamrons older 150-600 to a 200-500 and couldn't be happier. The photos just keep getting better and I don't miss the extra 100mm of reach. I have used it on a d500 crop and the d750.

Reply
May 23, 2017 10:58:25   #
PacingTheCage Loc: Austin, TX
 
I purchased the Tamron 150-600 for my Nikon D7100 just last week based on the advice of my local camera shop. I'm going to Alaska in July and was asking about an additional lens that I might need and this was the recommendation. I haven't had a chance to use it yet so no idea how it works. Fingers crossed!

Reply
May 23, 2017 10:59:13   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
Many of the lens post are opinions, their choice is always the best. I had a Tammy G1 + Nikor 200-500. I purchased the G2 a fews months ago, I've sold both the G1 and Nikon since. I seldon read lens manuels but I will in the furture, the G2 has two AF modes, after reading the manuel explaining the two AF modes I love it. This is my opinion based on shooting wildlife. The 100mm is a plus when shooting elk, moose, bears ect at a distance. Get the lens that best suits your subjects. Have fun!

Reply
Page 1 of 4 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.