dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Focus speed is also affected by your choice of focus limit on the lens. The lenses you mention both have switches that allow some choice of the limits to the focus distance. This can speed focus.

I am not sure how much customization the Sigma lens allows using its HUB but it may be considerable.

It has become a problem for me in looking a measures of Sigma (and Tamron that also has a customization dock) lenses since most are measured "out of the box" when the lenses are designed to be customized. With the ability to customize being an important feature of these new lenses, I think reviews need to start comparing lenses as intended to be used rather than just out of the box. In short if Nikon is selling a lens intended to be used as received and Sigma builds a lens that you can (and should) customize (and re-customize) to your use, then that is how they should be tested. With the new Sigma and Tamron lenses you can change the focus limit to a custom limit the morning of the shoot and by doing so, speed up focus locking. With Nikon and Canon, you cannot get better than the presets as far as I can see.

cjshh

The 70/200 has a limit switch "FULL" or Infinity to 5m. Never used a "DOCK" or a SIGMA lens so I will investigate the "DOCK" and that certainly make comparisons (or use of "cheet" sheets) more difficult. Thanks for the input.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I will say that generally speaking, the fewer lens elements to move, the smaller they are, and the shorter distance they have to move for a given focus ( think prime lens and shorter focal lengths and cropping if need be) and not having to contend with VR, - as in a non VR lens - will definitely maximize focus speed. Customizing focus parameters is another asset. ( think Sigma dock)

So, IMO, you are definitely on the right track with the Sigma 135 1.8 ! Read Photozone's review here - http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/1008-sigma135f18art - a stunning review of a stunning lens !

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The 70/200 should focus just fine and fast on the D5 IMHO... A prime may have some nice qualities but having to zoom with ones feet at a sporting or other event is not always the best solution.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I shoot sports action with a D5 as well. My lens choices are my 400/2.8 and the 70-200 2.8E FL lens. Both are super sharp and super fast. There are several other factors that also impact focus speed and subject acquisition time and, along with those already mentioned, comes experience, technique, and experience with the specific sport you are shooting as well as your specific equipment. I have not tried either version of Nikon's 200 F2, something you might want to look into. I recently did acquire the Sigma 135/1.8 ART, but haven't used it enough to comment other that it seems to be a performer from my limited experience and I like the ART and Sport series of lenses in general. Some personal testing is in your future! Best of luck.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Experience shooting and anticipation a sport for fast moving object are important skills to work on too...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

SS319

Guilty as charged, it is 1.5 feet per 1/100 sec, but... High shutter speeds are not the be all, end all with moving objects.

When you focus and shoot, the camera must detect the point when focus is achieved and send a signal to the shutter to commence operation, where upon, a switch is closed and the shutter first curtain begins to move. This can take 2/10 of a second (7-8 feet on our speeding car coming at us). If we, as photographers will accept our cameras as expensive hammers - nothing more than a tool of our trade, and will use that tool to its maximum capability, we will use the continuous focus mode that maintains focus and will even change that focus between the time we press the shutter button and when the shutter actually opens.

1/2000 of a second shutter open time is nothing if it is 400/2000 seconds late.

Don't believe me, try it - shoot cars on a track with single shot focus, and then shoot the same scene using your camera's continuous focus mode, then compare the images.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

That is why I prefer a camera with very minimal shutter lag...roughly 40 milliseconds IIRC. I don't know why someone would try to use a single shot focus mode rather than a continuous focus tracking mode in shooting a fast moving object like a race care. To me that is not using the tool you have to the fullest or in the correct manner...perhaps like trying to pound in a screw with a hammer. It can be done by why would someone choose to do it if they had a better option? There is still an element of timing that is involved in shooting that is gained with practice and knowledge of the subject and how it is likely to move and react. Most sports shooting is not totally random but follows fairly consistent patterns. If you understand that you will get better shots than if you don't understand the sport in that way.

Even if I am shooting at 14 frames a second I am missing most of the action each second at 1/2000th shutter speed. So, it becomes a weighing of the number of shots I want to sort through and the anticipation of what may happen where. But there is also just a factor of dumb luck involved sometimes too. I have got shots using speedlites on the starting line where I have captured another photographer's flash firing. That flash is probably only on for 1/1000 of a second or less. Yet with dumb luck you can get a shot where your shutter captures it.

Best,
Todd Ferguson