Sigma 100-400mm vs Tamron 100-400mm vs Canon EF 100-400mm: I'm trying to determine which lens to purchase. The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM or the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II...

taco40

I'm trying to determine which lens to purchase. The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM or the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD All-In-One Zoom For Canon (or for over double the price, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens).
In reading reviews, it would appear that they both have pro's and con's. The Sigma seems to lose points for speed of auto-focus, but I'm finding I use that less and less. I use the auto- to focus, then switch to manual to fine tune.

If you have a Tamron or Sigma, I'd like to hear your opinion.
Thanks.

( It was by webmaster's request that I make this a new topic even though I posted it in a different post earlier today. )

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

They are all nice but in order, the Canon blows the other two away; and the Tamron is a better value than the Sigma. If you can afford it, get the Canon. I have one and use it all the time and it works great with the Canon 1.4X teleconverter.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

rmorrison1116 wrote:

They are all nice but in order, the Canon blows the other two away; and the Tamron is a better value than the Sigma. If you can afford it, get the Canon. I have one and use it all the time and it works great with the Canon 1.4X teleconverter.

Agree 100 percent with rmorrison

mrpentaxk5ii

I have a Sigma 120-400 but it's the older one...it's F4.5-5.6 and I use it quite a lot. The thing is this the 120-400 is a heavy lens, the new Sigma and Tamron are more compact than the Canon, but the Canon is faster and I would say a better built lens...so you have an option of a lighter. slower lens or a heavy, faster and bigger buck lens.

chaman

Canon all the way.

taco40

So I see a greater fan base for the canon lenses, but I don't have the budget for a new one.
I appreciate the comments, but I'm not sure why I should go with a Canon (I'd have to purchase a used one on my budget.)
Could you please comment on the qualities of each lens for comparison's sake?

chaman

taco40 wrote:

So I see a greater fan base for the canon lenses, but I don't have the budget for a new one.
I appreciate the comments, but I'm not sure why I should go with a Canon (I'd have to purchase a used one on my budget.)

Because the Canon one is the better lens. Sharper. Better built.

Why ask if you already have made up your mind? Asking for opinions just to hear what you want to hear makes the exercise a futile one.

taco40

My original question was really which one is better, Sigma or Tamron? If the canon is twice as good, I'd like to know why. If you are commenting on futility, tell me what I missed above in the comment "Canon all the way"? I can certainly appreciate brand loyalty, but I'm not sure my pocketbook can handle twice the cost? If I'd be happy with a used one which is available, please share the qualities that would make it a better purchase than the two that I can afford.

chaman

taco40 wrote:

My original question was really which one is better, Sigma or Tamron? If the canon is twice as good, I'd like to know why. Just saying it's better doesn't help my process. If you are commenting on futility, tell me what I missed above. What evidence was offered?

Good optics, good glass comes with a price. Your process is to JUSTIFY your already made up decision but, to your surprise, the harsh reality showed itself. Its futile to discuss it further more when its OBVIOUS you made up your mind. There is ample reviews and comparisons of these lenses around the net. There is your evidence. Easy to find them. Perhaps you already found them and expected to find a justification here for your already made up decision?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

taco40 wrote:

I'm trying to determine which lens to purchase. Th... (show quote)

I'm a Nikon shooter. Selected the Tamron because in addition to excellent reviews and image quality it has the option of a tripod color, which the sigma does not have. Both lenses seem to be optically very good, and bargains compared to the original equipment brands.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

taco40 wrote:

I'm trying to determine which lens to purchase. Th... (show quote)

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/02/canon-100-400-is-l-mk-ii-teardown-best-built-lens-ever/ Read this before you buy one of the other lenses.

taco40

chaman wrote:

Good optics, good glass comes with a price. Your process is to JUSTIFY your already made up decision but, to your surprise, the harsh reality showed itself. Its futile to discuss it further more when its OBVIOUS you made up your mind. There is ample reviews and comparisons of these lenses around the net. There is your evidence. Easy to find them. Perhaps you already found them and expected to find a justification here for your already made up decision?

I'm not sure why you feel it's ok to attack my question, but your responses above dismissing my questions give me a good clue as to how valuable your input is. Thanks for the head's up.

taco40

davidrb wrote:

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/02/canon-100-400-is-l-mk-ii-teardown-best-built-lens-ever/ Read this before you buy one of the other lenses.

Holy cats. What a great article. I loved some of the following lines from the article by Roger Cicala:

"I usually laugh when people describe a lens as “built like a tank” ...the lens they are describing has a thick, heavy outer metal shell filled with tiny delicate pieces that break and wear out with great frequency. But this lens is built like a tank inside and out."

"I’ll point out those a... double the size of the screws we usually see assigned to this kind of task."

"Removing the board gives access to eight large screws (four to six is what we would have expected) holding the rear barrel in place."

"look at the lower helicoids – there are six channels, of which two are visible .... Most lenses have three channels and collars. That’s a huge amount of increased stability when the barrel extends away from the lens."

Wow!

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

I purchased my Canon 100-400 lens from KEH, it is not a version II, which means is a push pull zoom feature. I borrowed a Sigma before the purchase, but it did not seem as sharp on the edges especially with an Extender. Don't be the coulda had a V-8 person. Buy the Canon and you won't be a shoulda coulda buyer with remorse. I shoot sport so I would mount the 100-400 with an Extender on a tripod, in center field and use a Pocket Wizard to fire it. Then I could get close shots of the pitcher, batter, infielders, base runners so it was like having a second shooter

photomarkz Loc: parma hts,ohio

CANON
Better optics, better glass,better build quality
u get what u pay for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!