Canon 100-400mm or Sigma 150-500mm? Just in case anyone is struggling between these two lenses for bird photography, I am posting a shot that I took this morning with my Sigma 150-500...

Nightski

Just in case anyone is struggling between these two lenses for bird photography, I am posting a shot that I took this morning with my Sigma 150-500 F/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM lens. I can't speak for the performance of the Canon lens, but my Sigma amazed me this morning.

Canon 6D
Sigma 150-500mm
@403mm
F7.1
1/60th Second exposure hand held with OS1 on
(by a scrawny armed woman)
ISO 400

The first shot is completely unedited except for the conversion to jpeg. The second shot is edited in Nik's Define, Viveza, and Adobe's Lightroom.

Please keep in mind that I am not a very accomplished editor. :-)

I also have an image that I posted in the critique section that I shot at 6400 ISO for anyone that would like to see what the 6D does with a high ISO.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-244763-1.html

Please do not edit my photos. I have enabled download for viewing only.

Unedited version

(Download)

Edited Version

(Download)

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Wow! that is a great picture. I just posted today about wanting the Canon 100-400mm lens. I will take a look at the Sigma lens now also. Thanks for posting.

Nightski

TracyT4i wrote:

Wow! that is a great picture. I just posted today about wanting the Canon 100-400mm lens. I will take a look at the Sigma lens now also. Thanks for posting.

:thumbup: Glad if I could help.

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

I have borrowed both lenses from a friend and the focus speed of the Canon is much faster than the sigma so if you are trying to capture faster moving subjects it's no contest.

I did also find the canon to be sharper so for me the Canon wins all round.

Nightski

Izza1967 wrote:

I have borrowed both lenses from a friend and the focus speed of the Canon is much faster than the sigma so if you are trying to capture faster moving subjects it's no contest.

I did also find the canon to be sharper so for me the Canon wins all round.

Do you have any photos take with these settings that you could post, Izza? I think that would be helpful. I haven't had it long enough to take a shot of a BIF. I love my Canon lenses for their sharpness ... but boy .. I can't complain about this lens. As you can see, I was working in a low light situation. I was very impressed with the OS. For me to hand hold a shot of a bird at 1/60 of a second at 403mm, with a lens that is this heavy is amazing! There is the price to consider as well.

And .. this is a 500mm lens. I think it is still pretty sharp out at 450mm. I haven't had as much luck all the way out at 500mm, but that could be me.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Given the shutter duration/focal length combination, I'd say the "scrawny armed woman" did a fine job! I see no sign of camera movement! :thumbup: :thumbup:

amehta Loc: Boston

At 400mm, I think this image has room to be sharper, though I don't know if the Canon 100-400mm lens actually would be sharper.

Haydon

Nightski, I don't think I could get this shot handheld. Love the exposure.

Izza1967 Loc: Bristol, England

I cannot show you any examples of the focus speed but at an air show it was a case of the best shots I got were with the Canon as the Sigma couldn't lock on fast enough or keep focus.

I had better luck with my own 70-300mm Tamron compared to the Sigma, maybe it was just a bad copy.

I am a stickler for sharpness so if the images aren't really good I bin them.

Taking shots of static objects I found the Sigma to be very good especially for the price

steve boon Loc: Marietta, OK

Hello Nightsky,

I own the Canon 100-400mm and am pleased with the performance. Generally, I use it along with the Kenko 1.4 Teleplus Pro 300 for a little more reach. I do lose 1 f/ stop but auto focus seems to work just fine. Anyway, here is a sample of that set-up. Cheers!

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

steve boon wrote:

Hello Nightsky,

I own the Canon 100-400mm and am pleased with the performance. Generally, I use it along with the Kenko 1.4 Teleplus Pro 300 for a little more reach. I do lose 1 f/ stop but auto focus seems to work just fine. Anyway, here is a sample of that set-up. Cheers!

Beautiful!

Nightski

steve boon wrote:

Hello Nightsky,

I own the Canon 100-400mm and am pleased with the performance. Generally, I use it along with the Kenko 1.4 Teleplus Pro 300 for a little more reach. I do lose 1 f/ stop but auto focus seems to work just fine. Anyway, here is a sample of that set-up. Cheers!

And that Canon is a F2.8 lens .. right? So you could be at 3.5 with the Teleplus?

What were your settings for this shot, Steve? How well does the IS work for you? This was hand held, right?

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Nightski wrote:

Just in case anyone is struggling between these tw... (show quote)

Nightski:

Here is a photo that I took just the other day with my 100-400mm Canon lens. it is my choice as a birding walk-around lens. Certainly it doesn't have the reach of a 500mm zoom but it isn't always about reach. I also own the Canon 500mm f/4 L lens that can blow both this 100-400 and your 150-500 out of the water. As well it should, given the price tag.

In the end, many lenses can give you good sharp photos, with lots of detail. But it shouldn't be about pixel quality but picture quality. What I am saying is, that after you reach a certain level of lens quality, it is more about the photographer behind the lens than the lens itself.

Canon 7d, 100-400 f/ 4.5 -5.6 L (320mm), 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 800 Taken by a retired, slightly overweight, balding, male.

"There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept."
Ansel Adams

Tufted Titmouse

(Download)

Nightski

I may have that Canon 400 someday, Steve. I love my Canon L lenses and I love my primes. They produce tack sharp images. But, for $750 I've got this lens which is performing pretty well, and I have it for the fall migration of waterfowl, so for now I am happy. If money is a consideration it's definitely a good option. I do envy the F2.8 .. even if it's sunny it seems that birds like to hang out in shady spots. It gives you more options. Someday ...

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

The Canon 100-400 is not an f/2.8 but is an f/4.5-5.6. It is one of Canon's older designs and there have been rumors of a Mk II in the works. In fact, I am surprised that there wasn't some kind of an announcement at Photokina.