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Canon or Sigma telephoto?
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Apr 15, 2016 20:26:31   #
Nightski
 
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.

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Apr 15, 2016 20:56:54   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


Hi Nightski ! If you are using a crop frame camera go with the faster Canon lenses and crop using well applied pixel enlarging techinques/software. My rule for crop frame bodies is no lens slower than f5.6 - and f4 is MUCH better.

If you are on full frame, get the longer slower lens and increase your ISO. Hopefully, your AF will not be materially affected with the slower lens.

I know of no current long zoom lens that is materially any sharper in real world usage than the Canon 100-400 - properly used.

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Apr 15, 2016 21:05:28   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


I used the Canon 100-400 for about 6 years and it is a great lens.
I have now used the Sigma 150-500 for about 1 year and it is an OK lens. If you are shooting fast moving objects (motor racing) the Canon lens tracks a lot better than Sigma lens. My Sigma lens is a little soft wide open at the long end.

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Apr 15, 2016 21:10:54   #
Haydon
 
The Canon 100-400 II is very managable and once cropped stands up to the Sigma and the Tamron for sharpness in equivalent focal length.

Take a look what lensrentals had to say.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/02/canon-100-400-is-l-mk-ii-teardown-best-built-lens-ever/

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Apr 15, 2016 21:22:54   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
imagemeister wrote:
Hi Nightski ! If you are using a crop frame camera go with the faster Canon lenses and crop using well applied pixel enlarging techinques/software. My rule for crop frame bodies is no lens slower than f5.6 - and f4 is MUCH better.

If you are on full frame, get the longer slower lens and increase your ISO. Hopefully, your AF will not be materially affected with the slower lens.

I know of no current long zoom lens that is materially any sharper in real world usage than the Canon 100-400 - properly used.
Hi Nightski ! If you are using a crop frame camer... (show quote)


The Canon is also smaller/lighter more manageable than the others.

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Apr 15, 2016 21:25:04   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


Could the Sigma have a better AF than Canon? Not likely. Sigma might be a good choice for other brands of AF lenses.

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Apr 15, 2016 21:30:37   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
lamiaceae wrote:
Could the Sigma have a better AF than Canon? Not likely. Sigma might be a good choice for other brands of AF lenses.


It doesn't and I have used both.

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Apr 15, 2016 22:17:59   #
Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca
 
So goes the light, I used Sigma 150-500mm mostly at max range and thought that my picture were slightly out of focus will the maybe soft instead, when I get back home I'll look them up again
Thanks

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Apr 15, 2016 23:13:55   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
I have both lenses, use Sigma mostly on Canon 6D and Canon lens on 7DII or 5Dsr. The Sigma works quite well with the 6D, not so well on the 5Dsr. It prefers the sharper Canon lens plus cropping isn't an issue.

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Apr 16, 2016 07:25:43   #
alggomas Loc: Wales, United Kingdom.
 
The 100-400 Canon L lens is great.
It will work fine with a Canon teleconvertor 1.4x or 2x

Different reviewers emphasis different things.

Try Ken Rockwell for his review.

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Apr 16, 2016 07:32:25   #
pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


The only time the sigma is sharper is at the 500-600 range when comparing the Canon with and 1.4 extender. Otherwise the Canon is far superior in the 100-400 range. If you pick up a used or refurbished 7D crop sensor the 400 becomes 600 and very sharp.

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Apr 16, 2016 07:51:42   #
alggomas Loc: Wales, United Kingdom.
 
pithydoug wrote:
The only time the sigma is sharper is at the 500-600 range when comparing the Canon with and 1.4 extender. Otherwise the Canon is far superior in the 100-400 range. If you pick up a used or refurbished 7D crop sensor the 400 becomes 600 and very sharp.


Agree.

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Apr 16, 2016 07:54:58   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


I am a Nikon guy but I do a lot of nature photography and I have a lot of friends I see in the field each day. The guys and gals who shoot the Canon 100-400 (New Version) are getting really good results. In fact, the shots that they have been getting almost got me to convert, but, of course, I did not. I see a lot of folks with the sigma, A LOT, but those shots don't seem to measure up. No big surprise, I really did not think they would. So, from my standpoint of seeing the results of both lenses, go Canon hands down, no brainer, the lens is way better constructed, will last longer, give you more consistent results, and be WORTH WAY MORE down the road if you want to trade in or sell outright.

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Apr 16, 2016 07:59:59   #
pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY
 
billnikon wrote:
I am a Nikon guy but I do a lot of nature photography and I have a lot of friends I see in the field each day. The guys and gals who shoot the Canon 100-400 (New Version) are getting really good results. In fact, the shots that they have been getting almost got me to convert, but, of course, I did not. I see a lot of folks with the sigma, A LOT, but those shots don't seem to measure up. No big surprise, I really did not think they would. So, from my standpoint of seeing the results of both lenses, go Canon hands down, no brainer, the lens is way better constructed, will last longer, give you more consistent results, and be WORTH WAY MORE down the road if you want to trade in or sell outright.
I am a Nikon guy but I do a lot of nature photogra... (show quote)


I have the 100-400L II and let me tell you it is tack sharp from 100 through the 400. I also have it on a 5DIII.

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Apr 16, 2016 08:01:09   #
davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
 
Nightski wrote:
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I use it mostly from 400-500mm which means I really struggle for light. I am wondering if I would be happier with a different lens. Here are my thoughts.

Canon 400mm F/5.6 ... a little extra light at 400mm and it's a prime lens so it will be sharper. BUT .. and this is a big butt for me .. no IS. :-(

Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L. I've got the same light upgrade basically depending on the focal length that 4.5 turns into 5.6. It's an L lens, so it's going to be a nice sharp lens. It does have IS.

Sigma 150-600mm F/5.0-6.3. I don't gain anything here, but some guy on DP Review said he heard it was sharper than the canon 100-400mm. Is that true? This does have OS, but as it is I am struggling to get those motion shots sharp at 500mm .. I'd really be in trouble with 600mm.
I currently have a Sigma 150-500mm F/5.0-6.3. I us... (show quote)


The focal length answer for the 100-400mm is: 100-134mm @f/4.5, 135-311mm @ f/ 5.0, and 312-400mm @ f/5.6. I obtained a copy of this lens this past winter. I intended to use it for stationary birds. I am still in awe of what it allows me to do. I use TCs and extension tubes frequently and am very please with the results. The version II has a much improved IS and a min. focus length of less than 3 feet. I'm getting 800mm's with little image degradation. The wait for version II was worth it.

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