Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400 or.......... (Page 2): I strongly suggest the Nikon 200-500. There is a very good reason for it's cost. Which, by the way, is reduced nicely about twice...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

waynetgreen wrote:

Greetings, br I'm normally a landscape shooter but... (show quote)

I strongly suggest the Nikon 200-500. There is a very good reason for it's cost. Which, by the way, is reduced nicely about twice a year.
The Nikon was specifically designed from beginning to end to work on your Nikon. The other two were designed to work with a variety of camera bodies.
At upgrade or trade in time the Nikon will be worth about 40-50% more than the other two. I wonder why?
The 200-500 is 5.6 throughout it's range. It is also has a electronic diaphragm that will allow your D7100 or D750 to get exactingly accurate exposures when shooting at a high frames a second. The other two will not.
Lastly, IMHO, it is sharper and better built than the other two.
You spent good money on your camera's, and you own some of the best bodies on the market, don't short change yourself.
Many of my friends who started out with the other two finally came over to Nikon because it just preforms better, isn't that what you want too?
Below is just some sample shots taken with this outstanding value lens. It really should cost more.

waynetgreen Loc: Florida

Yes, weight will certainly be a factor in my decision. Thanks

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Just remember, you get what you pay for. I guess perhaps I am just picky, but I never considered 3rd party lenses for go with my bodies.

sv3noKin51E

waynetgreen, with your setup, it's hard to go wrong with either the nikon 200-400 or the Tamron 15-600mm. We have two, bought the 2nd used/new from Adorama for much less than you can imagine, totally happy with the results. Of course you can always purchase new, but ouch:D

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I have the Tamron 100-400 (Nikon d7500) and it can get amazing shots if the light is right and the settings are right. I have found that it doesn't perform all that well in high or low contrast situations - has a difficult time locking in accurate focus. It seems to do better without a filter in place- I protect the lens with a hood instead. The VR is a bit unpredictable - usually performs better with the VR off if shooting over 1/1600 second even hand held. I have not found that it is soft at the 400 end. The bokeh is usually pretty nice and I shoot wide open often with good results- remember this is a slow lens. The tripod collar is really nice and I would not want to use this lens without it. I don't use it on a tripod often but instead screw a pistol grip into the tripod collar for hand holding which balances the lens. I have found that 400 mm isn't really long enough for many birding situations :( and so you end up cropping more than you want to. But for the price and weight there isn't much else out there and so we make the best of it.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I think weight would be a big factor. For full frame I think I would choose the Nikon 200-500. (Sigma/Tamron 150 -600 would be close seconds.

For APS-C the sigma/tamron 100-400 would be great choices as they a lighter than the above lenses.

I have a Panasonic 100-300mm for m4/3 in comparison to the others this is super light weight.

A suggestion would be to rent a 100-400 and the Nikon 200-500 and see what you like best.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

waynetgreen wrote:

I was thinking that coupled with a D7100, I would effectively have a 150-600.

And if you don't mind only 15.3MP, you can set the 1.3X crop in "Image Area" and have a crop with effective view of 780mm. I use it a lot in the field for frame filling shots. It's free, no extra glass, no loss of light!!!

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

As stated above the Tamron 100-400mm had better review then Sigma but I also have the Sigma 150-600mm yjay I use on D7100 & D810.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

olemikey wrote:

And if you don't mind only 15.3MP, you can set the 1.3X crop in "Image Area" and have a crop with effective view of 780mm. I use it a lot in the field for frame filling shots. It's free, no extra glass, no loss of light!!!

I just recently starting using this with mixed results. I think the lens does better or I do better in the dx mode. I don't always get clear shots in the 1.3 crop mode. It might be because it accents any motion.

jtang2

I have the Sigma; but would pick the Tamron today because of the tripod collar.

DK Loc: SD

I have gone to the Tamron 18-400. I find that I don't use any of my other lenses very often now. Photos from the lens have won many prizes in contests for me including Best of Show, but I did also win with the Canon 100-400 in years past.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

suntouched wrote:

I just recently starting using this with mixed results. I think the lens does better or I do better in the dx mode. I don't always get clear shots in the 1.3 crop mode. It might be because it accents any motion.

I've been doing it using VR lenses. It isn't a telephoto cure-all, but it does help for frame filling in a pinch. Most of the stabilized results are hard to tell the difference in mode, unless really pixel peeking. It has bailed me out when there was no time to change lens or the movement would have spooked the subject. Have found that in cases where a lens shows vignetting, it crops that right out of an active shoot (like when using my mirror lens.

Not "the answer" but quite usable in certain situations, and you can still do some cropping in post if necessary. I think it is like putting a longer lens on, it will make for more wiggle if given the chance. My big like for this method is the lack of added glass, and no light changes...coupled with vibration damping gives good results.

When I can afford it, longer glass is in my future!! Until then, I do what I can with what I've got!!!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

suntouched wrote:

I have the Tamron 100-400 (Nikon d7500) and it can... (show quote)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

olemikey wrote:

And if you don't mind only 15.3MP, you can set the 1.3X crop in "Image Area" and have a crop with effective view of 780mm. I use it a lot in the field for frame filling shots. It's free, no extra glass, no loss of light!!!

Yes, and the Sony Clear Image Zoom will fill in the missing pixels for you on the crop - IF - you are shooting Sony and JPEG. - Have been using it for 5 years now ....
.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

waynetgreen wrote:

Greetings, br I'm normally a landscape shooter but... (show quote)

I used the Tamron for Nikon and was very happy with it @400mm. I believe the sigma is not built for a tripod collar.