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Sigma 50-500 vs Canon 100-400? HELP! (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter searobin
- Start date
To be clear, here is what I am looking to compare:
Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX HSM Pro Lens
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=55362&start=1
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM (Image Stabilizer)
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=8933&start=1
Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX HSM Pro Lens
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=55362&start=1
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM (Image Stabilizer)
http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=8933&start=1
Tyler Vargo
Well-known member
I'd go with the Canon in this one, it is $630 cheaper, has IS, USM and is an L lens to boot (the best glass Canon makes!). I've seen awesome images taken with both but strongly suggest the 100-400L, you'll get more "bang for your buck".
Kevin Bates
Guest
searobin said:
I use both these lenses, my preference is the Sigma 50-500 it has a better range and is more suited to bird photography, checkout my gallery to compare the two.
stuartlawrie
Well-known member
Interesting, I wondered why the Sigma was now dearer, I have the old Sigma 50-500 and have recently acquired the Canon 100-400, I have to say I can't see a lot in them other than the extra focal length, I know the IS is supposed to help but to be honest I still ain't had any results that impress me that greatly over the Sigma which I have been shooting with for over two years with both here and in Kenya. unfortunately the Sigma is in being repaired at present as I was unfortunate enough to have it blown over a few weeks back, but despite having it replaced by the Canon, I am paying to have it repaired.
Only one thing with the Sigma, get pumping those weights, carrying it for any length of time is more exhausting than the Canon
Only one thing with the Sigma, get pumping those weights, carrying it for any length of time is more exhausting than the Canon
Romy Ocon
Well-known member
Here's a recent test I did with my three long lenses - Bigma (Sigma 50-500), Canon 400 5.6L and Canon 100-400 L IS.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=12049012
IMHO, the Bigma has a good performance-cost ratio, a fine interim lens until one can afford the Canon Big Whites.
I now carry two systems in the field - the 400 5.6L + 20D for flight shots, and the 100-400 L IS + 300D for hand held shots in lower light. I hope that someday, I can afford my ultimate dream lens for birding - 500 f/4 L IS.
Cheers,
Romy
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=12049012
IMHO, the Bigma has a good performance-cost ratio, a fine interim lens until one can afford the Canon Big Whites.
I now carry two systems in the field - the 400 5.6L + 20D for flight shots, and the 100-400 L IS + 300D for hand held shots in lower light. I hope that someday, I can afford my ultimate dream lens for birding - 500 f/4 L IS.
Cheers,
Romy
Romy Ocon
Well-known member
Gwynn said:
It was done on a copy from the current Bigma series, the one whose tripod mount has three finger grooves (the older one had four). I bought the lens from Sigma Manila in May 2004. Of course, if you're referring to the still newer Bigma (the newly announced DG series), it's still not available in the market.
Cheers,
Romy
Romy Ocon
Well-known member
Hmmm... very interesting. ExpressCamera listed two Bigmas - the old one at USD 759 and the "Pro" one at USD 1899. I'm curious at what they did to the lens to justify a 150% increase in price, having no OS yet anyway.
Looking forward to impressions of early buyers. If the new Pro Bigma can approximate the picture quality of the 500 f/4 (but at f/6.3), then the new price is a bargain even without OS or IS.
Cheers,
Romy
Looking forward to impressions of early buyers. If the new Pro Bigma can approximate the picture quality of the 500 f/4 (but at f/6.3), then the new price is a bargain even without OS or IS.
Cheers,
Romy
Kevin Bates
Guest
I thought the new Bigma was not going to be available till April at the earliest.
Romy Ocon
Well-known member
I posted in the DPReview lens forum that ExpressCamera is now offering the "Pro" Bigma, and the building consensus is that this is not the new DG thing.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=12303867
A lot of posters also cast doubts on ExpressCamera's reputation.
BTW, the 100-400 L IS is an excellent one-birding-lens solution. The 400 prime is sharper wide open and has faster AF speed but it can't zoom back, has no IS and minimum focus distance is 11 or 12 feet.
The zoom is as sharp as the prime when stopped to f/8 (though the prime is a bit contrastier) and MFD is 6 feet. If I can only carry one lens, I'll bring the zoom.
Cheers,
Romy
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=12303867
A lot of posters also cast doubts on ExpressCamera's reputation.
BTW, the 100-400 L IS is an excellent one-birding-lens solution. The 400 prime is sharper wide open and has faster AF speed but it can't zoom back, has no IS and minimum focus distance is 11 or 12 feet.
The zoom is as sharp as the prime when stopped to f/8 (though the prime is a bit contrastier) and MFD is 6 feet. If I can only carry one lens, I'll bring the zoom.
Cheers,
Romy
