Which Sigma Lens would you choose ?

kiwitan · 17th December 2002

Dear clubbers

I am thinking of replacing my EF 75-300 USM lens with one of the following. Due to budgetary contraints, I can only limit my choice to Sigma Lens.

1) 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO HSM
2) 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM
3) 100-300mm F4 EX IF HSM

Purpose for the lens, would be to take animal/birds shots at the zoo/JBP. The focal length of the 70-200mm may be too short, comparing with the 75-300 mm lens I have now. That leaves the the other 2 lens.

How is the performance of the 100-300 versus the 50-500 lens ? Which of the 2 is a better lens to get for sharpness ?

Appreciate some feedback & advice from those who have used these lens before. Thanks.

nEkOgOtCh · 17th December 2002

70-200mm F2.8 EX APO HSM!!!

Beo-ing this one also

It's a fast lens! :P

Darren · 17th December 2002

Yup, agree with neko on the 70-200 f/2.8 EX APO HSM .... the danger is once you flirt with FAST, FIXED aperture zooms, nothing else will do

Also, teaming it up with a 1.4x TC will give you up to 280mm f/4 range.

mylau · 18th December 2002

If you are thinking of getting only one lens, get the 50-500mm. Bigger range.

oceanxp · 18th December 2002

50 - 500mm sound good ... am looking for one ... what is the price range ? $1100 ?

mylau · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by oceanxp
50 - 500mm sound good ... am looking for one ... what is the price range ? $1100 ?

nope, $1600.

tomshen · 18th December 2002

Shooting nature stuff? Then 50-500 no looking back

I think I have the capability to recommend it huh?

mylau · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen
Shooting nature stuff? Then 50-500 no looking back

I think I have the capability to recommend it huh?

show him some samples! convinced him!

kiwitan · 18th December 2002

Heard that Sigma lens are susceptible to fogging. How true is this ?

tomshen · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by kiwitan
Heard that Sigma lens are susceptible to fogging. How true is this ?

For your JBP/zoo type shots, Sigma should be ok. u may have a look on my site, the nature section, lots of "samples" from 50-500. In fact, I believe Sigma 50-500 is one of the most value for money lenses I have ever seen. For 1.6k u get such a huge range with sharp/contrasty images, a good deal.

oceanxp · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen

For your JBP/zoo type shots, Sigma should be ok. u may have a look on my site, the nature section, lots of "samples" from 50-500. In fact, I believe Sigma 50-500 is one of the most value for money lenses I have ever seen. For 1.6k u get such a huge range with sharp/contrasty images, a good deal.

i was influenced by you

to get 50-500mm... thanks for your shots !!

but you are using D60 which can explain the sharpness .. not sure how my F100 will fit in .. as sigma lenses tend to be soft.

ninelives · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by kiwitan
Heard that Sigma lens are susceptible to fogging. How true is this ?

no true. just keep it in your dry box when not in use.

tomshen · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by oceanxp

i was influenced by you to get 50-500mm... thanks for your shots !!

but you are using D60 which can explain the sharpness .. not sure how my F100 will fit in .. as sigma lenses tend to be soft.

Sigma got a few good deals in EX series, including: 15-30, 20/f1.8, 70-200/f2.8, and 50-500/f4-6.3. 50-500 is supposed to be as sharp (if not sharper) as Canon 100-400L, but no IS. btw, Canon 100-400L is not very sharp as far as I know. But Canon Ls are always good at color rendition.

erwinx · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by tomshen

50-500 is supposed to be as sharp (if not sharper) as Canon 100-400L, but no IS. btw, Canon 100-400L is not very sharp as far as I know.

Thats a good one.

http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg...ForumID1&omm=0

taken using a 100-400 and a film SLR

Tomshen, having a D60 is not enough, when are you joining the L lens club?

tomshen · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by erwinx

Thats a good one.

http://www.naturephotosociety.org.sg...ForumID1&omm=0

taken using a 100-400 and a film SLR

Tomshen, having a D60 is not enough, when are you joining the L lens club?

Great shots, admire... I am now dying to get a clean background.

Seriously, I dun have any desire to upgrade my present setup in the near future. I may drool at new equipment, but for my amateur work, Sigmas are ok for me.

e_liau · 18th December 2002

The earlier batches of Sigma lenses do fog. I owned 2 before and I kept them in a dehumidifier. By the way, that's in 1995. The lenses did fog (a year later) and I had to throw them away then. I don't own any Sigma lens now. However I do have friends who buy Sigma lens. They claimed that the quality of the glass is better now. However the fog do happen to one guy after 4 years. So I can't comment on that. Prehaps he's a lemon?

Quote:

Originally posted by ninelives

no true. just keep it in your dry box when not in use.

kiwitan · 18th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by oceanxp

i was influenced by you to get 50-500mm... thanks for your shots !!

Can share with us how much did u pay for your lens and where ?

xmen1977 · 19th December 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by erwinx

Tomshen, having a D60 is not enough, when are you joining the L lens club?

L lens club?

membership subjective to approval...
hehe

Romulus · 19th December 2002

AP quoted me $1580 for the 50-500mm yesterday!

kiwitan · 20th December 2002

MS Color equoted yesterday $1500 without GST.

Quote:

Originally posted by Romulus
AP quoted me $1580 for the 50-500mm yesterday!

17th December 2002	#1
kiwitan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: $ingapore Posts: 2,536	Which Sigma Lens would you choose ? Dear clubbers I am thinking of replacing my EF 75-300 USM lens with one of the following. Due to budgetary contraints, I can only limit my choice to Sigma Lens. 1) 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO HSM 2) 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM 3) 100-300mm F4 EX IF HSM Purpose for the lens, would be to take animal/birds shots at the zoo/JBP. The focal length of the 70-200mm may be too short, comparing with the 75-300 mm lens I have now. That leaves the the other 2 lens. How is the performance of the 100-300 versus the 50-500 lens ? Which of the 2 is a better lens to get for sharpness ? Appreciate some feedback & advice from those who have used these lens before. Thanks. Last edited by kiwitan; 17th December 2002 at 05:44 PM.

17th December 2002	#3
Darren ClubSNAP Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ClubSNAP HQ Posts: 7,473	Yup, agree with neko on the 70-200 f/2.8 EX APO HSM .... the danger is once you flirt with FAST, FIXED aperture zooms, nothing else will do Also, teaming it up with a 1.4x TC will give you up to 280mm f/4 range. __________________ Tweet?

18th December 2002	#4
mylau Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,801	Re: Which Sigma Lens would you choose ? If you are thinking of getting only one lens, get the 50-500mm. Bigger range.

18th December 2002	#7
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	Shooting nature stuff? Then 50-500 no looking back I think I have the capability to recommend it huh? __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

17th December 2002	#2
nEkOgOtCh Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Meowyland :) Posts: 651	70-200mm F2.8 EX APO HSM!!! Beo-ing this one also It's a fast lens! :P

18th December 2002	#5
oceanxp Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NUS Posts: 540	50 - 500mm sound good ... am looking for one ... what is the price range ? $1100 ?

19th December 2002	#19
Romulus Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand Posts: 745	AP quoted me $1580 for the 50-500mm yesterday!