Posted by Mara Calvi on January 30, 2008 at 7:37 AM
Hello i found this website through Rene de Heer and i have a question. I just went on a Seal workshop with Guy edwardes which i really enjoyed. I currently use a Canon EOS 30D with a Canon 100-400 zoom. I like the combination a lot but i am looking into upgrading to a Sigma DG 120-300/2.8 which has been offered to me for around £1000.
I am not a birdphotographer perse but more into mammals and the occassional bird. I know i would lose the image stabilizer but i guess i would gain on the aperture and image quality.
My question is whether it would be a usefull upgrade and would i be able to use this lens with a 1.4 and 2.0 converter without losing the AF?
Many thanks for your help.
Mara
Posted by Andy Astbury on January 30, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Mara - I got the EX DG HSM version last week and optically I think it's superb, and an awful lot sharper than my canon 100-400. It seems to perform just as well with the 1.4x Sig TC though what it's like with the 2x TC and other makes I have no idea.
It's a lot heavier than the 100-400 and doesn't have a focus limiter or IS.
And I'll let you into a secret - it's not 300mm either, more like 280/285mm at it's top end - Sigma are sailing a bit close to the trades descriptions laws with this lens, but I can forgive them as it is so very sharp.
When you fit the 1.4 Sig TC the camera reports the lens as a 170-420mm f4 which does back up what I said about its focal length but funnily enough, without the TC the camera reports the lens as 120-300mm f2.8 - you make your own mind up
As a mammal lens I think it'll suit your needs very well, though the chap to really enlighten you on this lens is Edwin Kats, who uses it virtually exclusively and to stunning effect.
Hope this helps a bit
Posted by Andy Bate on January 30, 2008 at 8:47 AM
how much kit are you buying at the moment MR A!!! lend me some!
Posted by Sam Mannaerts on January 30, 2008 at 10:45 AM
I've got the non-DG version and I have to say the same things as Andy said before. There's no difference in sharpness or AF speed when using it with or without a 1.4xTC. When you use it with the 2xTC you still have AF but it will be a bit slower and you lose a bit of sharpness, but it is still sharper with 2xTC than my 50-500 I used before my "upgrade"
Good luck with it! It's a real beauty
grtz,
Sam
Posted by Mara Calvi on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
thank you very much for your precious advice guys.
Discussion
4 repliesI am not a birdphotographer perse but more into mammals and the occassional bird. I know i would lose the image stabilizer but i guess i would gain on the aperture and image quality.
My question is whether it would be a usefull upgrade and would i be able to use this lens with a 1.4 and 2.0 converter without losing the AF?
Many thanks for your help.
Mara
It's a lot heavier than the 100-400 and doesn't have a focus limiter or IS.
And I'll let you into a secret - it's not 300mm either, more like 280/285mm at it's top end - Sigma are sailing a bit close to the trades descriptions laws with this lens, but I can forgive them as it is so very sharp.
When you fit the 1.4 Sig TC the camera reports the lens as a 170-420mm f4 which does back up what I said about its focal length but funnily enough, without the TC the camera reports the lens as 120-300mm f2.8 - you make your own mind up
As a mammal lens I think it'll suit your needs very well, though the chap to really enlighten you on this lens is Edwin Kats, who uses it virtually exclusively and to stunning effect.
Hope this helps a bit
Good luck with it! It's a real beauty
grtz,
Sam