I'm looking for something a little more portable than my 500mm for hiking in the summer.
i'm looking at the x-400 type lenses, what are most peoples findings of the Nikon mount 400mm lenses? I'm refering to the 80-400VR and the sigma 80-400OS, the sigma i had on the 20D and it was about as good as the 100-400mm.
The 120-400mm HSM OS, is due out for sigma and canon end of march, early april and the Nikon mount one not until May.
Hi Paul
I have the Sigma 80-400 OS and it is very good at 400mm even wide open, but is still quite heavy at 1.75Kg it focuses quite fast but not as fast as AFS or HSM.
I had an old Tokina 80-400 5.6 which I got rid off and have regretted many times as it was very small and light ( and cheap ).
Just remember you can never have a long enough lens
I read a review once about this lens and it seemed pretty good. Trying to find it again (got it in a magazine and I’ve got hundreds to skim through). Only thing I don’t like is the variable aperture.
From most user related reports esp those which have used the sigma 50-500mm they rate the sigma better. Its a shame the new OS 500 isnt f5.6.
Posted by Paul Compton on March 6, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Paul , I have used the 80-400vr with my d2 and d3, and find it great, I only carry two lens now this being one of them always found it very good, can hand hold it very well to.
Hmm the issue i found is that the screw drive AF is rather slow vs the USM/HSM/AF-S used in mst other lenses. The micro-motor driven 80-400 OS was faster even. Also many reviews of the 80-400VR seem to suggest it begins to really trail off at the 400mm end? How do you find this?
One lens that nobody ever seems to mention is the Sigma 100-300 f4. I used to own the canon 300 f4L and the 70-200 f4L but found that when working from a hide I was always needing to have the oppposite lens to what I had on the camera. Canon options are limited so I sold both and bought the Sigma f4. Never regretted it once. Excellent lens, sharp, relatively light and fast enough for most uses. It also couples well with the 1.4 extender and gives you a 140-420 zoom at f5.6. Add in the digital crop factor and you have a very useful piece of kit.
I had one for a short length of time (about a month) about last august, the copy i had was not as sharp as my 70-300 VR, which was a shock, as the 70-300 was sharper with a TC on too.
I may have a look at the DG model and see if its any better.
Discussion
10 repliesi'm looking at the x-400 type lenses, what are most peoples findings of the Nikon mount 400mm lenses? I'm refering to the 80-400VR and the sigma 80-400OS, the sigma i had on the 20D and it was about as good as the 100-400mm.
The 120-400mm HSM OS, is due out for sigma and canon end of march, early april and the Nikon mount one not until May.
I'd love to know the outcome of this!
As you said before if only Sigma made their 400mm f/5.6 now!
I have the Sigma 80-400 OS and it is very good at 400mm even wide open, but is still quite heavy at 1.75Kg it focuses quite fast but not as fast as AFS or HSM.
I had an old Tokina 80-400 5.6 which I got rid off and have regretted many times as it was very small and light ( and cheap ).
Just remember you can never have a long enough lens
Ian
I would wait just a little longer for when the new Sigmas with OS come out... I have heard a good report from someone in the know....
Phil
‘Tamron 200-500mm f5-6.3 SP AF DI Lens’
I read a review once about this lens and it seemed pretty good. Trying to find it again (got it in a magazine and I’ve got hundreds to skim through). Only thing I don’t like is the variable aperture.
I may have a look at the DG model and see if its any better.