Long lens

NJG

NJG

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Hello everybody.

I’m looking at getting a new long lens to go with my new to me 7dii

Looking at the canon 100-400
Or the sigma 150-600.

Are there any other lenses I need to be looking at that are good quality and good price?

Probably going to buy 2nd hand due to cost of these lenses new costs.

Hoping to use it for some wildlife and motorsport photography.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.
 
There are also a coupple of tamron 150-600s out in the market. The first version was very similar to the sigma in terms of perfrmance. There are also slightly older 150-500s and 50-500 available from sigma, these in turn should be cheaper overall.

I actually own the sigma 150-600 (it goes with me when i cant take larger gear) and its been remarkably good.
 
Using a 7DII which has an APS-C sensor you might find that it is quite difficult to track wildlife, eg birds, with a 150-600mm lens. The angle of view is very narrow and any movement is exaggerated. The 1:1.6 ratio would turn the 600mm into something like a 960mm lens - it gives you really good reach, but there could be other problems as suggested.

My wife uses a 7DII with a now somewhat old Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM and she gets some very good results with birds in flight which can be very difficult. Though these lens are no longer manyfactued you can pick up pretty good versions relatively cheaply and they perform very well. I have used the lens myself on a Canon EOS 5DIII and the original 7D abd have got some very good results with birds. A decent seond hand version is likely to be about £350.00, if this is within your budget.

In between, and again second hand, is the Sigma 150-500mm. At f5.0-6.3 the aperture is not quite as wide, and you are likely to have to pay between £400.00 - £450.00 for a good model.

If you can afford more then the more new Canon, Tamron and Sigma 100-400mm lenses have got some very good write ups, but I have no experience of using them.

Hope this may help a bit - good luck with your search.
 
I have no experience with the Sigma but I'm using the Canon 100-400mm ii for wildlife. Currently with the 5d mk iv but previously with the Canon 7d mk ii. It's a great versatile lens. I'm only happy with it. It's very sharp, the low weight makes it so easy to handhold, the short minimum focusing distance makes it possible to shot small mammals, frogs and reptiles at close range. If buying it I would suggest that you also combine it with the 1.4x extender if you are photographing small birds. Note: You can only use the central focusing points with the extender.
 
I have the Sigma 150-600 coupled to a 7Dmkii and I think it's a great lens.

I've used it numerous times to track Red kite in flight and got a pretty decent keeper rate. I certainly wouldn't say it's difficult to track your subject once you have it in sight.
 
NJG said:
Hello everybody.

I’m looking at getting a new long lens to go with my new to me 7dii

Looking at the canon 100-400
Or the sigma 150-600.

Are there any other lenses I need to be looking at that are good quality and good price?

Probably going to buy 2nd hand due to cost of these lenses new costs.

Hoping to use it for some wildlife and motorsport photography.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Those are the obvious long lens choices, also the Tamron 150-600, but both the Sigma and Tamron are very different to the smaller/lighter and easier to use Canon 100-400 - as you'll discover if you are able to try them side by side (recommended).

Canon 100-400 Mk1 is still a very good lens and is more generally versatile than the rather specialist 150-600 zooms. The Mk2 focuses closer which is a handy bonus and has better IS, but otherwise there's very little in it.
 
I have the sigma 150-600c with a 7d2 it is a very good combination. I also tested the canon 100-400 mk2. Also an excellent lens and lighter. My thoughts were as I don’t like teleconverters I went for the longer reach
 
Only thing that puts me off from the canon 100-400mm is the colour of grey/white. As much as I would like L glass for this range that is what’s putting me off it.

Now looking at the sigma 150-500mm.
 
NJG said:
Only thing that puts me off from the canon 100-400mm is the colour of grey/white.
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Absolutely. That whole performance / quality / ergonomics thing is vastly over-rated. What it looks like is far more important.
 
StewartR said:
Absolutely. That whole performance / quality / ergonomics thing is vastly over-rated. What it looks like is far more important.
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Sorry if you don’t like that, but for me to get out there sometimes and take pictures is hard, and to have the massive white lens on front of my camera which draws attention to myself is something I struggle with.
 
NJG said:
Sorry if you don’t like that, but for me to get out there sometimes and take pictures is hard, and to have the massive white lens on front of my camera which draws attention to myself is something I struggle with.
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Get a LensCoat. Mainly intended for wildlife camouflage, but available in black or a range of camo options. Good protection too.
http://www.lenscoat.com/lenscoat®-canon-100400-p-2266.html
 
Canon 100-400 L F4 lens is similar price to the sigma 150-500mm f5.6 on the 2nd hand market.

There are none of these near by to go and try so it’s going to have to be a leap of faith I feel.
 
NJG said:
Sorry if you don’t like that, but for me to get out there sometimes and take pictures is hard, and to have the massive white lens on front of my camera which draws attention to myself is something I struggle with.
Click to expand...

You will be amazed how many people wont even notice you. People with large camera lenses is almost the norm nowadays so the public don't bat an eyelid.
If the colour of a lens stops you taking photos, perhaps there is an underlying issue?
 
I can’t comment on the Sigma 150-600,
It was a chuck up between that and the Tamron 150-600G2
I decided on the tamron and it’s a great lens,
I use a D7500,
Maybe consider the Tamron as well as the sigma
 
I had the Sigma 150-600mm (on a crop-sensor Nikon), which I bought specifically for motorsports (circuit) photography, and whilst recently deciding whether to ditch my Nikon gear and go MFT (which I did!) I analysed my images in LR and found only 5% were at > 400mm. I also found the 150mm at the short end a bit too long in some scenarios.

In hindsight I should've gone for the 100-400mm, it would've been smaller, lighter, more flexible and almost certainly have covered the range I needed. I'm not sure there's a circuit that needs more than 400mm, with the possible exception of Silverstone (or so I hear, never been personally).
 
NJG said:
Sorry if you don’t like that, but for me to get out there sometimes and take pictures is hard, and to have the massive white lens on front of my camera which draws attention to myself is something I struggle with.
Click to expand...
Don't worry I have felt the same and often wished for black lenses i stesd of white to be a bit more discreet, Or feel that way anyway. You feel how you feel!
 
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Don't ignore the Tamron and Sigma 100-400 ... not the same quality as the Canon 100-400 but a good option (especially on crop cameras) compared with the 150-600 which may be too long/heavy/bulky.
 
Have a look at THIS THREAD

I use a Canon 100-400mm MKII and a Sigma 150-600mm Sport, at 400mm I would say the Canon has the edge but add a 1.4x MKIII to get near where the Sigma is at 600mm and the Sigma is sharper. However I mostly take out the 100-400mm as it weighs a lot less than the Sigma sport.
 
Hi shame your not nearer as I have both you could have tried them to make your mind up .
 
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I had a 7D2 with Sigma 150-600 Sport. It's a great set up, I loved the pictures it produced, but it is heavy. So heavy in fact I gave it all up and went to Fuji, but that's another story....

I have used a 100-400 Mk1, but not the Mk2, and I think I prefer the Siggy. I'm not particularly strong in my upper body, and I found the Siggy difficult to catch birds in flight, but it is a good way to get to 600mm, even if it is at f6.3. If you do go down the Sigma route, I recommend geting the "dock" as well, which will allow you to fine tune the lens.

There is a thread on here regarding the lens which you will find helpful. It's a great lens for the money....
 
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I had the Canon 100-400L (first version) a few years back and I can honestly say it was the worse lens I have ever owned since taking up photography seriously. The image quality compared to a modern lens is lacking as is the IS. At the time I also owned the 70-300L and I could take sharper shots with that and crop in than the 100-400 on a tripod. I sold it as soon as I could. It is after all a 20 year old design.

I do own a Sigma 150-600C and it is my second one after selling the first when I got a 500mmf4 and thinking I could lug that everywhere. The OS on the Sigma is really good I have no issues going down to 1/640 handheld. The AF is not as quick as a 500mmf4 but will cope with most things including pretty much any bird in flight, I have used it for Hobby's and you don't really get many birds faster or trickier to get in flight. It has failed on Merlins but if you have seen one hunting it is not a surprise. It will cope with most things on track and it only suffers when the light is not great. The image quality is also excellent which is why I bought another one.

For wildlife the longer the better in my opinion as for motorsport 600mm does come in handy especially for bikes but 150mm will also not be wide enough for some situations so you may need to swap lens or take a second body. Here are a couple of shots that I hope show what the lens can do.

7Dii and Sigma 150-600mm @600mm 1/500, f8, ISO5000 handheld OS 1 switched on. Full frame not cropped.
Dartford by Martin Billard, on Flickr

7Dii and Sigma 150-600 @600 plus cropped 1/320, f6.3, ISO 160 hand held no OS 2 switched on.

Not long now by Martin Billard, on Flickr


The Sigma 100-400mm has some great reviews look on youtube where there are plenty showing it is sharper than the canon 100-400Lii here is one
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41PvCOZgpC4
 
There is some more great advice thank you. I am leaning towards the sigma 150-600 because I’ve then got the full length. (Plus being black the Mrs won’t know its new so won’t have to explain like I would if I got the canon 100-400.)

But because I’m looking at getting the canon 24-105 l lens am I going to miss that little bit that I will not have covered. I don’t think I am.
 
NJG said:
There is some more great advice thank you. I am leaning towards the sigma 150-600 because I’ve then got the full length. (Plus being black the Mrs won’t know its new so won’t have to explain like I would if I got the canon 100-400.)

But because I’m looking at getting the canon 24-105 l lens am I going to miss that little bit that I will not have covered. I don’t think I am.
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I don't think 45mm will be missed, I like my 24-105 it is very useful as a track lens for panning.
 
NJG said:
But because I’m looking at getting the canon 24-105 l lens am I going to miss that little bit that I will not have covered. I don’t think I am.
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You’ll just have to buy a 135mm f/2 too :)
 
I
Eloise said:
You’ll just have to buy a 135mm f/2 too :)
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I like it Eloise lol.

Right decision is made and I’m gonna get a sigma 150-600mm I think. But then I worry about the weight and think would the canon 100-400 be better due to weight...... oh my god never thought this long and hard about buying my house lol.
 
anisah said:
Using a 7DII which has an APS-C sensor you might find that it is quite difficult to track wildlife, eg birds, with a 150-600mm lens. The angle of view is very narrow and any movement is exaggerated. The 1:1.6 ratio would turn the 600mm into something like a 960mm lens - it gives you really good reach, but there could be other problems as suggested.

My wife uses a 7DII with a now somewhat old Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM and she gets some very good results with birds in flight which can be very difficult. Though these lens are no longer manyfactued you can pick up pretty good versions relatively cheaply and they perform very well. I have used the lens myself on a Canon EOS 5DIII and the original 7D abd have got some very good results with birds. A decent seond hand version is likely to be about £350.00, if this is within your budget.
Click to expand...

I would second the Sigma 120-400mm, I have still got one, although I bought a Canon 100-400mm mkii so I now longer use it.
 
Is the sigma 150-600 a good lens for taking pictures of the moon?
 
TheBigYin said:
I'll assume that was a light hearted comment/joke rather than a genuine offer, as i'm sure you're aware all trading needs to be done via the classifieds... :police:
Click to expand...

I’m aware of that. Thanks for pointing it again though.
 
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