Sigma 120-400mm ?

hamster100

hamster100

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Doug
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I am thinking of buying a Sigma 120-400mm lens for use with my EOS450D. It will be used for aircraft, sports (kids football) and hopefully some motorsport work.

Does anyone in TP land have one and what do they think of it and the IQ?

I know a lot of the thinking would be to go down the Canon 100-400mm route but my pot won't stretch that far.

Any advise would be very welocome before i part with my hard earned.

Thanks

Doug
 
Doug,

not an expert but i have been using one on my 450d, and really pleased with the performance and IQ. Was in the same boat as you with the finances so opted for the siggy. I have tried the 100-400 on the camera and seems a little better but pound for pound i cant fault my sigma.
 
Can't speak for the 120-400 but my 150-500 is a super lens, and whilst the Canon may have the edge (slightly, possibly, perhaps) it certainly isn't twice the price good!
 
I have one but haven't really used it that much . One thing to bear in mind ,this is a big heavy lens so a mono pod is a must for long use .
 
I got one as it was faster and I thought it more walkabout than the 150-500. Yes I would recommend it. I can't see anything in that price range that is any better. Shame it does not have focus limiter though.
 
Good comparison to the Canon 100-400mm here

I read this before buying mine. I've since borrowed a Canon L and to be honest, although at some focal lengths/apertures the Canon is slightly better, most of the time, for me at least, it's hard to tell the difference and debatable whether it is worth all the extra cash.
 
Problem is there are better and worse copies.

The one I tried in the shop was clearly worse than the 100-400 at 400mm. At f/8 it was only just about as sharp as the canon wide open.

But then, there are better and worse copies of the 100-400 as well.

But the sigma is definitely better value for money, and there is nothing else competing in it's price range.
 
Ok a cropped shot from the Sigma 150-500

Img_1714.jpg
 
Thanks for all the advise, I will have a look at one in the flesh before I decide.
The trouble is there is little else on the market at that focal range for the price. I do fancy the 100-400mm Canon but at double the price it is just not an option for me.
 
If you can't afford it, don't bother looking at it.

The sigma 120-400 is the only thing in it's price range, and it does the job very, very well considering it's price!

There will always be something more expensive that is better. If you could afford the 100-400, you'd be enviously eyeing up the 300 f/2.8 ;).
 
Would any of you's rather have this lens then Canons 100-400? I tried out the Canon yesterday and i didnt like the fact the guy in Jessops called it the "vacum cleaner" and i obviously knew what he was on about once put on my camera.
 
Not at all.

The 100-400 is sharper and lighter.
It might suck in marginally more dust than the sigma, but it's a very small price to pay. The main price to pay for the 100-400 is... the price.
The 120-400 might have slightly more effective OS. But I was in a hide with someone using one today, and I could hear it from the other end of the hide when he engaged it!
Sounded louder at the other end of the hide than mine did to me in my hand!

The only thing that would make the 120-400 more attractive to me would be if I didn't get along with the 'pump' zoom system. I do, but there are people who can't stand it.
Of course, if budget is limited it's a no brainer, the 120-400 wins hands down for being so much cheaper.
 
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Cheers for the Info Adam, Noise doesent bother me,but i can see it bothering others,especially if im in a Public hide as theres a few around here i use now and then when shooting film. i can see the £5/600 difference between lenses being the killer decision here. But i suppose i can look at S/H buying instead :)

Edit: Im also sorry for Hijacking the Thread.
 
John don't worry about "hi jacking" this thread, all the more input is welcome.

Also OS noise does'nt worry me as i am shooting mainly aircraft, kids football and motorsport so i doubt it will cause me any problems.

The price will influence my purchase however and it seems that the general consensus is that the Siggy will do the job for me.

But if won the lottery...
 
The EX designation is missing because it's non constant aperture. The old 50-500 was EX because it was released before they decided they would only give the label to constant aperture zooms.

It doesn't really mean much, the 120-400 still has sigma's highest build quality (it's a solid lump), and has the same 'crinkly' finish on the barrel as EX lenses.
 
I haven't found my 150-500 unreliable! As regards OS noise, yes it's noisier than my Canon IS lens but at least I know it's operating and I haven't forgotten to switch it on, besides it's hardly a pnuematic drill
 
You can certainly tell when OS is running. Birds, close by, hear it & may fly off, others seem curious, but they all are prepared to ignore it after a couple of tries.

This is much the same as the reaction to the shutter.
 
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