topic Re: my many thanks regarding advise in General Discussion

my many thanks regarding advise

paulbrogden10 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 00:32:38 GMT

Hello

I wanted to say a big thank you to every one who has responded to my questions. I have been on many forums and can say this is the best I have come across and I wanted to say a big thank you and shout out to. ScottyP ebiggs1 TTMartin RobertTheFat cicopo Waddizzle . You are all very helpful and my many thanks.

You guys are fantasic while I have still not made my mind up weather I made the right choice sigma 150-600 vs canon 100-400 mk2. I have a alot of respect for canon products all be it a bit exspensive I finally decided to go with the canon mk2 100-400 I am still on the fence what to do with the 300 f4 and 70-200 mk1 2.8 as these lenses are heavy things to carry.

I did want to say my exsperience with my mk1 2x extender is it makes the quality very bad almost grainy when I look through the view finder so tend to stick to the 1.4.

I have managed to get the 100-400 mk2 for £1200 thats $1674.00 which is a grey import from austrailia I saved myself £600/$837. In the UK we do get ripped off on prices that europe and america pay.

But apart from that wanted to say thanks to every one I will be uploading a video on reviewing it as I can compare it to the 300 + 1.4 extender. It does seem the extra reach at 400mm is not that much or shall we call it 370mm.

But wanted to say thank you out of the many forums out their you guys are the best. Regards Paul.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ScottyP — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:45:36 GMT

Congratulations on the new 100-400. I may get one of those myself if my girls regain an interest in soccer.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:29:31 GMT

"But apart from that wanted to say thanks to every one I will be uploading a video on reviewing it as I can compare it to the 300 + 1.4 extender. It does seem the extra reach at 400mm is not that much or shall we call it 370mm."

Congrats from me, too.

Sometimes it is easier to capture fast moving action with good results by going with a higher quality lens that has a slightly shorter focal length, and cropping it in post. It's hard to track a fast moving subject, like a bird in flight, with a long lens. But, it is not as difficult with a shorter lens.

I like the 100-400 range of focal length. Combine that range with Image Stabilization version II, improved glass over version I, and it adds up to the next lens on my bucket list, which would complete my collection of zoom lenses. I'm going to sell my Big Sigma 150-500. It has too much vignetting, which has scared me away from the 150-600 Contemporary

[ EF 16-35mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 24-105 f.4L IS USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM ]

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

paulbrogden10 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:38:54 GMT

I was going to get the new 50-500 sigma once a time ago but after much research decided not to buy it like the 150-500 it is not a sharp lense at 500mm alot of people said this normally if alot say the same thing you get the picture.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

paulbrogden10 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:44:44 GMT

one more thing putting the 1.4 extender on allows you to manually focus which is bummer however their is a side affect the is works even when auto focus does not.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:56:22 GMT

@paulbrogden10 wrote:
I was going to get the new 50-500 sigma once a time ago but after much research decided not to buy it like the 150-500 it is not a sharp lense at 500mm alot of people said this normally if alot say the same thing you get the picture.

I have gotten some pretty sharp images from the lens. Cropped roughtly 50%, taken while sitting on a boulder.

But, it has too much vignetting for a full frame. It is probably a better fit with an APS-C sensor body.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:00:11 GMT

"I'm going to sell my Big Sigma 150-500. It has too much vignetting, which has scared me away from the 150-600 Contemporary"

That is faulty reasoning. The newer 150-600mm either the C or S is not the same lens as the 150-500mm or 50-500mm, Not even close.

The fact is the 150-600mm C or S or even the Tamron and the ef 100-400mm II are so very close in IQ, it is simply a preference choice. And whether or not you need 600mm vs 400mm.

I am not trying to talk you out of selling your 150-500mm because I bought three of them and sold two. They were that bad. The last one and the one I still have is a real nice lens. It isn't in the same league as the afore mentioned lenses but for the price it is nice.

My personal preference and choice is the Sigam S. If you can't handel the extreme weight than I recommend the Tamron model. The Tammy is better weather sealed than the Sigma C. If you don't need 600mm by all means the best choice is the Canon 100-400mm II. Not the first version, BTW.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:55:43 GMT

"I'm going to sell my Big Sigma 150-500. It has too much vignetting, which has scared me away from the 150-600 Contemporary"

That is faulty reasoning. The newer 150-600mm either the C or S is not the same lens as the 150-500mm or 50-500mm, Not even close.

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I don't know what happened. I don't know if I failed to see it, or if it suddenly crept into the lens.

I have seen some vignetting in older shots, but nothing like what it started doing. Faulty reasoning? Perhaps, but can you blame me? Don't worry. You're not talking me out of selling it. It's already done and gone. Weeks ago.

As far as the Tammy and Siggy 150-600mm weather sealing goes, the product descriptions at B&H have not convinced me that whatever sealing they might have, that it is not as good as the Canon 100-400 ver. 2. I've decided to put a priority on weather sealing, over image quality, on any future lens choices. If it ain't sealed up, then I don't want it.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:27:00 GMT

It isn't faulty reasoning to admit the 150-500mm isn't a real good lens. The ones I had/have all exhibited IS problems not what you are seeing. Their IQ was/is pretty good. It is faulty to say since it wasn't any good the Sigma 150-600mm isn't good either.

"I've decided to put a priority on weather sealing, over image quality, on any future lens choices. If it ain't sealed up, then I don't want it."

You just sold yourself on the SIgma S model. It is the best weather sealed lens of the three by a long margin. Maybe the best there is period. It even has a special coating on its front element that protects it even more. You don't get that with out giving, however. It weighs a ton. There is no plastic. Mine does exhibit slightly faster AF and slightly better IQ than the others. Including the 100-400mm II.

And one other feature no one else has yet is the USB dock Firmware upgradeable by yourself! AF customizable by you, too...

BTW, the SIgma S is far better weather sealed than your 6D. It will be the weal link if you do get a S.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:10:15 GMT

"BTW, the SIgma S is far better weather sealed than your 6D. It will be the weal link if you do get a S."

Yup, I am aware of that. That's the idea. Anything that is worse than the 6D, I don't want. I want to limit myself to having just one known weak link, not multiple ones.

[edit] I wasn't suggesting that if the 150-500 falls short, then the 150-600 will fall short, too. I'm just saying that the 150-500 had enough issues to scare me away from Sigma for at least a while.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:51:42 GMT

"... the 150-500 had enough issues to scare me away from Sigma ..."

Well all I can say is, they are so vastly different lenses it makes no sense to think that. Remember the Sigma company that is making the 150-600mm S and C is not the same company that made the 150-500mm. Sigma has been reorganized since then.

I hear you as not too long ago I would not even touch an off brand lens. Not one. There were days when they were just horrible. DIdn't work well. I have since found there are some real gems out there. There are lenses that Canon doesn't and/or doesn't even want to make. Then there is the cost difference. Some of us can't afford to go Canon totally. I still recommend buy Canon if you can but if you can't or Canon doesn't make what you want, Sigma and Tamron have stepped up.

I still don't buy or even recommend Tokina but I know they have a couple lenses that deserve some checking out. As of today I own no Tokina's. I am about to buy one!

I am a guy that has had many, many lenses over the years. I think I counted 40 the other day. I also worked for a company that bought many, many lenses over the years.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:52:59 GMT

One thing more if you do decide on the S, try it before you buy it. I am not kidding it is a load.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:35:01 GMT

"I still don't buy or even recommend Tokina but I know they have a couple lenses that deserve some checking out. As of today I own no Tokina's. I am about to buy one!"

I have cinema versions of their lenses. They work fairly well at HD Video resolution. Taken with the 85mm T1.5

The top panorama was created with PhotoStitch. The second was created with LR6.

That is just one shot out of a dozen of a panoramic shot. All of the shots were long exposures taken an hour before sunrise. With careful focusing, I can get pretty good images.

Ernie, I don't think you'll like the Rokinons, though. Out of the product line, you may like the 14mm to shoot the night skies with, but that's about it. I hope that's the one you're looking at.

Here's another pre-dawn, long exposure, but taken with the 14mm and the camera angled upward 30 degrees, or so.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

paulbrogden10 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:25:11 GMT

I sore one of these sigmas 150-600 s on ebay going for around £900 I asked the seller why he had listed it saying it had some dust in it as it is suposed to be dust proof he replied no lense is dust proof but for a lense to have dust in it as it was a new lens seemed a bit strange to me.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:04:11 GMT

@paulbrogden10 wrote:
Hi

I sore one of these sigmas 150-600 s on ebay going for around £900 I asked the seller why he had listed it saying it had some dust in it as it is suposed to be dust proof he replied no lense is dust proof but for a lense to have dust in it as it was a new lens seemed a bit strange to me.

Which version of the lens, Contemporary or Sport? Actually, they both claim to have "splash and dust proof mount", whatever that means. It sounds like it might be the connection to the camera, but what about the rest of the lens?

Ernie says the Sport is good to go. I don't see the engineers giving the Contemporary model weather sealing on par with the Sport model, because it could usurp sales of the Sport. What edge would the C have over the S, if the weather sealing were equal?

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

paulbrogden10 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 02:02:56 GMT

It was the sport I was looking at buying one until I got a good deal on the canon but I watched sigmas own video on the lens where they test it in a dust chamber and the lens he was selling had dust in it I asked the seller why it got dust as the lens has been out for les than one year he said no lens is dust proof. So perhaps the sigma claim is a big lie.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:01:44 GMT

If a lens zooms, it will have some dust get in it. Minor dust inside a lens is of little concern. The older ef 100-400mm got a bad rap for dust getting inside. But in reality it is not any worse at it than any other zoom lens. People saw the pump action as more of a "dust pump". Totally false. More from the idiots that write reviews without actually using the gear they write about. All zoom lenses move inside whether you twist them or slide them or pump them.

On the Sigma S the rear element moves as it zooms. Dust is going to get in there! This is common in the way most zooms are made not just the S.

The Sigma S is all metal. The C is mostly plastic as is the Tamron. The C doesn't have anywhere near the weather resistance that the S has. It isn't even as good as the Tamron in sealing which is also mostly plastic. IMHO, choosing between the Sigma C and the Tamron, the Tammy is slightly better.

I am not going to test it myself but I think the Sigma S could withstand being left out in the rain. Even a hard rain. Not simply being splashed upon!

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 09:19:54 GMT

"I have cinema versions of their lenses. ... Taken with the 85mm T1.5"

As I generally do, I refrain from commenting on lenses I have never personally used, so I can't comment on any of these (video lenses). Your shots look great. How much is you and how much is the lens? Who knows but you certainly have it nailed down.

I really have no bone to pick with Rokinon except there apparent lack of a QC department. I find that if you get a good one, you get a good one! However getting a good one is sometimes more difficult then it might seem. Admittedly this is hearsay from my Astro buds. I never have actually tried but they all say it takes two or three or four times. I am surprised B&H and/or Adorama are so forgiving on this matter. They must realize it is the way it is from the get go.

I am looking at a Tokina, the AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX Lens. Just haven't pulled the trigger. Still got a bad taste in my mouth from them. Not to mention Tokina's total lack of any sort of a customer support or repair department. But of course CPS can spoil you on that topic. They rule with no peers. I probably won't get it in Canon mount. Don't want to disgrace any of my 1 series!

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

Waddizzle — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:25:18 GMT

"As I generally do, I refrain from commenting on lenses I have never personally used, so I can't comment on any of these (video lenses). Your shots look great. How much is you and how much is the lens? Who knows but you certainly have it nailed down."

The primary difference between the cinema (non-DS) and still lenses are the "declicked" aperture rings. The other major difference is the T-rating and F-Stop ratings. With careful setup in LiveView, I can get pretty good images from them. What I liked the most about them is that they are inexpensive and FAST. I bought them when all I had was a T5. The posted images were shot with the 6D.

"I am looking at a Tokina, the AT-X 16-28mm f/2.8 Pro FX Lens. Just haven't pulled the trigger. Still got a bad taste in my mouth from them. Not to mention Tokina's total lack of any sort of a customer support or repair department. "

That one? I just knew you were looking at a prime. I looked at that one, and passed it up for the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM for the dust and water sealing. I didn't think the Tokina had any sealing at all. i had questions about the use of filters with that lens, too.

[edit] I'm not gong to make a decision on another long lens for several weeks, BTW. I have never been the birding type. Since the 1980s, I traveled a lot and saw a lot of sights. So, I took pictures of the sights. I've been taking shots of seagulls to learn how to shoot birds. It's challenging fun.

Re: my many thanks regarding advise

ebiggs1 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:40:00 GMT

"I just knew you were looking at a prime."

No not looking at a prime. The main reason, I already have the best made primes so no point itn looking elsewhere. (35mm Art, 50mm f1.2L and 85mm f1.2L) I am likely out of the prime business for awhile at least.

"I looked at that one, and passed it up for the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM for the dust and water sealing."

As stated I would not get it for Canon. I agree in principle the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM is the better lens but I would get the Tokina for my Nikons. The Nikkor in this class is very expensive and may not be any better. Nikkor lenses are real iffy. You have to be very careful choosing one of them. Lots of plastic in the new "G" series. And made in China.

"i had questions about the use of filters with that lens, too."

You can't use any filters on that Tokina. Filters are mostly obsolete anyway so that is no biggie. I can't remember the last time I used a filter for effect.

There is no point you can come up with where that Tokina measures up to a Canon lens. It simply is not possible. Not even in the same zip code or time zone for that matter. The clunky clutch for switching from AF to MF? The mediocre build? And good luck getting ti serviced? Now you know why I haven't done it.

"I didn't think the Tokina had any sealing at all."

There isn't any. If there was the ad department would have bragged on how good it was. They always exaggerate the facts by at least 3 times!