After more than a week of reading professional reviews, getting feedback from end-users both here and on another forum, I think 
, I've made up my mind about which telephoto lens I want to buy.
I had the desire for a 400mm telephoto zoom, and even considered 500mm.
The main contenders where the:
Canon 100-400 L IS
Sigma 120-400 OS
Sigma 150-500 OS
Sigma 50-500 OS
With image quality and sharpness, across a full-frame sensor (5D Mklll) being particularly important to me , I concentrated my attention on this parameter.
Professional reviews all saw the lack of dust/weather seals on the Canon 100-400 as a major short coming for an L series lens. Also having a very dated 2 stop optical stabilisation, was also seen as a negative. The 'trombone zoom' was seen as both a positive and a negative, in that while it offered a quick method of moving from one focal length to another, it wasn't to everyones taste, and tended to act as a bit of a 'dust pump'. In short, very much a Marmite lens. I should add that the optical quality of the lens was not criticized.
Two of the Sigma lenses, the 120-400 and the 150-500, had quite a following among end users, and I think that price had a significant influence here.
The 50-500 seemed less popular, and again I think that price had a influence.
In professional reviews, all of the Sigma lenses were reported as showing significant degradation in image quality, at maximum reach (400 or 500mm). In this respect, the 50-500 was being the best of three, albeit it is the most expensive.
End users of both the 120-400 and the 150-500 Sigma lenses, seemed quite happy with them, and I have to say that some of the example images posted were good, albeit not all.
One set of images taken with the 120-400 were IMO, lacking the sort of sharpness that I like to see in an image. However, this could be attributed to the photographer or the conditions under which they were taken, so perhaps not a conclusive result.
A professional landscape photographer, tried all of the lenses, including the Canon 100-400L, under 'real world' conditions, and found that there was little to choose between them. Each having its own 'sweet spot' (focal length/aperture).
I should add that overall, the Sigma lenses, although not part of Sigma's EX range, where all reported as being of good build quality, good value for money, and quite capable performers.
So, I next looked at practicality in terms of weight and physical size, bearing in mind that the 5D Mklll body is no lightweight to start with.
The Sigma lenses are all significantly heavier than the Canon 100-400L which weighs in at 1380g and extends out to 189mm.
The Sigma 150-500 weighs 1910g and extends out to 252mm, with the 120-400 not far behind at 1750g and 203mm.
The 50-500 being 1970g and 219mm.
So, seriously big heavy lenses.
Where does this leave me, well firstly the Canon 100-400 is off my 'shopping list, because being an L series lens, and priced as such, the lack of weather sealing for that sort of money is not good. Also, I'm not a lover of 'marmite'.
The Sigma lenses although well priced, and being very popular, leave me with a nagging doubt, that having bought one, I might not be happy with the IQ at 'full stretch'. Plus the fact they are not particularly 'carry about' in terms of size and weight.
As I started out looking for a 400mm lens, I calculated that difference in image size between that taken with a 300mm and a 400mm lens is just 33%.
Given that in the majority of cases where we use a zoom lens at full-stretch, the subject of interest (bird or animal etc) will be in the centre of the frame.
Therefore, with the 22mp full-frame sensor, I can comfortably afford to crop to show the subject at the equivalent of 400mm size, without loss any significant loss of resolution.
Well, that's my logic anyway.
So, now I'm almost certain to go for the Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM. Image quality is a known attribute, as is build quality and dust/weather sealing. Its size and weight are within practical carry about limit, and where I need to zoom in closer than 300mm, I will crop accordingly.
The only question that remains is whether I buy within the UK, and pay 'top dollar', or from Hong Kong
Dave
, I've made up my mind about which telephoto lens I want to buy.I had the desire for a 400mm telephoto zoom, and even considered 500mm.
The main contenders where the:
Canon 100-400 L IS
Sigma 120-400 OS
Sigma 150-500 OS
Sigma 50-500 OS
With image quality and sharpness, across a full-frame sensor (5D Mklll) being particularly important to me , I concentrated my attention on this parameter.
Professional reviews all saw the lack of dust/weather seals on the Canon 100-400 as a major short coming for an L series lens. Also having a very dated 2 stop optical stabilisation, was also seen as a negative. The 'trombone zoom' was seen as both a positive and a negative, in that while it offered a quick method of moving from one focal length to another, it wasn't to everyones taste, and tended to act as a bit of a 'dust pump'. In short, very much a Marmite lens. I should add that the optical quality of the lens was not criticized.
Two of the Sigma lenses, the 120-400 and the 150-500, had quite a following among end users, and I think that price had a significant influence here.
The 50-500 seemed less popular, and again I think that price had a influence.
In professional reviews, all of the Sigma lenses were reported as showing significant degradation in image quality, at maximum reach (400 or 500mm). In this respect, the 50-500 was being the best of three, albeit it is the most expensive.
End users of both the 120-400 and the 150-500 Sigma lenses, seemed quite happy with them, and I have to say that some of the example images posted were good, albeit not all.
One set of images taken with the 120-400 were IMO, lacking the sort of sharpness that I like to see in an image. However, this could be attributed to the photographer or the conditions under which they were taken, so perhaps not a conclusive result.
A professional landscape photographer, tried all of the lenses, including the Canon 100-400L, under 'real world' conditions, and found that there was little to choose between them. Each having its own 'sweet spot' (focal length/aperture).
I should add that overall, the Sigma lenses, although not part of Sigma's EX range, where all reported as being of good build quality, good value for money, and quite capable performers.
So, I next looked at practicality in terms of weight and physical size, bearing in mind that the 5D Mklll body is no lightweight to start with.
The Sigma lenses are all significantly heavier than the Canon 100-400L which weighs in at 1380g and extends out to 189mm.
The Sigma 150-500 weighs 1910g and extends out to 252mm, with the 120-400 not far behind at 1750g and 203mm.
The 50-500 being 1970g and 219mm.
So, seriously big heavy lenses.
Where does this leave me, well firstly the Canon 100-400 is off my 'shopping list, because being an L series lens, and priced as such, the lack of weather sealing for that sort of money is not good. Also, I'm not a lover of 'marmite'.
The Sigma lenses although well priced, and being very popular, leave me with a nagging doubt, that having bought one, I might not be happy with the IQ at 'full stretch'. Plus the fact they are not particularly 'carry about' in terms of size and weight.
As I started out looking for a 400mm lens, I calculated that difference in image size between that taken with a 300mm and a 400mm lens is just 33%.
Given that in the majority of cases where we use a zoom lens at full-stretch, the subject of interest (bird or animal etc) will be in the centre of the frame.
Therefore, with the 22mp full-frame sensor, I can comfortably afford to crop to show the subject at the equivalent of 400mm size, without loss any significant loss of resolution.
Well, that's my logic anyway.
So, now I'm almost certain to go for the Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM. Image quality is a known attribute, as is build quality and dust/weather sealing. Its size and weight are within practical carry about limit, and where I need to zoom in closer than 300mm, I will crop accordingly.
The only question that remains is whether I buy within the UK, and pay 'top dollar', or from Hong Kong
Dave
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