Hello,
I currently own all Canon lenses with the last purchase being the 70-300mm. I had a Sigma 170-500mm non-digital that I used with my EOS3s for landscape. This lens won't work with my 1Ds mkII so I am looking for a replacement.
Sigma was the only lens maker aside from Canon that I used but I feel I need to find out about Tamron and Tokina. Keeping in mind that I need a lens with an extreme long end of 500mm and looking at only zooms, what are your opinions from real use of either Tamron or Tokina in this area? Because I shoot mostly landscape with a bit of wildlife thrown in I don't need fast glass as most of my shots will be in the f11-f16 area. The slower lenses, in fact almost all lenses, have their sweet spot around f8-f11 so I can get by with slower glass and still have excellent quality shots. Your help will be most welcome and appreciated. Thank you.
Tim
02-17-2010, 03:24 PM
William Malacarne
Tim
I have no first hand use of Sigma, but several years ago they were fixing some of the lenses that did not work on the newer cameras. They changed a micro chip in them for free. Not sure if they still do it but might be worth checking out.
Bill
02-17-2010, 03:29 PM
Harold Davis
i have not used any tokina lenses. i have used the tamron 200-500 and personally, i thought it was softer than the sigma 50-500. according to tests and the sigma 150-500 vs 50-500, the 50-500 wins in image quality. the people at sigma told me that the glass in the 50-500 is better than the 150-500. i have not used the 150-500 and cannot comment. i use the 50-500 regualarly. i like it in good light stopped down to f/8 or greater.
hope this helps!
02-17-2010, 03:37 PM
Timothy York
Thanks Bill. I called Sigma and they said my lens would work but it doesn't. Normally I would rattle someones cage until I got a knowledgeable person but it's time I updated the lens anyway. I know Sigma has an updated lens with IS and the reviews from people who use it are generally good. Most photographers seem to use it close to wide open so I have to keep this in mind as I read the reviews because I would use it in the f11-f16 range 90% of the time which should give me good to above average image quality. There have been a few reviews of the Tamron 200-500mm zoom which suggest it is quite good as well. I am hoping someone has tried out both and will give me their impression of both lenses. Thank you.
Tim
02-17-2010, 04:23 PM
Timothy York
Hi Harold,
Thank you for your response. It is odd Sigma would make a comment like that about a newer lens. When you said the Tamron was soft did you mean wide open at 500mm? As you know, most lenses have a sweet spot around f9 and since I normally stop down to f11-f16 anyway, then I'm not too far off the sweet spot.
How do you like the Sigma 50-500mm, do you use it for wildlife? My most used lenses were the Canon 75-300mm and the old Sigma 170-500mm which I used for landscapes. I gave my old 75-300mm to my daughter-in-law as she is just getting started in photography and I bought the 70-300mm which has had wonderful reviews. It is the replacement for the old Sigma I am now trying to decide on and hoping for some insight from users of the Tamron 200-500mm and the Sigma 150-500mm. Thank you again.
Tim
02-17-2010, 04:32 PM
Harold Davis
i used the tamron at 500mm for sure, but not sure about the aperture. i would guess i was around 7.1 or 8. not that it means anything, but the tamron is a lot lighter than either sigma. i love the bigma. i have used it for wildlife in some parks around here and i intend on using it this weekend for some deer. i love the lens!! i do not see why the AF on it would not be great for wildlife. i use it for birds in flight regularly and have a fair amount of keepers.
dont look for many responses here about the tamron or the new sigma. i have seen one or two people with the 150-500, but not sure if i ever have seen anyone with the tamron here. most people are using OEM stuff. we are definitely in the minority!! there are several canon shooters here using the 50-500. i happen to shoot nikon, but dont think that makes much difference.
02-17-2010, 04:35 PM
Harold Davis
hey timothy, have you thought about the canon 100-400? it's a great lens and not much more than any of the others we are talking about. if it were my decision, i would definitely go for that one!!!! and it has IS. seems like a no brainer to me!! cant believe i didnt think of that earlier.
02-17-2010, 06:14 PM
Bob Decker
Can't speak for hyper-tele Tokina lenses but I've used them in wide to mild-tele range and they've been excellent. For the 500mm range I'm using the Sigma 50-500 which is adequate at least. It does require stopping down a bit to get to the sweet spot.
02-21-2010, 06:40 PM
brian simpson
Hey Tim, Ive seen many excelent photos taken with the 50- 500 I think its a good choice for landscapes. But, for a bit more money you could get the 100-400 canon I.S for wildlife and BIF:D add a 1.4 tc for manual focus land scapes ...and Canon lenses hold their value Much better.