Tamron vs Sigma - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/05/2007 07:50:50 AM · #1

I must take a new lens. Actually I have the tamron 70/300 and is break.

I have two choices that are:

1) SIGMA 70-300mm F/4.0-5.6 DG MACRO CANON
2) Tamron 70-300/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Canon

what do you think is the better?

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

09/05/2007 07:58:17 AM · #2

Originally posted by Rino63:

SIGMA 70-300mm F/4.0-5.6 DG MACRO CANON

CRAP, if Sigma, take the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/05/2007 09:50:37 AM · #3

Originally posted by eyewave:

Originally posted by Rino63:

SIGMA 70-300mm F/4.0-5.6 DG MACRO CANON

CRAP, if Sigma, take the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

I'll second that. Look at the lens I have, the sigma 70-300 apo dg is one of my favorite.

tcmartin

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/05/2007 10:05:45 AM · #4

Here is a great site for detailed lens information: Lens Reviews

Message edited by author 2007-09-05 10:05:59.

Mephisto

Nikon Coolpix A

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

09/05/2007 10:09:52 AM · #5

I've got the sigma one mentioned above, too, but i'm not all happy with it.
you really need good lighing conditions and a tripod to get decent sharp images, and even then they lack contrast and sharpness (within the range of 200-300mm).
from 70-200mm it's quite ok and does a better job than most of the other cheaper telezoom lenses. and the ability to shoot 1:2 macro's is nice, too.

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/05/2007 10:24:38 AM · #6

I own 3 Sigma APO lenses and I am happy with all of them. I do not own the one you are talking about though.

Besides, your problem is not the lens, it is the Canon thing that they get attached to! hahahahaha

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/05/2007 10:28:18 AM · #7

Thanks for your response. i am a bit confused because i amn't really happy of my old tamron 70-300.
the biggest problems that I have with the tamron are the following:

1) external rotation, this means that is nearly impossible use a polarizer filter on it.
2) focusing is too slowly
3) there isn't the image stabilizer, this means that shooting to 300 mm is always a lottery especially if you don't want crop the image with photoshop.

Unfortunately my budget is low and a lens USM IS today isn't possible. Do you know some lens with similar FL on similar price?

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/05/2007 10:29:35 AM · #8

I have a sigma and a tamron lens. The Sigma is the one you're thinking of (without the red band on it) and it's not the best i've used- big, heavy and slow, not to mention soft as hell at anything beyond 100mm focal length.

I also have a tamron which is better in every way, but i have the SP model which is supposedly their top-end stuff, and I only have the entry level Sigma... but id get the tamron as I have found them much lighter.

basssman7

Nikon D500

09/05/2007 10:39:15 AM · #9

Originally posted by Rino63:

1) very good point. Make sure you get something with that is internal focusing. Most are internal these days

2) How old is the lens? Older lenses just are not up to todays standards for autofocusing. You should also try to get one that has HSM, so that the camera is not trying to do all the work in focusing itself.

3) What kind of shutter speeds are you talking about? Remember with the small censor on your camera, at 300mm it is really like 450mm, so a tripod or at least a monopod is a must if you are shooting at a shutter speed of less than 1/500 or even better 1/750 sec. A lot of lenses are getting bad reps that are in the 70-300 range, because people are forgetting that they are shooting the equivilent of a 450mm lens, and expect to do so hand held. I personally have the cheap 70-300mm Nikon G lens, and have been very happy with it once you learn the best times and ways to use it. :)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/05/2007 10:51:27 AM · #10

Originally posted by basssman7:

[quote=Rino63]

1) very good point. Make sure you get something with that is internal focusing. Most are internal these days

2) How old is the lens? Older lenses just are not up to todays standards for autofocusing. You should also try to get one that has HSM, so that the camera is not trying to do all the work in focusing itself.

3) What kind of shutter speeds are you talking about? Remember with the small censor on your camera, at 300mm it is really like 450mm, so a tripod or at least a monopod is a must if you are shooting at a shutter speed of less than 1/500 or even better 1/750 sec. A lot of lenses are getting bad reps that are in the 70-300 range, because people are forgetting that they are shooting the equivilent of a 450mm lens, and expect to do so hand held. I personally have the cheap 70-300mm Nikon G lens, and have been very happy with it once you learn the best times and ways to use it. :)

the lens is nearly two years old. I always put the lens in a position very near the focus point before focusing with the AF. using a monopod for street photography or macro photography is often impossible. Often I use add a close up +2 or +4 for macro close up, this means the the effective brigthness of the lens go down of one or two stops.

basssman7

Nikon D500

09/05/2007 11:19:25 AM · #11

Originally posted by Rino63:

[
the lens is nearly two years old. I always put the lens in a position very near the focus point before focusing with the AF. using a monopod for street photography or macro photography is often impossible. Often I use add a close up +2 or +4 for macro close up, this means the the effective brigthness of the lens go down of one or two stops.

I understand that a mono for street stuff is not possible. Adding close up filters does two things, as you mentioned it makes you lose light, but it also reduces sharpness if you are using the filters that go on the end of the lens.

Unfortunately I do not think you will find a lens that will autofocus quickly when your effective light is less than 5.6. I also do not think that you will be able to find a non IS lens that will give you sharp images at 300mm when handholding for street photography. (with shutter speeds below 1/500 sec)

Have you considered spending a bit more and getting the 70-200mm f2.8 APO DG Sigma? It will give you the ability to do the street photography no problems and it is a nice sharp lens. It is internal focusing so a polarizor will not be a problem. Then you could consider getting a 1.4 x teleconverter for it to get the reach you want, when you need it. It is not really a "macro" lens though despite the name. I think it goes to 1:3.8 x life size or something like that.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

09/05/2007 11:50:28 AM · #12

...unfortunately the best price for the sigma 70/200 is 1.206,00 Euros that are 1640 usa dollars.... too much :) The prices are very different between USA and Europa and if you buy is USA you must pay the customs expenses:(

hsolakidis

Nikon D50

09/05/2007 12:14:06 PM · #13

Originally posted by Rino63:

If you 're on a budget I'm afraid you 're stuck with the above characteristics. I have the APO Sigma and it's the same. Don't look at them as flaws, look at them as "features". :-)

Seriously, when you pay $200 for a 70-300, you know something's got to give. If the image quality is there (and, in the case of my Sigma, it certainly is), you just have to work around these limitations. Develop your technique and you definately will be able to get "the shot". Yes, these lenses are not perfect, but usually the photographer hits his/her own limits before hitting the limits of the lenses.

Harry