cannon Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM v sigma

[rossdebiasi]

at my next pay day i am looking at buying a canon 400d, memory card and a lense (i allready have a manfrotto 679 and a orion trekker 2 bag).

I will be shoting motorsports 90% of the time the rest will be playing with either a macro or short prime.

I am stuck on which lense to get for my motorsport photog's. Where i will be shooting I will be at maximum, 130ft from thr cars!

either the Canon 70-200mm F4 L USM or the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8.

my budget for the lense is £700 and buying second hand is virtually impossible as second hand lenses come up every couple of months and the nearest second hand store or dealer is a £200 plane ticket away.

any help on choosing? or an alternate suggestion.

I understand the sigma comes with the tripod coller and lense hood where the canon only comes with lense hood! is this correct.

Thanks

[Mr. Clean]

woo wee this should be a doosy! The Sigma comes with collar, hood and carrying case (a pretty nice one at that). The canon doesn't come with a collar which is another 100-150 bucks I THINK. A new Sigma has a 4 year warranty, a new Canon has 1 year. The Sigma is a stop faster than the canon and it does "pretty good" with a 2X tc.
Someone else will have to chime in on the Canon since I haven't owned one.


Check here for some good info too.http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/lenstests

[davidfig]

Unless you are getting the IS version, the Sigma would be my choice.

[aCiD99]

A new Sigma has a 4 year warranty

It comes with a 10 year warranty. As well, very nice collar, nice hood, and very nice carrying case.

Really, there's no reason not to get the Sigma, unless you must have that off white colour.

[rossdebiasi]

i am not fussed on colour, make anything like that i just want to try and get the best lense possible for my needs and within bmy budget.

looks like the siggy is winning and is the one i was swaying to

[sirsloop]

well the Sigma lens is a couple hundred bucks more than the 70-200/4L so do you really get that hood, collar, and bag for free?

This SHOULD be a comparison.. 70-200/2.8L vs the sigma 70-200/2.8. If you ask that question I bet most people will take the L lens regardless that its more expensive. At this level of lenses, most people buy one lens and keep it for a LONG time - so why skimp out? You'll be pissed you didnt get the L lens 6 months down the road when you have 400 bucks burning a hole in your pocket. :)
- no to mention the L lens will hold its value MUCH better.

Even if you are comparing the two original lenses... I would still pick the 70-200/4L. Who needs a bag and a tripod mount for these anyways? Its light enough to handhold....

[stupot]

take a look at the sigma 100-300. I've heard its preferred for motorsport because of its reach.

[rossdebiasi]

right just done price checks to inc delivery (prices may look low as we do not have any local sales taxes like VAT etc).

cannon 70-200 4l usm is £475 ( to include collar)
cannon 70-200 f2.8 is £1075
Sigma 70 to 200 f2.8 is £575

I am only a hobbyist and the lense will have around 9 outings a year at local motorsports events and maybe 2 to 3 at overseas events. I run my own motorsport photo sight but not for money just to share the photographs with the competitors and my car club.

can you really notice the difference between the sigma and the cannon alternatives, in this case if the difference worth an extra £500 sterling?

Stupot - do you mean the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG APO IF HSM that comes in at £645 so is in my budget.

if i go into my local jessops, or local independant camera shops they will sell me the most expensive lense out of my choice no matter what

[KIPAX]

I have the sigma 70-200 2.8 and I know the value of an L lens and how good they are. But I wouldn't swap my sigma for the f4 version. one day you will need the f2.8. especially as your in the UK.. Just :) so we know your not guaranteed good lighting all the time. think a winters afternoon... there like nights. f2.8 will be a must.

[gef]

Of the two lenses, I would probably get the Sigma. I tried it on my camera at the shop and was really impressed with it. I would still like to acquire it someday!

[sirsloop]

lol... here's the second thread in a day with wack UK prices on lenses. IDK why they mark up canon so much but its damn highway robbery over there!! Who in their right mind would pay over $2100 USD (~£1075 for a 70-200/2.8L???). Heck, I barely paid 1100USD for my 70-200/2.8L!

[Mr. Clean]

well the Sigma lens is a couple hundred bucks more than the 70-200/4L so do you really get that hood, collar, and bag for free?

This SHOULD be a comparison.. 70-200/2.8L vs the sigma 70-200/2.8. If you ask that question I bet most people will take the L lens regardless that its more expensive. At this level of lenses, most people buy one lens and keep it for a LONG time - so why skimp out? You'll be pissed you didnt get the L lens 6 months down the road when you have 400 bucks burning a hole in your pocket. :)
- no to mention the L lens will hold its value MUCH better.

Even if you are comparing the two original lenses... I would still pick the 70-200/4L. Who needs a bag and a tripod mount for these anyways? Its light enough to handhold....
Those two have been compared and they comare very well to each other and very close. If you're going to keep it, who cares what the resale is? ;)

[Echo63]

i have a sigma 70-200f2.8 EX DG. and i am very happy with it - it is almost my "walkaround" lens, i dont normally use a wide angle lens.
my next lens will probably be a 120-300f2.8
the 70-200 f2.8 sigma also does reasonably well with a 2x TC
i am very happy with my combination - and with a flash the 70-200 works well for motorsport at night

[dtngo]

I've got the F4L and would consider swapping it for the Sigma for the extra stop. As brilliant as the build quality, IQ and AF speed of the F4L is, the Sigma is just a quicker lense. Never used the Sigma 2.8, so I can't comment on the build, IQ and AF speed.

[aCiD99]

Sigma, all I need to 'say': 1/4000, f/2.8 (Taken yesterday.)

Full, and 100%. And as always, it just gets better stopped down a touch.