help me choose -- Canon 70-200F4 vs. Sigma 70-200F2.8

[yikes]

Hi all,

Currently I own a 10D, Canon 17-40 F4 L, and 50MM 1.8 Metal Mount. I'd like to add either the Canon 70-200F4 or Sigma 70-200F2.8 to my bag. Putting the extra stop aside of the sigma, are the lens comparable optically and in performance? Or should I save my dollars for the canon 70-200 F2.8 IS?

Thanks in advance.
Nick

[Johnny Bravo]

Get the f4 Canon lens:

The Canon L lenses hold resale value.

You don't need IS that much at shorter focal lengths--it's a nice to have but it's not worth going with lower quality glass--get a tripod instead, and ramp up your iso for those situations when the IS would be of benefit.

IMHO, of course

[CyberDyneSystems]

I like that Sigma lens a, lot.. but I would not say it is as sharp as the Canon f/4.

In fact.. as you say specifically "Putting the extra stop aside of the sigma" then the Canon is the clear choice.. as the Sigma's biggest advantage is that stop.

If you don't have a specific apllication in mind where that stop would help?

[yikes]

Well the extra stop is an extra stop :) I primarily shoot outdoors in daylight, and would most likely use the upper end of the focal length i.e. 150-200mm.

[Alan Neilson]

Hi all,

Currently I own a 10D, Canon 17-40 F4 L, and 50MM 1.8 Metal Mount. I'd like to add either the Canon 70-200F4 or Sigma 70-200F2.8 to my bag. Putting the extra stop aside of the sigma, are the lens comparable optically and in performance? Or should I save my dollars for the canon 70-200 F2.8 IS?

Thanks in advance.
Nick

I have the sigma, and i'm very happy with it, the canon, will I think be maybe slightly better optically, but depending on the size of the prints that you want, you might not notice the difference, and as you say you are wanting it for shooting indoors, so the extra stop might just be of use to you.

[Koontsa]

I'd say get the Canon. You will be absolutely impressed and satisfied when you see the optical sharpness and quality. For the indoor conditions you are talking about, can you use a flash?

[Chris1le]

I have the Sigma and some L glass. I'd say go with the Sigma. The extra stop is usable. Plus as I was just reading in another the thread the Canon lens does not come with a tripod mount. May not sound like a big deal at first but if you wind up wanting to get one it'll cost ya. The Sigma comes with one. Here are two pics of a peacock one was taken with 100- 400L the other with the Sigma EX.

http://www.pbase.com/chris1le/image/28593373

http://www.pbase.com/chris1le/image/34025493

[sing4u]

I have the Sigma and am very happy with this lens. I would say you would miss the extra stop. The 2.8 is very useful. I took pix at my nephew's high school football game. Without 2.8, I would not have been able to get the shutter speeds I needed to stop action. This weekend I shot several pix in the woods at 2.8 and was very happy with the results. Also, if you add the 1.4 extender, you lose a stop. So if you are already starting at f4, you would be at 5.6. I have not used the Canon, but it is hard for me to imagine it is much if any better.

[Persian-Rice]

The tripod mount is somewhat insignificant when it comes to the F4 model. It not heavy enough to cause any problems. If its something to die for, there is a black mount which I believe is used for the 200mm and is the same mount at a fraction of the cost.

Not sure about the Sigma, other then some stuff I have heard here and there and what I took a quick look at at the store, but the Canon is built a little better, water sealed, sharper, slightly faster AF & actually cheaper.

If you are shooting outdoors, the extra stop will likely not be much of a factor unless you are shooting at dusk/dawn.

Cheers.

[khiromu]

I have tried Sigma 70-200/2.8, Canon 70-200/4, 80-200/2.8, and 70-200/2.8IS. What do I have now? EF135/2.
If ever I buy another zoom lens in this range, I would probably buy f/4 version because of its weight and price.

[DocFrankenstein]

I have tried Sigma 70-200/2.8, Canon 70-200/4, 80-200/2.8, and 70-200/2.8IS. What do I have now? EF135/2.
If ever I buy another zoom lens in this range, I would probably buy f/4 version because of its weight and price.

One guy had 8 girls he could've married. All of them were good.

He consulted Buddha
He asked a Rabbi
He went to a Psychic
He fasted and looked for an answer
He lost all sleep over it...

Who did he marry?

The one with the bigger boobies.

BTT :shock:

[yikes]

Wow thanks for the info guys, I may goto Henry's and just demo both lens. As I think its gonna be to difficult to decide.

BTW, can anywho send me full size images from either lens?

ftp://photo:photo@64.231.209.9:2100

make sure you have passive mode turned on.

and change the filename to a brief photo/lens description :)

Thanks again,
Nick

[ron chappel]

This absolutally amazing-you'd *think* that the most asked lens question ever on the internet :lol: would have some kind of test/example to link to but so far NO ONE has done any controled acurate test!!! :twisted: :shock: :shock:
It's truly unbelievable :shock:

Here is a minor (100% crops only) test between the lenses you are interested in

Hopefully it can give you a good idea on how sharp (or not...) the sigma is
-see the pic halfway down the page

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009Yqf



Er...what on earth is that link for :?:
after trying it for abit i guess it's a means to SEND a pic to you....?

[DocFrankenstein]

http://images3.fotopic.net/?iid=y3p6ev&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

This is my lame attempt.

I screwed up the file numbering, so the worse quality is the sigma. And the comparisons are between the 70-200 2.8 L and 70-200 2.8 EX sigma.

Hope it helps

[MarkH]

Not sure about the Sigma, other then some stuff I have heard here and there and what I took a quick look at at the store, but the Canon is built a little better, water sealed, sharper, slightly faster AF & actually cheaper.

Water sealed? Not according to Canon!

From what I've read the other points are true though (sharpness, price, weight, AF speed are all good on the Canon).

[ron chappel]

http://images3.fotopic.net/?iid=y3p6ev&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

This is my lame attempt.

I screwed up the file numbering, so the worse quality is the sigma. And the comparisons are between the 70-200 2.8 L and 70-200 2.8 EX sigma.

Hope it helps

Thanks Doc,but...oops :) the link doesn't work.
I have seen this one before and it is about the only decent test around... 8)
Any chance of redoing that image so that it's marked correctly?

[Kenski]

I thought it was water sealed as long as it is mated up to a 1D....

[Jon]

Attaching it to a specific camera isn't going to give it seals around the zoom and focus sleeves. It's either weather-resistant or it isn't. The Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS L is listed as weather-resistant. Neither of the other two 70-200 Canons is.

[tekgik]

go for the sigma! you wont regret it. though for lightweight concerns and if you dont need the f2.8 canon f4 is the way to go. Sharpness of both lens at f4.0 is the same if not better.

[photography By Evangelos]

Go for the canon. I have one and love it. I now wish that I had the extra stop. But I will just buy the F2.8 non IS and get it over with. But for most the F4 will work just fine.



Angelo 8)

[Malaxos1]

I did a lot of research on this same topic. In the end I went for the Canon. I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of photos taken with both and I just wasn't impressed with the Sigma's preformance. I have not seen on real good photo at f2.8 that would make me want one. I have seen some excellent photos at f8. I have read that f8 was that lens' sweet spot. So if I had to shoot at f8 to get excellent results than I would rather have and f4 that is sweet throughout. If you go to www.photosig.com you can search for photos taken with both of those lenses, after 400 or 500 photos from each, you will see which is better...Dean

[Ogrt48]

Photosig is an awesome site to see examples from cameras and differents lens. Anyways, I'd go with the Canon for sure.

[tekgik]

I did a lot of research on this same topic. In the end I went for the Canon. I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of photos taken with both and I just wasn't impressed with the Sigma's preformance. I have not seen on real good photo at f2.8 that would make me want one. I have seen some excellent photos at f8. I have read that f8 was that lens' sweet spot. So if I had to shoot at f8 to get excellent results than I would rather have and f4 that is sweet throughout. If you go to www.photosig.com you can search for photos taken with both of those lenses, after 400 or 500 photos from each, you will see which is better...Dean

compared to the L f2.8 i think yes but not large. performance i dont see any difference from the canon f4L, it is fast to focus, quiet HSM.
past f4 it as sharp if not better than the canon f4


here's some of my enjoyed shots with the lens

70mm @ f4.0
http://www.pbase.com/tekgik/image/26987238.jpg

92mm @ f2.8
http://www.pbase.com/tekgik/image/24382348.jpg

135mm @ f2.8
http://www.pbase.com/tekgik/image/23597606.jpg

200mm @ f4.0
http://www.pbase.com/tekgik/image/25338752.jpg

I still think that saving the money from the canon 70-200 2.8L is worth it. But again for the f4 its the weight or the extra stop .

[DocFrankenstein]

http://images3.fotopic.net/?iid=y3p6ev&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

This is my lame attempt.

I screwed up the file numbering, so the worse quality is the sigma. And the comparisons are between the 70-200 2.8 L and 70-200 2.8 EX sigma.

Hope it helps

Thanks Doc,but...oops :) the link doesn't work.
I have seen this one before and it is about the only decent test around... 8)
Any chance of redoing that image so that it's marked correctly?
http://andrew4137.fotopic.net/p6244663.html

I lost the files... I think :oops: Plys I'm in a middle of midterm exams, so I don't have much time. :(

The canon performs MUCH better wide open and sigma catches up at around f/8. Unless you are planning to make huge prints, sigma will do fine.

[yikes]

"go sigma, go canon" maybe I should have made this thread a poll. :)

I again thank all of you for the advice. Just a current note, I am still undecided, between 2.8 or 4 but I have decieded to go canon. Its a money game now :) I will keep everyone posted on the events to come :)

YiKeS