Pick me a new ultra tele zoom

[Bill Cameron]

I got a grand to spend on a long tele. Cant decide. Need your help. I have a Canon 20D. Thanks!

[symes]

I got a grand to spend on a long tele. Cant decide. Need your help. I have a Canon 20D. Thanks!

What and where do you plan shooting with this monster?

[Bill Cameron]

Sorry, guess that info would help.

Birds and critters, Planes at airshows, Outdoor sports...
My Quantaray 70-300 LD (rebaged Sigma) causes err 99 in all but Portrait and Auto.

[condyk]

You have the extra 100mm and damn fine quality of the Bigma V's the OS and almost as good quality of the 80-400mm (from shots I've seen it's not quite as sharp and dynamic as the Bigma, but still very good), and the potentially enhanced speed and quality of a prime.

I have the Bigma and it is a super sharp example (previous owner sent two back to get the quality he wanted and I'm now benefiting from his expertise). I have to say it is outstanding in every way (a free upgrade to f2.8 would be nice tho!!!!!) and the weight is not a problem to me.

It needs to be well supported (beanbag tripod, monopod, whatever) so if you're mainly hand holding then I'm not sure it will work as well as it can; dunno how many keepers you'll get that way and so you could find it frustrating. In the right circumstances tho' it is excellent and highly recommended. You will have the same issue with many long zooms, not just the Bigma.

I have a debate with myself now and again about whether to trade in or sell my super sharp and proven to be awesome Bigma to gain the potential additional extra flexibility of the OS for hand holding. It could be a gamble that I regret (bird in hand/bush kind of thing!) Of course, I also lose 100mm and that 100mm extra is VERY useful for wildlife.

400mm is what I would say was minimum and I could put my Kenko Pro 1.4x on either the OS, a prime, or the Bigma to get more, but neither zoom are light friendly as it is at the long end and will only slow down more with the extender. Be interesting to try the OS with an extender and see how the OS helps out there: it's a tad faster at the long end. My Bigma struggles a little with the 1.4x unless in bright conditions, which is Ok as intended mainly for Africa. I usually just MF rather than allow the AF to hunt and struggle.

The prime for aircraft shots is possibly nice, but that's not my area so I will shut up. Ditto outdoor sports ... but they're just critters too at the end of the day :lol: tho' maybe they move around a bit more so a fasdt AF may be important.

I prefer a zoom for wildlife. I like the flexibility to just frame a shot on the fly. I know you can crop later, but it's not my preference. I had a Sigma 400mm previously, when I had a film Sigma SA5 camera, and it took some great shots, but I never really liked being restricted and certainly enjoy a zoom more. Others will disagree.

I think if I could find a nice OS second hand then I would go for it and sell the Bigma. The OS has got to be a bonus. BUT I would be in real danger of shooting myself in nthe foot if it turned out to be not as fine a lens as my Bigma. That is what holds me back. On paper it's a good trade, but only if I can swap for an A1 super sharp OS. There is NO guarentee of doing that second hand ... in fact, there is maybe more danger of geting a lens someone else hasn't been happy with!

Overall, I would opt for the OS if it was primarily wildlife ... but the Bigma can be truly excellent! Maybe the choice for you is easier as you could get a A1 example of either or you could get a dud! I would certainly ensure that if buying new you can take the lens away and exchange of not happy with performance.

PS How about the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 and a 1.4x extender. You really do lose on length there, but an awesome lens and maybe a tad more flexible with light (mine was as good as my Bigma sharp wise and very fast). Depends how far away your wildlife is I guess. Birds at feeders or the zoo then superb.

[foxbat]

Walk into your local photo store and try them all out. I guarantee you will walk out with the Canon. ;)

[CyberDyneSystems]

I voted for the Canon 400mm... it will outperform the zooms dramatically.

But ... please do check out the -=TOP 10=- lens polls... take a close look at the "wildlife zoom" and "wildlife prime" polls... there you will get a lot of info on what the preferred lenses are for your type of use.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Condyk,

Before considering the 80-400mm OS, just be aware that it lacks the super fast HSM focus motor you are used to on your "Bigma" ... this makes a rather big difference IMHO

[Jon]

So what else (besides an essentially non-functional Quantaray 70-300) do you have, and which camera is this for? That can have a major impact in our responses. I will say, I weighed the 80-400 OS vs. the 100-400 L when I went long, and went 100-400, even though it was a couple of hundred more. That's what I'd recommend all else being equal. If you have coverage in the lower end of the indicated range, I'd say the prime. If you can't fill the 100-200 mm with something, go with the 100-400 if possible, or the 80-400 if there's absolutely no way you could get the 100-400.

[condyk]

Condyk,

Before considering the 80-400mm OS, just be aware that it lacks the super fast HSM focus motor you are used to on your "Bigma" ... this makes a rather big difference IMHO

Thanks CDS ... I just discovered that by coincidence after reading reviews on the FM Forum and then cross checking with the Sigma web site. I'm having a rethink, partly because of that, but also because my Bigma is such a nice sharp example and it would be a shame to trade it for something that may well perform worse overall.

In addition ... while there are some great reviews of the OS on FM, one guy says it isn't compatible with the Rebel/300D because the latter can't supply enough current!!! I find this a very surprising comment. Can anyone shed light on this? I find it hard to believe!

UPDATE: the same guy has responded to my post at FM and now clarified his review and says it may have been just a compatibility issue with his camera and NOt all 300D's ... somewhat different to the comment in the original review.

[CyberDyneSystems]

That sounds more like a "bad copy" than anything that would be consistant. He's got something wrong with his particular lens.