Sigma 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX OS

[davidfig]

I will begin my hunt for a long tele. First started looking at the 70-200, then though 70-300 DO IS and now am wondering about the 80-400 EX OS and the Bigma. What are your experiences with the latter two?

[Dante King]

Bigma is nice. Wish it had IS or sigma's OS. Have not seen a 80-400. Love my 70-300 DO with 1.4 kenko TC. Bigma is, well BIG. like the 70-300 DO for the small size and quality of build and the IS.

Good luck on your search.

[Mitcon]

I just got the Bigma a few days ago now, I like the size of it, it's heavy for sure but I already love it. I was thinking of the 80-400 at first also but in the end the Bigma was cheaper and that 100mm extra reach is very nice. I think it may depend on what type of shooting you do. I'm not that sure IS or OS is that useful to me when shooting birds in flight.

I try to use a tripod or monopod whenever the subject I'm shooting allows it as I'm not the most steady handed person. That said I have got some nice shots from the Bigma handheld @ 500mm.

[condyk]

I've had both and liked them both. 500mm is a great length but I sold my Bigma as the kind of shooting I do more seriously, rather than playing around in the UK, means handholding a lot of the time. Bigma can do that, and handling/balance are excellent despite the size and weight (to me overrated issues), but the number of keepers reduces substantially. The OS or Canon 100-400mm IS are more suited to me. Unfortunaly my OS arrived with focus issues and I returned it. BUT, I am planning on getting another before my next trip, or a SH Canon IS. I liked the handling and build of the lens and was impressed by owner viewpoints (same as with the Canon IS, they all love it!)

So, Bigma has reach and great image quality and handling. As Dante says, shame it doesn't have IS or it would be a real contender. Very popular with wildlife and birder types and good resale. The OS is less well known but competes with the Canon and Bigma on image quality ... I suspect a tad behind, but difference will really be minimal and its mcheaper than the Canon.

If you can afford the Canon IS then go for it; if you want to save cash go for the OS. If IS/OS is not that useful because you mount on a tripod, go the Bigma route.

[Jack W.]

I have the 80-400OS. Very happy with it.
Jack

[CyberDyneSystems]

IMHO.. the poor 80-400mm is crippled out of the box with it's slow focus motor.
The Bigma on the other hand has Sigma's HSM focus motor.. but no IS/OS....

Some Day Sigma will figure out that if they combine these two aspects in one lens they will have a real 100-400mmL IS killer... in the meantime,. I recomend the Canon 100-400mm.

Imagine a Sigma 200-500mm EX HSM OS ... :) :) :)

[condyk]

No ... not CRIPPLED :lol: :lol: :lol: I think you're joking!

Of course, we still don't know what the OP actually wants the lens for, so in that context you could be right.

It depends what you shoot. A Rhino doesn't move that quick normally ... and if it does, HSM won't save you. A pair of Nike's and a large tree might :p A Swallow on the other hand ... tricky to keep up.

I DO get where you're coming from tho' and a 200-500mm OS would be a killer lens. Remember, pragmatically, in the UK the Canon IS is very expensive in comparison to the others. If the OP can stretch that far then at the moment it would be my first choice out the three too.

[CyberDyneSystems]

No.. I wasn't joking. To me this aspect is very important. You have to understand that when Sigma first announced that lens,.. it was announced with the HSM focus motor..

But by the time it was finally released (nearly a year went by) the HSM was stripped from it.. No one knows why (least not that I have heard) whether it was cost or engineering made it impossible for them.. or what.

But that lack of Sigma's own pro level Autofocus system made the lens a mere curiosity to me.
Who would pay that much for a lens that has a consumer level Autofocus system the likes of which can be found in lenses costing $150.00

Definitely crippled... again.. in my opinion.... for what ever reason.

[condyk]

Interesting ...

Sure, 'crippled' in context of expectation but not in use as a finished produce in the real world at its specific price point.

As a general wildlife lens my assessment choosing would be usability in the field, i.e. things like balance, weight, AF speed, OS capabilities, whatever, and then the quality of final results. If the user is happy with both then the lens is a success.

Each buyer needs to be clear what they want any lens for and their budget; if they're not they risk disappointment. Is there a IS/OS option covering the range at a similar price point? No! Is the Canon USM on the 100-400mm worth the extra cash ... for some absolutely yes, others absolutely no. Both are right. Those who say no and buy the OS probably don't feel it's crippled in context of their own decision.

I haven't seen a grumble yet! Maybe it's a case of what you never knew you never worry about. But, it certainly is a bit wierd why Sigma did that. They must have modelled the whole thing out with HSM and for some tech or marketing reason stripped it out later. Be interesting to find out. Maybe they felt there was a more likely market at the current price point for this lens, but less confident competing at the 100-400mm IS price point with a mature classy product, so they had to strip out some stuff to retain margin. Can still be a great lens in that context.

[Keiffer]

Jack....Can you please give a little synopsis on this lense? I'm very interested in this lense because of the OS and the 400mm reach. How's the picture quality? Do you get more deleted pics than keepers with it? How bad or how good is the AF? How's the weight? And what do you normally shoot with it? and what's it limitations? LOL I think thats enought to hold us over LOL Any and all info will be appreciated by many I'm sure.I have the 80-400OS. Very happy with it.
Jack

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'd like to think I am still allowed to offer my opinion even if it does not agree with yours? :oops: :)

People ask for opinions and we give them.
I used it.. it was too slow. I got the Canon.
Everyone I know who has purchased this lens has liked it,.. and yet they have ALL subsequently sold it. All now own the 100-400mm

Take a look at our poll.. it didn't even get a vote IN the poll.. (yes it was added later.. because no one asked for it to be in the poll in the first place) and we got about three votes for it subsequently in the polls text. (The 100-400 gets over 200 votes)

It's a lens over $1,000 .. in the U.S. the price differnece between it and the Canon is minimal.
It's the only lens in Sigma's line up at that price range that does not have a pro level AF system.. Yes,. I expect a lens in that very high specific price range with the EX label on it to have HSM.. it's the only EX telephoto that doesn't. It should. Sigma lenses at less than half the price have HSM.

Keiffer.. in the U.S. the price difference between the 80-400mm Sigma and Canon 100-400mm is a few hundred bucks.. you may want to take a look at the Canon.

[condyk]

Disagreement is fine with me. People can usually make their own mind up given balanced information.

US (B&H)
Sigma OS $999
Canon IS $1359 after rebate
Difference = $360

UK (7dayshop)
Sigma OS £769.00
Canon L £1039
Difference = £270 or $494 US

You pays your money and takes your choice.