Sigma 150-500 with 60D

I currently have a canon 70-200 F4L non IS and find it is too short for birds. I have been looking at the Canon 100-400, but just can't justify the cost. I was wondering if anyone using the 60D has any suggestions about the Sigma 150-500? Or any other options?

Thanks for any input.

Actual pictures from a real Canon 60D and a Sigma 150-500mm optical stabilizer lens.

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what sort of birds are you shooting

what distances involved

are you planning on cropping the image or leaving as is ??


i use a Sigma 140-400 and have some superb results

your other option to consider is an extender but dependant on type/lens configuration you may loose 3-4 stops and auto focus and possibly image stabilisation


hth

regards


Dez

I've been using a 150-500 on a 50d for birds for about a year and a half. While it's allowed me to get shots that couldn't gotten before, I'm generally not thrilled with the lens. I've found the images somewhat soft, and have had trouble getting accurate focus. The keeper rate for me is really low, and the ones that are good usually require excessive sharpening to print. Some of this is probably me, and/or I may have a bad copy of the lens. Or maybe I'm expecting too much from it. Others have reported better experience with it.

That said, I am seriously considering a Canon 400 5.6 - from everything I've seen it's a much sharper, faster and more accurately focusing lens, much better suited for birds.

BTW, my lens was part of a Sigma recall for a focusing problem. I recently sent it to Sigma to have it updated and checked, and spoke about my concerns with the technician working on it. He pointed out that it's a 6.3 lens, out of Canon's specs, and as such focusing can be hit or miss.

I also have been trying to get pics of model airplanes and have to crop out most of the pic. About as close as I can ususally get fo bird shots is about 10-15 feet. Mainly just looking to get better reach and less cropping. Just hadn't seen much about the OS on the Sigma or any compatability issues.

You might consider the Canon 400/f5.6 prime with your 60D. I had the 100-400L and sold it since i was always at the 400mm anyways. I also have the 70-200MKII with 1.4 & 2.0 extenders but find the lightweight combo the 400/f5.6 prime provides along with its superior AF more desirable to use at f5.6.

You should be able to find a nice used 400/f5.6 prime for less then $1100 for a 2 to 3 yr. old copy.

Some recent pics below using the 60D + 400/f5.6 prime :

Exif intact

https://photography-on-the.net …p=12707045&post​count=1891

https://photography-on-the.net …p=12819054&post​count=1922

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1075600


Regards & Have Fun whatever your decision,

Hey Silver, how much do you think the prime 400mm is better than 100-400mm for birds?

Better AF and IQ?

rxjohn wrote in post #12877081
Hey Silver, how much do you think the prime 400mm is better than 100-400mm for birds?

Better AF and IQ?

Well not to start another " he said she said debate " i have seen pics taken using the 100-400L, 400 prime, & Bigmos at 400mm all providing nice results in the right hands, but IMO i still prefer the prime without the 2 stop IS or OS the zooms offer when considering the cropping & ISO performance the 60D & 7D 18mp sensor offers allowing SS 1/400 & higher versus the SS 1/250 i still needed using the 100-400L at 400mm for decent captures.

Below are some stationary shots taken using the 5D MKII + 400/f5.6 prime + Kenko 2x MC4 DGX extender + Monopod at 800mm/ f11.0 / MF. Not the best but not too bad for a cheap alternative to the superior Canon 500/f4 IS + 1.4 TC which most folks would much prefer although at a very higher cost:

Exif intact with shutter speeds under 1/250

https://photography-on-the.net …p=12549321&post​count=1850

Regards, Ron

On bang for buck the Sigma 150-500 is hard to beat, the IS system is superb. This was on my 7D

Silverfox1 wrote in post #12876993
You might consider the Canon 400/f5.6 prime with your 60D. I had the 100-400L and sold it since i was always at the 400mm anyways. I also have the 70-200MKII with 1.4 & 2.0 extenders but find the lightweight combo the 400/f5.6 prime provides along with its superior AF more desirable to use at f5.6.

You should be able to find a nice used 400/f5.6 prime for less then $1100 for a 2 to 3 yr. old copy.

thanks for the info

but that prime without IS
can i shoot with it handhold ? without useing tripod?
thanks

but that prime without IS
can i shoot with it handhold ? without useing tripod?

My experience is that shooting birds is usually in fairly bright daylight using a high enough shutter speed for handholding (without IS) not to be a problem. I'm at 1/1000 or faster with my Sigma, usually using Av and f/8 and adjusting the ISO to force the high shutter speed. (The consensus sems to be you want to stop down to f/8 with the Sigma for best image quality - I would assume the 400/5.6 can be used wide open unless you're trying to pick up a little depth of field.)

I sometimes use a monopod. I find it hard to use for flying birds, but otherwise effective.

tomj wrote in post #12879144
but that prime without IS
can i shoot with it handhold ? without useing tripod?

My experience is that shooting birds is usually in fairly bright daylight using a high enough shutter speed for handholding (without IS) not to be a problem. I'm at 1/1000 or faster with my Sigma, usually using Av and f/8 and adjusting the ISO to force the high shutter speed. (The consensus sems to be you want to stop down to f/8 with the Sigma for best image quality - I would assume the 400/5.6 can be used wide open unless you're trying to pick up a little depth of field.)

I sometimes use a monopod. I find it hard to use for flying birds, but otherwise effective.

thanks a lot

Just for information, the sigma 150-500 with Canon 7d, and Kenko 1,4x and Kenko 2,0X

Pequenes (Sigma 150-500 and Teleconverter Kenko 1,4X) por riobiobio, en Flickr

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/riobiobio/60182​22645/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/riobiobio/60266​78051/

Thanks for all the input, but I decided to go with the Canon 70-300mm F/4-5.6 L IS usm lens. I will be giving up 200mm on the Sigma, but hopefully with a TC I will be able to get decent results when needed. I was just concerned about some of the softness and low light focusing issues I read about.

Even though you've made your decision, I just want to add my 2-cents, since I have been investigating the same topic myself lately. The Canon 400 5.6 sounded like just what I wanted, especially since I never shoot such large lenses without a tripod, so I don't care about IS. Well, one aspect of it stopped me dead in my tracks - the minimum focus distance is 11.5 feet! Hard to believe in this day and age, IMHO. For bird photography, this could be a real probelm, say for small birds like sparrows or warblers. I have often been closer than 11.5 ft from a sparrow.

I sure wish the manufacturers made non-IS versions of these lenses for less money. For example a 150-500 non-IS for say $750. I am looking for a used one, but I wish they made new ones like this.