Need help with choosing a new Tele-zoom lens

I'm thinking of getting a new telephoto zoom lens. I will use it for photographing motocross racing, youth soccer and baseball and wild life, also some macro. I'm trying to decide between the following lenses. I've heard good things about the sigma 150-500, and you cant go wrong with a Canon. I don't know anything about the Tamron. I really do want the reach of of a 500mm, and I realize the weight of these lenses are 3-4 lbs. I would settle for the 100 - 400 Canon lens. Is that an oxymoron, to "settle" for a Canon L lens? I'm not going to say price is no object, but the cost won't be the deciding factor. Tell me what you think. -rick

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM $1,699.00.
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Price: $1,470.00.
Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC $990.

alazgr8 wrote in post #15100421
I'm thinking of getting a new telephoto zoom lens. I will use it for photographing motocross racing, youth soccer and baseball and wild life, also some macro. I'm trying to decide between the following lenses. I've heard good things about the sigma 150-500, and you cant go wrong with a Canon. I don't know anything about the Tamron. I really do want the reach of of a 500mm, and I realize the weight of these lenses are 3-4 lbs. I would settle for the 100 - 400 Canon lens. Is that an oxymoron, to "settle" for a Canon L lens? I'm not going to say price is no object, but the cost won't be the deciding factor. Tell me what you think. -rick

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM $1,699.00.
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Price: $1,470.00.
Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC $990.

Soccer as captured by a Sigma 150-500mm OS lens.

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alazgr8 wrote in post #15100421
I'm thinking of getting a new telephoto zoom lens. I will use it for photographing motocross racing, youth soccer and baseball and wild life, also some macro. I'm trying to decide between the following lenses. I've heard good things about the sigma 150-500, and you cant go wrong with a Canon. I don't know anything about the Tamron. I really do want the reach of of a 500mm, and I realize the weight of these lenses are 3-4 lbs. I would settle for the 100 - 400 Canon lens. Is that an oxymoron, to "settle" for a Canon L lens? I'm not going to say price is no object, but the cost won't be the deciding factor. Tell me what you think. -rick

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM $1,699.00.
Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Price: $1,470.00.
Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC $990.

the Canon 100-400 is going to be sharper with better image quality and AF, but it's more expensive

see comparisons here:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=7​&APIComp=1


XSi (450D)
Canon 100-400
210mm
f6.3
ISO 400

DC Fan, Watt100,

At 300mm and higher it appears that the Canon starts to distiguish itself, is the image quality that much different between the two?

The price I included for the Sigma was the MSRP, which is competitive with the Canon. The weight on the Sigma was listed at 4.0 lbs, and the Canon is listed at 3.1, so neither is a lightweight.
Both lenses produce great images. Thanks for your replies. -rick

alazgr8 wrote in post #15103046
DC Fan, Watt100,

At 300mm and higher it appears that the Canon starts to distiguish itself, is the image quality that much different between the two?

The price I included for the Sigma was the MSRP, which is competitive with the Canon. The weight on the Sigma was listed at 4.0 lbs, and the Canon is listed at 3.1, so neither is a lightweight.
Both lenses produce great images. Thanks for your replies. -rick

I suppose it depends on your requirements for sharpness, image quality, etc. Many are satisfied with the Sigmas, others think the Canon produces sharper, better pics. You can do a google search and get plenty of opinions and reviews on these lens. If you like a more blurred background effect the Canon is better, if you like better image stabilization then Sigma has better "OS". There are also plenty of images from each lens in the lens sample archive section.

XSi (450D)
100-400
400mm (Cropped)
f5.6 - ISO 800
(shot thru a chain link fence!)

where ever you are shopping is ripping you off...unless you're looking at the 50-500OS, the 150-500OS should be around $1,000 now i think

the savings are why people get that lens the majority of the time, if it was the same price, i think most would just get the 100-400L...

i'd skip the tamron just because of a lack of stabilization

If you get a good copy of the Sigma, it is an excellent lens (edge to the Canon).

The Sigma has 401 to 500 (though Canon has 100 to 149), has much better IS (ok OS), and is a lot cheaper.

Canon slightly better IQ. Is a faster lens (aperture-wise). Better build quality (though Sigma's is not bad). Length is smaller, so it is easier to transport (this is really the only reason that I would consider switching).

For what it's worth, I had the Canon 100-400 for 5 1/2 years as my main long lens and loved it - especially the push-pull zoom as it's so much more instinctive. I later tried the Sigma 150-500 and rather liked the IQ but af was far too slow for my uses and the maximum focal length is nearer 480mm apparently.
However I was with a friend who was looking at a Canon 300 F4 is - well to cut a long story short, he looked and I bought! Ther increase in IQ was enough to let me crop to an equivalent field of view to the 100-400 at 400 mm and get a better image on my (then) 50D and 5D Mk1, it's even better now I have a 1D4. I strongly suggest you try one of these before you decide.
I have Canon lenses from 17mm to 600mm and this (300 F4) is my favourite lens, so much so that I am currently bidding on a 300 F2.8 but I won't be selling the 300mm F4!

I'm in the same boat and still not sure exactly what I want, but I think probably the Bigmos (150-500). I can't afford anything over a grand for a new lens and will still likely end up buying used. I want sharp enough to be useable, but don't want to pay an arm and a leg.

It is true though that the Canon is sharper and produces better colors, but with a good copy of the Sigma, you get comparable sharpness and more reach. That's another reason I'm buying used locally so I can try it out before I buy. Sigma does have some quality control issues, but that might work to your advantage if you happen to get lucky with a sharp copy.

watt100 which fstops do you find the sweetspots throught out the 100-400 range

Bianchi wrote in post #15109632
watt100 which fstops do you find the sweetspots throught out the 100-400 range

I'm usually shooting at f6.3 for sports, lower (larger) for events. As you can see f4.5 and f5.6 are good and sharp