Long zoom choice

Hi all, I'm looking for some help in making a choice.

For a few years I'very been using a 100-400 L for airshows, most recently on a 7D mkii. I'very been really happy with this lens, especially after having the lens calibrated to the body by Canon.

However, this year UK airshow performances will be a bit higher and further away from the crowd due to a change in regulations and I am looking for a bit more reach as a result.

I have identified two choices, the Sigma 150-600 C (I doubt that I could hand hold the sport version for a whole display!) Or update the 100-400 L to a mark ii and get a 1.4 TC iii.

Any thoughts on these choices would be most welcome.

Thanks

Paul

I have the 100-400 II with a 1.4x TC III and its a great combo.

That said, if I knew I was going to be mostly in the 400-600 range then I'd probably opt for a lens that can do it natively.

I have both the new Canon and the Sigma C. The Sigma performs best up to 500mm although from 500-600 it's still pretty damn good. The Canon mkii is excellent and works extremely well with my mkiiTC so may well do even better with the mkiii TC.

If I had to have just one of these lenses it would be the Canon - its AF is quicker and the IS is fantastic even with the TC and IMO is more user-friendly, there's just something special about it.

why pay over double the price for what maybe 8-10% better of a lens. Plus your stuck with 1 focus point at f8 with the TC

Thanks for the replies, some really interesting observations and experiences there. I think I'm leaning towards the Sigma now.

I have the Sigma C, I got it just in time for the last show of last season at Old Warden. I rate it as absolutely fantastic, for the money, it's IMO better than the original 100-400 L which is what I was renting regularly before that. I did also try renting the Tamron back in 2014, and had serious issues with the Tamron VC, also I did not think it was optically as god as the 100-400L. Don't forget that both the Sigma's the Sport and Contemporary were also designed to operate with the new Sigma 1401 1.4× teleconverter on bodies that support AF at f/8 offering a full 840mm if you should so want it. I really think that having the full 600mm is really useful over here in the UK, and that was before the recent rather knee jerk, in some cases, reactions to the crash at Shoreham.

This is my Flickr album of the shots I took with my Sigma at the last show. I'm currently shooting with a 50D. I was planning to shoot the season opener at Old Warden yesterday, but I was not well enough to cope with the drive there and back. Hopefully the Duxford Spring show at the end of the month will be better. Well I suppose this is a good excuse to gratuitously post another sample shot from the lens.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/EG5H​5B

here you go. comparison of IQ from 1DX and 600f4 vs 7D2 and Sigma 150-600c
http://www.fredmiranda​.com …/topic/1428764/​1#13551168
I have not shot with my 7D2 long..only had it for 2weeks but I had about a 90% keeper rate with my 1D3 and Sigma 150-600c. Wonder if its his body thats getting him the lower rate or the lens. So far my 7d2 has been doing pretty good but it does seem to miss sometimes where the 1D3 wouldnt have.

Right, that's it then I'm ordering a Sigma C. Thanks so much for all the replies.

Great images Alan, I might see you at the Fly Navy show if you're going!

Yes I hope to be at that one, I'm hoping that I can make it to all the rest of the monthly shows this year, but it depends on my health. My disablity means that sometimes I can get very tired, and on those occasions it is usually best if I don't try too much driving. I know it's only about 140 miles (each way), but that makes for around five hours of driving on top of being at the collection all day. I'm still tempted to get a season ticket for the shows, as that includes the "At home days" but does need you to attend six shows to make it worthwhile spending the money.

Talking of Fly Navy, and I haven't heard that one in about thirty years I think, how about an RNAS Bristol Scout D replica

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (774900)

When these Tamron/Sigma options came out, I started evaluating things with my original 100-400MkI. I went out shooting with the Tamron and the Canon for a session and found that I could get an equivalent, final image out of the Canon by taking the image, cropping to the same FOV of the Tamron and then enlarging the image in PS; with better colors and contrast coming out of the Canon by default. I never moved on to trying out the Sigma, but I really find that I prefer the base images out of the Canon lenses more; so I jumped on a screamin' deal I found for the 100-400 MkII and am loving it so far. I will add a 1.4x to the kit here, soon-ish, and try that out as well. The difference between 560 and 600 is going to be pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things, I think.

I've seen plenty of results that appear to show the Sigma really being the best "bang for the buck" lens out of the group; especially for current prices on the 'C'. But, overall, I still feel like the Canon is win if you can swing it.