Sigma 150-600C + TC-1401

Have just received the Sigma TC-1401 to go with my 1500-600C. I'm looking for any input from others with this combination as I am not getting anywhere near good results.

oingyboingybob wrote in post #18055943
Have just received the Sigma TC-1401 to go with my 1500-600C. I'm looking for any input from others with this combination as I am not getting anywhere near good results.

I don't think you will have good results with that lens and a TC. I have the Sport version and have stayed away from the temptation to add a TC. I just think the lens it too slow for that.

Be aware it get's slow so handhold it can be tricky. A tripod is a must the most succes i got is with a burst of shots on the subject.
Autofocus can be hard i often use the center autofocus point with spot focus, elsewhy it tries to hop from one spot to a other.
And stay below f/8

Have now read through the paperwork that comes with the Sigma TC. There is a list of compatible Sigma lenses....it's a very short list. Should have investigated more thoroughly before purchase, I assumed it would work well with the 150-600C.
It will be returned to Amazon.
Thanks to those who responded to my query.

Mostly f/2.8 or f/4 lenses are used with TC's

The lens on it's own, at 600mm is already out at the far reaches of usable focal length, and as a bare lens, it works VERY WELL.

You are correct to be returning the TC, it just is not a good option for this lens. The TC is great for making a 120-300mm into a 600mm, but you already have 600mm

There is a thread specifically for 150-600mm shooters, drop in and rub shoulders to get some tips. It's one of the best bang for your buck long lenses ever made.
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1424339

oingyboingybob wrote in post #18055996
Have now read through the paperwork that comes with the Sigma TC. There is a list of compatible Sigma lenses....it's a very short list. Should have investigated more thoroughly before purchase, I assumed it would work well with the 150-600C.
It will be returned to Amazon.
Thanks to those who responded to my query.

I have one of these TC-1401. The instruction manual only shows the Sports version as compatible lens, but I can confirm it does in fact work with the Contemporary version. All reviews I've read have stated this as well.

Not really sure what problem you're having, but I am a stickler for these things and would return it if not satisfied and my copy works as expected.

Did you upgrade the firmware on your lens by chance? Reason why I ask is I have, and it works good. I don't really know what it would be doing if I hadn't, but could explain your issue.

pigpile34 wrote in post #18056058
I have one of these TC-1401. The instruction manual only shows the Sports version as compatible lens, but I can confirm it does in fact work with the Contemporary version. All reviews I've read have stated this as well.

There is a large difference between "works" and "useful"

I immediately tried a 1.4x with the 150-600mm to test for functionality, and yes I was in fact surprised that it would even attempt to AF, but it did in fact auto focus.
However, the combinations usefulness was reduced significantly vs. the bare lens by slow, inaccurate focus.

I suppose it's possible that some combinations out there may perform miraculously better, but in most cases, the vast majority of cases, unless you are starting with a fast f/2.8 or f/4 lens, adding a 1.4x t-con will dramatically reduce AF performance while at the same time imparting an image quality hit that combined renders the combination a far worse choice than shooting with the bare lens.

I agree with you that it is important that the lens perform as expected, at the same time I'm just not sure that the expectations for this lens with the 1.4x are realistic.

pigpile34 wrote in post #18056058
I have one of these TC-1401. The instruction manual only shows the Sports version as compatible lens, but I can confirm it does in fact work with the Contemporary version. All reviews I've read have stated this as well.

Not really sure what problem you're having, but I am a stickler for these things and would return it if not satisfied and my copy works as expected.

Did you upgrade the firmware on your lens by chance? Reason why I ask is I have, and it works good. I don't really know what it would be doing if I hadn't, but could explain your issue.

Yes firmware is up-to-date.
Sigma UK is selling this combination of lens and TC as a package on their website so it ought to be OK however it's not in my case. AF is very slow and intermittent ie doesn't achieve focus at all on occasions. I tried live view focusing which was also not good. Manual focusing is not really an option as the Sigma focus ring on the 150-600 is too stiff, one of the few negatives of this lens.
I also have a Canon 1.4x mk2 extender for occasional use on my 100-400 which actually works better on the 150-600 than this 1401 but not quite as well as I expected the Sigma to be on its own make of lens.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18056092
There is a large difference between "works" and "useful"

I immediately tried a 1.4x with the 150-600mm to test for functionality, and yes I was in fact surprised that it would even attempt to AF, but it did in fact auto focus.
However, the combinations usefulness was reduced significantly vs. the bare lens by slow, inaccurate focus.

I suppose it's possible that some combinations out there may perform miraculously better, but in most cases, the vast majority of cases, unless you are starting with a fast f/2.8 or f/4 lens, adding a 1.4x t-con will dramatically reduce AF performance while at the same time imparting an image quality hit that combined renders the combination a far worse choice than shooting with the bare lens.

I agree with you that it is important that the lens perform as expected, at the same time I'm just not sure that the expectations for this lens with the 1.4x are realistic.

Yes agreed.

My comment was simply correcting an inaccurate statement by the OP (of which he came by honestly because the instructions do state just the Sports version of the lens). Wasn't really intended to opine regarding whether or not its anyone's cup of tea.

Personally, I got this for moon work, for focal length. Not for birds or anything moving fast. Yet to be determined my overall "usefulness" as I have been traveling non-stop since I got the tele. All I've been able to really do so far is stick it on and take a few test shots.

On another note, interestingly, this tele did seem to work with my Canon 100-400mm II, whereas others in other threads seem to indicate it doesn't. Hopefully will get some time to sit down with this thing and put it through its paces.

oingyboingybob wrote in post #18056096
Yes firmware is up-to-date.
Sigma UK is selling this combination of lens and TC as a package on their website so it ought to be OK however it's not in my case. AF is very slow and intermittent ie doesn't achieve focus at all on occasions. I tried live view focusing which was also not good. Manual focusing is not really an option as the Sigma focus ring on the 150-600 is too stiff, one of the few negatives of this lens.
I also have a Canon 1.4x mk2 extender for occasional use on my 100-400 which actually works better on the 150-600 than this 1401 but not quite as well as I expected the Sigma to be on its own make of lens.

I can see someone not being satisfied due to speed. I would agree with that assessment. From my limited testing it did seem to work great for what I will be doing. Your comment regarding live view focus does give me pause though. We'll see soon I hope.

Well the bottom line here is that the TC-1401 is definitely going back to Amazon. I've been checking and double-checking any and all of the settings that I can adjust with the Sigma dock to see if I can get the TC to work and the conclusion is that my Canon 1.4 mk2 TC works much better ( IQ is good to very good even at 600mm) with my 150-600C than the Sigma TC which is both slow and inaccurate: not really what I expected.
This might prompt the question as to why I ordered the TC-1401in the first place and the answer is that I was looking for an improvement over the Canon TC in the AF speed. Sadly this is not the case. The Canon is not bad in the AF speed but I thought that a dedicated Sigma TC would be better which it ain't.
Never mind.

I would have assumed the same, it may be a placebo effect, but I've tended to like Canon T-Cons with Canon lenses and SIGMA t-Cons with Sigma lenses, but recently this seems to have all gone topsy turvy.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18057639
I would have assumed the same, it may be a placebo effect, but I've tended to like Canon T-Cons with Canon lenses and SIGMA t-Cons with Sigma lenses, but recently this seems to have all gone topsy turvy.

You would thinks so really.
I'm tempted to order the Canon 1.4 TC mk3 but I'm a bit concerned that it may not make any noticeable difference to use with my 100-400mk2 and may not work at all with the Sigma 150-600C bearing in mind the firmware BS we are having. Think I shall just leave it as I could end up worse off. Currently with my Canon 1.4mk2 TC everything works reasonably with everything.