Telephoto lens for planespotting and airshows

Good day,

I want to ask for help with choosing the telephoto lens for mainly planespotting and airshows. Now, I have 3 Canon lenses - 10-18 STM, 24-70 f/4L and 70-200 f/4L, the body is 70D. I shoot mainly planes and airshows, but it will be used at other fields(landscape, etc.). I really like the 70-200 f/4L, but I find out, that it's a bit short sometimes, mainly on airshows on smaller planes. The second problem is a missing IS.

So I started looking for something to upgrade the 70-200. I narrowed it to three candidates - Canon 70-300L, Sigma 150-600 Sport and 100-400 L II. I don't know, which to choose, the 100-400 is obviously best, but I would probably have to sell a kidney to buy it. I'm not a pro and I think lens this expensive is pointless now. Sigma 150-600 Sport looks good, but I'm affraid because of the image quality and how would the AF of 70D handle it (I had Tamron 70-300 and it was pretty hit and miss). The most I lean for 70-300L, which is light enough, will offer good IQ and I would have all my body parts, because its not that expansive. I'm affraid, that it would be short. But around the airports, there is a lot of heathaze, so I dont know, if longer lens would be a win. I would love to have the best IQ.

Thank you very much for some help and if you have other suggestions, I'm open for them.

awacsCZE wrote in post #18354449
Good day,

I want to ask for help with choosing the telephoto lens for mainly planespotting and airshows. Now, I have 3 Canon lenses - 10-18 STM, 24-70 f/4L and 70-200 f/4L, the body is 70D. I shoot mainly planes and airshows, but it will be used at other fields(landscape, etc.). I really like the 70-200 f/4L, but I find out, that it's a bit short sometimes, mainly on airshows on smaller planes. The second problem is a missing IS.

So I started looking for something to upgrade the 70-200. I narrowed it to three candidates - Canon 70-300L, Sigma 150-600 Sport and 100-400 L II. I don't know, which to choose, the 100-400 is obviously best, but I would probably have to sell a kidney to buy it. I'm not a pro and I think lens this expensive is pointless now. Sigma 150-600 Sport looks good, but I'm affraid because of the image quality and how would the AF of 70D handle it (I had Tamron 70-300 and it was pretty hit and miss). The most I lean for 70-300L, which is light enough, will offer good IQ and I would have all my body parts, because its not that expansive. I'm affraid, that it would be short. But around the airports, there is a lot of heathaze, so I dont know, if longer lens would be a win. I would love to have the best IQ.

Thank you very much for some help and if you have other suggestions, I'm open for them.

Look into the 150-600 C instead of the S; by all accounts, it's 90% of the S for a lot less, and it should be MORE than capable of keeping up at airshows.

Snydremark wrote in post #18354464
Look into the 150-600 C instead of the S; by all accounts, it's 90% of the S for a lot less, and it should be MORE than capable of keeping up at airshows.

I looked at it on the forums and thez concluded, that it's slower on AF than a Sport. In terms of IQ is it same?

I shoot the 150-600 C on both a 7D2 & 1D4. Other than the fact the wide end is a bit long on a crop body it's perfect for the price. I use it for full scale & for model aviation. When I first bought it I was worried that the AF couldn't do R/C because of the speed / size of the aircraft & that I'm relatively close to them but it has no problems what so ever & shooting R/C is much more challenging than full scale. As for the Sport it's just too heavy for hand holding for very long. (I'm on the R/C flight line for 6 to 7 hours at a time) (most if not all of these are in my gallery here with the full EXIF listed)

These are R/C

There is also the Tamron 150-600s: both the older one and the new G2 one.

awacsCZE wrote in post #18354481
I looked at it on the forums and thez concluded, that it's slower on AF than a Sport. In terms of IQ is it same?

caveat: *I have not personally used that lens*

The general consensus and the results that I've looked at show little difference. The AF on any of these should be fast enough for airshows.

I have the 100-400 MkII, and used the MkI for years before it. If you can afford it, I still prefer these lenses against the 3rd parties; however, if your budget is limited, the Sigma or possibly the Tamron G2 seem the best, current alternatives.

If you check my gear list you'll notice I have the original 100-400 L IS & it's a very good copy but it has been replaced by the Sigma. Took the Canon to most events but never used it once last year. I haven't used the Tamron but have read good things about it too.

awacsCZE wrote in post #18354449
the 100-400 is obviously best, but I would probably have to sell a kidney to buy it.

Buy a used 400/5.6 plus an extra kidney with the money you save

I use a 70D + 70-200 f/4L IS for airshows. It's good for close passes or for formations, but sometimes I wish I had more length when the planes are further away. I have a 1.4x II which I may try with it this year. I see a lot of 100-400's too.

Mike

I am another that highly recommends the Sigma 150-600 C, and I'm using it on a 50D. The IQ of mine is excellent, better than any of the 100-400L version ones that I have rented over the years. The AF is much faster than needed for aviation subjects, which are usually so simple to follow that even MF is easy. The OS system of the Sigma is also very good, and most importantly has a panning mode.

I would really most strongly say avoid the Tamron 150-600 G1, since it has no panning mode for the VC. At least the firmware fix now turns it off when you pan, so you don't get the really bad feedback as you did in the early days of the lens.

Here are some of mine from the Sigma.

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (760438)

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (759773)

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (758223)

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (758222)

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (756260)

Photo from BigAl007's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (756259)

Honestly, I'm affraid of third party lenses. I had Tamron 70-300 VC and it was utter disaster. AF was missing a lot, IQ was bad and when I was sending it to Tamron, they kept returning it saying it's ok. So Tamron never again.

Also to me it looks, like 70D is not precise much in terms of AF, so I'm worried, that Sigma will cooperate with it.

Also, I'm the worst case of pixel peeper you've ever seen So I'm affraid, that C version, or Tamron wont meet my expectations.

Why cant Canon have something like Nikon 200-500 f/5.6?

awacsCZE wrote in post #18355434
Honestly, I'm affraid of third party lenses. I had Tamron 70-300 VC and it was utter disaster. AF was missing a lot, IQ was bad and when I was sending it to Tamron, they kept returning it saying it's ok. So Tamron never again.

Also to me it looks, like 70D is not precise much in terms of AF, so I'm worried, that Sigma will cooperate with it.

Also, I'm the worst case of pixel peeper you've ever seen So I'm affraid, that C version, or Tamron wont meet my expectations.

Why cant Canon have something like Nikon 200-500 f/5.6?

The newer Sigmas are being made at a much higher quality bar than in previous years. Since they made their updated lines (Art, Sport, Contemporary), they're quite nice.

They should be plenty to satisfy your peeping habit.

Snydremark wrote in post #18355454
The newer Sigmas are being made at a much higher quality bar than in previous years. Since they made their updated lines (Art, Sport, Contemporary), they're quite nice.

They should be plenty to satisfy your peeping habit.

Given what cicopo was doing above with little RC flyers, I would say Sigma is up to the task. there is also the new 100-400 from them. There is a thread here I started on it:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1480679

I am not a great one for airshows but, if I don't want to carry the Big Guns then I use the Canon 100-400 Mk2. The combination of IQ and AF is about as good as it gets in this price range.

Yes my 300 F2.8 and 800 F5.6 are better but they are MUCH heavier and I have to take both of them! The 100-400 Mk2 will do the job very nicely and is so much lighter!

You can always try renting whichever lens you're thinking about no matter what brand it is. You're bad experience with a Tamron lens is no more important now than when everyone who bought a 1D3's experience was (inaccurate AF) back when it was introduced. Every manufacturer produces a dud from time to time but to survive in today's market they must & do improve their products or fall by the wayside.