Which supertelephoto?

After shooting the airshow with the 70-200mm and 2x TC, i saw shots of the same airshow with a 100-400L, needless to say, i want a new lens!

here is what im considering

Sigma 80-400mm, non HSM, but Optical Stabilization 999.00 @ bhphoto
Sigma 50-500 HSM, non OS 999.00 @ bhphoto
Canon EF 400mm 5.6L Prime 1099.00 @ bhphoto
Canon 100-400L 1399.00 @ bhphoto

The more expensive, the longer ill need to save, the only lens i an getting rid of out of my gear list is the tamron 70-300, so which should i go for and why?

As for why i want a long lens? I wont really be using it often, maybe airshows, motorsports events, sports events, i know neither of them are really all that fast, aperture wise, but id like a good supertele ranged lens without the use of TC's

They are building two 3.5 mile road courses, one of which will be approved by the FIA within 25 miles of my home, im sure this is where ill be using it most!

I also have plans for a 5D, if that makes a difference on which lens to choose!

I am happy with my Tokina 80-400 AT-X D, $ 650 at B & H.

didnt even see that, thanks, can you post a sample image if you have one that isnt resized?

The 100-400 zoom is the best allaround white lens, in fact the only white zoom Canon makes. While I strongly believe in primes, if you gonna have only one white lens and your photography is not limited to one discipline only like football etc., then the 100-400 is IMO the best lens to start your supertelephoto quest with.

the tokina is a nice budget level superzoom. heck im even thinking of picking one up for a light wieght walk around. from what i hear it has image quality better than your budget 70-300s, but it isnt nearly as good as the lenses you mentioned. i love the 400 5.6 for a great long light birding lens. but since you are shooting a more broad range of things, id suggest going with one of the zooms. Of the ones mentioned id get the bigma or the 100-400 (never heard that much great about the 80-400 sigma, no HSM, and i hear the OS is not as good as canon's). ive used the 100-400, and ill testify that it is a great lens in all regards. once you get used to the push pull style zoom. The Bigma also gets great reviews if you dont want to spend the extra money. but the 100-400 has the edge of wieght and handholability over the bigma for sure. either way you will want a nice monopod with any of the lenses you buy.

photolife wrote in post #2074005
The 100-400 zoom is the best allaround white lens, in fact the only white zoom Canon makes. While I strongly believe in primes, if you gonna have only one white lens and your photography is not limited to one discipline only like football etc., then the 100-400 is IMO the best lens to start your supertelephoto quest with.

GASP. how dare you forget about the 70-200 series. they are all white zooms (and the 28-300, and the old 35-350).

I'd also read about a 200-500 lens that has recd. some good reviews. Sorry cant recall if it was a Tokina or another brand.

Billginthekeys wrote in post #2074017
the tokina is a nice budget level superzoom. heck im even thinking of picking one up for a light wieght walk around. from what i hear it has image quality better than your budget 70-300s, but it isnt nearly as good as the lenses you mentioned. i love the 400 5.6 for a great long light birding lens. but since you are shooting a more broad range of things, id suggest going with one of the zooms. Of the ones mentioned id get the bigma or the 100-400 (never heard that much great about the 80-400 sigma, no HSM, and i hear the OS is not as good as canon's). ive used the 100-400, and ill testify that it is a great lens in all regards. once you get used to the push pull style zoom. The Bigma also gets great reviews if you dont want to spend the extra money. but the 100-400 has the edge of wieght and handholability over the bigma for sure. either way you will want a nice monopod with any of the lenses you buy.

yeah, ive got a manfrotto monopod and head, bogen whatever.. i wish i could consider the 100-400L, its what i really want, but geeez 400 more than the 50-500..

this is going to be a tough decision!

kram wrote in post #2074025
I'd also read about a 200-500 lens that has recd. some good reviews. Sorry cant recall if it was a Tokina or another brand.

i think its a tamron. sigma might have one too.

I checked the bh website and it lists the 200-500 as a Tamron lens going at about 850.

Fureinku wrote in post #2074028
yeah, ive got a manfrotto monopod and head, bogen whatever.. i wish i could consider the 100-400L, its what i really want, but geeez 400 more than the 50-500..

this is going to be a tough decision!

well for motorsports you are going to want fast focus speed. i have never used the bigma, but it has HSM, so im sure its not bad. but the 100-400 was the fastest longer than 200mm zoom ive ever shot. For motorsports and whatnot, you are probably going to use that monopod a lot, so either way, you shouldnt need to worry about IS and weight as much for those, although it would still be nice. also rememeber the 100-400 is 5.6 at the long end, the sigma a 6.3.

Billginthekeys wrote in post #2074019
GASP. how dare you forget about the 70-200 series. they are all white zooms (and the 28-300, and the old 35-350).

LOL I did gasp... I was like uh.... Okay I must be color blind lol...

Billginthekeys wrote in post #2074019
GASP. how dare you forget about the 70-200 series. they are all white zooms (and the 28-300, and the old 35-350).

True. true, but I was thinking more of supertelephotos like 300mm and up (FL).
Should have been more precise with my language.
Also, some people consider the 300 f/2.8 and up ($) the only true "superteles".

Billginthekeys wrote in post #2074044
also rememeber the 100-400 is 5.6 at the long end, the sigma a 6.3.

But also from what i have heard..the Sigma is actually 5.6 at 400mm and it goes to the 6.3 when u go past that to 500mm
so i think their fstops are basically the same in the 100-400 range. The bigma just doesnt have IS

I vote for the 50-500 100mm more reach and few hundred dollars less and has great IQ from all the pics and post I have seen about it.

Check out the reviews on the 200-500 Tamron on fm - its got a 9.1 rating, though the total sample is only 8. But for any lens to get a 9 on those reviews, it has to be real good.

The biggest advantage of that lens is the size.