Which supertelephoto?

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.

Not that it makes any difference but I have two White Canon Zoom Ls ... the 70-200 f/4 and the 70-200 F/2.8.

I also was looking purchase either a Canon 100-400 or the Sigma 50-500 and played with them both. Both lenses are equally sharp per experience MTF testing at Photozone.de. Both are equally fast/slow ... the Canon has IS ... the Bigma has greater range.

I settled for the Bigma because range I can use all the time, the IS is only good some of the time (i.e. non-action shots).

Range Test is here:
http://www.garyayala.s​mugmug.com/gallery/115​8485

Both lenses seem to focus equally fast for sports-
Bigma Sports:

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and here:

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Billginthekeys wrote in post #2077186
wow that tern shot is great. what timing.

Thank you. Sometime you'd be surprised what a little camera/little lens can do with some luck....i.e., right place, right time. (300D+ 200 f/2.8)

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Torquemada wrote in post #2076948
If you can wait a few days I just bought the Tamron 200-500 from another POTN member. It's coming from Canada so it's taking forever and a day, but I'll let you know how it performs and post some examples of birds and the like.

Excellent!

Thanks guys for your help, its making this tough decision soo much easier, and dont worry, i wont be buying for atleast 2 weeks

As of right now, i can safely say im about 85% settled on the sigma 50-500mm, for range, HSM, and price

IMO when you factor in the IQ, the weight, the IS for hand-holding, etc., the 100-400L wins hands down. The Bigma is a great lens in its own right, but no IS and its heavier. The Tamron is a good less expensive alternative, but its very long at 500, and doesn't have the same build quality or the range of the other two.

I'm more or less patiently waiting for the rebate season to get my own 100-400L.

The 100-400L was what I truly wanted but it's just out of my price range right now. The Bigma as well is just a bit more than I can afford right now. The Tamron has got the reach I need and from the reviews I read online it appears to be a pretty great performer.

you can get the Bigma at Sigma4less for $929
but if you really want the tamron they got it for $809

This guy has photos taken with the Tamron 200-500: http://www.pbase.com …ston/tamron_200​500_images

Tons of info here, including stacking it up against an L prime:
http://photo.net/equip​ment/tamron/200_500_Di​/

05Xrunner wrote in post #2079538
you can get the Bigma at Sigma4less for $929
but if you really want the tamron they got it for $809

My budget for now was $700.00. Got a few other bills that need to be paid so I worked out a budget. The Tamron fit nicely in there.

Torquemada wrote in post #2079546
My budget for now was $700.00. Got a few other bills that need to be paid so I worked out a budget. The Tamron fit nicely in there.

Did you consider selling the 70-300 to help with the funding?

lenses are like forever ...

I always found it better to wait and save to purchase what I really need/want as opposed to settling for something lesser. The lesser and settling will be directly reflected in your images ... you will see it in every single image and think it every time you mount the lens. Dude, you're close to getting the Bigma ... just scrimp another month or so and viola .. range, sharpness, built well ... all in the same package ... the lens will never wear out

runninmann wrote in post #2079615
Did you consider selling the 70-300 to help with the funding?

Already doing so. It will be posted here for sale this evening when I get home from work.

Seefutlung wrote in post #2079901
lenses are like forever ...

I always found it better to wait and save to purchase what I really need/want as opposed to settling for something lesser. The lesser and settling will be directly reflected in your images ... you will see it in every single image and think it every time you mount the lens. Dude, you're close to getting the Bigma ... just scrimp another month or so and viola .. range, sharpness, built well ... all in the same package ... the lens will never wear out

What you say is true but actually from what I've seen on a birding forum, at 500mm the Tamron is sharper than the Bigma. It's also a bit smaller and lighter.

The Tamron is 200-500, yes, but my intention was to get a 70-200 f/4 L later on anyway so that actually works out quite nicely. My ultimate goal (as far as lenses go) is to use a 70-200 L, then 300mm L prime with TC's for birds, etc. After that I'll be pretty content.

A 100-400 L would be nice, I'd take one in a minute, but I think in the long run I'll be happier with the 70-200 L and the 300mm L prime with the 1.4 TC. That will cover my needs. I don't shoot indoors or sports or things like that so use for those purposes is not a major concern of mine.

The Tamron is the best choice for me for right now since things are a bit tight right now.

How about this? 70-200/2.8, 1.4x, 2x

You'll get a 280/4 and 400/5.6. *with* a hot hot hot fast zoom. You can also sell your f/4 to fund this.

why not the 300-800 f5.6 HSM? longest zoom out there

70-200+2x tc isn't a great idea for sports, af goes down a lot