At the camera store today...

was shown a tamron 200-500mm lens... and wondering who has one and what they think in comparision to bigma....??

What you thinking of taking a trip or something? Do they know you well enough to let you take it for a spin?

She's going to Africa next year.

As I understand it, Sari, they both have their downfalls. The Tamron doesn't have USM-ish focusing. The Bigma tends to crap out right at 500, some have said, but does have HSM. I think you'd have to give it a try to know for sure. Each lens suits a different person differently.

Does your store not have a Bigma?

I know it's hard to ask (in fact, it was hard to ask of MYSELF), but I still think you should go for broke. I'm not even going to Africa. Actually I have no interest in Africa, but if I was going on my dream trip of a lifetime (and I clearly know what that is), 100-400 would be the ONLY way to fly. Them ospreys, wolves, bears and coytes ain't getting away from me this time!

I shot the 200-500 on three occasions at two places to get a feel of it. I bought and sold the Bigma. Wish I had never gone into it in the first place. Guess I am better for the experience, but still. There is no substitute. I am not necessarily swayed by the marketing hype of the L, or the talk that "L's are only for showoffs" - for the simple reason that I TOO wish I could be content with less. I would have loved my long telephoto journey to end with the Bigma, but it didn't. If I could be happy with a 432mm equivalent superzoom, I'd do that. Turns out I can't. Oh well

I would go for the 100-400mm and maybe a 1.4x II TC.

The Tamron has a decent reputation but doesn't impress me from the shots I have seen, but they will be shooter dependant and it may be worth a look. I would tend to take a HSM/USM lens over any other motor/AF type. I've had the Bigma and the 100-400mm IS L and can afford either and better if I wanted to spend, so I think my view is fairly objective.

Bigma is a better lens for the kind of Africa trip we are doing, i.e. if you use a beanbag and shoot from the 4x4 window, as we will be doing most of the time. Other times for wildlife we will be on a beanbag, tripod or monopod waiting in a hide or at a camp waterhole. IS really adds no value here, tho' will be a good to have if you want to spend the extra. I just think length counts more when IQ is so close and you aren't handholding.

But both are very good in the right hands. In the wrong hands the Bigma will show deficites more because of shake. IQ differences between a decent copy of the L and the Bigma is minimal, if any. The only reason I bought mine was because I was planning a walking safari and needed IS rather than carrying the weight of a tripod/mono. When I cancelled that trip after I took on another long term contract then I sold it.

Another option which has better IQ than the 100-400mm and Bigma is the 100-300mm f4 Sigma. Even with a 1.4 TCon it is excellent. Even so, the Bigma is still more attractive as a package for the trip we are doing. BTW, I had no problem with 500mm or 50mm. Nor did I have a problem with the 400mm end of the IS L, which is sometimes criticised.

I would avoid a TCon as you will lose AF. MF with a XT at long distance is very difficult. The viewfinder will be dark. Your keeper ratio will suffer significantly.

condyk wrote in post #2219523
The Tamron has a decent reputation but doesn't impress me from the shots I have seen, but they will be shooter dependant and it may be worth a look. I would tend to take a HSM/USM lens over any other motor/AF type. I've had the Bigma and the 100-400mm IS L and can afford either and better if I wanted to spend, so I think my view is fairly objective.

Bigma is a better lens for the kind of Africa trip we are doing, i.e. if you use a beanbag and shoot from the 4x4 window, as we will be doing most of the time. Other times for wildlife we will be on a beanbag, tripod or monopod waiting in a hide or at a camp waterhole. IS really adds no value here, tho' will be a good to have if you want to spend the extra. I just think length counts more when IQ is so close and you aren't handholding.

But both are very good in the right hands. In the wrong hands the Bigma will show deficites more because of shake. IQ differences between a decent copy of the L and the Bigma is minimal, if any. The only reason I bought mine was because I was planning a walking safari and needed IS rather than carrying the weight of a tripod/mono. When I cancelled that trip after I took on another long term contract then I sold it.

Another option which has better IQ than the 100-400mm and Bigma is the 100-300mm f4 Sigma. Even with a 1.4 TCon it is excellent. Even so, the Bigma is still more attractive as a package for the trip we are doing. BTW, I had no problem with 500mm or 50mm. Nor did I have a problem with the 400mm end of the IS L, which is sometimes criticised.

I would avoid a TCon as you will lose AF. MF with a XT at long distance is very difficult. The viewfinder will be dark. Your keeper ratio will suffer significantly.

I did take some shots with it.. and for the money putting down Bigma is the better buy I think... but, here's a couple of shots at 500mm...

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by the way RAW conversions absolutely no PP.. just converted and resized...

Looks good but I would want HSM AF if prices are close. If a big saving then I would consider it.

condyk wrote in post #2219753
Looks good but I would want HSM AF if prices are close. If a big saving then I would consider it.

yep.. sigma's will outperform.. but, dang that lens is heavy.. I better get used to shooting with a monopod/tripod before we go... but, the quality of the shots are nice.. doesn't mean much in the long run if half of everything I take looks like camera shake..

sari

saravrose wrote in post #2219794
yep.. sigma's will outperform.. but, dang that lens is heavy.. I better get used to shooting with a monopod/tripod before we go... but, the quality of the shots are nice.. doesn't mean much in the long run if half of everything I take looks like camera shake..

sari

When you get one, and I would for several months to see what else comes along like an updated 100-400mm IS L or a new OS Bigma, then also get a Pod Red beanbag. It screws onto the tripod mount and means you can rest it on the window so it's nice and steady. They are cheap. Most of our shooting will be like that.

condyk wrote in post #2219812
When you get one, and I would for several months to see what else comes along like an updated 100-400mm IS L or a new OS Bigma, then also get a Pod Red beanbag. It screws onto the tripod mount and means you can rest it on the window so it's nice and steady. They are cheap. Most of our shooting will be like that.

Is this what you refer to

http://www.amazon.com …g-Camcorder/dp/B00009UTQ​3

Love your avatar, Tommy.

Why not rent a 500mm L for the trip to africa?

mark

tommykjensen wrote in post #2219818
Is this what you refer to

http://www.amazon.com …g-Camcorder/dp/B00009UTQ​3

That's it Tom ... it helps having the screw mount as it stays with you. It is very light. I found that the damping factor also helped with handholding too. 10/10