Tamron vs Tokina vs Sigma vs Canon

In your opinion, who really makes the best lens, for the price? If it is a wide angle or
telephoto?

What the... Tamron vs Tokina vs Sigma vs Canon ?
Ruuuun!

This will undoubtedly become the mother of all X vs Y threads!!!!

Sigma definitely makes the best 120-300/2.8 lens available for the EOS system
Well, it should be, for $ 2,000 ...

Best regards,
Andy

PS: Welcome to the forum.

also have a look at the 'sticky' threads in the EOS lens section. There's a lot of great information there.

Uhhh.... Canon L lenses are the best, Tamrons I favor over regular canon lenses, and meh, sigma, nah. Tonkina? Baaahhhh, to lazy to even think about those.

Some make better lenses than others in specific areas. It's really hard to say.... but for the most part, it doesn't get better than Canon L.

Which Canon L zooms better the Sigma 120-300/2.8 and 300-800/5.6 again?

The best 500mm telephoto for the money is the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX APO HSM. It is $1500 cheaper then the Canon 500 f/4 but just as sharp. It will AF on a 1 Series body and a 20D with a Tamron 1.4X TC with no loss of image quality.

yes

Are you saying that the Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX APO HSM doesn't perform well with the Canon 1.4x TC?

Money aside, Canon by far makes the best range of lenses with the best overall quality. But thats money sside, because those same lenses will cost a fortune.

Overall Sigma is second. But the problems with the third party companies is that they do cut corners on the cheaper lenses. Sigma has it L level lens(es), but then it gets expensive.

The Sigma 500/4.5 will not autofocus with the Canon 1.4x extender on the 1D Mk II or 20D. It works with the older Tamron extender (and most likely the Kenko as well) because it does not report back the aperture change like the Canon and Sigma extenders do.

Ditto

Fixed.

Overall, and money aside I agree Canon is probably tops in general. As mentioned I think it depends on the specific lens compared to a specific lens, and comparing specific qualities (sharpness, flare, ect.) of each lens independently. But I agree the overall "consensus" is that canon is the benchmark, note that most comparisons of 3rd party lenses are done with a canon equivelent. That really speaks for itself. Personally, I think most canon lenses are over priced for the gain you may or may not notice...............e​xception being the Canon 100-400 L that's in a class of it's own.

Just my amature .02 opinion.

"...with no loss of image quality"?

Come, come, there HAS to be a loss, no matter how slight.

There is nothing like a "L" lens, nothing. Unless, of course, one enjoys zooming and focusing (once one has done something to be able to) backwards from a Canon lens to get a lesser result.