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Archive 2011 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?

  
 
penghai
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


I have a chance to buy a Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon in excellent condition for $400.

Does anyone have this lens or have experiences shooting it ? Any idea how would it compare to a Nikon 300 f4 FAS with 1.4 TC?

Eric



Aug 10, 2011 at 12:59 PM
DGC1
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


The Nikon combination will smoke it. I had one and it just wasn't sharp enough for me.


Aug 10, 2011 at 04:21 PM
gugs
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


+1 go for a 300f4 AFS + TC

Guy



Aug 10, 2011 at 04:24 PM
OwlsEyes
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


The Sigma 400 APO is an old design that was barely adequate with film... you are much better off with the Nikon AFS 300 f4 w/ 1.4x. I found this old sigma to be so bad that I would rather shoot a bare Nikon 300 f4 EDIF (non-AFS) and crop it to give the appearance of 400mm...

This lens was produced long before Sigma began to refine its lens-making craft.
cheers,
bruce



Aug 10, 2011 at 04:32 PM
penghai
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


Hi all, Thanks very much for all your comments.

Eric



Aug 10, 2011 at 07:51 PM
LeifG
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


I have the Sigma 400mm F5.6 APO Macro, and it is a very good lens. I suspect it is as good as the old Nikon 40mm F5.6 lens (I used to own one). It does not really have the contrast of a good Nikon lens though sharpness is excellent (on APS-C) even wide open. If you buy at a good price, you can always sell it on at little loss if you do not like it.

There are many versions of the Sigma lens, the APO Macro is the best, Some earlier ones are poor. Not sure about the APO (non Macro) version.



Aug 11, 2011 at 02:31 AM
Chris Dees
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


The Sigma get's an overall rating of 9.0 at the review section here at FM. Not too bad I would say.
The price difference between the Sigma and the Nikon 300 + TC is huge (3x?).
I you can try it before you buy I would give it a chance.



Aug 11, 2011 at 02:34 AM
Two23
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


The Sigma that takes the 77mm filters is decent, but I wouldn't put a TC on it. The older Sigma that takes 72mm is less sharp, but should be cheaper than $400.


Kent in SD



Aug 11, 2011 at 08:08 AM
Dennis H.
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


The Nikon 300mm f4 AFS with the 1.4 tc is extremely sharp, I don't think any third party lens will match it.


Aug 11, 2011 at 09:05 AM
90 5.0
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


Found this thread after finding a macro used at a pretty good price.

I’m guessing the opinion still stands that the Nikon 300 f/4 with a 1.4 is still better?

The “macro” lable intrigued me, as I used to love to shoot dragon flies.

For that spacific shooting would this be better than the 300f/4 and a tc or the 80-400?

Or should I just try with an extension tube on what I have




Nov 08, 2017 at 10:50 PM
Two23
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


90 5.0 wrote:
Found this thread after finding a macro used at a pretty good price.

I’m guessing the opinion still stands that the Nikon 300 f/4 with a 1.4 is still better?

The “macro” lable intrigued me, as I used to love to shoot dragon flies.

For that spacific shooting would this be better than the 300f/4 and a tc or the 80-400?

Or should I just try with an extension tube on what I have




Macro just means it can focus closer than most telephotos. For low cost and sharp, you won't beat the 300mm f4 AFS + tc14.


Kent in SD



Nov 08, 2017 at 11:26 PM
90 5.0
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


Two23 wrote:
Macro just means it can focus closer than most telephotos. For low cost and sharp, you won't beat the 300mm f4 AFS + tc14.

Kent in SD


Yes so I could be closer and still focus on it sharply that was the point.

I wasn’t searching for this lens, I stumbled upon it if you will.

It peaked my curiosity, lots of varying reviews and found some really good dragonfly samples from it on line.

Of course I viewed them on my phone screen so no idea what resolution wood look like bigger also.

I have owned other “macro” lenses before but never seen one at 400mm with a macro designation.

I’ve never tried an extension tube on a long lens before I guess I could start out trying that and see if I like it.





Nov 09, 2017 at 11:23 AM
jbear
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


Agree with Leif...the TeleMacro version is quite good, but the other versions are not even close.
I always wanted to try one...found one for a reasonable price...tried it out. I sold it because it was redundant as I have a 300PF and tc, which is significantly better in all regards (as was the AFS f4), but...for about $250-300...you'd be happy. $400 is waaaay too much. I would not pay $100 for the other versions.
Be sure that you have a camera that will drive a screw-driven lens or you'll be limited to MF. AF is very slow (unless you have a D500...still won't be fast).
BTW: The 300 AFS/PF are both exceptional at close focusing...you lose nothing in that area...except a lot more of your cash.



Nov 09, 2017 at 12:36 PM
90 5.0
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


jbear wrote:
Agree with Leif...the TeleMacro version is quite good, but the other versions are not even close.
I always wanted to try one...found one for a reasonable price...tried it out. I sold it because it was redundant as I have a 300PF and tc, which is significantly better in all regards (as was the AFS f4), but...for about $250-300...you'd be happy. $400 is waaaay too much. I would not pay $100 for the other versions.
Be sure that you have a camera that will drive a screw-driven lens or you'll be limited to MF. AF is very slow (unless you have a D500...still
...Show more

I found a clean apo macro version for < 200.00 so I started researching it since I had never heard of it, to see if there was any reason it would be useful. Especially at that price.

I have a 300 f/4 and the 80-400 Nikon. I’ve always thought a great 400 5.6 Nikon compatible to the canon version would be great and knew this lens would not be at this level.

But the “macro” designation interested me given my love for dragonfly shooting , and being able to get really close up on them.

Wondering if this would be better and more usable for that specifically than my 300 with tc and a tube or my 80-400 and a tube

And I’d be using my d3 so driving an af-d lens is no issue



Nov 09, 2017 at 04:43 PM
jbear
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


Which 300 do you have? I don't know about the older AF 300 but either AFS version will drive the Sigma into dust. They are just about perfect for dragonflies and butterflies. It's a capable lens but the others are just so much better. AF is important to me for moving critters...I used slow and MF lenses prior to the AFS era, but I wouldn't go back to them unless there was some compelling reason.
Not sure about your 80-400 (newer?), but I use the 200-500 for those subjects and it's also fantastic.
That being said, for $200...give it a try. As Leif mentioned, you can easily sell it for that much if you don't find it useful.



Nov 09, 2017 at 07:51 PM
90 5.0
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


jbear wrote:
Which 300 do you have? I don't know about the older AF 300 but either AFS version will drive the Sigma into dust. They are just about perfect for dragonflies and butterflies. It's a capable lens but the others are just so much better. AF is important to me for moving critters...I used slow and MF lenses prior to the AFS era, but I wouldn't go back to them unless there was some compelling reason.
Not sure about your 80-400 (newer?), but I use the 200-500 for those subjects and it's also fantastic.
That being said, for $200...give
...Show more

I have the 300 af-d now , I had an af-s at one point and was gonna get another but I got such a good deal onnthe af-d I couldn’t pass it up, and on the d3 it’s plenty fast with the big drive motor.

I started photography before af was even an option, I can’t imaging going back to all mf lenses now lol.

But on a good body for what I do af-d is fine.

One of my favorite dragon fly photos I have printed was with my 135 2.8 ai-s. It took a lot of shots to get a keeper that day.



Nov 09, 2017 at 08:19 PM
jbear
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sigma 400mm f/1:5.6 AF APO for Nikon?


I hear that 90!
I enjoy trying out lenses...try the Sigma even just for fun. At $200...why not?



Nov 09, 2017 at 08:42 PM





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