jimmy462 Offline Upload & Sell: On
|
Hi hithesh123,
I can offer you no comparison between the Sigma 100-300mm (or the Canon 100-400mm) and the Sigma 120-300mm non-OS. What I do offer you is my take on my extensive experience with the 120-300mm non-OS EX DG, which I still own and use despite the fact that I went and purchased the newer OS version (not the latest Sport version which shares the same optical train).
The reason I've kept that earlier version is simple, it does the job I ask of it. The lens now finds service in my line-up for when I wish to go "beating trail" off my local bike path to shoot birds, wildlife and nature off of a monopod and with teleconverters. The OS version is for my hand-held jaunts when I'm preferring to travel with less gear.
Now the newer, OS version, is clearly superior optically to the non-OS...delivering crisper images, being slightly quicker of foot with its focusing motor and, well, the OS. But this is not to say that the non-OS version is a slouch, far from it. My copy has always delivered sharp, usable images for me both as a stand-alone lens and with teleconverters, focus is both swift and nearly silent, the bokeh is gorgeous and smooth, and it's taken a bit of banging around and has always been ready for more.
As for the criticisms I'm sure you've encountered about the non-OS lens my take is this...it may well be that Sigma has had a QC problem at the time when this lens was in production and delivered lenses that didn't perform to user expectation, I've certainly read enough complaints to get me thinking that maybe this was so. And it may also be true that a fair amount of these lenses also suffered from misaligned optics or some other form of optical train deviations that prevented the lenses from performing to their designed specifications, again, I've read enough complaints about soft images from users of this lens, as well. And that all of the above is true, it might also be possible then that I've just been one lucky sunuvagun when it came to my copy of this lens.
My proof is in my images, and I can offer you these samples, and in answer to your original concerns about TC performance, both taken with a Sigma 2x TC...
Sigma 120-300 OS - FM Forums:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1005090/0?keyword=x#9547651
...you'll have to forgive me not posting something a bit more recent, but I took a break from the board for a couple of years and let my "image upload" subscription lapse. I'll recommend the entirety of that older thread, the good, bad and ugly.
Anyhoo, I've had a change of heart of late and I'm trying to avoid making gear recommendations for folks, all I can share is what's worked for me and what hasn't and hopefully that'll help you decide what will work best for you. So all I can say is that if you should happen upon a copy of this lens as good as mine methinks you'll be quite pleased for satisfying your stated needs! Best of luck in your search!
|