p.20 #1 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
httivals wrote:
My experience with a similar lens - an adapted Canon 70-300mm f4-f5.6 IS L is that you need to use a tripod collar and full electronic (silent) shutter to get the sharpest possible images for infinity focus for focal lengths longer than 200mm. I've used this lens for 1 1/2 years now on an A7RIII and A7RIV. I only recently started using electronic shutter for tripod landscapes - before that I used EFCS with a wired shutter release. . . . Using full electronic (silent) shutter has been an eye-opener. I previously thought the lens' sharpness degraded after 200mm; I was wrong. TUsing full electronic (silent) shutter, I now realize that there was camera shake even on a very good tripod and using the tripod collar when I was using EFCS. I don't think it matters how fast your shutter speed is. If you want consistently sharp landscape images at infinity with longer lenses on a very high resolution body like the A7RIV, I think you need to use a tripod and full electronic shutter. This was not nearly as much of an issue on the A7RIII; so I assume the difference is the higher megapixel body....Show more →
I'm also mostly silent shooting (fully electronic shutter), but handheld 99% of the time. You might be right that in order to get those really sharp shots a tripod is required. I want to do a tripod series this weekend, when I will have a bit more time on my hands .
As for now I can see there is a bit of randomness in my shots, like these four taken at 205m if exif is to be believed, refocused on nearly the same spot in AF-S (ImageStabilization 1,1/400s, ISO 100, 400mm, f/6.3), 200% crop:
p.20 #2 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Eruditass wrote:
Good points. I was pleasantly surprised that the max aperture is only a bit slower, I expected a larger delta. Any opinions on if/when Sigma will produce a TC?
I see some cheap 3rd party tripod collars, what's the consensus compared to the 1st party one?
Sigma likely won't be allowed/able to release a TC for E mount, so the idea for TCs with them is out of the window for now. It likely won't happen any time soon, if at all. This brought my decision to getting the 100-400GM + 1.4x TC (total of 2300 EUR) or getting the Sigma 100-400 DG DN and upgrading to an A7RII (for cropping) for a total 2300 EUR. It was a tough call really, but I think I made the right choice. If the GM wasn't on sale I might well have gone for option #2.
I don't think you can go wrong with the tripod collar. The 100-400 DG DN shares the tripod collar with the 105 1.4, so there's a larger aftermarket out there to choose from.
p.20 #3 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Interestingly Dustin Abbott in his youtube comments mentions that the sigma 100-400 fits on the sony TCs but there is no AF or aperture data, however they could be used for manual focus. You probably buy this lens for the AF though. The lack of TC had me considering the GM over this lens.
That said, I just put in what I thought was a lowball offer on greentoe of $750, and it was immediately accepted. So I'm excited to start playing around with it! The GM can come later if I feel I need the extra reach of improved AF. Should easily be able to flip this for about the same amount I'm paying down the line.
p.20 #4 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
So... getting back to my topic, I think my copy is faulty in regards to AF, which is mostly visible on the long end. It's terribly inconsistent, take a look at these shots taken one after another (click the link to open full size on flickr):
* AF-S (I thought that should give more reliable results, but in AF-C it's similar more or less), 400m, f/6.3, 1/400s, ISO 100m, 52m focus distance if EXIF is to be believed.
These were handheld so some differences are to be expected I guess, but this is way beyond what is acceptable to me... Also tested on a high res body and unsuprisingly it looks even worse then...
Over the weekend I need to do some tripod + MF tests (but that doesn't really solve the issue as one of the advantages of the Sigma over the GM is that it's lighter and smaller -> more suitable for handheld usage).
I'll also have the GM rented for the weekend so it's gonna be fun (though knowing my luck probably sun will be gone by then, but I'll take some shots anyway).
Most likely the Sigma will go to the repair center next week (unless I see the same behavior with the GM).
p.20 #5 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I recently purchase one of these and I'm concerned with how loose the barrel feels. It doesn't feel as if it's broken but is it common for the barrel to be so loose that it extends easily when pointing the lens down?
I have to test mine to see if the autofocus is similar to j4nu's.
p.20 #6 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Dultimate wrote:
I recently purchase one of these and I'm concerned with how loose the barrel feels. It doesn't feel as if it's broken but is it common for the barrel to be so loose that it extends easily when pointing the lens down?
I have to test mine to see if the autofocus is similar to j4nu's.
p.20 #7 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Eruditass wrote:
Mine does not have this barrel issue
Neither does mine, if you mean just pointing it down. Of course, there is some zoom creep if it's kept that way and I start walking, shaking it, etc. but in general I think zoom stiffness is just right.
p.20 #8 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
j4nu wrote:
Neither does mine, if you mean just pointing it down. Of course, there is some zoom creep if it's kept that way and I start walking, shaking it, etc. but in general I think zoom stiffness is just right.
I concur. Pointing it down without moving has no creep. Walking quite 20 ft drops it an inch or so. It's equivalent to around 1/3 tightness on my 100-400GM
p.20 #11 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Getting back to my struggle, here's a similar shot taken today with the rented GM, though of course different conditions so 400mm, f5.6, 1/800s, ISO100, AF-C (doesn't seem to make a difference):
... still it seems the GM is a lot more repeatable when it comes down to focus, on the long end especially (than my copy of the Sigma). That's not to say I didn't have any missed shots with the GM, but I only used it for 2h or so today, I'll see what I run into tomorrow.
That's also not to bash the Sigma in any way (I really like it when it works, especially given the size, weight and price advantage over the GM ), last vacations when I just got it I thought it performed better so I suspect AF engine failure in my copy...
p.20 #12 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I suspect atmospheric disturbance. At 400 mm it is significant. Cars, heating between you and your subject. You have to judge the different lenses with pictures taken under identical conditions.
p.20 #13 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
GartenMoorriem wrote:
I suspect atmospheric disturbance. At 400 mm it is significant. Cars, heating between you and your subject. You have to judge the different lenses with pictures taken under identical conditions.
Yes, that's of course true. That is also why testing this is not that easy on the long end at far away subjects.
From what I've seen so far, I'm leaning towards AF being at fault, but of course that can be a wrong impression...
MF on tripod test tomorrow hopefully .
p.20 #19 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
So, not to interrupt the pictures any more and to conclude my story :
I got my Sigma back from the repair center with (what I unfortunatelly thought to be the most likely outcome) a note saying that everything is ok. The lens was tested with AR7RII in the service center, while I used it with A7III and A1.
I took the lens for another walk and handheld, OS-1, on the long end at 1/500s I still can't reliably get sharp pictures (sharp for me is when I don't see anything weird at 100%, doesn't have to be prime-sharp).
I'm not sure if it's my copy or the nature of this lens in general (I have not seen this mentioned in any reviews, so I hope it's my copy only), but I think I'll be heading towards the GM, with which (rented) I had a visibly higher success rate in similar conditons ...
p.20 #20 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I decided to give this lens a try as it seems like a fairly compact solution considering its range at a reasonable price that compliments my shorter primes (20G, i35, i65). Looking forward to posting some images after it arrives this weekend.
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(though knowing my luck probably sun will be gone by then, but I'll take some shots anyway).
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