p.21 #1 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I would like a bit more reach, if Sigma were to bring TC`s to e-mount I would be all over this lens. But now I`m still waiting if Sigma brings an updated 150-600 for e-mount and to see how the recently anounced Tamron 150-500 will fare. If none of these two longer options works out I`ll probably settle for this 100-400 Sigma.
p.21 #2 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Picked this lens up and have to say I like it. It is relatively compact, and focusing seems fast and accurate. Both of these are wide open around 400mm.
p.21 #3 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
So I just recieved my copy of this lens from B&H and I can't get a sharp photo at 200-400mm unless I stop down to f/11. At f/8 they're not terrible, but not sharp. At 6.3 they're mushy. (all viewed at 100%)
Do you think that is copy variation?
I'm shooting with an a7R3 with OS1 on at ss from 100 to 800th/sec. All hand held, although I tried some propped on my truck's roof. Targets at 30 to 100 yards. I could post samples later, but they're msuhy at 6.3, ok at f/8, and most shots sharp at f/11. Not what I was expecting.
p.21 #4 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Peterk78 wrote:
So I just recieved my copy of this lens from B&H and I can't get a sharp photo at 200-400mm unless I stop down to f/11. At f/8 they're not terrible, but not sharp. At 6.3 they're mushy. (all viewed at 100%)
Do you think that is copy variation?
I'm shooting with an a7R3 with OS1 on at ss from 100 to 800th/sec. All hand held, although I tried some propped on my truck's roof. Targets at 30 to 100 yards. I could post samples later, but they're msuhy at 6.3, ok at f/8, and most shots sharp at f/11. Not what I was expecting....Show more →
Mine is sharp wide open so I would return it and try another copy.
p.21 #6 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Peterk78 wrote:
Thanks, I was hoping someone would say that. Btw, what's the lowest ss you can get sharp images with ( a reasonable %)
More importantly for me, I find the image stable in the viewfinder, but I haven't pushed the shutter speeds low enough to answer. For example, the image of my dog above was 1/200 at 400mm, f/6.3.
p.21 #7 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
can you post some photos at full and 100% res to demonstrate the softness?
when i have mine fast enough to avoid motion i find it pretty sharp even wide open at 400mm
p.21 #8 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Yeah, I'll try to tomorrow, but i had it up to1/800 sec wide open and at f/8 and holding very steady (even braced) and got mush that didn't have the telltale signs of camera shake, just very soft. Then at f/11 i can get sharp images at 1/100 (if i remember correctly, maybe 1/200) consistently. So that tells me it's not ss.
p.21 #9 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
jrscls wrote:
More importantly for me, I find the image stable in the viewfinder, but I haven't pushed the shutter speeds low enough to answer. For example, the image of my dog above was 1/200 at 400mm, f/6.3.
Thanks, I'll return my copy for exchange and hope to get a good one.
p.21 #10 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
https://i.imgur.com/cjmff93.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UXpmwdL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/89R524C.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qXR4zxu.jpg
here are a few of my 100% crops from a7rii. i usually shoot 100-400 wide open and its pretty sharp. actual image in lightroom is just a tiny bit sharper from the imgur compression.
p.21 #11 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
kooshball wrote:
can you post some photos at full and 100% res to demonstrate the softness?
when i have mine fast enough to avoid motion i find it pretty sharp even wide open at 400mm
Here's a couple that show the difference. I have many that are the same. At f/11 I can get sharp images 9/10 times at 1/250 (I think I had one at 1/100). At 6.3 they're all mush even at 1/800
p.21 #14 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Mine was pretty sharp on the long end on closer targets, but I never managed to get it to work consistently across the frame closer to infinity.
@Peterk78, I think you have a bad copy - I never saw such differences between apertures in my shooting.
p.21 #15 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
@jrscls Now that is what I expect from this lens. Otherwise, I'd save up for the GM - or just keep the Tamron 70-300 I just got after reading the great things people have to say about it on this forum.
@j4nu Definitely a bad copy. It's on its way back to B&H, and I hope to get the replacement this week.
This (with the 7-300 Tamy) is the first lens longer than 200mm that I've bought, and I expect to use it for that long reach. I'll test the new copy at the short end as well.
I may end up keeping them both and use the Tamy when weight is the major consideration. But, WOW did I see a difference with the Sigma's OS compared to the Tamy with none. So for critical situations, I'd want the Sigma.
p.21 #16 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Finally got out with my new/used A7C and the Sigma 100-400. I'm not a birder and don't use tele much, and this is my main purpose for getting the lens. My son and I usually surf together in winter, but yesterday was the first time he was out when I was done and I had my camera with me. I sold my FE70-300 because I wanted more reach, and I ended up getting a 7C recently, and I must say that I'm impressed with the AF. I find it locks on better than my RIII can and it doesn't let go. I didn't want to spend the $ on the Sony for my limited usage, and the Sigma seems to fit the bill perfectly. A few of these are cropped but not by much. Of course, the sun went behind some clouds when he got his best ride, but still happy with the lens performance.
p.21 #18 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Peterk78 wrote:
@mjk115@ The kid looks Awesome! Can't think of a better use of this lens :-)
Just got my replacement copy yesterday and took some test shots. Will post later if anything interesting shows up.
Thanks Peterk78. He's 15 and has grown about a foot in the last year, all long limbs and still getting used to them. He pretends to be indifferent to me taking pictures, but all his screen savers are shots I've taken of him surfing. He knows when he's had a good session. He's going to like this lens too.
Hope your new copy is a good one.
p.21 #19 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
j4nu wrote:
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 .
Maybe this helps. I received my replacement Sigma 100-400 last week. Tested it and was not getting sharp shots at 400mm. Not nearly as bad as the first copy, but just not very sharp. It occurred to me that maybe it was atmospheric issues. The first two tests were on 90 degree days in the heat of the sunshine with subjects 150-200 yds away.
So I took some "macro" shots a couple of days ago near mfd. f/6.3 - f/11 at 400 mm, All handheld. You could see the little "hairs" on the little miniscule stem in the middle of the flower bud at f/6.3. Stopped down, the increased dof affect overwhelmed any diff in sharpness.
For medium range: I took it outside yesterday, a cold drizzly day, and took a bunch of shots of a building 30-40 yds away. All at 1/400 sec. ranging from f/6.3 to f/11 at 100, 200, 300 & 400 mm. auto ISO. All handheld
After doing a little exposure adj to get them all the same, and a little LR NR scaled to the ISO (5,000 - 12,800), I couldn't tell the f/6.3 from the f/8 or f/11 even at 200%. The ever so slight diff at f/11 could have been due to ISO, NR, Diffraction impacts. It was so slight nobody would notice unless told to look for a difference, and even then I'm not sure one would be judged sharper than the other.
After taking one of those 400mm f/6.3 shots through Denoise and AI Sharpen (moderate settings), it was sharp as a tack - I could feel the rough edges on the little dribble in the brick's mortar.
p.21 #20 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I have also been trying out the Sigma 100-400 this week and too find it "sharp as a tack." I own the Sony 100-400 and plan on keeping it but thought the Sigma might work for hiking and travel since meaningfully lighter and a bit thinner, too.
.