p.7 #1 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Agree, but then for landscapes, whether f5.6, f6,3 or f8 and what focal length in that 100-400mm range doesn't matter at all. Personally I prefer fix aperture zooms, make the damn thing f5.6 or even f8 if you can make it smaller/lighter. If I need f2.8 I will look at the 300/400mm f2.8 primes.
p.7 #2 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
It's a good time to be into photography when you can all but assume a certain level of quality from the major manufacturers. If this fits the bill for you, it looks like it will be quite the bargain.
p.7 #3 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
bobby350z wrote:
Agree, but then for landscapes, whether f5.6, f6,3 or f8 and what focal length in that 100-400mm range doesn't matter at all. Personally I prefer fix aperture zooms, make the damn thing f5.6 or even f8 if you can make it smaller/lighter. If I need f2.8 I will look at the 300/400mm f2.8 primes.
What do you mean by the" focal length in the 100-400 doesn't matter at all". There's a huge difference between a 100mm view of a scene and a 400mm view. As far as aperture goes...most zooms need to be stopped down to achieve optimal image quality so I'd much rather have the zoom be f5.6 than f8.
Yes if you need f2.8, go with the primes...but we aren't talking about 2.8 zooms here are we.
p.7 #4 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
freaklikeme wrote:
It's a good time to be into photography when you can all but assume a certain level of quality from the major manufacturers. If this fits the bill for you, it looks like it will be quite the bargain.
Yes, with one caveat...if you get a good copy. Still hear way too much copy variations from these major manufactures.
p.7 #5 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
chez wrote:
What do you mean by the" focal length in the 100-400 doesn't matter at all". There's a huge difference between a 100mm view of a scene and a 400mm view. As far as aperture goes...most zooms need to be stopped down to achieve optimal image quality so I'd much rather have the zoom be f5.6 than f8.
Yes if you need f2.8, go with the primes...but we aren't talking about 2.8 zooms here are we.
I mean at what focal length the aperture changes from f5.6 to f6.3.
p.7 #7 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I've bought a used EF version of this lens just last week... for perched birds it's great on my a7RII, with BIF not great but as I'm new to the game of BIF 😊 it still could be a problem on user end not the camera... anyways what would you say what would be a greater improvement - upgrading to a7RIII or keeping RII and upgrading to the FE version of the lens? Oh and the Sigma 100-400 is my only AF lens everything else is MF...
A.
Jman13 wrote:
According to Dustin Abbott's review, this 100-400 is significantly faster to AF than the DSLR version...even than the DSLR version used on Canon bodies.
p.7 #8 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
bobek13 wrote:
I've bought a used EF version of this lens just last week... for perched birds it's great on my a7RII, with BIF not great but as I'm new to the game of BIF 😊 it still could be a problem on user end not the camera... anyways what would you say what would be a greater improvement - upgrading to a7RIII or keeping RII and upgrading to the FE version of the lens? Oh and the Sigma 100-400 is my only AF lens everything else is MF...
A.
I had and used that combo and while it was generally fine for swimming, walking, sitting birds and most aircraft it had close to zero chance on swallows (not that the operator is great at that either, granted) and I've seen a few mentions of not-quite-Formula-One-AF on native Canon bodies so my thought here is that the FE version will likely AF faster, even on an A7rii.
p.7 #9 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Well, I used to own the adapted DSLR version, and even on the A7 III tracking focus was only OK.
bobek13 wrote:
I've bought a used EF version of this lens just last week... for perched birds it's great on my a7RII, with BIF not great but as I'm new to the game of BIF 😊 it still could be a problem on user end not the camera... anyways what would you say what would be a greater improvement - upgrading to a7RIII or keeping RII and upgrading to the FE version of the lens? Oh and the Sigma 100-400 is my only AF lens everything else is MF...
p.7 #12 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
j4nu wrote:
Price in EU seems to be 999e, a pleasant surprise compared to what Tamron does .
Yes, Sigma pricing in CAD is also much better value than Tamron when compared to the US prices:
Sigma 100-400 is a 1.37x exchange
Tamron 28-200 is a 1.44x exchange
Tamron 70-180 is a 1.50x exchange
Newer released Canon stuff is also around 1.36x so Tamron is a bit nuts to me and so far has cost them a sale of the 70-180 from me and probably will cost them a sale of the 28-200 that I'm considering also.
p.7 #13 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I've been checking Dustin Abbott's YouTube review every other day for compatibility with Sony's TCs, and he confirmed it's not working - what others already suspected.
To quote Dustin Abbott:
"They physically mount, but no autofocus and aperture doesn't report correctly. A firmware update might change this, but it might not, too. I suspect we'll have to wait for Sigma TCs to arrive, and I don't know for sure if Sony will allow that."
p.7 #14 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I don't understand what Sony is thinking sometimes. I am lucky enough to have a great copy of the 100-400GM. I don't regret paying the full sticker price for this lens when it first came out.But I certainly understand why others would think twice. Sony should be able to still make money at 17-1800. Which would at least make people think about it compared to say a Sigma.To me they just shoot themselves in the foot sometimes with their pricing. I'm sure they could make up in volume more money than selling fewer at the higher prices they do. Similar with the RX1rii. They never budge off that 3200 number even 5 years later. You can't tell me they couldn't still make a profit at 2200, sorry don't believe it. That camera in particular doesn't even cannibalize another camera. People buy that in addition to other Sony camera's. I personally know a number of people that would buy that camera even with 5 year old tech at 2200 new today. Yet It's almost like Sony doesn't want to move product. I know that's not the case but it sure seems like it some times. Rant over, sorry Hope Sigma sells the $#%T out of this lens.
p.7 #15 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Is there's a reason, other than Sony's bottom line, why the TCs only works with certain designated Sony lenses? Does lens and TC need to be specifically designed for each other, or is it just straight up vendor lock-in?
I saw a quote from Sigma somewhere (maybe even somewhere in this thread?) to the effect that they'll only build what they're licensed for, when asked about e-mount TCs. To me that sounds like a Sigma TC is unlikely to be forthcoming...
p.7 #17 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Mine arrived this week, a bit bigger than I anticipated (barely fits into PD Sling 6l) but got used to it after some time, weight also seems manageable to me . Some test shots mostly wide open at various focal lengths, but weather is crappy atm, with barely any sun + I don't really have any experience with 100-400 so for evaluation purposes only : album with originals here
p.7 #18 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I'm excited! Centre sharpness looks great wide open. Looking forward to seeing some landscape shots with it. If corners are good at f8 I'll be over the moon (although would probably need a teleconverter to get that far )
p.7 #19 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
I received my lens yesterday, but the weather has been abysmal in the UK unfortunately so I haven't taken any landscape tests yet. I've shot it around the garden however and so far it's been great.
My main aim for this lens is for landscape use, with the occasional photo of birds/animals should the opportunity arise. I've previously had the Canon 100-400 II on Metabones and while that produced great results, it was too heavy for the sort of hiking that I do and so was usually left in the car or at home.
A few observations:
* Sharpness is excellent. I've mostly shot wide open so far. In the cases that I stopped down I only noticed mild improvement in the corners. Most of the difference when stopping down was due to increasing depth of field. This was at short and mid distance subjects so far. I'm keen to test this closer to infinity when I can.
* Size/weight is good. It's about 2cm longer than the 70-200/4 G and when hefting the two lenses I can't really tell the difference, especially when the 70-200/4 has the tripod mount on. The biggest advantage for the 100-400 is that the diameter of the hood is about 1cm less than the 70-200/4's and so fits better in my bag.
* Stabilization was better than I'd expected after watching some reviews. It's definitely not as good as the Canon 100-400 II when using the advanced mode on the Metabones (i.e. using both sensor and lens stabilization), however.
* Focus speed was great. Although this is not a big focus for me, it was able to track a small bird on the ground as it hopped about in the evening light (f/6.3 1/1000 ISO 8000) without much issue. Not a BIF by any stretch, but I've not had a chance to test that yet.
If this holds up for infinity subjects then this is likely to be the lens that I was waiting for. After having tried 100-400s, 70-300s and not being happy with any of them, this may be the one. The size/weight advantage over the Canon 100-400 II is worth the roughly 1/3rd of a stop disadvantage for my uses.
p.7 #20 · Pre-order: Sigma 100-400/5-6.3 DG DN OS FE ($949!)
Mine arrived today and I did some testshots at landscape / infinity distance.
At 100mm and f8 just slightly less contrast and corner sharpness than Sony GM 100 STF. At 135 /f8 equal to Samyang 1,8 / 135mm. At 200 mm clearly better than Minolta 200 /2,8 APO (centre and corners). 300 mm and 400 mm are the sweetspots of this lens. Just amazing detail.
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Hope Sigma sells the $#%T out of this lens. 
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