if its any good I'm glad I just sold my 100-400 for good money as I could see the value of 100-400l taking a hit (but only if the siggy's are any good).
Gosh I hope the samples posted on dpreview aren't indicative of the 120-400's true performance; they are woeful. I hope it's a grossly faulty lens or a useless tester.
I'm afraid these samples are in line with the MTF charts (clearly lower than e.g. the 4/100-300), as well as with the price (half as much as the Canon 100-400). And the 150-500 will look very similar.
You simply get what you pay for. The mythic Canon 100-400 Mark II will be much better, but it will cost € 2000.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Gosh I hope the samples posted on dpreview aren't indicative of the 120-400's true performance; they are woeful. I hope it's a grossly faulty lens or a useless tester.
One thing that strikes me as odd is the price.
Not only it's rather low, but here in Europe it's also much lower than sigma's own 80-400.
Also, I thought that it was suposed to replace the 80-400, but it's not, since the latter is still listed at dealers and sigma's website, which makes the price difference all that much strange since it has more glass elements and features HSM, while the 80-400 does not.
Another thing to consider is the fact that the lens is not an EX.
Maybe these two factors are indicative of a lower IQ...
I have ordered one online (haven't made the money transfer yet), but I think I'll cancel the order until I see more pics or an online review.
One thing that strikes me as odd is the price.
Not only it's rather low, but here in Europe it's also much lower than sigma's own 80-400.
Also, I thought that it was suposed to replace the 80-400, but it's not, since the latter is still listed at dealers and sigma's website, which makes the price difference all that much strange since it has more glass elements and features HSM, while the 80-400 does not.
Another thing to consider is the fact that the lens is not an EX.
Maybe these two factors are indicative of a lower IQ....
Indeed this is very peculiar. Why Sigma is doing cannot be understood just yet. But I suspect it's all part of a strategy. I believe Sigma and Canon had some tacit understanding, perhaps as fellow Japanese corporations, not wanting to compete with each other too ferociously ... giving Canon some leeway to ensure that their 100-400L will retain its value. And not to destroy the Canon 100-400 in the market.
So this is why Sigma have perhaps come up with an non-EX design, no weather sealing but with very good optical performance that is perhaps better than that of the Canon 100-400L. I think as fellow Japanese corporations they do compete but also watch each other's back. Japanese are very loyal towards each other.
Venus wrote:
Japanese are very loyal towards each other. I believe Sigma and Canon had some tacit understanding, perhaps as fellow Japanese corporations, not wanting to compete with each other too ferociously ... giving Canon some leeway to ensure that their 100-400L will retain its value. And not to destroy the Canon 100-400 in the market.
This notion strikes me as (to put it charitably) implausible.
Venus wrote:
So this is why Sigma have perhaps come up with an non-EX design, no weather sealing but with very good optical performance that is perhaps better than that of the Canon 100-400L.
Where do you find any indication for that assumption? The samples posted so far certainly don't show "very good optical performance". Neither do the MTF charts.
It seems ok from 200-300, but still too soft for anyone here I'm sure.
Stopping down at all improves sharpness.
Focus is so slow it's shocking, even on a 1DIIn. But no hunting.
No CA on a sky shot was a pleasant suprise.
That seller did manage to send FedEx in such a way I wasn't nailed with import duty.
Andrew J wrote:
It seems ok from 200-300, but still too soft for anyone here I'm sure.
Stopping down at all improves sharpness.
Focus is so slow it's shocking, even on a 1DIIn. But no hunting.
No CA on a sky shot was a pleasant suprise.
That seller did manage to send FedEx in such a way I wasn't nailed with import duty.
