Sigma zoom lens

[kriipsujuku]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone had any information on the 120-400mm OS Sigma lens? Is it good quality?

I'm looking to buy a telephoto lens to fit a canon 350d and will be using it to photograph birds and mammals.

Any thoughts on these lenses?

Thanks

Mark

[Badllarma]

Mark I'm waiting for mine to arrive at present although I have seen it on my mates Nikon D50 (the whole reason for my buying it ) and the OS is incredible at 400 mm I was shooting 1/30th of a sec free standing and the images had NO camera movement/camera shake on them!!!!

Is it as good as the Canon L glass? Maybe not but you need to double your budget to get one of those.

I'll post back once mine arrives

[Badllarma]

Hi Mark not used the lens in anger yet but been down to 1/20th of a sec at 400mm Just shooting across the avenue.

I'm off to Martin Mere tomorrow (2nd August) so give it a try out on my Canon 20D then. Depending on the weather.

[lovfinion]

I was hoping to pick one up, then found out Sigma ain't doing a four thirds version, couple that with them discontinuing the 135-400mm lens I'm having trouble finding one

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

I was hoping to pick one up, then found out Sigma ain't doing a four thirds version, couple that with them discontinuing the 135-400mm lens I'm having trouble finding one

Why not use the 50-500mm. You don't need a lens with OS as its built into your camera isn't it?

[DavyG]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

I was hoping to pick one up, then found out Sigma ain't doing a four thirds version, couple that with them discontinuing the 135-400mm lens I'm having trouble finding one

Sigma aren't doing a 4/3 version, yet.

If it's a fairly new lens, they'll probably get round to supplying it for 4/3 at some point in the future.

As for the 135-400, it's still available, however as someone who owns both, I'd recommend you save your pennies and go straight to the 50-500.

If you have the E510, the in camera IS system is very good, so no need to buy lenses with OS.

Dave

[Badllarma]

Ok guys you will have to educate me here 4/3 Version?? I though Canon fit is Canon fit???? If it's not going on a full frame DSLR it will give a slightly higher mag than a full frame but apart from that everything works ok???

[DavyG]

Originally Posted by Badllarma

Ok guys you will have to educate me here 4/3 Version?? I though Canon fit is Canon fit???? If it's not going on a full frame DSLR it will give a slightly higher mag than a full frame but apart from that everything works ok???

The 4/3 system is the only slr and lens system designed from the start to be entirely digital.

Because of the sensor size used in the cameras, the system has a focal length magnification factor (crop factor) of 2.

A fuller explanation can be found here:

Four Thirds System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dave

[John D]

Originally Posted by Badllarma

Ok guys you will have to educate me here 4/3 Version?? I though Canon fit is Canon fit???? If it's not going on a full frame DSLR it will give a slightly higher mag than a full frame but apart from that everything works ok???

Go to the Olympus Web Page and you will get all the facts re- 4/3 system.
You can also check the Sigma web page for a list of 4/3 compatible lenses.
All makes of camera have a different fiitting for the lens and therefore only a lens compatible with that specific make of camera can be used.
John D

[Badllarma]

Well I've looked at this and cannot for the life of me wonder why Mark needs to know about this fitting when his question was about a Canon 350D .

And now I've just reread the entire thread I see lovfinion hijacked it and so all the threads/answers from then on were relating to his issues

[lovfinion]

Originally Posted by Badllarma

Well I've looked at this and cannot for the life of me wonder why Mark needs to know about this fitting when his question was about a Canon 350D .

And now I've just reread the entire thread I see lovfinion hijacked it and so all the threads/answers from then on were relating to his issues

Accept my full apology for hijacking the thread, it wasn't my intention, I'll make my own thread in future ;-)

I will add the that 700 quid for a lens is way, way out my budget, heck even the 400 quid for the 400mm is going to be a struggle, wildlife photography sure is expensive...

[Badllarma]

lovfinion no problem I just could not work out why everything went 4/3

If I were you I'd start scanning Ebay since the newer OS lenses have come out the older ones have been selling for a lower price you may be able to pick up a bargain.

[lovfinion]

That's my problem Badllarma, Sigma have discontinued the 135-400mm lens for 4/3 but haven't released or even mentioned when they'll release the newer 400mm for 4/3.. making the ones on ebay bloody expensive & the 500mm is just way to expensive for me..

I knew I should have went for a canon or nikon, I just wanted to be a bit different so got a E-510 & quite inexpensively..

[DavyG]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

That's my problem Badllarma, Sigma have discontinued the 135-400mm lens for 4/3 but haven't released or even mentioned when they'll release the newer 400mm for 4/3.. making the ones on ebay bloody expensive & the 500mm is just way to expensive for me..

I knew I should have went for a canon or nikon, I just wanted to be a bit different so got a E-510 & quite inexpensively..

I'm intrigued by the fact that you think the Sigma 135-400 is unavailable, that isn't the case.

There are a number of 135-400's available, some from the same web site you bought your E510 from.

The price shown on the well known auction site was the same price I paid for my 135-400, so nothing had changed there.

You'll find that each brand has it's good and bad points, your E510 is an excellent camera, unfortunately long telephoto lenses are expensive, regardless of camera manufacturer.

Have you looked at some of the great offers available for the ZD 70-300? I've seen some great images produced using that lens, it may be worth considering as it can be bought for less than £200.00.

Dave

[Badllarma]

aaaaahhhh That really bad luck mate, Good luck with the search you never know something may come along, as times get harder more people are inclined to ditch the toys they no longer use you may drop on one that is put online and finishes mid week at 2am or something

There was a f4.5 500mm Telephoto Sigma the other day that went for £1068.00 I knew I should of bid on it but the misses put her foot down : Relatively speaking that was reallllllly cheap. She didn't buy the argument though

[lovfinion]

Originally Posted by DavyG

I'm intrigued by the fact that you think the Sigma 135-400 is unavailable, that isn't the case.

There are a number of 135-400's available, some from the same web site you bought your E510 from.

The price shown on the well known auction site was the same price I paid for my 135-400, so nothing had changed there.

You'll find that each brand has it's good and bad points, your E510 is an excellent camera, unfortunately long telephoto lenses are expensive, regardless of camera manufacturer.

Have you looked at some of the great offers available for the ZD 70-300? I've seen some great images produced using that lens, it may be worth considering as it can be bought for less than £200.00.

Dave

I have checked the auction site recently but couldn't find a 400mm for 4/3, now that might just be down to my poor observational skills on websites ..

As for the newer sigma 120-400mm lens, I gather it's common practice to release lenses for the big 2 before others, it has been a good 6 months since this lens was released..

I may just opt for the Zuiko 70-300, be a damn sight better than my current 150mm

[John D]

[quote=lovfinion;314678]

As for the newer sigma 100-400mm lens, I gather it's common practice to release lenses for the big 2 before others, it has been a good 6 months since this lens was released..

Have I missed something? When did Sigma release the 100-400mm lens?
John D

[lovfinion]

[quote=John D;314686]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

As for the newer sigma 100-400mm lens, I gather it's common practice to release lenses for the big 2 before others, it has been a good 6 months since this lens was released..

Have I missed something? When did Sigma release the 100-400mm lens?
John D

I'm sure you knew it was a typo & I meant 120 & not 100

I've since edited, thanks again

[DavyG]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

I have checked the auction site recently but couldn't find a 400mm for 4/3, now that might just be down to my poor observational skills on websites ..

As for the newer sigma 120-400mm lens, I gather it's common practice to release lenses for the big 2 before others, it has been a good 6 months since this lens was released..

I may just opt for the Zuiko 70-300, be a damn sight better than my current 150mm

If you search for "sigma olympus" on said auction site, you should see at least one 135-400 for sale.

Something to bear in mind about 4/3 system cameras is that a 70-300 lens equates to a 140-600 lens on a 35mm camera due to the 2 x crop factor.

The same lens on a Canon APS-C sensor camera would equate to a 112-480 lens on a 35mm camera, as the APS-C sensors have a 1.6 crop factor.

I'll let you know what I think of the ZD 70-300 lens in a week or so, my wife has just ordered one as she doesn't like carrying the 135-400 around!

I look forward to seeing some of the pics from your E510, don't give up with your ZD 40-150mm lens, we've had some good shots of Dragonflies with that lens.

Dave

[kriipsujuku]

hi badllarma

just seen your shots of the kingfisher.....looking good

how are you finding the lens?

i hope you are getting on well and having fun with yours.

take it easy, cheers, mark

[Badllarma]

Hi Mark so far so good a few issues mainly to do with me

1) Learning when and when not to use the OS defiantly not when resting it on anything. Keep either leaving it on or leaving it off when I should have had it on.

2) Remember to turn zoom lock on when walking around with it stops the lens from extending outward making for an even longer object to smash against anything within 1 m of it. Just remember to take it off before trying to use it

Ok so that's me I've mainly been using it with the x2 converter which makes manual focus hard on anything less than good daylight (you have to manual focus with the converter on). And even with the OS on at 800mm 1/250 is REALLY pushing my luck. Anything less than 1/250 is bobbins as 90% of the images I have taken will testify.

As for shooting without then converter no problems so far. OS lets you get away with murder at 400mm (officially of course all images at 400 mm should be shot on 1/500 of a sec plus) but I've pulled off shots at 1/125 sec today and 1/200 sec with no issues.

There is only one problem I have found and that is, auto focus is good but not lightning quick I was try to capture gun dogs jumping into a pond today at a country fair and even with AI focus set on my 20D I did not get one good image, to be fair I tried my 70-200 f2.8 Sigma afterwards on the same subject and the hit rate was still very poor.

I would like to test a 100-400mm Canon against it but I don't have one so it's any persons guess to see if it's any quicker

I'm at Tatton Park next week photographing the lurcher racing last year I had ago and had to prefocus all the shots with my old Canon 75-300 mm so I may try some tracking and shooting with the lens there and see how i go on.