sigma 80 - 400 APO OS

[Steve Babbs]

Sorry for yet another which lens question, but this lens does not seem to have been discussed much compared to, for example, the canon 100 - 400. Anyone any thoughts on how they compare. I want to buy a 'bird lens' for my 350D. Price is a serious issue for me, as I need my money for foreign trips and buying a house, but I don't want to make the mistake of buying lens that I immediately want to replace. In fact even if I get the sigma I'll have to keep the cost secret from my wife!

When I do chose I'd ideally get one second hand I check the for sale here and occasionally ebay, any other good sites I should be checking?

Steve

[Keith Reeder]

Hey Steve.

Surprised you can't find stuff about this lens - it has been discussed a lot on here (often by me!!)

;)

Take your point though - not many direct comparisions with the Sigma and the Canon equivalent.

OK, I own both lenses - Sigma is a Nikon fit, but I've had it a while, and I "know" it.

Here's my thoughts on the thing: http://www.birdforum.net/reviews/showproduct.php?product=142&sort=7&cat=14&page=1

It's a fantastic lens, Steve.

There might be some small functional differences with the 100-400mm (I don't know if the Canon mount Sigma has an internal focus motor - bet it does though) but if it's the same in that regard as the Nikon mount I can confidently say that it will focus pretty much as fast as the 100-400mm, albeit a tad more noisily (to us anyway).

Optically, it's right up there with the Canon lens, and in fact might even be a hair sharper.

Honest to God Steve, it's a bloody fantastic lens, and the only reason I went with the 100-400mm when I jumped ship to Canon was that I fancied the idea of the USM motor in the Canon: but now I know how little "real world" difference that seems to make, I'd go with the Sigma if I had to make that same decision now.

It's black too, which is a good thing in my book!

The different zoom approaches don't bother me too much, 'cos I usually shoot at 400mm: but if truth be known, I prefer the twist ring zoom on the Sigma to the push/pull zoom on the Canon, simply because I tend to "lock off" the Canon zoom once I've extended it, and once or twice I've been caught out when I've wanted to shorten the zoom range - not a problem with the Sigma.

Bottom line: both optically fine lenses, the image stabilisation is brilliant on both: unless USM is an absolute " must have" (and assuming that the Canon mount lens has an internal AF drive too) then there's no downside to getting the Sigma.

HTH

[Quacker]

What's the price difference might be a better question?

I know the Canon is available for £880ish

Steve

[Keith Reeder]

I'll be honest Steve and say that at that price I'd probably get the Canon - the optical difference between them isn't much at all, and if Kerso happens to have in stock at that price I'd buy it if I was in the market...

Mind you, I've seens the Sigma for £730 http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/114322/art/sigma/80-400mm-f4-5-5-6-ex-os-l.html new.

[Steve Babbs]

I'll be honest Steve and say that at that price I'd probably get the Canon - the optical difference between them isn't much at all, and if Kerso happens to have in stock at that price I'd buy it if I was in the market...

Mind you, I've seens the Sigma for £730 http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/114322/art/sigma/80-400mm-f4-5-5-6-ex-os-l.html new.
Is kerso an ebay seller?

Steve

[gmax]

Is kerso an ebay seller?

Steve

Hello,
well yes, he (Ian Kerr) also post here on BF; in any case, here (http://stores.ebay.it/FLASH-CAMERA) it's the link to his ebay shop .. perhaps it is worth doing a search here on BF, comments seem to be quite positive
Cheers,
Max