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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

New Sigma 150/600 contemporary (1 Viewer)

It's getting better and better, Mic.

Glad I made a preorder 14 days ago, but still have to wait to 11. May to get the chance to try it:). Think I will get the dock as well.
 
Has anyone had a chance to compare IQ of the Contemporary with the Tammy at 600mm?

And the Contemp at 600mm with the Sports at 600mm?

(with same camera body, same subject, same distance, same lighting, same settings etc...)
 
Has anyone had a chance to compare IQ of the Contemporary with the Tammy at 600mm?

And the Contemp at 600mm with the Sports at 600mm?

(with same camera body, same subject, same distance, same lighting, same settings etc...)

Hi Nick,
This is something I'd like to see in reviews as well. I think once the Contemporary is officially released, we'll be seeing lots of reviews about this. ;)
Cheers, John
 
Got to play with a Sigma Contemporary today and compared IQ at 600mm with my Tammy on my Canon 70D (also tried a few shots on my 6D).

On several comparison shots the Tammy was very slightly better - surprisingly!. On a couple of other comparisons I could see no real difference.

Got to say I am slightly disappointed - I had hoped to see the Siggy to be slightly sharper at 600mm than the Tammy.

I am hoping to have another go tomorrow.......
 
Got to play with a Sigma Contemporary today and compared IQ at 600mm with my Tammy on my Canon 70D (also tried a few shots on my 6D).

On several comparison shots the Tammy was very slightly better - surprisingly!. On a couple of other comparisons I could see no real difference.

Got to say I am slightly disappointed - I had hoped to see the Siggy to be slightly sharper at 600mm than the Tammy.

I am hoping to have another go tomorrow.......

Thanks for sharing your first hand experiences, Nick! I'm not surprised with your initial findings. Tamron is a fine lens, I have many photographer friends that have been getting remarkable results from it. For me, I choose Sigma for the ability to fine tune using the usb dock, and also be able to use the 1.4x tele.

On my Nikon DX cropped camera..
600mm x 1.4x tele = 840mm x 1.5x DX crop factor = 1260mm
..I really need this reach to get to those small birds. ;)

Cheers, John
 
Got to play with a Sigma Contemporary today and compared IQ at 600mm with my Tammy on my Canon 70D (also tried a few shots on my 6D).

On several comparison shots the Tammy was very slightly better - surprisingly!. On a couple of other comparisons I could see no real difference.

Got to say I am slightly disappointed - I had hoped to see the Siggy to be slightly sharper at 600mm than the Tammy.

I am hoping to have another go tomorrow.......
Nick having had the sport for over a month now ,I can assure you that it's not a simple case of sticking the lens on your camera and using it ,the facility to fine tune the sigmas gives them that extra edge it took me a fair while to get up the courage to play but boy was it worth it .
Given time I think owners and users of the sigma C will come to the same conclusions and then the results will speak for themselves
 
Had a day to carry out more detailed comparisons of Sigma Contemporary versus Tamron 150-600. Took comparison shots at 600mm with both lenses of resolution charts with camera/lens mounted on tripod and using cable release. Same lighting, same ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Also did some shooting using both lenses hand-held.

Pretty much confirmed my earlier conclusion. Very very little difference in IQ, with the edge going to the Tamron. I also felt the Tamron had the following advantages:

- more efficient Image Stabilisation System
- AF marginally faster
- preferred the longer mounting "foot" on the Tammy for carrying the lens/camera around

I recognise that the performance of the Sigma might be improved a shade by using the USB dock to tweak the AF micro-adjustment. (there again, this could be adjusted on the camera for the Tammy also).

I really don't think there is much to choose between these two lenses. As someone who already owns the Tammy, I won't be changing to the Sigma Contemporary - not least because I'd have to sell the Tammy as second-hand and it would cost me £300 or so to make the change!

I am still interested in trying the Sigma Sports and comparing it with the Tammy. I feel a bit uncertain about the weight of the Sports, but would be prepared to tolerate that if the IQ at 600mm is a bit better than the Contemporary and the Tammy.
 
Nick,
Thank you for testing these two lenses! But as Mic mentioned, if you could please provide non-post processed picture samples of each lens, that will be very helpful. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. Also, the advantage of the Contemporary is the ability to use a 1.4x tele with the lens. Also, on my low end camera body, it doesn't have micro adjustments feature for the lens, this is again why I chosed the Contemporary lenses ability to be micro adjusted via usb dock on a computer.
From your testings, they both appears to be fine lenses, and I'm glad we have choices! :)
Cheers, John
 
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Can someone please advise on sizing requirements for attaching images to forum posts?

(haven't posted photos for ages and can't remember the size limits!)

Thanks.
 
Had a day to carry out more detailed comparisons of Sigma Contemporary versus Tamron 150-600. Took comparison shots at 600mm with both lenses of resolution charts with camera/lens mounted on tripod and using cable release. Same lighting, same ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Also did some shooting using both lenses hand-held.

Pretty much confirmed my earlier conclusion. Very very little difference in IQ, with the edge going to the Tamron. I also felt the Tamron had the following advantages:

- more efficient Image Stabilisation System
- AF marginally faster
- preferred the longer mounting "foot" on the Tammy for carrying the lens/camera around

I recognise that the performance of the Sigma might be improved a shade by using the USB dock to tweak the AF micro-adjustment. (there again, this could be adjusted on the camera for the Tammy also).

I really don't think there is much to choose between these two lenses. As someone who already owns the Tammy, I won't be changing to the Sigma Contemporary - not least because I'd have to sell the Tammy as second-hand and it would cost me £300 or so to make the change!

I am still interested in trying the Sigma Sports and comparing it with the Tammy. I feel a bit uncertain about the weight of the Sports, but would be prepared to tolerate that if the IQ at 600mm is a bit better than the Contemporary and the Tammy.

I ordered the Contemporary and will receive it tomorrow. Will be able to test them both side by side on Saturday and will post results. This time I ordered from B&H so if I am not impressed I will return it. Nick if you have flickr, post the links so people can see the full resolution shots.
 
Isaac - I will be very interested to hear your impressions of the Sigma Contemporary and how it stacks up against the Tamron! If you decide the Sigma Contemp is not for you and return it to B&H, would you consider ordering the Sigma Sports instead to compare against the Tammy? (on the basis that you could return that too if you are not impressed!).

I don't have a Flickr account, but I will consider opening one so I can post my test shots.......

cheers,
Nick
 
Isaac - I will be very interested to hear your impressions of the Sigma Contemporary and how it stacks up against the Tamron! If you decide the Sigma Contemp is not for you and return it to B&H, would you consider ordering the Sigma Sports instead to compare against the Tammy? (on the basis that you could return that too if you are not impressed!).

I don't have a Flickr account, but I will consider opening one so I can post my test shots.......

cheers,
Nick

Got the lens and took it for a spin. Went to my trusted oystercatcher spot as the birds are close and the action is always good. It is a good test of the lens. My first impressions are that it is as sharp or a bit sharper than the Tamron, but is slower to focus. Will do more tests with it to confirm my initial thoughts. I have the Sigma dock and did 2 custom settings, I changed to dynamic os and also to focus priority (or whatever that setting is). Don't know if that is first day with the lens problems or what. I have my 7d2 set for 1st and 2nd shot focus priority. Perhaps the setting on the lens slowed it down even more? Not sure.

Anyway here are some of my Oystercatcher shots with the lens.

Flying

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16571289473/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17191467015/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17007195670/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16572593974/

Not flying

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17003951860/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17189832172/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17008571089/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17194713555/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17190796201/

And a few with the Tamron for comparison. I did not spend too much time using the Tamron today. Really just a few minutes and did so mostly after using the Sigma. So the sun was higher and the light a bit harsher.

flying

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17008890159/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17007303328/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17007303118/in/photostream/

not flying

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17005321909/
 
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I have the Sigma dock and did 2 custom settings, I changed to dynamic os and also to focus priority (or whatever that setting is). Don't know if that is first day with the lens problems or what. I have my 7d2 set for 1st and 2nd shot focus priority. Perhaps the setting on the lens slowed it down even more? Not sure.
I have often wondered about a conflict between the dock and Camera settings. What would happen if you had one set to 'focus' and one set to 'speed' would they cancel each other out or would one take priority. Or in your case did having both set the 'focus' slow down the AF even more?. My gut feeling is that the Camera settings would take preference but I could well be wrong.
 
I have often wondered about a conflict between the dock and Camera settings. What would happen if you had one set to 'focus' and one set to 'speed' would they cancel each other out or would one take priority. Or in your case did having both set the 'focus' slow down the AF even more?. My gut feeling is that the Camera settings would take preference but I could well be wrong.

It is a very good question Roy. And one that no one has answered properly. The way to do it would be to set the Sigma back to factory settings and go back in the same light and see how it performs. Won't get that chance any time soon. But it is the reason I mentioned it as I was not sure either what was the cause of the slower auto focus.

Roy, do you see any difference in the shots with the two lenses?
 
Roy, do you see any difference in the shots with the two lenses?
There does not look to be a lot in it to me. I notice that most all of them was shot at less than 600mm - a lot being quite a bit less (you must have been darn close, I have never got within 30 metres or so of a Oystercatcher and its usually a lot further than that lol).
I suppose the only way you could really compare is to shoot at some static target and on a tripod with both lenses at the same focal length.
 
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