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Sigma 150mm or Canon 70-200 f/4? (1 Viewer)

stevetb

Registered user
Hi everyone,

I've got some money saved up, and would like a new lens. At the moment, I've got the sigma 17-70mm, which is a great little wide angle/standard jobbie, and the canon 400mm f/5.6L. I kinda need something to fill the gap, but at the same time, I really would like a macro lens!

The lens I was thinking could fill the gap is the 70-200 f/4, which I've heard is an excellent lens. The macro lens I've been looking at is the Sigma 150mm - again, I've heard that it's very good.

But this got me thinking - can the sigma 150mm - albeit not as well as the 70-200 - fill the gap between my current lenses? I.e can it be used for compressed landscapes, a bit of sports?

There's one more thing furthering the problem. I'm hoping to go to Skomer soon, and understand that a lot of the birds will be very close. Too close for the 400 - which I should still be able to use for more distant birds and flight shots. Would a macro lens do O.K for these closer birds? Or would the 70-200 be a lot better?

Thanks very much if you can help!
Steve.
 
i think the 70/200 is the best bet its super sharp and takes a 1.4tc very well and if you can get some ex tubes too then close up ( not macro ) would also be posible they would also fit all your lenses.
Rob.
 
I have the Sigma 150 and its a brilliant lens I took it to the Farnes a couple of weeks ago and it will take 1.4 TC well.
I did take some birds with it close up but the AF is very slow against the 400mm f5.6
so only sitting birds for me with it, you can always stick a spacer in the 400mm f5.6
I think in retrospect I could have used it more, but its like a boy in a sweet shop with all the birds,
you do need to be grounded and methodical, thats if Skomer is much the same as the Farnes
 
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I agree with Rob, your best bet would be the 70-200/4. I would not have thought that the Macro would be all that good for landscapes or sport although they are useful for portraits. I tried a few landscapes with my Canon macro and it was not very good at all and as for sports/birds, the AF would be too slow to be of much use. A Macro lens is a specialised job where as the 70/200 is more of a 'jack of all trades'

The 70-200/4 could do both landscapes and sports/birds . Also the 70-200/4 is a very good lens for Butterflies/Dragons, especially if used with a extension tube and/or a 1.4 tc (I prefer it to the macro as it gives you a greater working distance). The 70-200/4 is a superb all round lens IMO.
 
I have the Sigma 150 and-while its a cracking macro-I think the 70-200 would be far better for your requirements.
As someone stated the AF on the 150mm is quite slow compared to others and I really only use it for macro because of that.
 
Hi everyone,

I kinda need something to fill the gap, but at the same time, I really would like a macro lens!

Steve.

If you want a macro 150 Sigma £538 if you want something to fill the gap 70-200/4 £523 non IS, so much the same price. I would not bring your trip to Skomer into the equation its just one trip.

EDIT BTW these were taken with the Sigma 150
 

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EDIT BTW these were taken with the Sigma 150
Sorry Terry but it kind of shows that these were taken with a macro lens, I would not use a macro for birds myself unless I could get within a few feet. A macro lens is optimised for close focusing and anything approaching infinity is bound to suffer.
Here are a few birds taken with the 70-200/4 + 1.4tc a few months ago for comparison.
 

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I agree Roy with your statement, Macro is for taking Macros, but just wanted to show it could take OK Birds.
AC/DC has to make his mind up which way to full, does he really want a macro lens or a gap filler.
So with that in mind heres some macro shots and remember I am still learning.
 

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I agree Roy with your statement, Macro is for taking Macros, but just wanted to show it could take OK Birds.
AC/DC has to make his mind up which way to full, does he really want a macro lens or a gap filler.
So with that in mind heres some macro shots and remember I am still learning.
They are very good Terry but the OP was asking for a lens to do compressed Landscapes and Sports specifically and IMO there is no comparison between the 70-200 or a macro lens for these purposes, the zoom wins hands down. Now if he specifically wanted a lens for macro work that would be different.
 
OK Roy got me knickers in a twist again :-C I should read right through the post, but he might say now he wants a macro :-O
 
Thanks very much for all the different views. The 70-200 does seem like the way to go. I kinda knew it was the most logical choice - it's just my urge for a macro lens got me wondering if they could be versatile.
 
Thanks very much for all the different views. The 70-200 does seem like the way to go. I kinda knew it was the most logical choice - it's just my urge for a macro lens got me wondering if they could be versatile.

Maybe the 70-200/4 plus extension tubes might fit the bill, until you can afford to add the macro at a later date?
 
Maybe the 70-200/4 plus extension tubes might fit the bill, until you can afford to add the macro at a later date?
Certainly worth thinking about, I find the 70-200 with tubes and maybe a tc actually better than a macro for the likes of Dragons and butterflies.
 
Just to update: I bought a macro lens!

Why? Well, to be honest, I don't take that many landscape or sports shots, and was just wondering how useful a 70-200 might be, to convince myself that I didn't just want it for Skomer. The only reason I thought about it was because of Skomer, and as Terry mentions, it's not worth 1 trip. On the other hand, I have wanted a macro lens for a long time - I was just trying to see if it could sorta fill the boots of the 70-200 at the same time. Having recieved the sigma 150mm, I'm definitely happy I've made the right choice - it's a fantastic lens and I'm having great fun with it.
 
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Nice one Steve. A Sigma 150mm is a good macro, from what I have heard. I want a macro when I can afford one and the Sigma is one I'd like. Great pics, by the way, especially the fly.
 
Good choice. A macro lens can open a whole other world of photography to fill your time and has a lot more scope for creativity and imagination in the images.
 
The cool thing about a macro lens is that you can have a blast using it around the homestead. Your flower beds and gardens are full of macro opportunities.

Have fun!
 
Just to update: I bought a macro lens!

Why? Well, to be honest, I don't take that many landscape or sports shots, and was just wondering how useful a 70-200 might be, to convince myself that I didn't just want it for Skomer. The only reason I thought about it was because of Skomer, and as Terry mentions, it's not worth 1 trip. On the other hand, I have wanted a macro lens for a long time - I was just trying to see if it could sorta fill the boots of the 70-200 at the same time. Having recieved the sigma 150mm, I'm definitely happy I've made the right choice - it's a fantastic lens and I'm having great fun with it.


I was right in the end, welcome to the world of the little ones.
Thats made me think get out with my 150mm Sigma it needs a trip out, but today looks overcast and rain...........
 
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