Pixalo Photography Community - View Single Post - 70-200 +1x4 tc

Rob Barron · 02-04-2008, 08:46

The lens you're looking at is excellent so you won't have any quality problems there. The f2.8 version is not only heavier it is a LOT more expensive, so you need to be able to justify that which a lot of us cannot.

The 1.4TC will give you a very similar reach to your 70-300mm lens and the same f stop as you will be losing one stop so f4 becomes f5.6. The 200mm end of the lens is going to become 280mm so just shy of the 300mm but not much difference. If you are going this route to improve your reach then you'll be disappointed as it isn't any longer. You'd either have to go for a 2x TC giving you 400mm but losing two stops (f4 becomes f8) and because you're going down to f8 you'll usually lose autofocus as well. The alternative is to go up to the 100-400mm IS L which is a beltingly good lens but obviously more money than the 70-200mm.

In terms of quality, yes you will see a difference between the Sigma and the Canon L series, no question. BUT is it the type of difference you are really looking for? The clarity is better but it is not going to show up as chalk and cheese on every shot by any means. When accurately focused, your Sigma lens is a decent bit of glass and can produce very clean, sharp photos. The L series glass is top notch, you will reduce chromatic aberation massively and you have a lens which is weather-sealed to give you years and years of donkey work without getting upset if it's drizzling!

May I humbly recommend you consider carefully the type of shots you normally enjoy taking and make sure that this change is the one you will benefit most from at this juncture? I am a Canon man and have several L series lenses so I am perfectly certain of the quality attainable with them, I am just not entirely sure, from what you have written here, that you are making the best use of your money in this change.

After all, a 70-200mm f2.8 IS and a 1.4x TC is a decent investment and maybe it would be better to save just a little more and get the 100-400mm lens which will give you the extra reach you seem to want whilst giving you cracking quality, IS and so forth.

I hope that is food for thought and that I haven't just sown seeds of doubt and confusion. Though if the latter, then I don't apologise for that. I would rather you waited until you were certain of the move you are investing in than to spend heaps now and not reap the benefits as richly as you hoped.

Cheers,
Rob

02-04-2008, 08:46	#3 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,386	Re: 70-200 +1x4 tc The lens you're looking at is excellent so you won't have any quality problems there. The f2.8 version is not only heavier it is a LOT more expensive, so you need to be able to justify that which a lot of us cannot. The 1.4TC will give you a very similar reach to your 70-300mm lens and the same f stop as you will be losing one stop so f4 becomes f5.6. The 200mm end of the lens is going to become 280mm so just shy of the 300mm but not much difference. If you are going this route to improve your reach then you'll be disappointed as it isn't any longer. You'd either have to go for a 2x TC giving you 400mm but losing two stops (f4 becomes f8) and because you're going down to f8 you'll usually lose autofocus as well. The alternative is to go up to the 100-400mm IS L which is a beltingly good lens but obviously more money than the 70-200mm. In terms of quality, yes you will see a difference between the Sigma and the Canon L series, no question. BUT is it the type of difference you are really looking for? The clarity is better but it is not going to show up as chalk and cheese on every shot by any means. When accurately focused, your Sigma lens is a decent bit of glass and can produce very clean, sharp photos. The L series glass is top notch, you will reduce chromatic aberation massively and you have a lens which is weather-sealed to give you years and years of donkey work without getting upset if it's drizzling! May I humbly recommend you consider carefully the type of shots you normally enjoy taking and make sure that this change is the one you will benefit most from at this juncture? I am a Canon man and have several L series lenses so I am perfectly certain of the quality attainable with them, I am just not entirely sure, from what you have written here, that you are making the best use of your money in this change. After all, a 70-200mm f2.8 IS and a 1.4x TC is a decent investment and maybe it would be better to save just a little more and get the 100-400mm lens which will give you the extra reach you seem to want whilst giving you cracking quality, IS and so forth. I hope that is food for thought and that I haven't just sown seeds of doubt and confusion. Though if the latter, then I don't apologise for that. I would rather you waited until you were certain of the move you are investing in than to spend heaps now and not reap the benefits as richly as you hoped. Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!