500mm f4 dilemma

hobsey

hobsey

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I've been putting off starting this thread but I've ran out of options.

I've been trying to research the comparisons between the Canon mkii and the new Sigma Sport but the only real comparisons I can find are on DXO.

Next June I'm off to the Isle of Mull for a week and want to purchase a 500mm prime.

Ideally I want to get a pre owned Canon mkii over the Sigma but I can't be guaranteed a good mkii will come up nearer the time so my only option will be to get the Sigma.

Is there many on here that has had hands on experience with the 2? Is there much difference between the 2?

Thank you in advance.
 
I’m not a canon user but your saying you would prefer the canon, you have quite a while until you go and there is bound to be a few second hand ones between now and then so just hold tight and keep money safe until one comes along :)
 
I owned Mk1 and sold it for Mk2 couldn't be happier with the decision. If you can afford Mk2 then please go ahead and there is no need to compare against the Mk.

Sigma looks like a good contender though, but best to rent prior to committing to buy. You know Canon holds better value than Sigma.
 
I was in the same boat recently but with Nikon. I was considering either a used Nikon 500 f4 vr or the sigma.

I came across a series of blogs post by Brad Hill who spent months working with both the Nikon 500mm vr fluoride (nikon very top of the line) and the sigma.

While obviously your looking at canon options but if u want to spend an evening working out if the performance is there with the Sigma you do a lot worse than his series of tests.

http://www.naturalart.ca/artist/fieldtests/500mmwars_sigma_nikon.html

PS. i ended up getting a nikon 500 f4 vr at a price i frankly couldn't turn down.
 
Well speaking as a Canon user , my first question would be are you going to get a lot of use of the lens other than your week next year, I assume yes as its an awful lot of cash to spend otherwise when you could hire one.
Secondly are you going to be happy with something which is not white ?
I would suggest you will not be , you will always be thinking what if / if only?
Sods law also comes into play here , you will buy the Sigma and two weeks later a used Canon will pop up and you will have an "Oh S**t" moment as that's what you really want.
Get saving , have a word with MPB / Wex and let them know you are in the market for one and if the worst comes to the worst hire one for your holiday.
I wanted a TS-E lens, I bought a 24mm Mk1 but I really wanted a Mk2 and I was not happy until I got one, I suspect you will be the same.
 
Can you not rent both the Canon and Sigma for a few days and make a comparison between them yourself?

The erganomics of one over the other may be a good factor in your decision.
 
If there is any way you can get your hands on a mk2 Canon then I strongly suggest thats the way forward.

I'll freely admit that I've not used the Sigma, and I've seen some impressive work with it, but the Canon mk2 has some important aces up its sleeve.

If you use the mk2 with the latest series 3 Canon converters (particularly the mk3 2x) then you're going to notice very little in the way of image degradation in the way older combos suffered - I know some incredibly picky wildlife shooters who don't think twice about putting the converter on these mk2 superteles and as long as your technique hold up the results are simply staggering.

I don't know what bodies you currently use, but the 5d4, but especially the 1dx and 1dx2 all 'talk' to the lens better once the converters are added, so they have the added benefit of future proofing and better AF. If you're more inclined toward slower or static subjects that might not be so important. If you want to see some top notch examples of these combos (600mm rather than 500mm but same techs) have a look at Arash Hazeghi and his birds in flight shots. The gear in the right hands just works perfectly.

Sorry if thats not what the bank manager wanted to hear!

Mike
 
Thank for the replies guys.

With the 'won't be happy until I get the mkii' comment, I think you're right and my other half says exactly the same.

I think she may kick my backside if I get the Sigma as I keep eyeballing the mkiis which I'm currently seeing, just don't have the money for the moment.

I guess the £1200 price difference between a used mkii and new Sigma will be worth it in the end.
 
pooley said:
I don't know what bodies you currently use, but the 5d4, but especially the 1dx and 1dx2 all 'talk' to the lens better once the converters are added, so they have the added benefit of future proofing and better AF.
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I will be using 5Dmkiii and 7Dmkii with a mkii 1.4 tc but I'm glad you said that the x2 tc works well with supertele.

I've recently just had my lenses and bodies calibrated so it would be rude not to have the same done with the new lenses, current bodies and teleconverter.
 
hobsey said:
I will be using 5Dmkiii and 7Dmkii with a mkii 1.4 tc but I'm glad you said that the x2 tc works well with supertele.

I've recently just had my lenses and bodies calibrated so it would be rude not to have the same done with the new lenses, current bodies and teleconverter.
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From my knowledge there is little in IQ between the mk2 and mk3 1.4x but a better AF on the latest bodies.

The mk3 2x is a different matter and better than the mk2 by quite a distance.

Please pass my apologies on to your moneyboss! [emoji23]

Mike
 
Used MkII for me. Never used the Sigma but have used both MkI and II Canons and good though the sigma may be I would always feel that I'd bought second best.

If you're using mkiii converters then they should be mounted to the lens first and then the lens/converter mounted to the body.
 
geejgee said:
One on Wex now for £6350, hobsey.
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Yeah, I know. Just don't have the pennies at the moment.

Got a good few months to get them together though.
 
Would they (wex) do interest free? :-)
Sorry.
Matt
 
MatBin said:
Would they (wex) do interest free? :)
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Unfortunately not, only at 19.9%.

I have about 3 canon 'L' lenses and what I believe to be a sort after classic lens to sell to help finance it.
 
Could you buy it on card at x% then get a new card with 0% balance transfer?
 
You're obviously at the stage where you want a serious lens so get the Canon. You'd probably regret getting the Sigma later (and the wasted money with depreciation from buying it new).

There's also a lot more to a big prime than sharpness in static subject lens tests... Focussing speed, focussing accuracy, image stabilisation quality, how it takes teleconverters etc.
 
Just to give you an idea i had a quote from MPB to buy my 500mm f4 MKII which is just over a year old and in mint condition as i prefer the 300 f2.8 MKII and they offered £4500 so needless to say i decided to keep it.

I have the 300 MKII and 500 MKII and both perform extremely well with the MKIII tc's with hardly any loss of IQ or A/F speed.

Have owned several Sigma lenses and had problems of some description with all of them either with calibration issues with the docking station or just incosistent focus even with the newer art lenses.

Keep an eye out in all the sales sections as if someone is desperate to sell one and the trade in from the large camera retailers is as low as what i was offered it may be worth getting a bank loan while the interst rates are so low.
 
Gadget-Guy said:
they offered £4500 so needless to say i decided to keep it.
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Wow, that's not a lot at all. Don't blame you for wanting to keep it.

Private sale you could still get 6k for it if you wanted to shift it quickly.
 
Jessops are offering 12 months interest free, price is £8299.
If you don't mind importing, DigitalRev are selling for £6659. I bought my 600 F4 from them (obviously no interest free finance though)
 
Just an update.

I wanted to thank everyone for their input.

I've gone and purchased the Canon, the 10% for black friday and 3rd year warranty was too good to turn down.

Look forward to getting out and playing with it.
 
Well you may now be skint but you will NOT have buyer's remorse! This is simply a wonderful lens and (I think) the best of it's type by some margin. Add to that the light weight (relatively), excellent AF, abilities with extenders etc etc.

This is about as good as it gets in this focal range - Happy new toy!

Perhaps a new tripod and head to completely bankrupt you?:runaway:
 
johnf3f said:
Perhaps a new tripod and head to completely bankrupt you?:runaway:
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Luckily I already have a gitzo carbon fibre tripod and sirui carbon gimbal head. So there won't be any spending for a while.
 
hobsey said:
Luckily I already have a gitzo carbon fibre tripod and sirui carbon gimbal head. So there won't be any spending for a while.
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You keep telling yourself that and one day you'll believe it :-)
 
hobsey said:
Luckily I already have a gitzo carbon fibre tripod and sirui carbon gimbal head. So there won't be any spending for a while.
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A bit "Off Topic" but how does the Sirui Gimbal perform? I am familiar with many of their products but not the Gimbal head.
 
I have been looking for a mark 2 for a month or so now. Hen's teeth. Canon have said to my camera club buddy that the Mark 1 lenses are not going to be supported for much longer - one estimate was March next year. I sold my 500 f4 mark 1 as a result. So, I keep my eyes open for the mark 2.... I am not in a rush though; just as well.
 
johnf3f said:
A bit "Off Topic" but how does the Sirui Gimbal perform? I am familiar with many of their products but not the Gimbal head.
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With the Sigma Sport due to it having different lengths, worked quite well. Had to balance it with a battery grip.

I am looking forward to trying it with a fixed focal length.
 
Chipper said:
I have been looking for a mark 2 for a month or so now. Hen's teeth. Canon have said to my camera club buddy that the Mark 1 lenses are not going to be supported for much longer - one estimate was March next year. I sold my 500 f4 mark 1 as a result. So, I keep my eyes open for the mark 2.... I am not in a rush though; just as well.
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This is why I decided to go brand new.

Roughly 1k more for new compared to used with canons 10% off and extra years warranty was a no brainer for me.
 
Gadget-Guy said:
Just to give you an idea i had a quote from MPB to buy my 500mm f4 MKII which is just over a year old and in mint condition as i prefer the 300 f2.8 MKII and they offered £4500 so needless to say i decided to keep it.

I have the 300 MKII and 500 MKII and both perform extremely well with the MKIII tc's with hardly any loss of IQ or A/F speed.

Have owned several Sigma lenses and had problems of some description with all of them either with calibration issues with the docking station or just incosistent focus even with the newer art lenses.

Keep an eye out in all the sales sections as if someone is desperate to sell one and the trade in from the large camera retailers is as low as what i was offered it may be worth getting a bank loan while the interst rates are so low.
Click to expand...

When I sold my 500f4, the highest offer without a trade in bump, which would have meant a long journey to get it and then get some thing else which I didn't want) was from Mifsuds, next highest was Clifton. I took this offer. The lowest was from MPB who declined to raise their offer. I guess they rely on the busy nature of our lives to go for the easy pick up / delivery option.
 
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Chipper said:
When I sold my 500f4, the highest offer without a trade in bump, which would have meant a long journey to get it and then get some thing else which I didn't want) was from Mifsuds, next highest was Clifton. I took this offer. The lowest was from MPB who declined to raise their offer. I guess they rely on the busy nature of our lives to go for the easy pick up / delivery option.
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Thanks for the info Chipper,may give them a try then as its just sitting in a box gathering dust as i use my 300mm more.
 
Gadget-Guy said:
Thanks for the info Chipper,may give them a try then as its just sitting in a box gathering dust as i use my 300mm more.
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Might be worth giving Wex a call too, I found the process straight forward and they pay postage etc. Not the highest price but the 300 I got to replace my 400 was a beauty so a good deal all told.
Matt
 
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