70-200 mk1 vs Tamron or Sigma

john t

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Hi
Recently I asked for your help comparing the 70-200 Canon, sigma and Tamron. I couldn't justify the price for the Canon mk2.
However, I would be interested in your views about how the mk1 compare against the Tamron or Sigma, please.

thanks
 
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/tamron-70-200mm-vc-usd.511412/

Acording to my research, with everything considered, the 70-200 lenses are as follows (best at the top):

Canon IS2
Tamron VC
Nikon VR2
Canon IS
Nikon VR1
Sigma OS

I'm sure the top 3 perform as good as each of in real world.

Go to the digital picture and use their lens comparison tool to see the difference in sharpness, the canon IS2, tamron and sigma OS all have pretty much the same AF speed and accuracy - I researched this thoroughly before making my purchase.
 
I've used both the 70-200 Canon f/2.8 and the Sigma (mk2, HSM non OS). I couldnt tell the difference on a cropped body, certainly not worth twice the price (at the time) as the Sigma IMO. But on FF oddly I prefer the Sigma, which is supposed to be softer in the corners.
 
On a crop sigma is no different, sharp as a tack and just as quick to AF.

Not weather sealed though, but who cares? I don't take photographs in the rain.
 
I went through this EXACT dilemma a few weeks back (only from a nikon view, not canon) and was comparing a nikon 80-200 with a sigma 70-200 os. I followed some advice on trying out the tamron as well, and I was very disappointed. The af speed on the tamron was woeful compared to either of the other 2, and just something about the build quality (when compared to the sigma mainly) just didn't work for me. Having said that, one common view I've heard from multiple sources is that tamrons are either fantastic or awful depending on the one you get, something I have personal experience of after having to go through 3 17-50 VC's before getting one that worked. So my advice would be to not go grey market but try one from an LCE or similar near you (or buy from a grey importer where returns aren't a huge pain in the ass) to check it works right, whichever model you eventually settle on.

For what it's worth, I settled on the sigma. As I shoot crop (D7100), I think I chose well.
 
I went through this EXACT dilemma a few weeks back (only from a nikon view, not canon) and was comparing a nikon 80-200 with a sigma 70-200 os. I followed some advice on trying out the tamron as well, and I was very disappointed. The af speed on the tamron was woeful compared to either of the other 2, and just something about the build quality (when compared to the sigma mainly) just didn't work for me. Having said that, one common view I've heard from multiple sources is that tamrons are either fantastic or awful depending on the one you get, something I have personal experience of after having to go through 3 17-50 VC's before getting one that worked. So my advice would be to not go grey market but try one from an LCE or similar near you (or buy from a grey importer where returns aren't a huge pain in the ass) to check it works right, whichever model you eventually settle on.

For what it's worth, I settled on the sigma. As I shoot crop (D7100), I think I chose well.
Did you try the original Tamron or the newer VC version???
 
I bought the canon 70-200 is, great lens, anything else I looked at or tried seemed like a compromise.
 
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