Comparison: Canon 100-400L vs Sigma 100-300EX

[andrewc]

In the Red Corner we have the Canon 100-400 L f4.5-5.6 IS.
In the Blue Corner we have the Sigma 100-300 EX f4

The camera was my tripod mounted Canon 40D on Av mode ISO 100, all images processed exactly the same - no sharpening, +1 Exposure, exported to JPG at 100 quality, 100% crop to 800x600 in photoshop, saved as quality 12 JPG and uploaded to photobucket.

I want to re-do the 300mm ones just to make sure the sample is representative.

Canon 100mm f4.5 (wide open)

Sigma 100mm f4.5 (f4 is wide open)

Canon 100mm f9.0

Sigma 100mm f9.0

Canon 300mm f5.6 (wide open)

Sigma 300mm f5.6 (f4 is wide open)

Canon 300mm f9.0

Sigma 300mm f9.0

Canon 400mm f5.6 (wide open)

Sigma 420mm f5.6 (wide open) - added Sigma 1.4TC EX

 

[DinoS]

and the winner is..................

 

[andrewc]

Hard to say...

I think the two lenses are pretty equal. The Canon has IS, but a few generations old, the Sigma has between 1 and 1/2 stop faster aperture.

Weight - much the same - Canon tips the scales at 1605g, the Sigma 1650g

The AF at 400mm is faster than the Sigma at 300 with a TC attached.

I want to redo the 300mm shots - will use the 10s self timer instead of the 2s timer and make sure the same focus point is selected.

 

[desantnik]

The Sigma 300mm F9 shot is nasty. Are you sure it wasn't moving at all?

At F9 you should find a sweet spot on most things....

Then again of course you are at the ragged edge of the Sigma and still well in the sweet zone of the Canon.

Add a 200mm test to it too - that should be clear of the messy end of both and well into the nice area.

Even ignoring that, the Canon has it I think.

 

[Snake Man]

I think the colours from the Canon look better and wide open the Canon shots appear sharper. But stopped down, there is little between the two.

 

[andrewc]

Will redo the 300mm ones and add 200mm ones tomorrow. Although tripod mounted there could have been vibrations.