Lens for Motor sport/ Airshows etc

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GoldLude

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Hi All

I have been toying with the idea of buying a new lens for motor sport, airshow and a little wildlife.

Unfortunately when at these events i dont seem to be able to get close enough to the action.

I have been reading up on differnt lenses and think i've narrowed it down to the following:-

Sigma 120-300mm F2.8
Canon 100-400mm L IS F4.5-5.6
Sigma 50-500 f4-6.3

the list may look a bit odd, as the cost between the three is quite great, reading threads on the forum, numerous members have upgraded from the Sigma 50-500 to the Canon, i was wondering if this would be a good route of progression.

I have also been thinking about what happens "if" the lens has a fault and needs to go back to the manufacturer. The Sigma repairs are completed in Welwyn not far from where i live so thats a bonus, plus the guys there have been very helpful in the past.


Advice and experiences are welcome

Thanks in advance

Gavin
 
i use a 70-300mm sigma for my motorsports (rally) stuff (im not sugesting you get one, the focus is horendously slow) and while the length is good i ocasionally find its not wide enough and have to switch to a wider zoom for certain shots (close pans from inside corners(. this is only for rallying as you can get alot closer than any circuit stuff and it might as well be worth getting extra length 100-400mm or similar as you'll find you'll be using the zoom end alot to get in close to the action. i think carl ogden on these forums uses the 100-400L for bike stuff
 
if youve got the money i would go for the 100 - 400 lots of good results for that around these parts!
 
Personally I would buy the 120-300 with a 1.4 you get reach with the 1.4 and great depth of field at 2.8 when used with out the 1.4. My 50-500 is currently in the dog house so thats my view. For air shows the 100-400 or 50-500 is better with more reach. The fast 2.8 of the sigma is tempting.
 
The Canon will be the best bet from those 3...

However, remember the 100-400 isn't Canon's best L series lens at all. If you are talking running at full 400mm, have a look at the Canon 400mm F5.6. Its just as (not) wide at 400mm and is a far sharper lens AND less money!

Sigma, well, they are tempting but given what I have read about how hard it can be to get a good one and maybe forward compatibility with whatever Canon make as their next body, I'd stick to Canon lenses.

Just my 2 Roubles' worth...
 
I sold my 100-400, although it was a good one, I hated the pull/push mechanism. It does need good light.

Not sure on the quality or focusing speed of the Sigma 120-300 but I'd look at that one.

Carl.
 
desantnik said:
The Canon will be the best bet from those 3...

However, remember the 100-400 isn't Canon's best L series lens at all. If you are talking running at full 400mm, have a look at the Canon 400mm F5.6. Its just as (not) wide at 400mm and is a far sharper lens AND less money!

Sigma, well, they are tempting but given what I have read about how hard it can be to get a good one and maybe forward compatibility with whatever Canon make as their next body, I'd stick to Canon lenses.

Just my 2 Roubles' worth...
Click to expand...


Very informative post to which I agree with everything..:thumbs:
 
The only lens I have used from the list you give is the 120-300 2.8, which I onw and love.

Some of my favourite pics from this lens:

DSC_0874-01a.jpg


DSC_3532-01a.jpg


DSC_1085-01a.jpg


All are uncropped, and the last one is at 1/25. :) Full EXIFs should be embedded.

It's a big lens, and requires a monopod for most uses.

Any particular questions please give me a shout :)
 
The best thing to do when looking at a new lens is to look at ebay for a while. When you do, you will see problematic or "not as good as it promises" lenses appear second hand in large numbers.

The 100-400 turns up all the time, as does the Sigma 50-500.

People get rid of things which don't work (in some way) far more often than ones that are good.

What looks like a perfect "one lens fits all" solution rarely is any cop.

I also made the same assumption, but luckily had a friend with enough kit to find this out without spending any of my own money!
 
Strange, i have a 100-400 and it only leaves the camera when i put the 600 on, havent had any issues with sharpness of images even at 400mm, is ideal for all the shots you want to take pretty much every shot in my gallery is 100-400, as i havent had the 600 long.
 
HI guys

many thanks for the input. some vaild options there.

my thinking around the sigma was that the F stop was low and constant throughout the range. even when teamed up with a 1.4x converter this would then make it simular to the canon, but would still be a fast lens plus good for low light conditions.

thanks

gavin
 
I had the ssigma 50-500mm for a while a great lens for the money, but changed it for the Canon 7-200mm, IS f2.8, a hell of alot better between those ranges. With a 1.4 tc i think its nearly as good as 300mm canon, with the 2xtc is on par with the 100-400mm canon.

The canon 70-200 will out perform the sigma at 560mm thats 1.4 +2xtc fitted

The sigma you mentioned i was debating getting but didnt i have gone the 70-200mm, and a 400mm f5.6, but thats alot more then your current budget.
 
Listen to Joe T mate
out of the 3 lenses you mention... the Sigma is easily the best in my opinion

first off the Sigma works great with both converters - both the others are all but useless with the converters.. with the 1st cloud that comes over you will be hunting all day and night for the autofocus to click in

and the F2.8 cannot be stated enough... the Sigma will be shooting happily when the other 2 have long given up the ghost

all 3 lenses are nice and sharp, but the winner by knockout in round 1 is the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8

Cheers Chris
 
the main diff between the sigma and the canon is the zooming method.
with the canon you pull it in and out. i didnt like it at first and now i prefer it. if there is a crash or something and you need to zoom quick, you cant zoom much quicker than that!
i think i'm right in saying that the sigma uses a ring to zoom (oo -err)
so, if i was you, i would go for the one with the method of zooming you prefer
 
Canon only have two L series lenses with that zoom method... i wonder why...

Anyone ever seen one of those suck in dirt like they are rumoured to?
 
desantnik said:
Canon only have two L series lenses with that zoom method... i wonder why...

Anyone ever seen one of those suck in dirt like they are rumoured to?
Click to expand...

Yes! Believe it or not my 17-85 has a fairly large spec behind the front element. I haven't noticed it to have any effect or show up in my images yet but it isn't pretty to look at...:bang:
 
desantnik said:
Anyone ever seen one of those suck in dirt like they are rumoured to?
Click to expand...

Nope, I've got a 100-400 and can't say it's the "dust pump" some claim, although I tend to use it like a prime i.e. find the focal length I want and lock it.

I'd side with JoeT and Buttkicker here though, the Sigma 120-300 is the best of the lenses originally mentioned.

Quality control with sigma, in my opinion, is no worse and no better than any other manufacturer. If you look about you'll find plenty of people returning Canon L's for recalibration, contact problems etc. It's just that having spent all that money people are less prepared to be so critical.
 
i do alot of airshow photography and i use the 100-400L lens , and in my opinion its awesome. I see alot of the guys at the shows using the Bigma and the results are also good. The only thing that i would say is ive heard people updating the firmware on their cameras, then having to send the Bigma back for re-chipping as it no longer works with the Canon body, dreaded ERROR99:'( Not sure how true this is. Also it nice being able to lock out the 100-400 at any focal length.
Dean:)
 
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