Sigma 150-600 S vs C

antc

antc

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Anthony
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Hi All,

I decided not to post this in one of the lens specific threads for now as I don't want all the answers to get mixed up among peoples photographs.

So, I had the chance to use the S version today, for about 10-15 mins to shoot some motorsport. Seems like an excellent lens, not least in terms of build quality (it weighs a tonne and is built like a tank) and IQ seems good from what i could see on the back of the camera also.

However, it seems like a lens that would possibly be more suited to being permanently on a mono or tripod as I hand held it for the 15 mins i used it and i could really feel the consequences afterwards.

That got me onto thinking about the C version which i know is a lot lighter, in the region of 2lbs plus lighter I believe, so much more handhold able and portable.

So what are the differences really between the two. Of course cost is one, I believe the S has much more rugged build quality and a lot more weather sealing, but what about IQ? From a little research I 'believe' aside from what I have already mentioned there is no actual difference in IQ?

Would I be right?

Let me know what you guys think, especially those who own either and can give first hand experience.

TIA
 
I tried both before I bought the contemporary. I couldn't see any difference optically but the contemporary was 1kg lighter and smaller.

Bought the contemporary and couldn't be more pleased with it, excellent lens.
 
I got the c and a dock. the dock is definitely worth it
 
I've said it before. I was all set to go for the S. All my research said get it. I bought the C. Couldn't face the weight. So happy with my decision. I can manage it and am delighted with the image quality.
 
Certainly interesting results so far, seems overwhelming for the C!

I should also add for clarity, I currently use a Canon 300mm F4 IS L with 1.4tc attached most of the time giving me 420mm on my 5dmk3. I love the IQ I get from it but often would love a bit more focal length (wouldn't we all I guess)
 
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I have one of the first sport models had it 18 months plus ,it grows on you it took me a while to figure out how to go walkabout with it by adapting a black rapid strap and op-tech ends ,I can now walk round with it all day by my side and miss very few shots with it ,plenty of shots of mine with it in the sigma sports thread and the 80D thread.
 
Another vote for the 'C' (y)

Lighter, I happily carry mine around all day, cheaper, a big plus :D and very pleased with IQ (y)
 
I had the 'C' and never really got on with it as focus was slow and a bit hit and miss. Did not think much to IQ either. After a lot of discussions with lots of people i decided to have a go with the 'S' and could not be more delighted.
Its faster focus and hits the focus far more than the 'C' did and IQ is far better. Yes.... I might have had a bad copy of the 'C' but i don't regret swapping.
On another point. Why would Sigma make two identical focal length lenses, one being the 'S' with more elements in the make up of it than the 'C' if it were not to be better in the IQ department.
Get the Sports........ Its better in every department in my opinion.
 
Just to throw a fly in the ointment, i had (and have now sold) a 150-600mm C, i was never happy with the IQ above 500mm wide open, i could only get acceptable results stopping it down to f8, which unless light is perfect is next to useless, i also had the dock (which is a very nice touch BTW) but could not improve on the lack of IQ above 500mm no matter what i did (focus accuracy, micro adjustments etc)

I now have a Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 and more than happy with that, sadly not an option for you as you shoot on the Dark Side though

It may be that i got a dud lens, but i have heard similar results from other people i have met using the same lens

Don't get me wrong though, it's not a bad lens, just not as sharp as it should be IMO over the 500mm mark, because lets face it, that's where it will be used the most
 
boogie 16 said:
I had the 'C' and never really got on with it as focus was slow and a bit hit and miss. Did not think much to IQ either. After a lot of discussions with lots of people i decided to have a go with the 'S' and could not be more delighted.
Its faster focus and hits the focus far more than the 'C' did and IQ is far better. Yes.... I might have had a bad copy of the 'C' but i don't regret swapping.
On another point. Why would Sigma make two identical focal length lenses, one being the 'S' with more elements in the make up of it than the 'C' if it were not to be better in the IQ department.
Get the Sports........ Its better in every department in my opinion.
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The focus is very fast on the C if set on one of the settings to speed priority via the dock, as fast as the sport oddly. You can also switch it to focus accuracy mode over speed so AF really isn't an issue with the C (I've shot some of the fastest moving objects known to man on it, in a 6d, and it hasn't miss a beat!)

I really couldn't see any difference in IQ whatsoever when I tested the two lenses (more elements doesn't always mean better IQ though).

Did you use the dock to set the AF options?

The only advantage I could discern between the two is the better, slightly OTT build of the S, but that came with a disadvantage also, the weight (and to a lesser degree, its size).
 
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Thanks for the replies so far, keep them coming.

It would seem the overall majority thus far in the thread seem to suggest the C, which to me has the two advantages of being cheaper and lighter whilst maintaining the same level of IQ?

My ultimate aim is to have the best IQ and flexibility for the budget hence looking at a zoom.

Ahhh, this one is hurting my head. Its a shame in a sense Canon haven't don't what Nikon have with their 200-500 F5.6.
 
Wow Mike, super impressed with those, especially the last one with the 1.4x as well!!! I take it that it retains AF at around f8? Cant argue with those results really!!! How fast do you find af? I am looking at using it for motorsport, wildlife, aviation and BIF. Do you use the dock and configure it for different things?

Are the other shots of Kites, Kingfishers and wate voles on your flickr page also taken on the same lens, I can see you tag sigma but doesn't seem to display exif data on any of them for me to check :)
 
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I have been dropping hints to my wife about the Contemporary version for Xmas for a month now.

Looks incredible value for money.
 
antc said:
Wow Mike, super impressed with those, especially the last one with the 1.4x as well!!! I take it that it retains AF at around f8? Cant argue with those results really!!! How fast do you find af? I am looking at using it for motorsport, wildlife, aviation and BIF. Do you use the dock and configure it for different things?

Are the other shots of Kites, Kingfishers and wate voles on your flickr page also taken on the same lens, I can see you tag sigma but doesn't seem to display exif data on any of them for me to check :)
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Doesnt autofocus through the shutter button with the converter but does on the rear touch screen for some reason. I found it more than adequate on all occasions and the AF is every bit as fast as my old EX 50-500mm. I have used the dock for customising the AF and OS system which works great and is on the Option 1 switch on the lens. I havent shot Kites with it yet but this years Kingfishers and Water Voles were taken with the new `C` lens.
 
with a canon 80D or 7dmkii there seems to be a software issue with either C or S lens and a t.c after much playing around with different t.c's mine and friends ,i have found the only t.c that offers normal a/f on the shutter button is the canon 1.4 MK2 tc

little egret in flight with the sport
why dont you ? by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
 
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Mike Warburton said:
Doesnt autofocus through the shutter button with the converter but does on the rear touch screen for some reason. I found it more than adequate on all occasions and the AF is every bit as fast as my old EX 50-500mm. I have used the dock for customising the AF and OS system which works great and is on the Option 1 switch on the lens. I havent shot Kites with it yet but this years Kingfishers and Water Voles were taken with the new `C` lens.
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Thanks for confirming about the dock and your images. Had an enjoyable time looking through them on your flickr page mate! Great work!
 
the black fox said:
with a canon 80D or 7dmkii there seems to be a software issue with either C or S lens and a t.c after much playing around with different t.c's mine and friends ,i have found the only t.c that offers normal a/f on the shutter button is the canon 1.4 MK2 tc

little egret in flight with the sport
why dont you ? by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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Well thats kinda good news really as I have the canon 1.4tc mk2 already so won't bother buying the sigma one. However I am shooting on a 5dmk3 so hopefully that software issue doesn't exist on there.
 
Mmm.....so I think thanks to you lot :) I am pretty much decided on the C, thinking it might be worth waiting another couple of weeks to see if any deals on it as part of black friday. Likely do we think?
 
antc said:
Mmm.....so I think thanks to you lot :) I am pretty much decided on the C, thinking it might be worth waiting another couple of weeks to see if any deals on it as part of black friday. Likely do we think?
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I've never found anything I've wanted in Black Friday, but you never know!
 
antc said:
Mmm.....so I think thanks to you lot :) I am pretty much decided on the C, thinking it might be worth waiting another couple of weeks to see if any deals on it as part of black friday. Likely do we think?
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Buy it now!!!!:)
 
the black fox said:
with a canon 80D or 7dmkii there seems to be a software issue with either C or S lens and a t.c after much playing around with different t.c's mine and friends ,i have found the only t.c that offers normal a/f on the shutter button is the canon 1.4 MK2 tc

little egret in flight with the sport
why dont you ? by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Is this after the latest software update?
 
antc said:
I kid you not Robert, its incredibly tempting indeed. Just wondering if black friday or January sales may throw up some decent deals. We are only weeks away so not that long to wait. I guess..................
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Difficult decision given the uncertainty in the fx markets, but unless you are desperate for the lens, wait. It needs decent light but the lens is very impressive.
 
Archie747 said:
Difficult decision given the uncertainty in the fx markets, but unless you are desperate for the lens, wait. It needs decent light but the lens is very impressive.
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You don't always need 'decent light' as such, shooting with it with say, my Canon 6d, mediocre light isn't an issue. Same with Nikon d750 / 8xx etc. With decent mid (and above) ISO the aperture isn't such a hit.
 
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odd jim said:
You don't always need 'decent light' as such, shooting with it with say, my Canon 6d, mediocre light isn't an issue. Same with Nikon d750 / 8xx etc. With descent mid (and above) ISO the aperture isn't such a hit.
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Perhaps with your cameras it is fine, but with mine I need decent light to get the quality I prefer.
 
So its a lens that is prefereable to use in good light? Other than that a higher iso is the way?
Is there a preferred aperture setting area for using something like this with wildlife to get the most detail on the subject?
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
So its a lens that is prefereable to use in good light? Other than that a higher iso is the way?
Is there a preferred aperture setting area for using something like this with wildlife to get the most detail on the subject?
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Any really, I shoot wide open most of the time as together with the long FL it creates nice background separation. I use it in all types of light, not an issue for what I use it for [emoji3]

It's not an indoor lens, but not many x-600mm lenses are [emoji6]
 
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SsSsSsSsSnake said:
So its a lens that is prefereable to use in good light? Other than that a higher iso is the way?
Is there a preferred aperture setting area for using something like this with wildlife to get the most detail on the subject?
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If you are content with a high ISO then I agree, with my aps-c I do not like going above 6400.

I'm sure you are are already aware of how to select the correct aperature, if not I can recommend a few very good books.
 
Archie747 said:
If you are content with a high ISO then I agree, with my aps-c I do not like going above 6400.

I'm sure you are are already aware of how to select the correct aperature, if not I can recommend a few very good books.
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You don't need to go anywhere near ISO 6400 with this lens, even in dull conditions I've not had to go over ISO 640 for action stuff using sensible apertures. In Good light base ISO is fine!
 
odd jim said:
You don't need to go anywhere near ISO 6400 with this lens, even in dull conditions I've not had to go over ISO 640 for action stuff using sensible apertures. In Good light base ISO is fine!
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I was recently photographing red squirrels with a 300L IS at f4 and had to go 6400 ISO. The sigma would have been worse. We must shot in different situations. Yet again we disagree.
 
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Archie747 said:
I was recently photographing red squirrels with a 300D at f4 and had to go 6400 ISO. The sigma would have been worse. We must shot in different situations. Yet again we disagree.
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Was it dark? :p
I've never had to go higher than 1600 shooting in the rain with my d7000
 
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Archie747 said:
I was recently photographing red squirrels with a 300D at f4 and had to go 6400 ISO. The sigma would have been worse. We must shot in different situations. Yet again we disagree.
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That's strange as the 300d only goes to 1600 ISO?

But anyway, I'm not "disagreeing", it's fact from my experiences not just overall but with this lens. And by your reckoning you'd have to go to ISO 12,800 to be able to use the Sigma in those conditions (using 6400 at f/4, the Sigma being 'worse'?). You're either shooting at night or in an unlit dungeon which I doubt. That's crazy talk frankly.

Looking at some of my shaded forest wildlife stuff, I didn't go above 800 ISO (at f/6.3) and that was on a 6d that I'd comfortably take to ISO 10,000 before I'd worry.

Looking at some of my Formula one stuff shot in massively overcast conditions this year I barely went over 400 ISO also at f/6.3 (mostly shooting at ISO 200) and still getting speeds of circa 1/1000, and when panning I was at base ISO to bring the shutter speed down...
 
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