Sigma vs tamron 70-200 f2.8

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Any help please on which of these i should go for???

Keep looking and then whilst i deliberate the money gets spent on sofas etc so I want to order one today. Then the money is gone and it can't get spent on any of that 'essential' stuff :p

I'm looking at either the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG or the Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 Di (A001)

If anyone can give me any reviews i would be very grateful. It's to be used for equestrian mainly, portraits, indoor and outdoor action. Canon fit.


Thanks!!
:D
 
Not what you want to hear but I'd buy a s/h Canon 2.8 non is.
 
Yeah they ain't cheap. From what I've heard the Tamron won't be able to focus fast enough for fast moving horses or poor light which leaves the Sigma. Hopefully someone who's used one will be able to give you some info.
 
The Sigma is "ok" but mine is soft at 2.8, I thought it was missing focus but I think it's just soft. Great at f4 and beyond.......
 
The reality is however define "soft" we all recognise it on here but if yyou are selling equestrian photos I doubt Joe public would see it.

If you lived closer you could borrow mine!!!
 
Ems said:
Oh Neil g, i've seen your photos and site etc before and loved your shots (just realised it was you). Are those with the sigma???? Or with something better for some of them?
Click to expand...

We only shot sigma lenses until recently, we got a canon 24-105 in the last month but none on the front page of the site are with that.

If I remember rightly the ones on the front page taken with the 70-200 sigma are 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18. The others are a mix of sigma 120-300mm 2.8, sigma 18-50mm 2.8 and sigma 50mm 1.4.

Personally we've never noticed softness at 2.8 or 200mm where some say it suffers.
 
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Excellent, sounds like its the lens for me then neil g. As Dave says, it will do the job for what i need. I obviously wish i could spend lots more on a decent canon but I don't have that sort of money. Unless i either win the lottery or the gadget show prize this week ;) :D

Thanks for all the advice, will probably look around for a few days yet so will keep checking back if anyone has any more info.
 
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I have the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX HSM II and it's a stunning lens.

Super fast AF and mine is pin sharp at f/2.8 and in the real world, image quality, you wouldn't notice much difference compared to the Canon. I didn't (on the mk1 non IS at least). Controversial but true! The build on the Canon is better but then Sigma is still built very well.
 
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FWIW, I have the same lens as oddjim above and I also reckon it is as sharp as the canon 70-200f2.8 mkIs I used to have. Not too expensive new or used either, so good value !

Doubt you will be unhappy with it for equestrian use.

Good luck with your choices.
 
Oh that sounds very hopeful! In fact better than i expected. Shall order one tomorrow :D
Can't wait!

Thanks for all the replies. I was actually swaying towards the Tamron previous to this after reading some reviews. Looks like i've made a lucky escape :)
 
I think the bokeh produced by the Sigma and the Tamron is quite significantly nicer/smoother/better in general than the Canons (f2.8 & f4)
However, having owned the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX, EX DG and EX DG Macro II, and then buying a Canon 70-200 F4L IS, everything else stepped up several notches when moving to Canon

Image Quality - sharpness, colours, neutral tones (the Sigma's are a little warm), all were better
Focus - much faster, 100% reliable vs the Sigma's which on the older models missed focus on 50% of their shots, and on the newer version Id say missed 25% of their shots. Focus on the Canon is instant, silent and 100% accurate every time
Build Quality - maybe not a big deal for some people (me included) but it certainly feels and looks a lot nicer IMO

But without a doubt in my mind, the Sigmas and Tamrons produce 10x better bokeh

As with most things, its swings and roundabouts :)

Im very happy with my F4L IS, but there are times I wish it did the same that a £400 Sigma did.

FWIW I dont know anything about the new Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS
 
I have both the Sigma 70-200 APO EX DG Macro II and the Canon 70-200L IS mkI. The Canon has slightly faster AF but not noticeably any more accurate, the Canon does handle CA much better than my Sigma. The Sigma however is sharper at 70mm f2.8 but by 200mm f2.8 they are similar. At the moment I am trying to decide whether the Canon is worth double the price of the Sigma and which one I should keep!
 
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