Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO HSM or Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

NickD · Jan 25, 2010

I'm looking for a telephoto zoom lens for sports/wildlife photography. It will be mount on a Canon Rebel XSi (450D). There is not a lot of reviews about the Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO HSM.

SIGMA :

Lens Construction : 18 Elements in 14 Groups

Angle of View 27.9 ° - 9.5 °
Number of Diaphragm Blades : 9 Blades
Minimum ApertureF22M
Minimum Focusing Distance 100cm / 39.4 inches
Maximum Magnification 1 : 5.3
Filter Size Diameter 67mm Lens HoodBayonet Type
Dimensions Diameter 76.3mm X Length 135.1mm
3.0 inches x 5.3 inches
Weight 770g/27.2 oz.

CANON :

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture:70-200mm 1:4.0
Lens Construction: 16 elements in 13 groupsDiagonal
Angle of View:34º - 12º
Focus Adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
Closest Focusing Distance:1.2m / 3.9 ft.
Zoom System:Rotating type
Filter Size: 67mmMax.
Diameter x Length, Weight:3.0" x 6.8", 25 oz. / 76 x 172mm, 705g

Overread · Jan 25, 2010

For sports and wildife you might fine the 70-200mm f4 a bit too short for what you need. I use a 70-200mm f2.8 IS L and even when I add a 1.4 teleconverter (making it a 98-280mm f4 lens since the teleconverter takes away one stop of light) I find it too short a range for most wildlife (especailly birds). You can use a 1.4TC on the 70-200mm f4 - making it a 80-280mm f5.6 lens and still get good image quality results.

These reviews and comparisons here:
Juza Nature Photography
Juza Nature Photography
Juza Nature Photography

Might give you some better options/ideas for lenses. Some are going to be pushing your budget, but have a look at the reviews as you might find one suits your purpose better.

For wildlife a prime lens like the 300mm f4 or (not mentioned in those tests but still a very good lens) the 400mm f5.6 (popular with bird photographers) might be the better rout, whilst sports tends to be a bit difference and the flexability of a good zoom lens might be far prefered.

Note that many who do use the 70-200mm lens options for sports are either shooting indoors and/or they also have longer lenses (often on a separate tripod and camera) so they can cover the range they need whilst being able to shoot closer shost with a 70-200mm and thus have higher overall image quality and speed.

icassell · Jan 25, 2010

I own the Sigma 50-150. It is an excellent fast short telephoto. The build and IQ on mine are great (but some have had issues with Sigma quality control). It is NOT long enough for most wildlife work, but is a great indoor sports (basketball) lens. An added benefit is that it is not a huge lens and I have stuck it and my 1.4X TC in my pocket on my cargo jeans and brought it into professional venues where "Professional Cameras" are banned. As Overread mentioned, 200mm on the Canon is on the short side for wildlife work. Putting a TC on either brings you up into reasonable starting focal length. BTW, Sigma also makes a 70-200mm f/2.8 ( http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-200m...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264453383&sr=8-2 )

Steve Nash from the Nosebleed Zone (2nd level) at a Suns game at US Airways Arena:

Canon 7D with Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 + Sigma EX 1.4X TC @ 175mm f/6.3 1/500sec ISO 2000