Telephoto lense.

Lamtep

I am in the market for a Telephoto Zoom lens, I have been looking at this two lenses:
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM OS FLD Large Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital DSLR Camera for $ 1400 and the


Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras for $ 770. This will be my first telephoto, I know that you pay for quality, but double, or Am I missing something?.


Any advised will be greatly appreciated,
Best
Alfred Moreno

ThatCanonGuy

The Sigma is better, because of the HSM motor. It makes autofocus faster and quieter than the Tamron. The Sigma also has OS, which stands for Optical Stabilization. That feature reduces camera shake, helping you to get a sharper image in low light (with a still subject). The technology is not perfect, and I personally don't have any lenses with OS/similar. It's good for specific uses though.

What brand of camera do you have? If it's Canon or Nikon, you may want to look at those brands' 70-200 lenses. If you own a different brand, say Sony, Pentax, or Olympus, then I would look for the older Sigma. It goes for about $700. It doesn't have OS, but it has the HSM motor.

ziggy53

The Sigma that you mention has image stabilization, built-in to the lens. The Tamron has a little better image quality, but no stabilization and the Tamron is slower to focus.

Neither is optically as good (IMO) or as fast to focus as a Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8L USM or Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8L IS USM. (The latter has stabilization.)

I have 4 zoom lenses in this range, obviously fairly important to me, and the most important to me are the:

Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm, f4L IS USM

I use the first as a sports and indoor/evening/event lens, and I use the latter mostly as part of a travel kit. For me, IS is not as important for the sports/indoor/evening/event applications, when the larger aperture is paramount.

Almost all of these lenses are accurately reviewed here (with image samples and ISO image 100% crops):

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

Lamtep

Ok I have a Canon Revel XT, will be upgrading to the 5D Mark II by the end of the year. I have check into the Canon 70-200 and it is +/- $2500. I don't take much sport photography but I want to use it for street and portrait?
and Thanks to all for your responses,
Alfred

ThatCanonGuy

Um, that's the best one ;~). There are five different ones. Get the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 (non-IS version). It's around $1200. If you want IS, you can get the 70-200 f/4 IS for about the same price. But the f/2.8 lets in more light than the f4. Useful in low light.

ziggy53

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

Um, that's the best one ;~). There are five different ones. Get the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 (non-IS version). It's around $1200. If you want IS, you can get the 70-200 f/4 IS for about the same price. But the f/2.8 lets in more light than the f4. Useful in low light.

I have the non-IS, f2.8 for sports/indoor/evening/event applications:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91680-USA/Canon_2569A004_70_200mm_f_2_8L_USM_Autofocus.html
http://www.adorama.com/CA70200AFL.html

It would also work fairly well for "some" street/PJ and I have used it for some portraiture as well.

Lamtep

Thank you
Best
Alfred