Any Canon 100-400 to Bigma switchers out there?

TerrenceTerrence Registered Users Posts: 477 Major grins
edited February 17, 2007 in Cameras
I am seriouslly looking at selling my Canon 100-400 L and buying a Bigma to get the extra 100mm reach for the birdies. Are there any switchers here that can comment on their experience? Do you regret it? Did you go back?
Terrence

My photos

"The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen

Comments

  • andymillsonandymillson Registered Users Posts: 147 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Terrence wrote:
    I am seriouslly looking at selling my Canon 100-400 L and buying a Bigma to get the extra 100mm reach for the birdies. Are there any switchers here that can comment on their experience? Do you regret it? Did you go back?

    I have not used the 100-400 as yet, and likely will not, as I have the Bigma, but before you replace the canon lens it worth your while to get a 1.4x Teleconverter and try that first. At the long end the Bigma is a f/6.3. Add 1 stop to the f/5.6 of the canon and you will get a 140-560 f/8. 1/2 a stop slower (if my math is right), but it is the Canon L glass. This is the way I woyld go if I were you

    Andy
    A Brit among the HAWKEYES
    Canon 5D Mk III
    Canon 24-105L IS USM; Canon 16-35 f/2.8L USM; Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM II
    Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM; Bigma 50-500 f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM
    My Galleries
  • TerrenceTerrence Registered Users Posts: 477 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Thanks for the advice. I have to check, but I think I'll lose AF with a 1.4TX. I have a Rebel XT and I think it's a limitation of that body.
    Terrence

    My photos

    "The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen
  • sirsloopsirsloop Registered Users Posts: 866 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    The ol tape trick may fool the body...
    http://www.tallmanphoto.com
  • andymillsonandymillson Registered Users Posts: 147 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Terrence wrote:
    Thanks for the advice. I have to check, but I think I'll lose AF with a 1.4TX. I have a Rebel XT and I think it's a limitation of that body.

    Good point, you might well lose it at f/8
    A Brit among the HAWKEYES
    Canon 5D Mk III
    Canon 24-105L IS USM; Canon 16-35 f/2.8L USM; Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM II
    Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM; Bigma 50-500 f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM
    My Galleries
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 15, 2007
    My Tamron SP 200-500 f5.6-6.3 Di LD IF will autofocus with my 20D in good light, so the f5.6 limit for the 20D to AF has a little slack in it. But I am sure the 20D does not AF at f8, even tho is will at f6.3

    Lots of folks do use the 1.4TC with Canon's 100-400 lens. But I am not one of them, generally TCs and zooms do not play well together.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • TerrenceTerrence Registered Users Posts: 477 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Fair enough. I'll see if I can borrow a TC from someone in my local club to
    see what happens.
    Terrence

    My photos

    "The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen
  • sirsloopsirsloop Registered Users Posts: 866 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Don't forget the 100-400L has IS, and is VERY handholdable. The Bigma on the other hand, 100mm longer, no IS, and gets quite large.
    http://www.tallmanphoto.com
  • TerrenceTerrence Registered Users Posts: 477 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    More good points. I think I've been talked off the ledge.
    Terrence

    My photos

    "The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen
  • jdryan3jdryan3 Registered Users Posts: 1,353 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    Terrence wrote:
    More good points. I think I've been talked off the ledge.

    :thwak
    "Don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to. Oh well."
    -Fleetwood Mac
  • sirsloopsirsloop Registered Users Posts: 866 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    lol... I'm just stating the facts rolleyes1.gif
    http://www.tallmanphoto.com
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited February 15, 2007
    Terrence wrote:
    Thanks for the advice. I have to check, but I think I'll lose AF with a 1.4TX. I have a Rebel XT and I think it's a limitation of that body.
    I have the 100-400 and have experimented with both the Canon TC1.4x and the Kenko Pro 300 DG teleconverters. The Canon will not autofocus even with taped pins on the TC. However, the Kenko autofocuses perfectly with taped pins. The cheaper Tamron TC doesn't even need taping, because it doesn't adjust the aperature reporting anyway. However, the image quality of the Kenko is reportedly better. I was quite surprised how good the image quality is with the TC on the 100-400. Very little degradation.

    BTW, I really love my 100-400.

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • TerrenceTerrence Registered Users Posts: 477 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2007
    More good advice. Man am I happy I found the Grin!! Thanks all around.
    Terrence

    My photos

    "The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2007
    Liquidstone has found a 100-400 which is as good as a 400 F5.6
    http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/100_400is
    Birds
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