Tamron 200-500 DI zoom lens vs 400 f5.6 prime

[horstflotow]

I'm looking for a telephoto lens around 400-500 mm, am tossing up trying to source a second-hand (or new if still available) Sigma 400 mm f5.6 macro or trying the newish Tamron 200-500 DI zoom. My manual focus 400 mm Sigma (for Canon unfortunately) has always produced sharper shots than the 80-400 Tokina (for Nikon AF) at 400 mm so if anyone here has any experience with the new Tamron vs Sigma prime lens I'd like to hear it.

Regards

Horst

[huynhie]

Horst,

Dont know much about the lenses that you have listed above, but sinse not one has helped you yet, I'll give it a go.

What is your budget BTW?

There are plenty of used camera shops in Singapore have you tried bringing your camera to the the following places and taking a few test shots with the above mention lenses?

JOHN 3:16 PHOTO SUPPLIES
109 North Bridge Road
Funan The IT Mall #03-37
Singapore 179097
Tel: 63372877 Fax: 63371897

Cathay Photo Store (Pte) Ltd
111 North Bridge Rd #01-11/14
Tel : 6337 4274

[horstflotow]

Horst,

Dont know much about the lenses that you have listed above, but sinse not one has helped you yet, I'll give it a go.

What is your budget BTW?

There are plenty of used camera shops in Singapore have you tried bringing your camera to the the following places and taking a few test shots with the above mention lenses?

JOHN 3:16 PHOTO SUPPLIES
109 North Bridge Road
Funan The IT Mall #03-37
Singapore 179097
Tel: 63372877 Fax: 63371897

Cathay Photo Store (Pte) Ltd
111 North Bridge Rd #01-11/14
Tel : 6337 4274

Thanks for the info. I've more or less given up on the Tamron zoom lens (but may have to revisit if I can't find the Sigma), and I've been scouring Singapore looking for the 400 mm Sigma 5.6 APO Macro prime lens. This has been discontinued and no one here seems to have stock of it. It's a shame Nikon don't make the 400 mm lens with AF/Macro.

Regards

Horst

[Glen]

Horst, I don't think macro should be the deciding factor in a 400mm lens. Buy the best quality telephoto you can get for the money, hey if it's got macro that is a bonus

[Nnnnsic]

Agreed... and this is something Glen was talking about with me over the weekend when I was playing with the Tamron 90mm Macro.

From what I understand, if you're buying it for Macro you should just bet a lens that is really made for the Macro feature like the 90mm. I imagine that lenses like the 400mm or even some of the 70-300mm with Macro just really wouldn't utilise Macro to a really useful extent.

[horstflotow]

Agreed... and this is something Glen was talking about with me over the weekend when I was playing with the Tamron 90mm Macro.

From what I understand, if you're buying it for Macro you should just bet a lens that is really made for the Macro feature like the 90mm. I imagine that lenses like the 400mm or even some of the 70-300mm with Macro just really wouldn't utilise Macro to a really useful extent.

Thanks guys, I want to use it mainly for wildlife pics, so the macro feature is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. The main reason I would like this lens is that it's very sharp (from reviews), quite light and small, so you can handhold it if need be and you don't need to check it in as a golf bag when travelling. I also have its predessor in a manual focus version with a Canon mount and really like it (unfortunately I haven't come across any sites that offer a conversion ring for using Canon lenses on a Nikon camera, unlike the reverse).

Regards

Horst

[Glen]

Horst, why don't you try a small repair shop to get not a conversion but a new mount ie take off the Canon mount and replace with a Nikon one. This would involve changing the end but I would imagine it is possible, like changing a f mount to AIS or adding the P to an AIS lens. That is unless you still have the Canon, and even if you do the D70 is probably your primary camera now, so adapt the lens to it

[redline]

yes get your cannon lenses modified and then buy a bellows to get better magfication. i bet you'll start have fun with that, hehe

[birddog114]

horstflotow,
Sigma 300-800 is one of the nicer lenses too!
You can capture the sails of the Opera House with it from Singapore to Sydney without a TC.

[sirhc55]

Or the Sigma 70-200mm plus the 2x Sigma converter - works well and takes you within the range you require and not too much cost