Sigma HSM APO AF 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG HSM First Shots

[David Kilpatrick]

I can't afford a Sony 70-400mm but if I really needed that range, the Sigma would be affordable. My solution has been very simple, 70-200mm Sigma HSM plus 2X converter. I was just able to afford that, and I get 'two lenses in one' - 140-400mm f/5.6 (nothing faster at the short end) plus of course the benefits of f/2.8 and a much smaller lens, with closer focusing, when all I need is the 70-200mm range.

In theory the Sony 70-200mm SSM plus 2X is an equally viable alternative to the 70-400mm Sony, but I didn't like the results (I had that combo).

In general, I think that long teles and wide angle zooms share one thing - you buy them for the extremes. With wide-angles it works well enough, generally the widest end is the best resolution. All tele zooms fall down by being at their worst at the long end (the 100-300mm APO D was an honourable exception). This is when you most need the resolution and contrast to be higher. What I would really like to see would be a straight 400mm tele as light and neat as the old Sigma f/5.6, but built just to perform perfectly at that focal length.

David

[lock]

Solving the problem with a 2x convertor would indeed be a good one if the converter really works. I think I read somwhere you had issues with the 2X convertor ? Did Sigma take care of that ?

[David Kilpatrick]

Yes, my existing Teleplus converters would not work with the SSM lens (communicated, but the focus went haywire due to the unadjusted speed). Getting the Sigma 2X with new chip - latest HSM version - solved that. Their 1.4X would be right for the longer Sigma lenses, it might even retain AF.

David

[lock]

Thanks David.
In that case I might try that option as well. It's by far the most economic option, particularly if you only need 400 mm incidently.

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