newbie with a lens question

[Jimkc1xo]

Greetings

New to the forum and would like some imput regarding which lens I should purchase....
would be using it for wildlife and also baseball games.
Have been looking at either the Sigma 80-400 or the Canon 100-400.....Since we will be sitting in the nose bleed secton of the ballpark I was looking for as much reach as possible.

Thanks

Jim

[dmm96452]

If you are talking about the Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS vs. the Sigma Zoom Telephoto 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX APO OS then in my mind there is no contest. Go with the Canon. While I'm certain the Sigma is a good lens it's hard to beat L glass from Canon.

[Lionheart]

Hmmm....The canon 100-400 has IS, and although it's not the best lens in "L" lineup, it's still pretty darn good. On the other hand, you'll save a bunch on the Sigma. Or you can fish and take your chances on ebay for a good price on a used canon 100-400 IS lens.

[Jimkc1xo]

Thanks for the imput, money always seems to be the culprit when you want something nice. .

Jim

[another view]

I'm not a Canon guy, but I think that the "IS" would be really helpful for how you're using the lens. That alone might be worth the price difference.

[Jimkc1xo]

The IS is s feature that I really am interested in ......since I mentioned it would be used for baseball... Yankees and Red Sox games and since I can't afford the the good tickets(really saving up for the Lens) it seems that I am now leaning towards the Canon.

Jim

[paulnj]

I shoot almost exclusively with a 100-400IS ;)

The lens is quite sharp and IS does help greatly, so we won't blow it up anymore.

The MAJOR difference between the CANON and SIGMA is how they zoom. The Sigma has internal zooming(as in never changes length and can't suck in dust) and takes nice images too from what I have seen.

The push pull of the 100-400 is a love it or hate it thing(as mentioned elsewhere by a member), but I am used to it and use mine at 400 90% of the time.

I wouldn't rule out a sigma based on the Canon name or L glass ;) A big white lens with sharp images that you don't like the feel of, won't be better than a black lens that takes sharp images that you enjoy shooting ;) The sigma is a bit heavier, the motor is louder and it seems to focus slower on lesser bodies(read non pro) and track slower too.

I have 3 questions though......

Do you admit to liking both teams , because those are 2 rival teams

Can you really get a camera that big into stadium games? I don't go to games, so I don't know.

And... what camera do you use?

[Jimkc1xo]

I have the Canon 20D which I really enjoy.
The other lenses that I have are the Tokina 12-24, Tamron 28-75 2.8 and
the Sigma 70-200 2.8.

It seems that all imput is got me leaning towards the Canon 100-400.

I am not sure if I can get the camera and lens into Yankee Stadium but I am going to give
it one heck of a try.......never been there and I am taking my kids for the weekend to NYC.

And livinging in Rhode Island....being a Yankee fan I am i very small minority



Jim

[paulnj]

Well, you can't go wrong with the 100-400 IMHO and I felt it was onlt fair to let you know about the pros and cons of both lenses.

Good luck getting it in ;)