Sigma 150-600 Sport

[Anthony M]

I have to admit - I was ready to send back my recently received Tamron and wait for the Sigma Contemporary. I still see a lot of advantages to that lens as far as the Sigma TC's and the USB dock. Added to that, I wasn't getting particularly amazing results with the Tamron. I knew that shooting with a lens this size (especially handheld) is a whole new ball of wax - and I needed some patience. Indeed, after a week or so I started getting pretty good results - assuming the conditions were optimum. High ISO shots produced worse than usual results with my 6D. After careful micro adjustment however, the results I was getting were much, much better. Especially since I think I was getting some back focus - which seems to be a theme with any Tamron lens I've had.

The results I'm getting now are much better than I had hoped, so much so I think I'll go ahead and hang onto the lens. Small birds have been perfect practice as they don't hold still, but they're plentiful and right outside the house!

This was a few days ago, ISO 400, 600mm, f7.1 (which seems to be sharper than f8, even on charts), 1/200.
These are/were 100% 1:1 size crops (1600x1067) not sure what size they compress to in the html body here...

Then yesterday ISO 100, 600mm, f6.3, 1/650

and ISO 640




So, if this is as bad as it gets (600 and wide open) I'll call it a keeper! I'll be really interested on the Sigma Sport results. I really don't consider it to be competition for the Tamron - at least I would assume the lens' performance will be aimed at an entirely different crowd. That would mean much better AF speed and accuracy, and a better build. The Tamron is just ok in that regard, however the AF speed is much faster than my Tamron 70-300 for instance.

Since I think that the Contemporary is still being designed as I type this, it will be interesting just how much performance they give it (or can give it). They certainly don't want to cannibalize sales from the Sport, but at the same time need it to beat the Tamron. I have no doubt the build will be an improvement - at least it had better be!