Sigma 100-400mm for BIF?

[Flyer]

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Anyone used this lens with SL2 or SL2-s? 

Thoughts please

 

Thanks

 

 

[Robert E]

Are you referring to the new “DN” version?

[michali]

9 hours ago, Flyer said:

Anyone used this lens with SL2 or SL2-s? 

Thoughts please

Thanks

Last month Sigma SA sent me 2 lenses to try out, the 85mm f1.4 DG DN L & the 100-400mm DG DN L.  After  a couple of days I decided to keep both lenses. 

In short, the 100-400mm punches way above its weight, it's impressive for what it is. It's obviously not in the class of the Vario Elmar 90-280  L which I have, as well as the Canon 400mm f4 USM DO II which is in a league of its own. 

However the Sigma for its price, portability / weight & longer reach, is a viable alternative when you don't want to lug a heavier lens around. AF is fast, accurate & silent. Images within the 15m range are sharp & IQ is good. Beyond that range is where the difference with the more expensive lenses (Vario Elmar 90-280 L) becomes apparent. I also purchased a Sigma 1.4X TC, there's no noticeable image degradation. The Sigma rep. tells me that this lens was redesigned from scratch for full frame mirrorless. I really look forward to & hope that Sigma produce a 400mm or 500m telephoto lens in native L mount. 

Due to lockdown, I haven't really been able to get out into the world beyond my garden to test on BIF yet.  

A couple of sample images taken in my garden -

African Masked Weaver building a nest -SL2 & SIGMA 100-400mm L @ 240mm

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Edited January 1, 2021 by michali

[michali]

Have a look here as well https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253192-leica-sl-image-thread-post-your-examples-here/page/494/#comments @lawrence_lee has posted some wonderful images with this Sigma tele. & SL.

Cape Sparrow catching last rays of sunlight -SL2 & Sigma 100-400mm L & 1.4x TC =560mm (click through the image for better res.)

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[Flyer]

1 hour ago, michali said:

Last month Sigma SA sent me 2 lenses to try out, the 85mm f1.4 DG DN L & the 100-400mm DG DN L.  After  a couple of days I decided to keep both lenses. 

In short, the 100-400mm punches way above its weight, it's impressive for what it is. It's obviously not in the class of the Vario Elmar 90-280  L which I have, as well as the Canon 400mm f4 USM DO II which is in a league of its own. 

However the Sigma for its price, portability / weight & longer reach, is a viable alternative when you don't want to lug a heavier lens around. AF is fast, accurate & silent. Images within the 15m range are sharp & IQ is good. Beyond that range is where the difference with the more expensive lenses (Vario Elmar 90-280 L) becomes apparent. I also purchased a Sigma 1.4X TC, there's no noticeable image degradation. The Sigma rep. tells me that this lens was redesigned from scratch for full frame mirrorless. I really look forward to & hope that Sigma produce a 400mm or 500m telephoto lens in native L mount. 

Due to lockdown, I haven't really been able to get out into the world beyond my garden to test on BIF yet.  

A couple of sample images taken in my garden -

African Masked Weaver building a nest -SL2 & SIGMA 100-400mm L @ 240mm

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Thanks for all the info, my problem is I currently have the SL2-S and a couple of lenses. However I do enjoy wildlife and was hoping that maybe slotting on Sigma 100-400 would do the trick. My Landscape photography and Wildlife are split 50/50. But I am uncertain that the forementioned combo will produce the results. My other option is to buy a second combo, like a used D500 and appropriate lens with the 2k I have left in my budget. I have heard that the Sigma 100-400 has limited performance at longer distances. 

Here is my flickr page

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by Flyer
Update

[michali]

7 hours ago, Flyer said:

Thanks for all the info, my problem is I currently have the SL2-S and a couple of lenses. However I do enjoy wildlife and was hoping that maybe slotting on Sigma 100-400 would do the trick. My Landscape photography and Wildlife are split 50/50. But I am uncertain that the forementioned combo will produce the results. My other option is to buy a second combo, like a used D500 and appropriate lens with the 2k I have left in my budget. I have heard that the Sigma 100-400 has limited performance at longer distances. 

Here is my flickr page

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Mixing camera systems has never really worked for me.  Prior to the advent of the SL, for my wildlife work I was using Sonys with Leica R lenses, I then went onto Fuji, but I was never really happy, different systems etc. The SL, which according to many  "experts" is not the best camera for wildlife photography , worked really well for me & in addition to L lenses, gave me the ability to use both my Leica R & M lenses as it was designed to also accommodate these.

I've now had the SL2 for just over a year & am even happier, IMO the best digital camera I've owned. The SL2 is perfect for my work as I do a great deal of large prints for clients & often have to crop.  I use the CL as back up, it has the same 3-button layout & menu interface as the SL2, simple & intuitive. Add to this the excellent & affordable variety of L mount lenses available from Sigma & Panasonic & I think one has the best of everything. Sure there are some compromises, but that's life.  

My suggestion is to try out the Sigma 100-400mm L if you can rent or arrange to return, if it doesn't suit your requirements.

BTW there was no link to your Flickr page.

Best Mike

Edited January 1, 2021 by michali

[michali]

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2 hours ago, michali said:

....BTW there was no link to your Flickr page....

OK I found the almost invisible line linking to your Flickr page. You've got some wonderful images, I really like your Kingfisher images. I love these birds!

[caissa]

I also found the invisible link. After clicking around in the fog.  If you want people to follow your link, you should probably make it visible. 😎🥳🤓

I liked “your tigers” very much. And the five little ducks.

Edited January 1, 2021 by caissa

[Robert E]

My experience with the Sigma 100-400 DN was not all that impressive as Flyer mentioned above. I was really hoping this new lens would help in my BIF and nature photography.  However over and over again, on a tripod or hand held the images at 400mm were soft at best. It was so disappointing I returned the lens.

It may just be a case of finding a good copy, but that's a lot of buying and returning I really don't want to get into. Waiting for Panasonic Lumix Pro telephoto lens to be released.  I have the 70-200 f4 Pro lens and 1.4x extender that in every way outshines the Sigma 100-400 DN, just does not have the longer reach.

Anyway, you asked for some input and that was my experience.

 

 

[Nash]

On 1/7/2021 at 3:32 PM, Robert E said:

My experience with the Sigma 100-400 DN was not all that impressive as Flyer mentioned above. I was really hoping this new lens would help in my BIF and nature photography.  However over and over again, on a tripod or hand held the images at 400mm were soft at best. It was so disappointing I returned the lens.

It may just be a case of finding a good copy, but that's a lot of buying and returning I really don't want to get into. Waiting for Panasonic Lumix Pro telephoto lens to be released.  I have the 70-200 f4 Pro lens and 1.4x extender that in every way outshines the Sigma 100-400 DN, just does not have the longer reach.

Anyway, you asked for some input and that was my experience.

 

 

Hi I find this hard to

belie when looking on Flickr and other web sites there images at 400mm are very sharp 

[jaapv]

It has been said before. The lens needs to be used with electronic shutter. 

[SrMi]

5 hours ago, jaapv said:

It has been said before. The lens needs to be used with electronic shutter. 

I guess that means that it is not useful for BIF (rolling shutter).

[jaapv]

It is very unlikely that you will see a rolling shutter effect on a flying bird, even if it is present in the  limited amount that  normal shutter speeds for this use produce. A bird has no geometrical shapes that will show it up.

You don't see rolling shutter effects on BIF photographs by (D)SLR shots, which use shutters that are similarly prone to this issue.The only reason that it can be more pronounced on a sensor camera is that it can produce extremely short shutter times.

[Robert E]

16 hours ago, jaapv said:

It has been said before. The lens needs to be used with electronic shutter. 

So you are saying this lens only produces sharp images if its used with the electronic shutter?  Seriously?

[jaapv]

In general, yes, the way it balances seems to encourage shutter slap.

[thondup]

For its lightweight and reach I think the Sigma 100-400 is great value. Its performance is also great.

[SrMi]

17 hours ago, jaapv said:

It is very unlikely that you will see a rolling shutter effect on a flying bird, even if it is present in the  limited amount that  normal shutter speeds for this use produce. A bird has no geometrical shapes that will show it up.

You don't see rolling shutter effects on BIF photographs by (D)SLR shots, which use shutters that are similarly prone to this issue.The only reason that it can be more pronounced on a sensor camera is that it can produce extremely short shutter times.

I agree that it is unlikely that we will see a rolling shutter effect on a flying bird, except a humming bird (https://bit.ly/39diCaF).

DSLRs have a second curtain that prevents the rolling shutter issue. Why do you think that they are prone to the same issue?

 

[SrMi]

12 hours ago, jaapv said:

In general, yes, the way it balances seems to encourage shutter slap.

I assume the issue is the first curtain shock. Unfortunately, Leica SL2 does not have EFCS to mitigate it.

[michali]

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

I assume the issue is the first curtain shock. Unfortunately, Leica SL2 does not have EFCS to mitigate it.

I've noticed this issue with both the SL2 & CL, I also had the same issue with the Sony A7r some years ago. When I had the S1R I also complained of similar issues with the VE90-280 SL. There's been a marked improvement in image quality & sharpness with the Electronic Shutter. I haven't noticed any artefacts or other issues when using the Electronic Shutter (both with  the SL2 & CL) when shooting outdoors in natural light.

Here's a test I did back in Nov. when I first used the Sigma 100-400mm.

 

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[jaapv]

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5 hours ago, SrMi said:

I agree that it is unlikely that we will see a rolling shutter effect on a flying bird, except a humming bird (https://bit.ly/39diCaF).

DSLRs have a second curtain that prevents the rolling shutter issue. Why do you think that they are prone to the same issue?

 

 Because it is precisely the second curtain that produces a rolling shutter effect, like it does on film. Nomen est omen. There are beautiful examples from the early 20th century when the curtains were relatively slow. As the shutter roll-off speed increased the effect got mitigated, never disappeared completely but lost its impact, and it poked up its head again when the (slow) rolling readout of sensors enabled extremely short "shutter times" simulation and added the multiplication effect to geometrical distortion.

 

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