Which would you choose? Leica SL 100-400 VE or Sigma Art 70-200 f2.8 w/ 1.4x converter?

[jaapv]

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You won’t be disappointed. 

[chris_tribble]

Looking forward to the evaluation 🙂

[rsh]

I currently own a 90-280 and it has served me well for 3 years and the focal length is long enough for my purposes.  That said, If I need a longer focal length at some point, I will not hesitate to purchase the Leica 100-400 and extender. 

Edited May 19, 2024 by rsh

[DirkZ]

Panasonic has announced a Telephoto Zoomlens in their roadmap. It's around 100-500mm. It is not clear yet, when this lens will come. Before I do more investments in telephoto lenses, I'll wait for it.

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[tom0511]

Am 10.5.2024 um 15:58 schrieb jaapv:

Actually, the contrast AF of the SL system is more accurate - albeit slower- than the PDAF systems of Nikon and Canon. Or SL3 for that matter. However, I am moving into BIF as an extra aspect, so I bought a LUMIX S5ii specifically for the fast AF and animal eye detection -and superior stabilization. I think the Sigma 500 is a fantastic lens, but as I often shoot from a fixed position I need zooms. The Leica and Sigma have the same internals and optics but the sigma is lighter due to more modern materials. 

The PDAF of the R5/R3 works very very accurate. I can even focus the 85/1.2 during handball games indoor and nail focus.

 

Edited June 7, 2024 by tom0511

[FlashGordonPhotography]

On 6/7/2024 at 8:00 PM, tom0511 said:

The PDAF of the R5/R3 works very very accurate. I can even focus the 85/1.2 during handball games indoor and nail focus.

 

Your and my experiences are different. While not nearly as bad as the terrible R7, my R5 has issues with AFC. If the subject is constantly moving it’s very god but if you accidentally leave it on for very slow or static subjects sometimes it jumps off the subject just as you push the shutter button, for no apparent reason. This happens rarely, which in a way makes it more infuriating to me. Hopefully Canon will sort this on the R5II and R7II. The R7 does the same thing but much more often. I hate that camera. I suppose you’d get used to it and I did try having a few custom profiles set to deal with it. I still have too many files where the AF is *off* for a stationary or slow moving subject. Giraffe browsing was a big one. Lots of slightly soft animals and sharp trees.

And @jaapv. All mirrorless cameras with PDAF use a hybrid system. PDAF for the initial stroke and CDAF for accuracy at the end. Some systems turn off/desensitise the CDAF in AFC (likely Canon’s issue with static subjects in that mode) to improve speed. And selecting shutter priority in AFC likely does the same thing. In single shot they all use a hybrid system although with Leica it looks like it switches to CDAF only in single shot with some lenses and uses hybrid with others. But the SL3 Af seems to be ALL in beta for now.

Gordon

[jaapv]

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Actually Canon uses DPAF. 

[ALScott]

An answer to the original question, I would pick the 100-400 hands down, no question.  For 30 years I shot my 70-200/2.8 Canon and thought that was the greatest zoom there could ever be.  This Leica 100-400 is an absolute game changer.  If this had been available when I was a working photog, wow, what I could have done with it.  Even though it isn't as fast a lens it does not matter one bit with this sensor.  The pics I get with it are incredible to me, the focus is fast and reliable as I need or want it to be and the images are jaw dropping.  Having bought the Leica I am loving the heft of it and definitely would not want the Sigma version for that reason.  I can lock my elbow into my body and have a rock solid hold.  You may be able to do the same with the Sigma but the Leica is SOLID.  Plus, I love the beautiful simplicity of the lens with no mess of buttons or selectors that I would constantly check to see if they are where I want them to be.  Just grab it from the bag and go without glancing over the lens.  I am new to all things Leica and am absolutely smitten so take that for what it's worth.

[tom0511]

Am 10.6.2024 um 06:23 schrieb ALScott:

An answer to the original question, I would pick the 100-400 hands down, no question.  For 30 years I shot my 70-200/2.8 Canon and thought that was the greatest zoom there could ever be.  This Leica 100-400 is an absolute game changer.  If this had been available when I was a working photog, wow, what I could have done with it.  Even though it isn't as fast a lens it does not matter one bit with this sensor.  The pics I get with it are incredible to me, the focus is fast and reliable as I need or want it to be and the images are jaw dropping.  Having bought the Leica I am loving the heft of it and definitely would not want the Sigma version for that reason.  I can lock my elbow into my body and have a rock solid hold.  You may be able to do the same with the Sigma but the Leica is SOLID.  Plus, I love the beautiful simplicity of the lens with no mess of buttons or selectors that I would constantly check to see if they are where I want them to be.  Just grab it from the bag and go without glancing over the lens.  I am new to all things Leica and am absolutely smitten so take that for what it's worth.

What I love about the f2.8 zooms is the shallower DOF, specially in the shorter focal langth range it does make a difference in subject searation. Besides this its a considerable benefit for indoor sports for keeping ISO lower.

 

[Jeff S]

On 5/15/2024 at 1:02 PM, BLeventhal said:

I will report back with its value/performance/quality in a month or so.

 

Verdict after 5 months?

Jeff