Thinking of getting Sigma 500 f5.6 sport for use on SL2S and a 1.4x extender - but which - Leica or Sigma???

[graeme_clarke]

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I have an Sl2S and Leica 90-280. For a trip to S Africa I'm thinking of getting the new Sigma 500mm F5.6 sport and a 1.4x converter.  Can anyone who uses this lens on an SL2 S please comment on the quality of its images; and is the more expensive Leica 1.4x  extender worth getting instead of the cheaper Sigma equivalent.  I've used the 90-280 on an SL601 and an SL2S for several years and its images are superb.  But what about the Sigma 500mm and 1.4x extender?  Looking forward to reading your comments...

Graeme

[rcusick]

I bought the sigma extender.  Mine happens to be a good copy.  I think the products are exactly the same except for quality control.   It’s more of a crap shoot whether you get a good sigma version or not (versus buying Leica).  

[rcusick]

480mm.  Ve 100-400. Sl3. Hand held from a moving boat with tele extender 1.4.  
 

 

 

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Edited September 6, 2024 by rcusick

[davidmknoble]

I have the Leica 1.4x extender.  It works well with the other Leica SL lenses that take extenders and for me, while it’s more, it will work and seal well with the Leica body.  I have also used it with the 500 f/5.6 Sigma lens which is outstanding by itself and with the extender.

 

Edited September 7, 2024 by davidmknoble
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[pf4eva]

If you're looking at success rate, I'd suggest getting something like Canon R8 + 100-500mm zoom. This zoom is very close in terms of sharpness to sigma 500mm very light and significantly more versatile. AF on R8 is leaps ahead for wildlife vs SL2. 

And if you need even more reach, you can get Canon R10/F7 + same zoom lens. AF is fantastic on those.

Edited September 25, 2024 by pf4eva

[graeme_clarke]

Thanks everyone for your advice.  I acquired the lens with a Sigma 1.4x extender to try.  Fitted onto an SL2S, the lens is very sharp at f5.6 when used on a tripod and OIS off and an electronic  shutter speed of 1/1000s to photograph a pylon about 800m away. With the extender there was a noticeable degradation in image quality.  Repeated them with OIS on and found no visible difference in LR at 100% crop.  I then tried both off a monopod photographing birds and deer in a reserve. Same setting as above with OIS on. Again, examining 400 or so images later in LR , I couldn't get a critically sharp image with the 1.4x fitted but without and cropping in the image is acceptable.  So decision made - returned the 1.4x and I'll use the lens on its own. 

Next step to try it on a CL and see what the image is like on the 24mp smaller sensor in South Africa. Not quite the same as a 700mm lens - in reality a crop with field of view equal to a 750mm - only problem I foresee is noise if the light is a little on the low side.  I think it will have most use on the SL2S though!  More later when I return mid October...

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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14 hours ago, graeme_clarke said:

Thanks everyone for your advice.  I acquired the lens with a Sigma 1.4x extender to try.  Fitted onto an SL2S, the lens is very sharp at f5.6 when used on a tripod and OIS off and an electronic  shutter speed of 1/1000s to photograph a pylon about 800m away. With the extender there was a noticeable degradation in image quality.  Repeated them with OIS on and found no visible difference in LR at 100% crop.  I then tried both off a monopod photographing birds and deer in a reserve. Same setting as above with OIS on. Again, examining 400 or so images later in LR , I couldn't get a critically sharp image with the 1.4x fitted but without and cropping in the image is acceptable.  So decision made - returned the 1.4x and I'll use the lens on its own. 

Next step to try it on a CL and see what the image is like on the 24mp smaller sensor in South Africa. Not quite the same as a 700mm lens - in reality a crop with field of view equal to a 750mm - only problem I foresee is noise if the light is a little on the low side.  I think it will have most use on the SL2S though!  More later when I return mid October...

That's what I have with my Sigma TC. My Leica one is much much better. I'm not saying the Sigma is bad (they're made in the same factory after all), just that MY Sigma is bad.

Gordon