BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Digital Cameras and Accessories

Photography Question 

Rahul Sharma
 

Which Telephoto Lens - Tamron or Sigma


 
  Tamron 70-300
Tamron 70-300

Rahul Sharma

 
  Sigma 70-300
Sigma 70-300

Rahul Sharma

 
  Sigma 70-300 Motorized
Sigma 70-300 Motorized

Rahul Sharma

 
  Canon 55-250
Canon 55-250

Rahul Sharma

 
  Canon 75-300
Canon 75-300

Rahul Sharma

 
 
Hi,
I am planning to buy a telephoto lens and do not actually want to shell out lot of money for this. I use a Canon 600D camera body. Considering my requirements I was thinking or either of the following 2 lenses :
1. Tamron AF 70 - 300 mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro for Canon Digital SLR Lens --- INR9299
2. Sigma 70 - 300 mm F4-5.6 DG Macro for Canon Digital SLR Lens --- INR8399

Had also seen the below one from Sigma
Sigma 70 - 300 mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro Motorized for Canon Digtital SLR Lens --- INR12399

and there are lenses available from Canon
1. Canon EF-S 55 - 250 mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens(Black, Telephoto Zoom Lens) ---INR9490
2. Canon EF 75 - 300 mm f/4-5.6 III Lens --- INR14170

My needs are :
1. Increased Focal Length - Portraits and Long Distance Shots
2. Macro if Possible :- I really want to try Macro photography but the equipments are costly.

Based on above I request if you experienced and knowledgeable photographers may suggest something.

Regards
Rahul


To love this question, log in above
June 23, 2015

 

Jeff Sielski
  Hi Rahul,

Based on what you are looking to do- and the choices you have listed I would really look at the Tamron:
Tamron AF 70 - 300 mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro for Canon Digital SLR Lens- it has a Marco feature built in, you should be able to add an Extension Tube with this lens for even more Marco close focusing, it does not have Image Stabilization built in like the (Canon L lens) Your camera has a crop factor sensor so your focal length would be:
35mm equivalency of --112-480mm.

Best of Luck
Jeff



To love this comment, log in above
June 23, 2015

 

Rahul Sharma
  Many Thanks Jeff for your valuable suggestions. Really appreciated. Will read some reviews about the lens and take a final decision. Does absence of IS really affect the picture quality? There used to no IS in previous years...

best
Rahul


To love this comment, log in above
June 24, 2015

 

Jeff Sielski
  Hi Rahul,

IS or VR is important, it will give you more freedom when photographing
Benig the lens is smaller and light with the VR you won't have to worry about a tripod all the time.

Best of luck
Jeff


To love this comment, log in above
June 24, 2015

 
marylouolson.com - Mary L. Olson

Contact Mary L. Olson
Mary L. Olson's Gallery
  I can't quite agree that IS or VR lenses are smaller or lighter. That's not the benefit. What they DO give is the ability to handhold a slower shutter speed than a non-stabilized lens of the equivalent focal length. For example, the recommended handhold speed for a 200mm focal length lens is its reciprocal, 1/200 of a second. With IS or OS or VR, you could get a sharp image at half that or maybe even a little faster -- depends on the system — because of the reduction of vibration.

I have no idea whether either Sigma or Tamron makes better or even as good IS as Canon or Nikon. Canon and Nikon optimize their lenses for their cameras, so that might make a difference.

If you do shoot with one of these image stabilized lenses from a tripod, you want to turn it off, or you may actually get a little blur resulting from it being on.


To love this comment, log in above
June 24, 2015

 

Jeff Sielski
  Hi Rahul,

What Mary is saying is correct, I meant the say thing, what I was also referring to is the Tamron lens that you are looking at is a small and light weight lens.

Best of Luck
Jeff


To love this comment, log in above
June 24, 2015

 

Rahul Sharma
  Thanks Mary and Jeff.... The information shared is really helpful. Should I assume that if I go for Tamron 70-300 which is without IS I should expect noticeable shake/softness in the pictures at 300mm if I dont use the tripod?
Any suggestion on its macro capability?

I was looking for this lens as it serves 2 purposes - Telephoto and Macro in a comparatively smaller budget.


To love this comment, log in above
June 25, 2015

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Chris Budny
Chris Budny's Gallery
  Rahul, whether you'll see camera shake interfere with your images (ie, if you're shooting handheld without image stabilization) will greatly depend on your shutter speed for the shot, and your own steadiness in holding a camera (which you can practice on, and improve over time.) If you are zoomed in to 300, handheld, you'd want to aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/250th or faster to help eliminate the chance of camera movement affecting your image; the faster you can go, the less camera-shaking will matter. You can increase the shutter speed in various ways (increase ISO, choose a lower f-stop, etc.) But those choices bring their own consequences to the final image, which you'll have to consider (increased graininess if ISO is set high, shallower depth of field when f-stop is lower, etc.)
I have the 70-300 Canon you mentioned, and when I use it on a tripod, with Mirror Lockup, remote shutter release, without I.S., in good light, it produces very nice imagery. But as soon as I go into less-than-great light, handheld with I.S. turned on, I find the images generally are less satisfying. Not terrible, but I have far fewer keepers with this lens than any other lens I use. At least my copy of this lens, like to be in very, very ideal conditions...!
That said, I've never attempted macro work with it -- though it doesn't have a dedicated macro feature (and I have the lovely 100mm Canon macro lens from many years ago, which I'd use instead, for my macro shots.)


To love this comment, log in above
June 25, 2015

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Chris Budny
Chris Budny's Gallery
  (oops -- correction; I don't have the Canon lens you mentioned, 75-300. I have the Canon *70*-300 f/4-5.6 IS) So my comments are about the 70-300, not the 75-300, which I've not used before...)


To love this comment, log in above
June 25, 2015

 

Jeff Sielski
  Rahul,

Yes a lens without IS or VR at long focal lengths with slow
shutter speeds is more likely to result in a less than sharp -blurry image, with normal handholding tech. I am a Nikon
shooter, and all my larger zooms have VR, take a look at this lens from Tamron the specs. look good it is from B&H Photo.
Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLRs. it has a very good price, I don't think it has a Marco setting, but you can always add a macro lens later on.

Best of luck.

Jeff


To love this comment, log in above
June 25, 2015

 
- Ed Lauderdale

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Ed Lauderdale
Ed Lauderdale's Gallery
  Rahul, have you looked at dpreview.com? I find they do a pretty thorough analysis. Some lenses haven't been reviewed, but photographers like those above submit reviews. I, personally, am partial to Sigma.


To love this comment, log in above
June 26, 2015

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread