80-400 0r 150-500

[Wayne63]

I am looking at getting a longer lens for birding (have a ef-s 55-250 atm) with a tight budget I am looking at a Tokina AT-X 840 AF D AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 Lenses.
Or should I keep saving for a while and get a Sigma 150-500?
Does anyone have a 80-400? I have a Canon 450D

[rene52]

I can not comment on the Tokina lens but can give a little on the Sigma Lens. I have the 50-500 Sigma lens and I don't usually take it off at all. I also have a friend who has the 150-500 Sigma and says it is the better lens (I will stick with my 50-500 for now). Since you mentioned the Tokina I will have to look myself at this one and see if it looks ok or not (more for my motorsports than anything else). I use my Sigma lens for motorsports, landscape, closeup and wildlife on my Canon 7D.

[Wayne63]

Thanks Rene, from the reviews I had read it looks ok but would rather hear someones opinion that has one.

[Tannin]

The Tokina 80-400 is generally regarded as the worst 400mm class lens made today. Tokina make some fantastic lenses. This is not one of them. Avoid.

The best 400mm class lens is the Canon 100-400. Next best is the Sigma 50-500, next after that is the Sigma 150-500. Oh, and there is an excellent Canon 400mm prime, but that doesn't have IS. You want to have IS. There are various versions of the Sigma lenses I mentioned. The newer versions are apparently better than the older ones.

[Kym]

I have the Sigma 50-500 !! Feral1 and a few others have the 150-500 !! All good!

[geoffsta]

I have the 150-500. And although it is a great lens, I have had a few problems with it. Twice now I have lost both AF and OS (IS, VR) First time cost me $400 to repair. So this time I said stuff it, and went a bought a 120-300 Sigma f2.8, with a 2x converter. And have improved my images dramatically. Although it emptied my wallet, and the dog house ended up quite comfortable. I don't think I'll look back.

[Wayne63]

Thanks everyone for you comments, think I will just keep saving until I can afford a 100-400 or the 50-500. I had given getting a 2.8 with a 2x a bit of thought until I saw the price :eek:

[geoffsta]

Thanks everyone for you comments, think I will just keep saving until I can afford a 100-400 or the 50-500. I had given getting a 2.8 with a 2x a bit of thought until I saw the price :eek:

Hence the dog house... :crike:

[Roosta]

Wayne, I looked at the 80-400 about a year or so ago, it was very cheaply built, felt poor to zoom and just generally cheap. As Tony (tannin) mentioned, stay away from it, but as also mentioned, Tokina make some wonderful lenses.

As Kym mentioned, lots on AP have either version of the Sigma Big Guns, also bear in mind the EFOV you'll get when buying a EF or equivilant lens (X mm by 1.6)

From time to time on (Gumtree or the like) you can pick up the sigma 100-300mm F4, this is a ripper of a lens and falls under the DG mount, so 100 x 1.6 and 300 x 1.6 on your crop body to get EFOV. Here is a link to some helpfull reviews. http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-Lens-Reviews.aspx Also try this for the discontinued Sigma lenses, (The 100-300) is highlited down the list for you..

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/discontinued-lens-chart

P.S. If your looking at a new Sigma Lens, get your best GREY Internet price and speak to your local Sigma Lens supplier here in Oz, and mention the CR Kennedy Price Match. See this link. http://www.crkennedy.com.au/v1/index.cfm?pageID=315&h=price%20match&

[ameerat42]

I'm the last to give advice on birding lenses, but I'd ask, what is your usual distance - close, or far?

From my P(ret)TY LTD experience, I have wanted to get longer focal lengths for this most of the time.
Am.

[Wayne63]

Thank you Roosta & ameerat for your replies, I will be keeping an eye out for the lens you have mentioned. thanks

[Wayne63]

Just a bit of an update, Iam now thinking about a Sigma 120-400. Does anyone have the lens? and how does it perfom? I think that most of my work would be covered by the 400mm max and also still has f5.6 @400. The reason I am looking at this one is as I could buy it new rather than a used lens with a f2.8

[Bennymiata]

You can also look for a good used Canon 100-400L.
There are a few around at very reasonable prices and it is a stellar lens, for what it is.