08-01-2011, 01:38 AM
After a lot of research I could dig out the following which I would like to share with the experienced members for their thoughts, which are very important to me.
1) Reviews- not exactly a direct comparison, but one can draw a comparative study:
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/tamron-sp-af-200-500mm-f-5-6-3-di-ld--if--interchangeable-lens-review-13558"]Tamron SP 200-500 f5/6.3 LD IF Lens Review[/url]
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma-150-500mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-interchangeable-lens-review-13621"]Sigma 150-500 OS HSM Review[/url]
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/photographing-nature-with-tamron-lenses--the-sp-af90mm-f-2-8-macro-and-sp-af200-500mm-f-5-6-3-di-ld--if--13057"]Additional article on Tamron 200-500 (2nd part of the Article)[/url]
Conclusion that I drew: Tamron 200-500 wins all hands down in Sharpness as well as CA (both Center and Corners) at 500mm end. Now I think for bird and wildlife photography the IQ at the 500mm end is most important.
Please share your thought on this matter.
2) Feature Comparison:
-----------------------------Tamron 200-500 ------------------Sigma 150-500 OS------
Max Aperture (wide): ----------f5 -------------------------------------- f5.6
Min Focus: ------------------2.5m ---------------------------------220cm ------- Interesting to note,
Weight: ---------------------1237g -----------------------------------1910g ------- Interesting to note
Stabilization: --------------------X -----------------------------------------Y
AF Motor: ----------------------- X ----------------------------------------HSM
Min Aperture: ----------------32 -----------------------------------------22
Lens Elements: -------------13 ----------------------------------------- 21--------- is it lesser the better?
Lens Groups: ---------------10 ------------------------------------------15---------- is it lesser the better?
As I ponder over the above comparison the following questions come to my mind:
1. Less number of elements and groups in Tamron, does not this mean better and consistent Optical Quality?
2. Does the better Close Focusing distance really matters?
3. For bird photography, should OS be the deciding factor? Considering the above articles outcome clearly showing better IQ for Tamron!
4. Sigma though sports a HSM, will it really AF that fast? How good the AF speed of Tamron?
Please help me with this further more so when two members using either of the lenses have kindly decided to come out and help me. I think you, the users (past/present) are in best position to help me out as well as other experienced users.
Thanks again, you people are really great.
1) Reviews- not exactly a direct comparison, but one can draw a comparative study:
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/tamron-sp-af-200-500mm-f-5-6-3-di-ld--if--interchangeable-lens-review-13558"]Tamron SP 200-500 f5/6.3 LD IF Lens Review[/url]
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma-150-500mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-interchangeable-lens-review-13621"]Sigma 150-500 OS HSM Review[/url]
[url="http://www.ephotozine.com/article/photographing-nature-with-tamron-lenses--the-sp-af90mm-f-2-8-macro-and-sp-af200-500mm-f-5-6-3-di-ld--if--13057"]Additional article on Tamron 200-500 (2nd part of the Article)[/url]
Conclusion that I drew: Tamron 200-500 wins all hands down in Sharpness as well as CA (both Center and Corners) at 500mm end. Now I think for bird and wildlife photography the IQ at the 500mm end is most important.
Please share your thought on this matter.
2) Feature Comparison:
-----------------------------Tamron 200-500 ------------------Sigma 150-500 OS------
Max Aperture (wide): ----------f5 -------------------------------------- f5.6
Min Focus: ------------------2.5m ---------------------------------220cm ------- Interesting to note,
Weight: ---------------------1237g -----------------------------------1910g ------- Interesting to note
Stabilization: --------------------X -----------------------------------------Y
AF Motor: ----------------------- X ----------------------------------------HSM
Min Aperture: ----------------32 -----------------------------------------22
Lens Elements: -------------13 ----------------------------------------- 21--------- is it lesser the better?
Lens Groups: ---------------10 ------------------------------------------15---------- is it lesser the better?
As I ponder over the above comparison the following questions come to my mind:
1. Less number of elements and groups in Tamron, does not this mean better and consistent Optical Quality?
2. Does the better Close Focusing distance really matters?
3. For bird photography, should OS be the deciding factor? Considering the above articles outcome clearly showing better IQ for Tamron!
4. Sigma though sports a HSM, will it really AF that fast? How good the AF speed of Tamron?
Please help me with this further more so when two members using either of the lenses have kindly decided to come out and help me. I think you, the users (past/present) are in best position to help me out as well as other experienced users.
Thanks again, you people are really great.