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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Sigma 70-300 or Tamron 70-300?
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 08/26/2006 01:21:32 PM · #1
Hey everyone -

I know that you all see these kind of topics posted all the time. I tried to do several searches but couldn't really find anything that easily so I thought I'd post.

Someone wants to buy me something camera related for my new hobby and asked me for a suggestion. You know what I would like - I wouldn't mind getting an L glass for my Canon but it's not fair for me to ask them to spend so much money. (or is it? :) Actually even I don't currently have a budget for a Canon L lens right now.

So I did some searching and I thought that it would be good to get a long lens. I came across these two lenses that have gotten pretty good reviews. Moreoever, they also have Macro capability which could come in very handy. The long range could come in handy in all situations where I don't want to get too close to the subject.

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 D i LD MACRO

My question for you is do you have any suggestions as far as which lens I should ask for here? The price range for these two is around $200. Do you think there's something else better that would give me a long reach with decent optics in the price range? I don't want them to waste the money on some lens that just wouldn't be useful whether in sharpness or something else. So I could really use your suggestion here.

While I was looking at these two I also noticed this one other lens. This one has the XR. Does that make it better? I generally don't prefer lenses that have such a large range (28 - 300) since they usually suffer in quality. What do you all think about this one?
Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF

Hey - thanks in advance for your responses.

-- Ankur
 08/26/2006 01:30:52 PM · #2
The Sigma and tamron are probably close performers. Good value for the buck.

The Canon 70-200 f4L is the best value for an L lens in the telephoto range. The sharpness will be far superior to either the Sigma or the Tamron. You will have to put out close to $600 for the Canon, more if you want the new IS. The IS is cool but I don't think it is worth the price difference.
 08/26/2006 01:35:16 PM · #3
I have the Sigma 70-300mm and for the dollar, it is fairly decent. At full focal length of 300mm, there is some noticeable drop in sharpness and overall quality, but many lenses suffer at their full focal length.
I can only imagine the Tamron would be excellent based on the XR Di quality their 28-75mm is and if given a choice between the three, without any comparisons or knowledge, would opt for the Tamron sight unseen.
 08/26/2006 02:36:55 PM · #4
being a nikon user I can't speak from personal experience. but i do have a friend who owns the Tamron 70-300 for her canon and she really likes it. however she just shelled out for one of those expensive white lenses and I haven't seen anything but it on her camera since.
 08/26/2006 02:42:58 PM · #5
Tamron 70-300 here... so far so good. I do have this "blue edge" problem, but I am not sure if it is the lens or the machine's sensor...







these are few samples... I am not sure if it helps at all :P

good luck
 08/26/2006 02:47:52 PM · #6
Do NOT buy the 28-300. It's really soft at both ends any you'll end up with muddy looking pixels.

I have the Sigma 70-300 APO DG, and I'm quite satisfied with it. Wish there were an EX f/4 version of that.

The Canon 70-200 f/4 is certainly a higher quality lens than either of these.

Also look into the Tokina 80-400 4.5-5.6 AT-X 840 AF-D. It has an internal focus element unlike the Sigma (and I think the Tamron) so the lens barrel will not rotate while focusing. It's a stop slower than the f/4L, but it's nearly as sharp and has twice the range. If you like wildlife and outdoor sports this is the lens for you I think.

If you like indoor sports or event work. You need an f/2.8 or better lens, period.

edit- missed the part about the $200 range. Either the Sigma or Tamron are a great buy in that price range. Acceptable sharpness, by no means fully top notch or pro-grade though. They both take decent macro's too.

Message edited by author 2006-08-26 14:51:02.
 08/26/2006 02:53:31 PM · #7
Originally posted by wavelength:
...They both take decent macro's too.




...they (Tamron 70-300) sure do :P
 08/26/2006 03:00:52 PM · #8
I have the Sigma.

Overall, it's not a terrible lense. It can suffer from chromatic aberration, which can be frustrating at times.
 08/26/2006 03:06:38 PM · #9
Originally posted by Nelzie:
I have the Sigma.

Overall, it's not a terrible lense. It can suffer from chromatic aberration, which can be frustrating at times.


The Sigma APO DG versin does not suffer from this, the non-DG version does. I have both and can attest to that.
 08/26/2006 03:50:36 PM · #10
Sigma recently came out with a macro version of their APO 70 - 200 DG. It's $889 at B&H and $804.95 at Sigma4Less. I realize it's more than you stated was in your price rage. But, well worth it.
 08/26/2006 04:07:06 PM · #11
i have the tamron version, but i don't use it very often... it's just not the same quality as my other 3 lenses... a bit soft and very slow to focus...

however, when i need/want the reach, like my trip to the zoo this morning looking for some freestudy goodness, it's likely to end up on the camera...

that said, it will take a good picture on occasion :

08/26/2006 04:45:45 PM · #12
Oh, well, FINE, actual examples. Sigma 70-300 APO DG





08/26/2006 06:43:23 PM · #13
I have the Tamron and find it soft out near the 300 end. I heard somewhere that when it comes to glass, you get what you pay for.
08/26/2006 07:14:25 PM · #14
I just got the Sigma 70-300 ... on Thursday! Haven't had much chance to use it yet because it's been raining here all weekend ... I'll post pics when I take some!
 08/26/2006 11:07:57 PM · #15
I have the Tamron, and really I am not all that happy with it. It is ok, but I don't ever get the real sharp images that I have seen from some of the other lenses. I am thinking of buying some sigma's in the future because I like what I have seen on this site from those lenses.
 08/26/2006 11:12:58 PM · #16
i have the sigma ... it's good ... worth $200 ... focus misses sometimes ... or hunts.

i try not to go over 200mm and use f8 or higher, then it's excellent
 08/26/2006 11:14:08 PM · #17
Originally posted by boomtap:
I have the Tamron, and really I am not all that happy with it. It is ok, but I don't ever get the real sharp images that I have seen from some of the other lenses. I am thinking of buying some sigma's in the future because I like what I have seen on this site from those lenses.


could it be depending on the machine? Check below photos I posted... I am pretty happy about the lens. I have 70-300 mm Tamron
 08/26/2006 11:41:48 PM · #18
Ya, I use it on a D50. I think for the money it has served me well, but I have always been a bit frustrated with the focus. I did manage this strait from camera shot with it.

08/27/2006 07:33:17 PM · #19
Well thanks everyone for great comments. I loved the examples of pictures from both lenses. As I said, this would be a suggestion to someone for my birthday present. Like I said, I wish I could go with L lens but that just wouldn't be fair.

I think I would go with the Sigma here because I have read a lot of great reviews about that one. I really like the macro feature although I do wonder how much of that would be possible with just about any zoom lenses. I also read some reviews about Sigma APO that it's not as bad as Tamron at 300mm range. So we'll see.

Thanks again!
 08/27/2006 08:02:36 PM · #20
I think you will do well with it.
 08/27/2006 08:15:33 PM · #21
i have used the Tamaron on the d70 d200 and d2x and I hate it ... it is slow (locking focus) loud and not super sharp...
I have gotten some desent stuff with it but I use it for static stuff and manually focus it.

just me though.

08/27/2006 08:17:47 PM · #22
sigma 70-200 2.8 with a 1.4 or 2.0X teleconverter will be the better choice by far imho...that's what I have
 08/27/2006 11:57:54 PM · #23
took the tamron to the zoo again yesterday... got a couple of shots that i'm thinking of using for the free study...

this is _not_ one of them :


08/28/2006 12:23:06 AM · #24
I have the Sigma and LOVE IT!! I don't know much about the Tamron so I couldn't say which one is better.
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