Out with the Sigma 100-400mm in good light this afternoon, it produced decent results on some feathers and abysmal results on others (see below). It is a “middling” lens, specifically made to be an all-purpose option, and I knew that when I acquired it—again.
Late in the afternoon while winding down the session, it dawned on me that my biggest gripe with the lens is that it’s not really even close to being as good as the RF 100-400mm. The Canon lens is less than two-thirds the price, less than two-thirds the weight, far more compact, and is obviously sharper at longer distances than the Sigma.
My hope is that when the TC-1411 arrives early to midweek next week, the Sigma can work well as an open field lens as opposed to a “critters in foliage” kind of lens. If it doesn’t, my double-down on it will have backfired. Even now, I’m wondering if Sigma took advantage of its success to put in cheaper glass, as contrast is its big weakness, and anecdotally seems worse than with previous copies. Even with peaking set to high, cues were weak when I tried manual focus with the lens.
R glass may yet get another look . . .
