Shootout Comparo: Sony 70–300mm vs. Sigma 100–400mm

[WoodWorks]

ILCE-7RM2    FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS    77mm    f/5.6    1/30s    ISO 2500

Close up, I think I prefer the Sony (top photo). Slightly.

ILCE-7RM2    FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS    300mm    f/5.6    1/30s    ISO 250

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    299mm    f/6.3    1/30s    ISO 320

But for the kind of photos I most often use this kind of lens, landscape shots, the Sigma spanks the Sony pretty hard, IMO. Especially at ~100mm.

All of the following shots were on a tripod, with IBIS and OS disabled, 5 sec. shutter delay, etc.

Here's a 100mm comparison of this scene:

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    100mm    f/5.0    1/400s    ISO 100

And here's a 100% crop of that scene, Sigma on the left and Sony on the right.

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The same view at 300mm:

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    299mm    f/6.3    1/250s    ISO 100

And again a 100% crop of that scene, Sigma on the left and Sony on the right.

   ---            

Here's another scene at 100mm:

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    100mm    f/5.0    1/1600s    ISO 100

And a 100% crop, Sigma left, Sony right.

   ---            

And the same view at 300mm:

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    299mm    f/6.3    1/1000s    ISO 100

And again a 100% crop of that scene, Sigma on the left and Sony on the right.

   ---            

When I ordered the Sigma, I decided that I'd keep it if it matched the Sony's IQ, just because of the 100mm extra reach. This test makes that decision easy for me. The Sony's going up on eBay.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Wow. Even I can see that difference. Never would have guessed that out come.
Thanks for taking the time and making the effort David.

 

[WoodWorks]

Here's an additional set of 100mm images from this scene:

ILCE-7RM2    100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary 020    100mm    f/5.0    1/640s    ISO 100

As before, Sigma left, Sony right.

   ---            

 

[Richard Crowe]

The difference is obvious... I'd love to see a shootout between the Sony 70-350mm OSS and the Sigma 100-400mm. I have heard that the Sony 70-350mm lens is slightly sharper than the Sony 70-300mm...

 

[bdbits]

I am a little suprised a Sony G lens did not fare a little better. That 100-400 is pretty decent and so much cheaper than the Sony 100-400.

Must. Resist. GAS.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Must. Resist. GAS.

At some point in the future, when I am celebrating my surviving world hazards, and assuming I can actually go out to use such a lens, I might not resist. Sigma will get my cash. But a long telephoto is not even the first thing on my wish list (a wide to standard is) so it will be quite a while.

 

[somnambulist_squirrel]

How fast is focus acquisition, and how accurate? I'd use this for sports as well as landscape, and soccer players and alpine skiers move FAST.... I used the 70-300 to shoot a FIS World Cup race at Killington, and got some solid photos. But I wasn't absolutely enamored with that lens. This one is clearly sharper. Also, does the collar for the Sigma 105 fit this? For some reason I thought I saw that somewhere....

 

[WoodWorks]

I’m mostly a landscape shooter, and have almost never shot sports, but I’d say the focus is as quick and accurate as any of my other lenses. And I’ve yet to miss a shot because of a focus fail. Dunno about the collar, but I believe you’re right. I remember reading somewhere that it uses the same TS-111 collar as the 105. I’ll be picking one up as soon as it becomes available.

 

[JonathanF2]

Nice! This lens looks like a real winner. Tamron is about to announce their 70-300mm fairly soon, so I see a 3 way shootout coming up!