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Sigma 1.4x TC vs Canon 1.4x TC

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Juza_EA

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I've recently bought the Sigma 1.4x TC for my Sigma 180mm Macro...I already have the Canon 1.4x, but it doesn't fit the Sigma lens.



Of course, I was curious to test the two TCs side by side, to compare image quality. I made the test using the Canon 600 f4 L IS on a stable support and cable release.

The results are a little surprising:

1) I don't see any real difference, even at 100% (I expected the Canon to be better)

2) The Sigma seems to magnify the image a little more than the Canon

These are the the 100% crop from the RAW files, without any processing, converted with my personal settings (



; )

Canon 1.4x TC:



Sigma 1.4x TC:



I'm curious to know what you think, and if someone has done the same test, if his results match my test.

--
Juza
Nature photographer
http://www.juzaphoto.com
 
My test results parallel yours - my Sigma 1.4x (non-DG) is at least as sharp or actually a hair sharper than my Canon 1.4x II, at least in the center of the frame, and on the 350D + Sigmonster.

Regarding magnification, my measurement points to the Sigma 1.4x as a true 1.414x TC, while the Canon is about a 1.393x TC.

Here's my shoot-out among Canon II, Sigma non-DG and standard Tamron TCs:



Romy

--



http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone
(Over 240 species captured in habitat, and counting.)
 
A comparison of the corner crops...

full image:



Sigma 1.4x - corner crop



Canon 1.4x - corner crop



The sigma looks slightly better in the corner, where it shows less chroma aberration. Anyway, the differences are truly small, and it would be impossible to tell if a photo had been taken with the Sigma or the Canon, in the field.

--
Juza
Nature photographer
http://www.juzaphoto.com
 
Thanks for these tests and reporting on your findings.

I have the Sigma 1.4 non-DG and was wondering if the Canon would be better. Now I know that I don't need to worry thanks to you two :)

I just purchased a 400 f/5.6 and haven't realy had a chance to try it yet with the TC attached as the weather as just been miserable. I'll give the "tape the pins" trick a try and see if I can get decent AF; if not, oh well :/

:)

--
Robert
http://www.pbase.com/rgravel/mes_photos
 
Any idea how the kenko stacks up? That seems to be a popular one as well.
Cheers Mike
 
Thanks Graeme,

By any chance you wouldn't know if one works with more lenses than the other do you? I've currently got the Canon 70-300 IS and at some point in the next month or so would like to get either the Canon 100 macro or maybe the Sigma 105 macro. I would just like to make sure that which ever I get I can use on all of them without having to tape pins. Thanks again for any input.
Cheers Mike
 
I recently got a Canon 300 2.8 IS and tried my non DG Sigma 1.4x and the results are amazing. I thought I was going to have to buy the Canon 1.4x but for now ,I'm going to stay with the Sigma.

Al
 
I use my sigma TC 1.4 with the sigma 70-200 2.8, images are not bad at all.
Now I am thinking about getting the sigma 18-50 2.8 to add to my list.
Is any one using that combo already and how do you like the set up.
thanks,
Joe
http://www.pbase.com/joe300d
Will the TC fit on the sig 18-50 2.8?
I what to replace the canon kit lens.
 
because i believe the kenko 1.4 pro is better than the canon 1.4 in both IQ and AF speed. i recently bought another kenko and sold my canon TC.

ed rader

--



'One often has mixed feelings about relatives, but few people could identify serious problems in their relationships with dogs.'

-- Anonymous
 
The Sigma won't physically fit on the 70-300 - I'm not sure about the 2 macro primes. I think that the Kenko Pro TC will allow AF with the 70-300 (it certainly will with the f/2.8 macros). If not, the standard Kenko or Tamron should do the job. Bear in mind that, regardless of which TC you choose, you'll need very good light and a contrasty subject to get the 70-300 to focus.
crazybadger said:
Thanks Graeme,
By any chance you wouldn't know if one works with more lenses than
the other do you? I've currently got the Canon 70-300 IS and at
some point in the next month or so would like to get either the
Canon 100 macro or maybe the Sigma 105 macro. I would just like to
make sure that which ever I get I can use on all of them without
having to tape pins. Thanks again for any input.
Cheers Mike
Click to expand...
 
tokina hoya kenko all the same. I recently purchased the 150 macro by sigma and was ready to order the tc.
 
You might be interested in another test, they compared three different kenkos, a soligor?, and the canon 1.4 TC. Only problem that the test is in german (but there are enough online translators):

http://www.traumflieger.de/desktop/telekonverter/konvertertest2.php

However, the result is similar to your comparison of Canon with Sigma TC. There are no big differences in picture quality. For AF and metering performance they preferred kenko pro 300 and canon because of the electronic coupling.

So in the end it probably does not matter which TC, they are all pretty good :)
 
is the kenko pro 2x any good? or should i stick with the 1.4 as the 2x would compromise the image quality to much. i have a 70-200 f4is that i would like to stretch a bit more.
--
if you don't shoot. you'll always miss.
http://meshift.blogspot.com
 
I have no personal experience with 2.0x converters, but i think i read somewhere the difference at least for kenko 2.0x vs. canon 2.0x is greater than for 1.4x converters with the canon noticeable sharper than the kenko.
 
I forgot to say, f4 lens with 2.0x tc will have an aperture of f8, and will not auto-focus on most cameras (except 1-series).

Taping some pins may cheat the camera but i already experienced some af hunting (kind of oscillations) with a 70-200 f2.8 with a cheap kenko non-pro 1.4x. I guess this is because the camera reduces the af-speed if it knows about the tc and it can't if it does not know about it. I really don't want to know how a 70-200 F4 with a 2.0x TC will perform...
 
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