Initial thoughts on the Sigma 100-400mm N

The other 100-400 thread was getting long with little first hand info, so let's try this.

I've had two each of Sigma 150-600mm C & Ss. All 4 had, like Sigma's big boss said, pretty much equal sharpness when compared on various test charts that they were shot at. So when I went to test the new 100-400 at 20' yesterday I just used the Sigma 150-600mm C, a newest version Nikon 80-400mm and a 400mm VR2 prime. When shot using a D500, mirror up, heavy tripod, at and fine tuned for 20', this 100-400 is at least as sharp as the C at 400mm. I just couldn't tell any difference. Like the C & S its slightly sharper than my 80-400. And of course less sharp than the 400 prime. But not by any significant amount. The 400 prime is set up for bird portraits at 15-20' from blinds and while it is sharper than the Sigmas out to 50+' , the Sigma are so close come 100'+ that the only real reason to use the big dollar lens is its 2.8-6 aperture advantage. While it hasn't been tested at any other distances yet, as far as my resolution requirements go so far the 100-400 is a keeper.

Hopefully tomorrow the new lens will shoot some high school softball to get a feel for its handling and focusing.

Right now the only negatives I can come up with are that unlike the 150-600s it only locks at 100mm. There's no tripod collar for a monopod or to rest it on for steadiness. So it's more likely to get marked up. It'll be interesting to try the push pull focus instead of turning a zoom. I'm thinking that may be easier to transition to than my now every Spring change of going from the Nikon 70-200 to the opposite turn of the Sigma zooms. The push pull seems to behave more stable than turning the zoom wheel that on this lens seems to cause a lot of movement on the point of aim. More movement than the heavier 150-600s and 70-200s. How much of that is because of the lighter weight or the design I can not say now. Of course the 70-200 can be zoomed using 1 light finger and this lens has a zoom stiffness about the same as the 150-600mm C and easier than the Sport or the 80-400mm that Nikon stiffened up when cleaning.

Well, at that price and seeing the images so far, I went ahead and ordered one today.  Question, Bill; do you think there's enough room somewhere on the barrel to fit a monopod/tripod ring?  All you need to know is the barrel diameter and there's a good chance we could find a third party ring online.

David

David Pavlich wrote:

Well, at that price and seeing the images so far, I went ahead and ordered one today. Question, Bill; do you think there's enough room somewhere on the barrel to fit a monopod/tripod ring? All you need to know is the barrel diameter and there's a good chance we could find a third party ring online.

David

Yes there's a 5/8" smooth round spot right behind the lens switches as far back on the main barrel as you can go. None of my calibers are deep enough to get a good diameter reading. 3.306" is the best I can get with what I have.

Made a plate and have a monopod, strap and some rubber washers supporting the lens right in front of the focus ring. Just to take some pressure off the mounts. Will see how that works.

billslatteryjr wrote:

David Pavlich wrote:

Well, at that price and seeing the images so far, I went ahead and ordered one today. Question, Bill; do you think there's enough room somewhere on the barrel to fit a monopod/tripod ring? All you need to know is the barrel diameter and there's a good chance we could find a third party ring online.

David

Yes there's a 5/8" smooth round spot right behind the lens switches as far back on the main barrel as you can go. None of my calibers are deep enough to get a good diameter reading. 3.306" is the best I can get with what I have.

Made a plate and have a monopod, strap and some rubber washers supporting the lens right in front of the focus ring. Just to take some pressure off the mounts. Will see how that works.

Thanks for the reply!

David

Would like to see a picture of your adapted monopod mount.

macmaven

macmaven wrote:

Would like to see a picture of your adapted monopod mount.

macmaven

Just got in from a game. The lens behaved good. But I haven't seen the photos yet.

Here's the first beta plate I whipped up quick. All holes are drilled and tapped 1/4 x 20 with the hole to camera just a plain 1/4". There's a 1/16 rubber washer under the camera hole and 3 1/8" rubber washers supporting the lens. You'd want to be careful to make the screws the right length so you have a good grip on the camera and not so long as to stick above the 3 front washers. But just long enough so they can't move. I gotta cut the front washers back some so they don't touch the focus ring and glue them in place.

Of course this works for just a D500 and would need modifying for other bodies. Hopefully somebody will come up with a way to add a tripod ring making this contraption unnecessary. Being able to use a monopod even with this light a lens is nice. Especially at places where you can't just sit and rest your elbow on your leg for support.

Oh ya. You'll want to put tape over the lens switches. I bumped mine to manual before using gaffers tape I keep on the monopod for just such kind of reasons. Had me scared for a while.

Nice!

Thanks for posting. Very clever. (GoFundMe?)

macmaven

Pretty good stuff, Bill!

David

You're welcome and thank you.

Here's a couple from today. Nothing special. Bright sun in late afternoon. But not so bad either.

considering the harsh conditions bokeh looks fine to me

Very nice!  Can't wait for mine to arrive.

David

Got mine yesterday but the weather is bad hopefully clear sky on thursday.

The lens feels nice and seems sharp and focus quickly.

Looks solid!

Nice job, Bill. Looks similar to the Manfrotto 293, but a lot lighter!

I was thinking of adding an arca clamp on top of the bar (at the camera body) with an arca plate on the body for quick release. That's if I can't find a tripod ring that fits. But your measurement equates to an almost 84mm ring and I haven't seen one that large.

aVolanche wrote:

I was thinking of adding an arca clamp on top of the bar (at the camera body) with an arca plate on the body for quick release. That's if I can't find a tripod ring that fits. But your measurement equates to an almost 84mm ring and I haven't seen one that large.

I use just a modified arca plate for some of my other lens body combos. Something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PU-200-Quick-Release-Plate-Benro-Arca-Swiss-Tripod-Ball-Head-200mm-B1-B2-B3-KS-0-/201130036779?hash=item2ed448ce2b:g:zGYAAOSwZSFXJDdN

might be all you'd need.

Edit: Shot a game with this lens last night and didn't remember the push pull focus until I was back home. Not sure if that's good or bad. Maybe tomorrow.

billslatteryjr wrote:

aVolanche wrote:

I was thinking of adding an arca clamp on top of the bar (at the camera body) with an arca plate on the body for quick release. That's if I can't find a tripod ring that fits. But your measurement equates to an almost 84mm ring and I haven't seen one that large.

I use just a modified arca plate for some of my other lens body combos. Something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PU-200-Quick-Release-Plate-Benro-Arca-Swiss-Tripod-Ball-Head-200mm-B1-B2-B3-KS-0-/201130036779?hash=item2ed448ce2b:g:zGYAAOSwZSFXJDdN

might be all you'd need.

Edit: Shot a game with this lens last night and didn't remember the push pull focus until I was back home. Not sure if that's good or bad. Maybe tomorrow.

Yep, that would work, too. Either way, adding a tilthead with an arca clamp on top, the setup would be able to function so you could remove the camera and lens quickly and use it handheld.

In any event, I like your setup as a great idea if we can't find a lens collar that works.

Did you use 1/4" X 1" aluminum flat bar? Was there any flex?

Fred

billslatteryjr wrote:

aVolanche wrote:

I was thinking of adding an arca clamp on top of the bar (at the camera body) with an arca plate on the body for quick release. That's if I can't find a tripod ring that fits. But your measurement equates to an almost 84mm ring and I haven't seen one that large.

I use just a modified arca plate for some of my other lens body combos. Something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PU-200-Quick-Release-Plate-Benro-Arca-Swiss-Tripod-Ball-Head-200mm-B1-B2-B3-KS-0-/201130036779?hash=item2ed448ce2b:g:zGYAAOSwZSFXJDdN

might be all you'd need.

Edit: Shot a game with this lens last night and didn't remember the push pull focus until I was back home. Not sure if that's good or bad. Maybe tomorrow.

Thanks for posting that little gizmo.  I just ordered one.  Pictures to follow.

David

billslatteryjr wrote:

macmaven wrote:

Would like to see a picture of your adapted monopod mount.

macmaven

Just got in from a game. The lens behaved good. But I haven't seen the photos yet.

Here's the first beta plate I whipped up quick. All holes are drilled and tapped 1/4 x 20 with the hole to camera just a plain 1/4". There's a 1/16 rubber washer under the camera hole and 3 1/8" rubber washers supporting the lens. You'd want to be careful to make the screws the right length so you have a good grip on the camera and not so long as to stick above the 3 front washers. But just long enough so they can't move. I gotta cut the front washers back some so they don't touch the focus ring and glue them in place.

Of course this works for just a D500 and would need modifying for other bodies. Hopefully somebody will come up with a way to add a tripod ring making this contraption unnecessary. Being able to use a monopod even with this light a lens is nice. Especially at places where you can't just sit and rest your elbow on your leg for support.

Oh ya. You'll want to put tape over the lens switches. I bumped mine to manual before using gaffers tape I keep on the monopod for just such kind of reasons. Had me scared for a while.

billslatteryjr,

Bill I looked creating something like your support but was lucky enough to acquire a Sigma TS-31 Tripod collar off a broken 150-500 lens which I modified to fit the 100-400 as  in photos here. It is a very good fit and is very solid on the tripod. Even so I would recommend that the lens be held or carried by holding the lens body in the when the lens is off the camera.

S

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