Canon M Series 150-600mm Options

[mpfuchs]

Hey guys, I've been thinking about adding a 150-600mm lens to my kit.
Specifically I have arrived at the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary and the Tamron 150-600 Gen 2.

Here are the links:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082154-REG/sigma_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_dg_os.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1277358-REG/tamron_sp_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_di.html

My specific question is, do any of you guys use those lenses with your Canon M series camera?
I have an M3 with Canon EF-M adapter and some of the reviews say that the autofocus doesn't work.
Especially with the Tamron Gen1. I was wondering if that had been fixed with a firmware update or if the Gen2 already works out of the box.
On the Sigma, I've read more positive reviews, but wanted to get first hand feedback if possible.

Thanks,
Martin

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hey guys, I've been thinking about adding a 150-600mm lens to my kit.
Specifically I have arrived at the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary and the Tamron 150-600 Gen 2.

Here are the links:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082154-REG/sigma_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_dg_os.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1277358-REG/tamron_sp_150_600mm_f_5_6_3_di.html

My specific question is, do any of you guys use those lenses with your Canon M series camera?
I have an M3 with Canon EF-M adapter and some of the reviews say that the autofocus doesn't work.
Especially with the Tamron Gen1. I was wondering if that had been fixed with a firmware update or if the Gen2 already works out of the box.
On the Sigma, I've read more positive reviews, but wanted to get first hand feedback if possible.

Thanks,
Martin

Not exactly the right guy to answer this, but I found the Nikon 200-500mm to be much faster at focusing than the Sigma equivalent when testing.
Also the weight factor was another plus for Nikon, so you might want to factor that in to your decision process.

 

[mpfuchs]

Not exactly the right guy to answer this, but I found the Nikon 200-500mm to be much faster at focusing than the Sigma equivalent when testing.
Also the weight factor was another plus for Nikon, so you might want to factor that in to your decision process.

Which camera body did you try this on?

 

[TheDrift-]

I have the sigma 150 600 sports? I have only I used in on a 5dm2 and 5dmk4 it was ok on both,

They released a firmware upgrade a few months ago that added a fair chunk of speed to the AF (from memory I think it might have been 20% of so???), I know the sport was upgraded, I assume the contemporary would have had the same upgrade.

I have also used the canon 600 f4 (not lucky enough to own!), the AF on that was pretty stellar, price wise of course it's an a whole different league.

The sigma 150 600 does me fine, but I don't shoot a whole lot of long stuff

 

[Apple fanboy]

Which camera body did you try this on?

Nikon D750.

 

[mpfuchs]

I have the sigma 150 600 sports? I have only I used in on a 5dm2 and 5dmk4 it was ok on both,

They released a firmware upgrade a few months ago that added a fair chunk of speed to the AF (from memory I think it might have been 20% of so???), I know the sport was upgraded, I assume the contemporary would have had the same upgrade.

I have also used the canon 600 f4 (not lucky enough to own!), the AF on that was pretty stellar, price wise of course it's an a whole different league.

The sigma 150 600 does me fine, but I don't shoot a whole lot of long stuff

Thanks for your feedback!
Yes, that same firmware update was also available for the Contemporary. I hope it also helps on the mirrorless with an adapter.

BTW: I contacted both Sigma and Tamron and they basically want no part of this discussion.
Both are saying they don't test their lenses with adapters and cannot guarantee anything.

Nikon D750.

Gotcha. It seems like mirrorless, especially Canon is a different ballgame.
Sounds like I have to bite the bullet to find out...

 

[TheDrift-]

Thanks for your feedback!
Yes, that same firmware update was also available for the Contemporary. I hope it also helps on the mirrorless with an adapter.

BTW: I contacted both Sigma and Tamron and they basically want no part of this discussion.
Both are saying they don't test their lenses with adapters and cannot guarantee anything.


Gotcha. It seems like mirrorless, especially Canon is a different ballgame.
Sounds like I have to bite the bullet to find out...

You could just find a decent local camera shop? I am sure they would let you try both lenses if you were interested in buying.

 

[mpfuchs]

You could just find a decent local camera shop? I am sure they would let you try both lenses if you were interested in buying.

Unfortunately the closest store that might have both lenses in stock is 3 hours away.
I think I'll just give the Sigma a shot and see what happens.
Will update this post once I get to try it out.

 

[mpfuchs]

Finally got the lens in and got to play with it a little. The real test will be over the weekend in daylight!
Since the M series cameras from Canon don't have any real focus points, but only the focus box that's pretty big compared to the whole frame, focusing on something small is really tricky. If the subject fills this focus box, and the light is good, the Sigma works pretty good on the M3. Quick and fairly accurate.
When the subject is small, the camera has trouble finding the right spot. But that's not a fault of the lens, just inherent to the camera. When the light is bad, the Sigma hunts a lot, and manual focus is definitely faster.

It might make sense for me to think about upgrading to a dSLR after all...

 

[MCAsan]

It might make sense for me to think about upgrading to a dSLR after all...

Or an Olympus E-M1 II. Pair that with the 40-150 f2.8, the 300 f4, and the TC and you are good to go with a faster kit that is weather sealed and has the speed for wildlife or sports.

 

[mpfuchs]

Or an Olympus E-M1 II. Pair that with the 40-150 f2.8, the 300 f4, and the TC and you are good to go with a faster kit that is weather sealed and has the speed for wildlife or sports.

Whenever I decide to jump the Canon ship and have $6500 to burn, I might consider that option.
Until then, a $1000-$1500 body seems to make more sense...

 

[MCAsan]

Whenever I decide to jump the Canon ship and have $6500 to burn, I might consider that option.
Until then, a $1000-$1500 body seems to make more sense...

I just got my second E-M1 II for $1799.

 

[mpfuchs]

Decided to go with a 7D Mark II and I have to say, I'm blown away!
I just got it in yesterday, so I didn't get to use it for too long before the sun was gone, but my god is this camera/lens combination quick!
Can't wait to get familiar with the camera, and enjoy many outings of wildlife photography with it...

 

[Apple fanboy]

Decided to go with a 7D Mark II and I have to say, I'm blown away!
I just got it in yesterday, so I didn't get to use it for too long before the sun was gone, but my god is this camera/lens combination quick!
Can't wait to get familiar with the camera, and enjoy many outings of wildlife photography with it...

Enjoy. Looking forward to seeing them.

 

[Stenar]

You could just find a decent local camera shop? I am sure they would let you try both lenses if you were interested in buying.

Most local camera shops have gone out of business.

 

[TheDrift-]

Decided to go with a 7D Mark II and I have to say, I'm blown away!
I just got it in yesterday, so I didn't get to use it for too long before the sun was gone, but my god is this camera/lens combination quick!
Can't wait to get familiar with the camera, and enjoy many outings of wildlife photography with it...

Enjoy, I posted some pics of polar bears over over in the photo of the day thread, all were shot using the 150-600 sigma (sports)

I never experienced too much hunting like you described on the M3 I am sure you will the new set up much better