The "New Gear/Willy Waving" thread

I want to like the Sigma Contemporary but I'm not totally convinced by the sample images that are appearing on TP and POTN. They are quite soft at 600mm, and 600mm is where I'm going to be most of the time with a lens like this.

Nothing wrong too wrong with the Canon 85 1.8 for the price. Mine is very sharp wide open. It does suffer from colour fringing, but that's not even worth moaning about these days. The bokeh on the other hand can be a little ugly in certain conditions.

I'd probably jump on a Sigma 85mm if they re-released their 85mm to their Art line up. I really dislike the focusing method on the older Sigma lenses, no internal focusing. The front element moves back and forth. It's hideous and quite prone to getting gunk trapped in the mechanism.
 
An 85 Art would be rather nice... but then the current 85 is already pretty good for what it is.

I think the Sigma 85 1.4 is a lot closer to the Canon 85 1.2 than either are to the Canon 85 1.8



Quite tempted by the Sigma Art 24... my finger's been hovering over the buy button for a couple of days... but I think I'd like a mild zoom at that range like the Canon 16-35 2.8 which seems to kick out some nice images. Haven't spent some time comparing these yet though... further down my list :)

Not necessarily looking for the range above 24... although I suppose it may come in useful as a walk-around lens... just the 11-24 f4 is Zeiss money, it's absurd!
 
Tip 1

Always have the hood on, for protection more than anything due to front moving element. In that regard, before I take it off, I always flip it to Manual focus, turn the focus ring until it has moved all the way back before removing it from the body.

Tip 2.

When putting it on, don't place it to the mounting ring flat to the body's mounting ring. Instead, place it at like a 45 degree angle so you see the red dot. Let the back mounting ring sit into the camera and "fold" it close. The reason being the read element is flushed to the rear mount and I am forever worrying will scratch it if I some how catch the rear mount of the camera on it. By doing it 45 degrees that will never happen, you see the red dot so you know where you are. I hope that makes sense.
 
So a few other things I've noticed from the canon 600exrt to the Yongnuo.

The LED lights for sync and flash are different colours.

The white balance sensor for the colour gel is missing on the underside.

There is a beep when charging and the blinking red light is rather bright.

On the plus side, bargain for a slave flash with built in radio trigger and receiver.
 
Thanks for the tips :)

In that regard, before I take it off, I always flip it to Manual focus, turn the focus ring until it has moved all the way back before removing it from the body.
Click to expand...

I already started doing that :)

Amazingly smooth manual mechanism... haven't felt one quite like this before.
 
Raymond Lin said:
So a few other things I've noticed from the canon 600exrt to the Yongnuo.

The LED lights for sync and flash are different colours.

The white balance sensor for the colour gel is missing on the underside.

There is a beep when charging and the blinking red light is rather bright.

On the plus side, bargain for a slave flash with built in radio trigger and receiver.
Click to expand...

A few other things? Have you done a write up I have missed? :)

How did you find the power output, I have read it varies a bit in consistency?

I have some money burning a hole in my pocket, just can't make my mind up on another canon or cheaper flash :D New lens incoming as well....
 
I have two Canons and two Yongnuos. Only used them once in anger but they seem to do the job very well. Obviously not up to the quality of the Canons but, as Ray says, total bargain for slave flashes when required.
 
crinkleshoes said:
Sigma 150-600 contemporary?

I'm keen on the Sports... but the Contemporary is kicking out some nice images and the cost isn't sky high.
Click to expand...

Considering both at the moment, I'm thinking of hiring the Sport for an event in July. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the lovely Nikon 200-400 F4 I hired last year.
 
I ordered a 150-600 Sport this morning, will be picking it up on Tuesday along with a 100 F2.8L Macro :)

Also 16-35 F2.8, but that won't be in stock wil 10th June :(

Now just the 50 1.2 and I'll be happy(ish)... but that's one of my least favourite focal lengths for no apparent reason... so I'm not in a rush on that one. I was comparing the Sigma Art 1.4 and 50 1.4 with 50 1.2 too... I like the detail / sharpness of the Art and the 1.4L is reasonably close to the 1.2L... but like with the 85... I just think there's something special about the 1.2, even though my bank balance would prefer the 1.4!
 
The canon 50/1.2 produces photos like the 85/1.2 but the sigma 50/1.4 doesn't produce photos with feelings that of a 1.2.

I might be imagining it but I can tell, it's almost the little imperfections that makes the L nicer. I thought long and hard before buying the sigma but I yearn for a canon 50/1.2 still from time to time.
 
My thoughts similarly... there's a certain magic to the images that come from the 50 & 85 1.2

The Sigma is a nice lens, it's sharpness is great, it's nice to use - well built etc... I'm very happy with my 35mm 1.4 Art... it was my favourite lens til I picked up the 85.

It's just those 1.2 lenses are so unique... scrolling through the flickr groups dedicated to them and other lenses... none wow me so much as these two 1.2s... even the Zeiss lenses.

The Zeiss and Sigma might be technically brilliant... but it's almost like they sacrifice feeling to get it.
 
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