Any thoughts on Sigma 150-500 vs Sigma 70-200+2x Sigma TC?

Any thoughts on Sigma 150-500 vs Sigma 70-200+2x Sigma TC? · 10:58 AM

I have a Sigma 70-200 HSM II and a Sigma 150-500 OS HSM. Both are quite good and complement each other quite well but I am getting tired of carrying two of these huge beasts (especially the 150-500). I am starting to wonder if adding the Sigma 2x TC to the 70-200 would be a lighter weight alternative. If I understand correctly this would result in a 140-200/5.6 lens.

Does anybody have experience with the TC? I don't want to lose too much focusing speed over the 15-500.

bobell69 · 11-03-2014, 11:51 AM - **1 Like**

I havent been successful in finding a teleconverter for the Sigma 70-200HSM OS that effectively locks on focus consistently.

**crewl1** · 11-03-2014, 11:55 AM

I haven't had any luck with TC's on HSM lenses for auto focus.
If you don't mind manual focus it may be OK.

**wtlwdwgn** · 11-03-2014, 11:57 AM

I don't have the 70-200 but I do have a 100-300 f/4 that I shoot with a 1.4x TC and I find the IQ better than with the 150-500 at infinity. Within 30 yds/m the 150-500 is a very good lens even with the 1.4x TC. I'm thinking of trying the 100-300 with a 2x TC to see how the IQ is. Just my $0.02.

maxxxx · 11-03-2014, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by crewl1

I haven't had any luck with TC's on HSM lenses for auto focus.
If you don't mind manual focus it may be OK.

Even the sigma ones don't work?

---------- Post added 11-03-14 at 11:04 AM ----------

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

I don't have the 70-200 but I do have a 100-300 f/4 that I shoot with a 1.4x TC and I find the IQ better than with the 150-500 at infinity. Within 30 yds/m the 150-500 is a very good lens even with the 1.4x TC. I'm thinking of trying the 100-300 with a 2x TC to see how the IQ is. Just my $0.02.

What TC are you using?

**boriscleto** · 11-03-2014, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by maxxxx

Even the sigma ones don't work?

Sigma never made a HSM TC for Pentax.

maxxxx · 11-03-2014, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Sigma never made a HSM TC for Pentax.

I had no idea about that. Thanks for pointing it out.

**wtlwdwgn** · 11-03-2014, 02:50 PM

I use a 1.4x TC on the 100-300 with no loss in IQ. The Sigma TCs don't have HSM. Only the lenses do. All the TC does is communicate.

**crewl1** · 11-03-2014, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by wtlwdwgn

I use a 1.4x TC on the 100-300 with no loss in IQ. The Sigma TCs don't have HSM. Only the lenses do. All the TC does is communicate.

The 100-300 is screw drive? Sigma HSM does not communicate properly with Penrtax AF via any TC that I have tried.

**sergysergy** · 11-03-2014, 11:59 PM

The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality.

**crewl1** · 11-04-2014, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by sergysergy

The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality.

I tested a Kenko 1.5 pz AF with Sigma HSM II.
It did not AF reliably.
IQ was good if focused manually.
The Kenko worked reliably with screw drive lenses.

maxxxx · 11-04-2014, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by sergysergy

The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality.

I have tried the Tamron. With the 150-500 it's not too bad. With the 70-200 it didn't focus at all

**sergysergy** · 11-04-2014, 07:43 AM

So weird, I would expect just the opposite.

edilioilre · 04-26-2015, 04:18 AM

I find the IQ of the old sigma 70-200 (screw drive) with 1.4x TC quite similar to the 100-300 which is a great lens, but is hard to find a good used one and it is expensive.

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04-26-2015, 04:18 AM	#14
edilioilre New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 6	I find the IQ of the old sigma 70-200 (screw drive) with 1.4x TC quite similar to the 100-300 which is a great lens, but is hard to find a good used one and it is expensive. Last edited by edilioilre; 04-26-2015 at 04:31 AM.

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11-03-2014, 11:51 AM - 1 Like	#2
bobell69 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Courtenay BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 498	I havent been successful in finding a teleconverter for the Sigma 70-200HSM OS that effectively locks on focus consistently.

11-03-2014, 11:55 AM	#3
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	I haven't had any luck with TC's on HSM lenses for auto focus. If you don't mind manual focus it may be OK.

11-03-2014, 11:57 AM	#4
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	I don't have the 70-200 but I do have a 100-300 f/4 that I shoot with a 1.4x TC and I find the IQ better than with the 150-500 at infinity. Within 30 yds/m the 150-500 is a very good lens even with the 1.4x TC. I'm thinking of trying the 100-300 with a 2x TC to see how the IQ is. Just my $0.02.

11-03-2014, 12:04 PM	#5
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385 Original Poster	Originally posted by crewl1 I haven't had any luck with TC's on HSM lenses for auto focus. If you don't mind manual focus it may be OK. Even the sigma ones don't work? ---------- Post added 11-03-14 at 11:04 AM ---------- Originally posted by wtlwdwgn I don't have the 70-200 but I do have a 100-300 f/4 that I shoot with a 1.4x TC and I find the IQ better than with the 150-500 at infinity. Within 30 yds/m the 150-500 is a very good lens even with the 1.4x TC. I'm thinking of trying the 100-300 with a 2x TC to see how the IQ is. Just my $0.02. What TC are you using?

11-03-2014, 12:27 PM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,476	Originally posted by maxxxx Even the sigma ones don't work? Sigma never made a HSM TC for Pentax.

11-03-2014, 12:50 PM	#7
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto Sigma never made a HSM TC for Pentax. I had no idea about that. Thanks for pointing it out.

11-03-2014, 02:50 PM	#8
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	I use a 1.4x TC on the 100-300 with no loss in IQ. The Sigma TCs don't have HSM. Only the lenses do. All the TC does is communicate.

11-03-2014, 03:16 PM	#9
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by wtlwdwgn I use a 1.4x TC on the 100-300 with no loss in IQ. The Sigma TCs don't have HSM. Only the lenses do. All the TC does is communicate. The 100-300 is screw drive? Sigma HSM does not communicate properly with Penrtax AF via any TC that I have tried.

11-03-2014, 11:59 PM	#10
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality.

11-04-2014, 06:24 AM	#11
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by sergysergy The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality. I tested a Kenko 1.5 pz AF with Sigma HSM II. It did not AF reliably. IQ was good if focused manually. The Kenko worked reliably with screw drive lenses.

11-04-2014, 07:41 AM	#12
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385 Original Poster	Originally posted by sergysergy The Kenko or Tamron 1.5 PZ AF should work. I would stay away from 2x TC. You lose too much light and quality. I have tried the Tamron. With the 150-500 it's not too bad. With the 70-200 it didn't focus at all

11-04-2014, 07:43 AM	#13
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	So weird, I would expect just the opposite.