It's so hard to hear so many people say they got into wildlife photography during the "pandemic" which was the one thing that destroyed my wildlife photography! Still always nice to see someone join our ranks especially with such nice gear 😮
@@CamillaI Well the reason is my main pastime previously was playing music with various ensembles - but all musical playing opportunities abruptly stopped during the pandemic, so I really got into what had previously been a secondary interest which I could still do locally.
Enjoyed the comparison. I own the 300/2.8 and love it, and I have rented the Sigma. I think the size and weight difference is understated here because you need a teleconverter on the 300 at 1.5” and .5 pounds to approximate the reach of the Sigma. I’ve packed each of them for air travel, and the Sigma has a definite advantage there at 500g less weight, 75mm sorter and 16mm narrower. If you aren’t carrying them on a plane, then the Sony wins, no contest.
Interesting video thanks to you both . I do a lot of walking so have been using the A1 200-600 for last 3 years , the 600mm f4 is great but a PIA when you could be walking a few miles . I’d go for the 300mm f2.8 but for the things I shoot id be using the x2 TC 90% of the time . I’m still yet to be convinced with the 300 with x 2 TC tbh regards IQ especially for fast birds . Anywhere we can see some full sized images ? Not sure about the sigma 500mm f5.6 yet , if the Sony with TC is as good or better IQ and focus consistency I’d just get the Sony . Regards A9iii absolutely no interest in it , I had the A9ii before the A1 and could never lose those extra MP’s . I like shooting in crop a lot for smaller birds and crop more in post too .
I have owned both teleconverters and used them both with the a1 and 400 2.8 gm. The x2 is terrible, the af misses focus consistently and the image quality is terrible. I even bought a second x2 as I’ve seen the videos where they say the image quality is fantastic with it but no I can confirm it isn’t.m or hasn’t been for me. The 1.4 also takes a hit with af also and image quality but. It as much as the x2
@@Noparticularcontext It's very rare to hear an honest comment about Sony's TC, so kudo's on that. The E 2x TC is quite bad. It is really not an option. The E 1.4x TC is just ok. Its about equal to the Nikon F 1.4x TC II from 23 years ago, which is to say its perfectly fine on the very sharpest, fastest lenses. If I am not mistaken, the Sigma only works with their brand TC's which are even worse than Sony TC's. In any case, a 300 f2.8 with a 2x TC completely defeats the purpose of that lens. While it is technically an option, no one should ever look to actually use it with a 2x TC in any scenario. You should also not plan to use it with the 1.4x TC. The only reason you might have to use a 300 f2.8 with a 1.4x TC is for macro, but the E 300 f2.8 GM has a poor MFD/reproduction ratio and has significant focus breathing which will wreck your macro stacks.
@cameraprepper7938 really! I'm worried if I get the Sigma 500mm I will continue to naturally lean towards the 200-600mm for the extra 100mm and 1.4x teleconver.
@@cameraprepper7938 One issue...with 200-600 you still get up to 30FPS ...but the sigma will limit you to 15FPS. If you own an A1 or A9MKIII it's a deal breaker
Are you tempted by the 600 f4 Gm ? What did you take on the safari ? Would you recommend the 300gm and 600gm or the 300gm and 200-600 combo for a safari?
I took both they 600 and 300 plus 70-200 on safari and did not use teleconverter at all. Not a good idea removing lenses in the dust of the Africa bush. Back In the uk I mostly use teleconverter on the 300. Image quality wise I would rate the 300 + 2x as 90% as good as the 600 so use the 300 with and without teleconverter virtually all the time now when mobile and then the 600 when on tripod, or when need reach beyond 600 with teleconverter.
There is no perfect lens. It really depends what you want to shoot more and the condition and etc. I’ve been to safari …. If your guide is good. You can get close enough. 400mm is pretty enough for animal.. for birds then just get the longest you can afford. You also have to consider apart from money. The 600 GM is 3kg, big and long. So how to bring it around and transport is things you have to consider too. While the new 300 with 2x tc. It’s still under 2kg and you save alot on size/weight/money etc compare to 600GM. The 300GM is backorder almost 6 months in Asia. It explains. Because its so light/much smaller and much cheaper than the 400/600GM. As mention. With 2x the 300 GM becomes 600. With 1.4 it becomes 420. While the F stop is f4 and f5.6 by then it is slower than the bigger primes but as mention earlier. There is no perfect just compromise and what’s most important for you. Only gear that is being used is the best gear not the gear at home.
Soo tempted by the 300mm F2.8, but the problem is that I would always use it with a T/C. This gives me hope that Sony will release a 400mm F4 at a similar weight and cost. 400mm F4 + 560mm F5.6 + 800mm F8 (through TC's) is my perfect wildlife travel kit...
Then you need to wait, a 365 more days at least. There is no leaks, there is no offical rumors, and after the rumors it is still in pre-production, and pre-release, and after that you need to wait another 2-3 weeks for shipping, good luck :D
get the Lumix S5II + sigma 500mmL + TC1411, you can get the pre-capture mode too. It is one of the cheapest birding gear. Sigma should come out with a 400mm f4 with 1.4X will be great
Yes Steve, the 300mm is on order. However I have been able to return the Sigma 500mm to Castle Cameras. The Sigma is very good but the 300mm wins on flexibility a 600mm f5.6 is very useful in a light package 🤔👍🙂
"The slightly cheaper alternative" 🤣 THAT is true, MUCH cheaper !!! I was very close to buy the Sony 300mm 2.8 GM with 1.4x and 2x tele converter, but then I say the announcement og the Sigma 500mm 5.6 DG DN OS Sports, I ordered it and I now have this excellent Lens. So I both saved weight, space and a LOT of money. What I have seen is that the Sony 300mm is very good with 1.4x and may be better than the Sigma 500mm, but the Sony with the 2x is slightly behind the Sigma 500mm. Yes it could be an advantage with the 300mm having an aperture of 2.8, BUT I have the outstanding Sony 135mm 1.8 GM which on my Sony A7RIV Cameras can be cropped so much that it can be compared to a 300mm Lens and still be very sharp ! So get a new or used Sony A7RV, a new or used Sony 135mm and the Sigma 500mm for the same price as the Sony 300mm !!! I do neither need 30 fps nor 15 fps, to me 5 fps is more than enough, I will rather have 61 megapixels ! The Sony A9III is only 25 megapixels and because it is a stacked sensor, it is not as smooth looking images as a BSI-CMOS Camera.
how was the sharpness on these lenses in comparison with your A1? Does the Sony lens with the 2x TC can hold up sharpness wise or is it even better than the Sigma?
@@CamillaI thank you very much for your feedback. I really did not expect this. The sony 2x teleconverter always disappointed me in my tests, esp. in backlit scenarios.
@@franklittmann7961 Jonathan did a Toy Owl sharpness test and it compared very favourably at 600mm with the 600mm f4 . The only time the 600 proved slightly better was at a greater distance form the subject as you would expect. To be fair I haven't done much Backlit photography but then I would probably be using the 300 without TC
For bird in flight, 120 fps is a over kill. Pre capture is fine for them moments that are very hard to capture. I prefer the A1 over the A9III, 30 fps is plenty, and 51mp is a must bird photography, not 24mp.
I have to agree. No way I can go back to 24mpx from having 50mpx. The A9mkiii is a Great camera but might be more useful for sports where smaller files are desired with lots of speed. Also , global shutter is great for sports where your dealing with LED lighting typical in stadius, which can lead to banding. For now, I feel A1 is still a better choice due to having a stacked sensor (already plenty fast) and double the pixels. Also , with the 300GM and 2x TC your at 600mm, but with A1 you can crop in to 900mm equivalent in APSC mode @ 21mpx. That's a. Big deal
If I were a Sony user, I would consider jumping ship to Nikon. For the money of a Sony a93, you can nearly get a Nikon Z8 with the super light 600 6.3 and you have 45 megapixel to play with. Even for jpeg only, you have pre capture with 30, 60 to 120 fps all with autofocus. That 300 f2.8 is not for birding, most of the time, it is just too short and it is bloody expensive.
I changed from Nikon to Sony . I had the D850 and the 500 pf . I agree the 300 is very expensive but it is a superb optic A light weight 600mm with the 2 x Converter🤔f5.6
@@CamillaIYou would have saved lots of money by keeping that 500 PF and just buy a new Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z9. Sony is just not into the wildlife market. Look at their long telephoto lens lineup. They care more about vlog market than wildlife market. If i were you, I wouldn’t stay with Sony. Only upgrade is that expensive and heavy 600 f4 and that’s it. For Nikon, you have the 800 6.3, 600 6.3, 400 4.5, and you have this expensive ones too. So many options.
IMHO the Nikon lenses you mentioned are softer than the Sony 300 GM with the TCs. With the TCs it is absolutely killer for bird photography. As far as Sony not being in the wildlife market what a ridiculous statement. 😂 So many have switched from Nikon to Sony for the superior AF, color science and optics. IMO it’s individual preference. The Z8 is a good camera but the A9 III is a game changer.
@@greatwood90Sony has the best lens and that’s it. Where are those 500 5.6 600 6.3 400 4.5 800 6.3 Sony has none of those options. As far as I can see, that 300 f2.8 is for sports. It is not a wildlife lens. I wonder who is more committed to wildlife photography. Sony is chasing the vlogging market. Just look at the cameras they come out this couple of years.
? Just put it in a big backpack or in cabin size luggage.. the lens hood can go into the check in cargo bag if it wont fit onto the carry on bag or stay at home. ( At least that's what I do.. if not how else?) While 20 grand is alot money... there are plenty of people who carry more than that when taking aeroplane.. So I dont understand what's the issue/problem
I just did it with the 300/2.8 plus converters in a Think Tank carry-on. Of course there were other bodies and lenses. You watch it like a hawk, pardon the pun.
You’d be better off with an A1 + 600 f4, 300 2.8 makes no sense for wildlife as you’ll be stuck with a teleconverter 99.9% of the time, and it’s slower than the 600 GM. 500 5.6 is a great option for lightweight shooting.
I would say the focus speed is similar to my 600mm GM. Obviously you loose a stop of light and the DOF is nowhere near as good with the bokeh . But it is half the weight and will now largely be my main wildlife action camera, with TC's most of the time until it gets to dark. The Sigma 500mm f 5.6 is a great quality lightweight choice too
I own the 600 f4, rented the Sigma 500, and just got and finished testing the 300 f2.8 with 2x teleconverter. On my bench test the Sigma lagged in sharpness compared to the other two. In fact, the Sigma also lagged behind my 100-400gm performance which was very dissapointing as I expected the prime to trounce the zoom. The 300 f2.8 with 2x TC tested right up there with my 600 f4 which I did not expect. While renting the Sigma I did really like the idea of a smaller, lighter, but still great quality 'kit'. My local store had been out of stock as the local pro sports team bought 7 of these bad boys and cleared them out. They just got stock back in so I splurged this morning. Swinging at Cliff Swallows today I used the Sony 300 f2.8 with 2x tc combo to get some birds in flight shots. I use a red-dot sight for this and with the 600 f4 use a tripod with gimble head. With this 300 f2.8 with 2x tc, hand-holding this combo was easy and given the trek to this particullar spot, was way easier than lugging the tripod/gimble would have been. This light little combo worked wonderfully! And If I do want do to some after sunset work (did a fun screech owl movie fly away with the 70-200 f2.8 a few months ago) the 300 f2.8 gives me a great lower light mid-telephoto option. Since the 2x didn't degrade the image as I had expected and the results were on par to my 600 f4, this 300 f2.8 is a presents a really fun option!! Thanks for your review. This confirms my own experience. To the peeps that are naysaying I would recommend renting the combo for themselves. I'm still rather shocked at how really good this combo is.
I thought that water birds were photographed from the water level, but I see that now it is done from the house through the window. It's a waste of time and equipment.
@@user-to3cr4er7w That's wildlife and did you see the sequence of Canada Goose shots with the A1 and the 420mm combo. Amazing photos of pin sharp action
@@user-to3cr4er7wyour being very critical of someone while not being present . You don't know what else they were up against, weather..angles of view, distance etc. Also , maybe they're just enjoying themselves, and not worried about that perfect shot? You need to lighten up!!
