I curently own a Tamron 75-300 4-5.6 zoom that is both too short and too slow for bird photography. I'm looking at both the Tokina 100-300 f4 + kenko pro 1.4x TC and the Sigma 100-300 f4 + sigma EX 1.4x TC to give me a versatile lens with longer reach. Before I shell out $1000 I would like to know if anyone has any experience with these lenses, especially how sharp an image I can get with the TC, which will be attached most of the time. Also, how about with 2X TC (manual focus of course)?

-- Christopher Lee (the2lees@yahoo.com), December 05, 2001

Answers

I know this does not directly apply, but for the last few years, I have been shooting sports with an 80-200 f2.8 AFD Nikkor and the Sigma 2X APO converter. I have been very happy with the results and this combination could be purchased for under $1000 as well. I find this combination to be more versitile than a longer and slower lens because I use the 80-200 for portraiture as well.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), December 06, 2001.

I don't know about the Kenko converter, but I've had the Tokina ATX 100-300 f/4 zoom for about 8 years, and optically, I can't praise this lens highly enough. It's as sharp as any prime telephoto I've used at the 300mm end, with very little distortion and colour fringing.
It's not the lightest or most compact lens, and the finish isn't terribly hard-wearing, but it does the business.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), December 07, 2001.