I've had the lens in my B&H shopping cart for about a month. Adorama also shows them backordered. Amazon, surprisingly, has them in stock--sold by Amazon. I hung in a little longer because of a $100 discount offer, but I think by next year such discounts will be back.
I'm glad I've had the extra time to think. The 100-500 is very expensive, especially considering that this would be more of a hobby lens for, not one for portraits and events.
What bothers me most about the lens design is the tele-extender limitation. And, yes, light as it is, the f/7.1 limitation is also something that seems to lower the value for me.
Interestingly, when I first started looking for comparisons online several months ago, most of the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary reviews were not very positive, just concluding it was a decent lens at a bargain price. But lately my youtube "Recommended" feed has been showing older and newer reviews of the Sigma, and they are all much more positive about image quality and AF. Really hard to know what to believe without trying it for myself.
But my GAS is in a mellow state at the moment, and I realize I can wait to see if Sigma is going to announce plans for an RF version of the lens next year, or if Canon has plans to offer something a little faster and longer--even if it is heavier and a bit more expensive. As things stand, I just can't justify the 100-500mm price tag with its perceived limitations.
I'm glad I've had the extra time to think. The 100-500 is very expensive, especially considering that this would be more of a hobby lens for, not one for portraits and events.
What bothers me most about the lens design is the tele-extender limitation. And, yes, light as it is, the f/7.1 limitation is also something that seems to lower the value for me.
Interestingly, when I first started looking for comparisons online several months ago, most of the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary reviews were not very positive, just concluding it was a decent lens at a bargain price. But lately my youtube "Recommended" feed has been showing older and newer reviews of the Sigma, and they are all much more positive about image quality and AF. Really hard to know what to believe without trying it for myself.
But my GAS is in a mellow state at the moment, and I realize I can wait to see if Sigma is going to announce plans for an RF version of the lens next year, or if Canon has plans to offer something a little faster and longer--even if it is heavier and a bit more expensive. As things stand, I just can't justify the 100-500mm price tag with its perceived limitations.