Sigma 120-400mm

[Lynton]

Hi,

Considering selling a batch of stuff and purchasing one of these beasts (does it qualify as a "bigma?" - with pentax fit.

Anyone on here have any experience of this lens, and if so, care to share your opinions before I take a sizeable chunk out of my pocket!

Thanks


Lynton

[Mike.P]

I had the 135-400mm (Pentax mount) which is its predecessor and have to say I really didn't think much of it, fine for large items such as cars, bikes etc but no good for things that have fine detail like birds. Pretty soft at 400mm. Bought a 50-500mm and that is in a different league entirely although I suppose it should be as it costs twice as much (but worth it).
The 120-400mm is supposedly better than the 135-400mm but not a lot.

I also have the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 and with a 2x Sigma DG EX Teleconverter its still better than the 135-400mm.

[Lynton]

cheers Mike,

Have a Sigma 70-300 at the moment, and pretty diappointed with it - anything not in the middle of the frame at 200+ has no focus at all. Borrowed a mates 1.7 TC for an airshow yesterday and well, took it off after a few mins...... nothing sharp whatsoever.......

Maybe need to think of a 50-500 then........ can i sneak one ion the bag without the other half noticing???????/

[Mike.P]

Maybe need to think of a 50-500 then........ can i sneak one ion the bag without the other half noticing???????/

Do what I did, sell your kit lens on Ebay, get the wife to take to post office then when the Bigma arrives tell her it was a straight swap with someone on a forum for the one she posted :clap:

[Strangways]

I have the 120-400mm, but I'm still getting used to it. I find it a bit heavy for hand held so I'm using a monopod. It seems a bit soft at 400mm, but it could be down to me getting used to it.

http://www.popphoto.com/Reviews/Lenses/Sigma-120-400mm-f-4.5-5.6-DG-OS-HSM-Lens-Test/Quality

[nictry]

Have one and was going to sell as initially not happy with it but now wouldn't get rid of it, here is a link to some shots and 100% crops at 400mm http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=117535

Also here is a more recent one taken with it: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3560055603_994f4b3a5a.jpg

and a link to a different full size shot at 320mm http://www.flickr.com/photos/nictry/3559858213/sizes/o/

[arclight]

Have a look here (not my pics)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilmacg/sets/72157613666990694/

I have a Sigma 120 - 400 and am very happy with the results.

Seriously big lens though. Like carrying a ladder. Be prepared to find something to rest it on when shooting.

[Lynton]

cool, i remember stumbling across a website the other week and foolishly didn't save it, whereby you could look at images by camera body or by lens - to x reference different lenses etc...... anyone know what its called?

[arclight]

cool, i remember stumbling across a website the other week and foolishly didn't save it, whereby you could look at images by camera body or by lens - to x reference different lenses etc...... anyone know what its called?

You'll get some reviews here:-
http://www.dpreview.com/

And 3rd party lens reviews here:-
http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/

[RichardC27]

I own one (Canon fit) and am more than happy with it. IQ is great if you stop the lens down a little, and having a 400mm reach does come in handy sometimes. If you have a look on my Flickr pages, almost everything on there from the past six months has been taken with this lens, so you can judge for yourself. For the price it's an excellent buy IMHO

[Lynton]

orders in...... picking up in the morning!!!!!

[Weetobix]

orders in...... picking up in the morning!!!!!

Lovely Jubly!
I got one myself a couple of weeks ago. Not had much of a chance to play with it properly yet, but what little experience I've had has been good!
I'll be taking it to Fairford for the Air tattoo later this month

[arclight]

orders in...... picking up in the morning!!!!!

Try to get a bit of weight training done. You'll need to tone up your arm muscles to handle it. :thumbs: