Sigma 50-500 F4 for Nikon

[whitey]

looking at getting this in the next week or so

i know its classed as the "bigma"

does anyone have any good/bad things to say about it? and of course any pics?

it will mainly be used for motorsports (GT Champs, Rally's, Touring Cars, MotoGP, Superbikes)

is it worth the money?

thanks in advance

[Steep]

Lots of reviews and opinions here http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=105&sort=7&cat=37&page=2

I bought the Canon version a couple of months ago, it was nice and sharp but faulty, currently still at sigma being repaired so I can't tell you anything more atmo except that yes I reckon it's worth the money, or it will be when I get it back...

[stylgeo]

Firstly, unfortunately the bigma is not an f/4 but an f/6.3 at the long end.
Secondly, I don't know whether this lens can cope with motorbikes. I haven't used it myself, only held it in a shop when I was considering buying it myself, but I think that, even though it would probably cope with handling car racing on a bright day, it would struggle keeping up with the action of the more aggressive and fast motorbikes. f/6.3 is slow and it doesn't help autofocus.
Other than that, having a zoom certainly helps with motorsports, and having a zoom of that range, well, I too wish it was an f/4.

Again, this is just my speculations on its performance on motorbike racing, don't take it too seriously and I hope someone who has the lens jumps in to tell me I'm wrong.

[whitey]

it says F4-6.3
i guess that means it a f6.3

[Gareth_R]

It's f6.3 at the 500mm end. A couple of my friends have them but have been quite disapointed by the IQ.

[whitey]

its putting me off now tbh lol

seen the 80-400 but its not the HSM so wont fit

tinking about selling the D40x for a D80 instead and keep the 70-300mm VR i got now

[StewartR]

I'd have thought that it was not ideal for motorsport for a whole bunch of reasons:
- 500mm is probably longer than you'd need
- 50mm is probably wider than you'd need
- autofocus is too slow
- f/6.3 at the long end is too slow
- image quality isn't that great

I've heard a lot of people say that the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 (http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/sigman-apo-120-300mm-f28-ex-dg-hsm-39-p.asp) is great for motorsport.

[Joe T]

Maybe import a 120-300 2.8 from HK?

Or maybe the 100-300 f4?

Or even a Sigma or Nikon 70-200 2.8?

[alex_m90]

its putting me off now tbh lol

seen the 80-400 but its not the HSM so wont fit

tinking about selling the D40x for a D80 instead and keep the 70-300mm VR i got now


It would fit and function completely normally on the D40X but with the only issue of having no AF, as the D40X has no inbuilt auto focus motor, which is what the sigma HSM is.

Is AF really that big an issue for you? For me personally it is not!

[whitey]

only ever used AF mate as i only got into photography less than 10 months ago and the bug has already bitten

looking at that 100-300 now tbh