Alternatives bigma

Teagan · 29 Dec 2011

Hi, I currently use a Nikon D90 with a tamron 70-300 lens. I mainly shoot birds so looking for a bit of extra reach. After a lot of research I've decided on a sigma 50-500 os lens.
Are there alternatives to this lens or is it the best lens taking into account the price and the different uses of the focal range.

Gerard.

gad-westy · 29 Dec 2011

It's a decent lens by all accounts and certainly hard to beat. To get a similar range, you're probably looking at teleconverters with a faster lens. So maybe also worth considering the Nikon 300mm F4 or a used Sigma 120-300mm assuming teleconverters work with both them (maybe the nikon might be a bit slow).

gramps · 29 Dec 2011

Nikon 300 f4 is AF-S so not slow and works well with the 1.4 and 1.7 TC

gad-westy · 29 Dec 2011

gramps said:
Nikon 300 f4 is AF-S so not slow and works well with the 1.4 and 1.7 TC

There you go then. Sounds like a decent option.

artyman · 29 Dec 2011

The sigma's offer the best bang for buck in the long focal length stakes, you need to spend quite a bit more to get any improvement, the question to ask yourself is if the extra £3-4,000 is worth a just tad more sharpness.

scottthehat · 29 Dec 2011

go try one, im pritty sure you will be walking out with one, the 300f4 is awsome and works well with a 1.4x tc but doesnt offer the flexibility and os,
heres a shot with my 50-500mm os.
also there is the 150-500mmos but its not as sharp wide open at 500mm.

pleanty more if needed.

Teagan · 30 Dec 2011

Thanks for the replies. Some excellent pics there scotthehat. I think the Bigma offers that bit more flexibility so its probably the one I will go for. If I suddenly have a windfall a good prime with tc will be on the cards.

Cheers,

Gerard.

modchild · 30 Dec 2011

Really thinking of getting a 50-500 or a 150-500 for next year. I've got a 100-400 and a 7D and a 5D2 and was thinking of the bit extra reach with the 500. Not much in it as IQ is concerned by all accounts, just got to persuade the wife for an addition to the family. Or, I might just have to let one of the kids go first to get a new one.

viewfromthenorth · 30 Dec 2011

Looking at the bigma myself this year for use with a d700, finding the 70-300 too short on fx for airshows. Pity they don't af with teleconvertors though.

Bigvin · 30 Dec 2011

viewfromthenorth said:
Looking at the bigma myself this year for use with a d700, finding the 70-300 too short on fx for airshows. Pity they don't af with teleconvertors though.

I have a Sigma 150-500 that af's with a 1.4 tc.

JohnN · 31 Dec 2011

Well, I got a hell of a recommendation a week or so ago from a fellow in the states who owns both the 400 f5.6 prime and the 50-500 OS, his verdict was 400mm for BiF, but if he could only keep one it would be the 50-500!

Also if he were going birding to a spot where he might end up taking other types of shots it would again be the 50-500, all day and night as he put it.

Now I've tried the 150-500, 100-400 & 400mm myself and the IS and AF speeds are in that order, however given that recommendation along with other reviews and the fact that no one will sell a 50-500 (which to me speaks volumes) I've taken the plunge myself - sadly I had to let to 400mm go to do it, but pretty soon (bank hols etc willing) I'll have one to test, all but in the worst possible lighting our fine green and pleasant land can offer

Just as an asside, Scott are all those recent images on your site taken with the 50-500 OS?