On the Sigma 150-500

Graham00

Graham00

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Graham Mc
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I've been wanting the Sigma 120-400 f4.5-5.6 for general wildlife & birds, but i'm have now been drawn to the Sigma 100-500 f5.6-6.3, can anyone tell me what the aperture is @ 400mm on this lens please, also which is the better lens apart from the extra reach ? i thought about a x1.5 TC but i have some money for a new lens.
Thanks.
 
I think you mean the Sigma 150-500 yes?

From memory it's at f6.3 by 400mm, also some say it's closer to a 475mm rather than 500mm at full stretch but I don't know how you can tell.......

I'm very happy with the build quality & performance of mine
 
Thanks Steve, yeah 150-500 all these figures they been doing my head in all day lol, thanks for the reply that's handy knowing it's losing 75mm over my original choice.
 
My Sigma gives an indicated 500mm and it's a great lens for wildlife not too shabby even wide open. I use a 1.4 with it as well and that works fine.
 
artyman said:
My Sigma gives an indicated 500mm and it's a great lens for wildlife not too shabby even wide open. I use a 1.4 with it as well and that works fine.
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Ken what kind of tc are you using with your bigmOS?
 
Hmm i'm stumped for choice now, i've never used anything longer than 200mm, does the 150-500 need to be mounted on a tripod to get the best from it regarding sharp images ? i'd imagine most of the time 1/640th sec handheld would be difficult to acheive most times of the day at f6.3 :)
 
Graham00 said:
Hmm i'm stumped for choice now, i've never used anything longer than 200mm, does the 150-500 need to be mounted on a tripod to get the best from it regarding sharp images ? i'd imagine most of the time 1/640th sec handheld would be difficult to acheive most times of the day at f6.3 :)
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I've not got the Sigma, but I do my best to keep shutter speeds high with my 400mm f5.6. I tend to use a monopod with it unless I'm doing birds in flight in good light.

Phil
 
Graham00 said:
Hmm i'm stumped for choice now, i've never used anything longer than 200mm, does the 150-500 need to be mounted on a tripod to get the best from it regarding sharp images ? i'd imagine most of the time 1/640th sec handheld would be difficult to acheive most times of the day at f6.3 :)
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Tripod very necessary in my oppinion , will not get !/640th unless sun very bright and m8 stands behind you with a couple of 12 million candle power torches...:eek:

If you use a converter 1.4 will probably auto focus, but 2x will not.
 
i was shooting 1/200 at 500mm hand held with one the other day...no problems the OS works very well.
 
I've made my mind up i think, cheers i'll still use a tripod but will go for the bit cheaper Sigma 120-400. what would a x1.4 TC on my 70-200 f2.8 bring forward ? ta.
 
I have the Sigma 1.4 TC I picked up secondhand, though I here good reports of Kenko Pro as well.

As regards handholding this was at 1/160 handheld at 500mm and through double glazing as well, it arrived in my garden and caught me on the hop it was only there for 30 seconds I could hardly stop shaking with excitement. Thankfully the awesome OS system on the Sigma 150-500 helped me get the shot.

http://SPAM/c3whur/dec/Img_0282c.jpg
 
Graham00 said:
I've made my mind up i think, cheers i'll still use a tripod but will go for the bit cheaper Sigma 120-400. what would a x1.4 TC on my 70-200 f2.8 bring forward ? ta.
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I find that by the time I've setup my tripod the wildlife has long gone (sometimes even the landscape;))
 
I have the Sigma 100-300 F4 and used it with a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC. I tried a borrowed Sigma EX 1.4x TC on it and was surprised to find the Sigma TC to be significantly better, especially at full aperture. I've since got one and I haven't been disappointed with it. The disadvantage with the Sigma TC is that it won't fit all zooms because of a protruding front element so I've kept the Kenko as well.
 
Hi

I took this shot last year of a Long-Crested Eagle East Tvaso National Park Kenya, Sigma 150-500mm OS hand held

3530976133_9874993f93_o.jpg

Dave
 
That Robin pic is lovely and sharp!
 
I've had the Sigma 150-500 for a couple of weeks now, the optical stablisation on it is superb! You really can use it hand-held on surprisingly low shutter speeds.

I've also got a Kenko x2 TC, which will give you 1000mm (or more like 1600mm if you're not using a full-frame sensor). That gives you an almost full-frame shot of the moon! Beware though, that does mean manual focus.

The lens is also about 2kg, so it's not light. The case that comes with it is "ok", but I much prefer the sliplock cases from Lowepro - this beast will just about fit in their biggest case if you take the hood and mount off!
 
puddleduck said:
Really? To me the grass in front is sharp, but not a lot of feather detail.

Missed focus I think.
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Actually - to be honest I was looking at the detail in the grass not the feathers - It is a fraction-off focussing-wise.

Phil
 
I am a Nikon snob, but due to lack of stacks of cash I got myself 150-500
and in my opinion it is a super lens, if I find my "stack of cash" I don't think I will change to a nikon equivalent.
 
Do Nikon make a 150-500 equivalent lens??????
 
Oh you buggers !! :thinking: you really aren't making it easy for me are you :lol: the 150-500 is back in the frame (but not full frame) it's just the narrower aperture that puts me off over the 120-400. But...then i'm not planning on shooting birds/wildlife on cloudy dary miserable days. Umm more thinking to be had.
 
This was taken on a siggy 150-500 OS, its a great lens but i had to sell mine.....
This was handheld on a very dull cold winter's morning
work.2374429.2.flat,800x800,070,f.jpg

:thumbs:
 
4266215944_1809150856.jpg


This was taken handheld with the 120-400 Siggy.
I read an article in one of the mags before I bought it.They were comparing the 120-400 and 150-500 Sigmas with a Nikon long lens (can,t remember which one) and the 120-400 came out tops.The best price I saw it at was at Jacobs £599.
 
Very good shots the last two here with the 150-500, and so is the one with the 120-400 which is a very good lens but i really think with the OS and from what i have seen i'm going to go....with....the...

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Lens

I thankyou :clap:
 
I'm very impressed by the shots posted posted here but..............

as a total noob to long lenses I'm really struggling to get crisp focus with my 150-500

I am sure some of it is my inexperience, too low shutter speed etc, but now I'm shooting with a tripod & still getting very fuzzy shots, even of landscapes

Help!

BTW I also use a remote shutter release & live view sometimes to try to improve focus...........guess I'm on that steep learning curve still, but would really like to lend my copy out to one of you guys to see if it is duff....
 
Make sure the OS is off when using a Tripod & use as fast a shutter speed as possible......

The tripod keeps the camera still but NOTHING can keep the subject still :)


never mind wobbly air..........
 
Mad Badger said:
I'm very impressed by the shots posted posted here but..............

as a total noob to long lenses I'm really struggling to get crisp focus with my 150-500

I am sure some of it is my inexperience, too low shutter speed etc, but now I'm shooting with a tripod & still getting very fuzzy shots, even of landscapes

Help!

BTW I also use a remote shutter release & live view sometimes to try to improve focus...........guess I'm on that steep learning curve still, but would really like to lend my copy out to one of you guys to see if it is duff....
Click to expand...

Hi, I've been out today for the first time with my Sigma 150-500 and were quite impressed by some of results (I'm a total noob as well ) The photo below was the 28th photo I took,for the first 27 I had not got the OS switched on, then not sure if it should have been on 1 or 2. Both photos were on prog auto settings.




I did try try a moving shot of a helicopter as well 20mins later.



I can see this lens being great when I get used to it.
 
Those shots are a league better than anything I've taken!

Think I did leave the OS ON with the tripod! Numpty!?!

Will get out & about this week, no OS + tripod & report back
 
Mad Badger said:
I'm very impressed by the shots posted posted here but..............

as a total noob to long lenses I'm really struggling to get crisp focus with my 150-500

I am sure some of it is my inexperience, too low shutter speed etc, but now I'm shooting with a tripod & still getting very fuzzy shots, even of landscapes

Help!

BTW I also use a remote shutter release & live view sometimes to try to improve focus...........guess I'm on that steep learning curve still, but would really like to lend my copy out to one of you guys to see if it is duff....
Click to expand...

Post some examples with the exif intact...so we can see the problem.
 
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