Sigma 170-500 F/5.6-6.3

[Flossyrockstar]

Anyone used one? Any good?

 

[grumpybadger]

I had one years ago. It's ok but is soft wide open and at the long end. Unless you are strapped for cash there are many better options

1. Sigma 50-500
2. Sigma 120-400
3. Sigma 150-500
4. Canon 100-400

I've just seen you've got a 7D. If you've got that good a camera, you really don't want to hamper it by using rubbish glass on the front!

 

[Flossyrockstar]

Ta.

 

[scottthehat]

i have had 2 170-500mm apo dg in pentax mount and found the sharper wide open than the 150-500mm apo dg hsm that i had in pentax mount, and i will be buying anothe 170-500mm apo dg in pentax mount again, i have had a 170-500mm apo dg in nikon mount 2 and found it sharper wide open than the 150-500mm apo dg hsm os that i have now, but the 150-500mm has os the only reason i brought it, and to get decent shots with the 150-500mm it has to be stopped down to f8 where at the 170-500mm was as sharp at f6.3 all 3 i had.

 

[scottthehat]

heres some pics taken with the pentax k20d 14.2 meg and siggy 170-500mm apo dg.
at 500mm f6.3 ss 1/160, iso 160 ev 0
full uncropped.
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww272/scottthehat/internet site 200kb pics/IMGP7174-1.jpg

cropped.

 

[Huss1100]

I have a Canon fit Sigma 170-500 APO and I think the picture quality is ok, but the focusing is slow and noisey. It can be a cheap way to get a 500mm lens.

 

[scottthehat]

i found the focus speed about the same on all of them, just noiser on the 170-500 but no different to any other screw driven lens.

 

[zulupentax]

i have had 2 170-500mm apo dg in pentax mount and found the sharper wide open than the 150-500mm apo dg hsm that i had in pentax mount, and i will be buying anothe 170-500mm apo dg in pentax mount again, i have had a 170-500mm apo dg in nikon mount 2 and found it sharper wide open than the 150-500mm apo dg hsm os that i have now, but the 150-500mm has os the only reason i brought it, and to get decent shots with the 150-500mm it has to be stopped down to f8 where at the 170-500mm was as sharp at f6.3 all 3 i had.

Don't know much about the 150-500mm personally in Nikon nor in Pentax mount. But the one I am using with the canon mount is very sharp. I haven't done any scientific tests on different aperture settings but have used it for wildlife quite a lot since I bought it a few weeks ago and it hasn't disappointed me. I have shot a few images with it wide open and I think they are sharp too.

Having said that I also do believe that the images do get sharper when you stop it down. But still wide open I would consider images pretty sharp.

This one was taken at the long end wide open and at ISO3200,

This one at f/7.1 handheld ISO 2000 and the bird was at 11.3 mts away roughly 34ft

 

[scottthehat]

all i know is that all the 170-500mm i have had have been sharper at 500mm f6.3 than the 150-500mm at 500mm f8, not that the 150-500mm aint no good because it is.

 

[Dangermouse]

I had one earlier this year and if you can get a sharp copy, they are an outstanding lens

Taken with the same lens

And up close