Sigma 170-500 Your Thoughts

markyboy1

markyboy1

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Mark
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Im just after some feedback on the above lens. Have you used one, do you still use one? What are your thoughts and how did or didnt it preform ? I know the 150-500 has some great reviews but its a little out of my budget.

Thank you Mark
 
I had one for a while, a bit of a beast weight wise, slow auto focus, soft unless stopped down to at least f8, soft above 400mm and suffers from lens creep.

I got rid of mine and got a tamron SP 70-300 VC, a much better lens even if it had a shorter focal range.
 
looked at a used one when looking at the new 150-500 and to be honest bad reviews as above, heavy, slow.

I just purchased the new 150-500 and Im blown away.
 
I had this lens some time back Mark- slow heavy and not the best when it comes to Image Quality even at f8-f11 :bang:

look for a 2nd hand 150-500mm mate, you'll not regret the extra expense :D

Les ;)
 
Thank you everybody for the responses. I guess id better save up a little longer :(

Les whats the 150-500 like for birds in flight ?

Mark
 
markyboy1 said:
Les whats the 150-500 like for birds in flight ?

Mark
Click to expand...

Not Les but as a fellow Nikon user I would say that one a D70, not that good, focus can be a bit slow for the faster birds, but then I have problems panning with it due to weight
I have a D300 and a D7100 and it's ok on the D7100, better af system, but not so good on the D300
On the D300 it used to hunt for focus on not so bright days but on the D7100 it works fine
 
Birds in flight tricky simply because its heavy the 150-500 I found keeping it at 150 spotting your target then zomming better than hunting for the sucker @ 500 if that makes sense.
 
Thank you for the responses Gremlin and Mr Bump :) at the moment im using a D70s but looking at upgrading to a D7000 soon. My D70s with 70-300 sigma hunt like crazy and if you loose the subject forget it lol.
I am intending on using a monopod to take the weight and using that to help me pan. Does that soubd like a plan ?

Mark
 
markyboy1 said:
Thank you for the responses Gremlin and Mr Bump :) at the moment im using a D70s but looking at upgrading to a D7000 soon. My D70s with 70-300 sigma hunt like crazy and if you loose the subject forget it lol.
I am intending on using a monopod to take the weight and using that to help me pan. Does that soubd like a plan ?

Mark
Click to expand...

Depends on what type of birds you are planning on catching, I find a monopod quite restrictive on most unless the flight path is predictable or you have slow flyers/gliders, anything that is likely to swoop or climb forget it.

You may find the D7000 will help as it has a much improved AF system :thumbs:


This was taken with the 150-500 on the D300 and is cropped
But was difficult to hold the lens in an almost vertical position !!!

 
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