Sigma 50-500 for Nikon

Abaddon

Abaddon

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Ian
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Finding I need more range for shots, but don't want to keep changing lenses.. I'm mainly zoo and a bit of motor sports at the moment - is this a decent enough lens for this? It's in the budget range at around £650 - £750 (2nd hand). Should I be saving more, or will this do me?

Thanks for any opinions!
 
I'm not sure if it's relevant, but I use a Sigma 150-500. It was the only reasonable solution for an extended reach lens at any sort of realistic price. It focuses faster than I had anticipated and the vibration reduction works fine (albeit noisily) . I also use a Nikon 70-200 with a 1:1.4 converter. Comparing the two lenses at 280mm, there is very little difference in IQ which was pleasantly surprising.

However at 500mm the Sigma is noticeably soft. It's certainly not unusable though. It was good enough for one of my 500mm wildlife shots to come out on top at a local comp. so maybe I'm too critical?

I'm not sure the Sigma lenses would be fast enough for motor sport. I'd be inclined to go for a 70-200 2.8 and consider a teleconverter if and when you need it.
 
I used the old non OS 50-500 for airshows on a D200 body. It is soft at 500mm, but without dropping several grand on a 500mm prime, you arent going to get ultra sharp at 500mm.

Its bloomin' heavy, and on a D5000 body, its going to be really unbalanced, so you'll need a monopod for sure.

I found the focusing ok. Certainly a lot faster than my current nikon 300mm prime.

The only downside I guess is it pretty large maximum aperture. Not great for low light work.
 
Hadn't considered the need for a monpod, but that's not a huge problem anyway for me. I did look at the 150-500, but wasn't sure if it AF'd on the D5000.

I already have the 70-300 Nikon lens, so the motorsport side is reasonably ok - I get up close and personal with the club I'm in, so that's not really a big problem either.

I don't anticipate going out to 500 very often, but more reach than 300 is a real bonus at some points. When you say soft, does that mean a little blurred?
 
Yeah soft means not sharp, so looks blurry, even though its in focus. Any sigma lens with HSM will AF on your body.
 
Well, what a result.. I had the 50-500mm delivered to me today (after using up *some* favours), and at a bargain price.. £300! Brand new that as well.. Hopefully will be posting some shots up soon with the new toy.. :)
 
Result. Unbeatable price. I wish I could find one at that price. Or at least the 150-500.:thumbs:
 
Abaddon said:
Well, what a result.. I had the 50-500mm delivered to me today (after using up *some* favours), and at a bargain price.. £300! Brand new that as well..
Click to expand...

dead jellyous....i am....and at 300 squids...jammy b****r more like:clap:;)


peter
 
TCR4x4 said:
I used the old non OS 50-500 for airshows on a D200 body. It is soft at 500mm, but without dropping several grand on a 500mm prime, you arent going to get ultra sharp at 500mm.

Its bloomin' heavy, and on a D5000 body, its going to be really unbalanced, so you'll need a monopod for sure.

I found the focusing ok. Certainly a lot faster than my current nikon 300mm prime.

The only downside I guess is it pretty large maximum aperture. Not great for low light work.
Click to expand...

I use this same set up now te only problem I find is me :D
 
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