Sigma 50-500mm or 150-500mm?

SalsaFaye1983

SalsaFaye1983

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I'm toying with the idea of grabbing myself a bigger zoom lens for wildlife photography... I have a Nikon D5100 body, so firstly want to know if this is a sensible choice (I've heard how big these lenses are) ...

Is there a huge deal of difference between the two, other than the obvious lower range? I do have a Nikon 55 - 300mm zoom already for closer shots? Do you think it is worth the saving to go for the 150-500mm one? I'm not rolling in cash, so I want what is best for my situation... Have been eyeing up some second hand lenses...
 
I have the 50-500mm OS and I know quite a few people with the 150-500mm.

You pay the extra for the 50-150mm (which can come in handy at times) and the fact the 50-500mm can focus quite a lot closer (50cm 3:1) when compared to the 150-500mm (200cm 5:1) which means you can use it as a quasi macro lens. At 500mm there is very little in it to be honest.

As an example ... this is virtually uncropped, you can't get anywhere near as close with the 150-500mm.

 
Would it make a difference knowing I have the Sigma 105mm Macro too Mike? I'm torn between a few photographic loves.... Macro (I love your butterfly! I'm so jealous, ha ha), landscape (had a 10-24mm Nikon wideangle for my birthday, yey!) and birding pics being my ultimate favourites...

I'd love to afford the range of the 50-500mm, but if my other lenses make up for the lesser lower range, then I can still get the chunk between the 300mm and 500mm that I'm missing for some better bird pics in the 105-500mm.

Do users have any info on how I'd go about handling them, if I go ahead with one? Is it suitable for using by hand with birds or is it going to put too much strain on the mount without a tripod? I sound stupid, but then to to honest I am still only a total novice. One day, maybe I will have time to perhaps do a course or something... I have some nice kit but rubbish knowledge in truth! X
 
I have 2 or 3 macro lenses but there are times when I just want to take just one lens on a body in a bag and the 50-500mm is ( imo ) the ultimate 1 lens solution ... slightly overkill for a lot of people but ideal if you don't mind the weight. I use mine 100% handheld, I absolutely detest tripods (but would agree with anyone that you would get a better success rate using one).

As for strain on the camera, both lenses have a tripod mount with built in handle so carry it using that and not the body, if you need a strap then look at a black rapid or similar which will again attach to the tripod mount and hang by your side..

All that said, if you are happy to carry your macro lens and want to save a bit of cash for something else then I have seen some great results from the 150-500mm. As I said before, I believe both lenses are very similar at 500mm.

 
I had a 150-500 before switching to my current Sigma 120-300 and 2X setup, a great lens, the 50-500 OS version is reputed to be a tad sharper, but I had no complaints with my 150-500. It is OK handheld but If I found a Monopod useful during long waiting periods, saving moving the camera down from eye level.

Be aware that their was an earlier 50-500 non OS version, good lens but without the stabilisation.
 
Hi Ken - yeah, i'd had a look and saw that there are different versions....I did note there had been issues a while back about some of the AF Sigma's having a fault? I assume that is something from a while ago and not so likely to affect newer lenses?

Mike ... not fair, those pics are seriously making me want something i'm going to have to buy on credit to afford, lol! Gutting!

Out of interest, would it be beneficial for me to hunt out a decent teleconverter? Would one work with both my Sigma 105mm Macro and my Nikon 55 - 300mm Zoom or would I have to have two different ones for compatibility? As well as super zoom for birds, i'd love to find a way of getting some super Macro shots too. I saw something online where someone linked the Sigma 105mm up to a Nikon 50mm using a step-down ring (although someone noted it should be a reversal ring?) .... I have no idea which ring it should be, nor the sizing (other than obviously the thread at one end has to be 62mm to fit the Sigma). Would the Nikon lens be put on back to front in that case if it is a reversal ring?). Then of course there is the question of checking out if any of the tripods I 'inherited' from my dad's old kit can go low enough for proper steady macro shooting... something else to cost in the future I expect, lol!

So many questions....(so little knowledge) ha ha.
 
SalsaFaye1983 said:
I'm toying with the idea of grabbing myself a bigger zoom lens for wildlife photography... I have a Nikon D5100 body, so firstly want to know if this is a sensible choice (I've heard how big these lenses are) ...

Is there a huge deal of difference between the two, other than the obvious lower range? I do have a Nikon 55 - 300mm zoom already for closer shots? Do you think it is worth the saving to go for the 150-500mm one? I'm not rolling in cash, so I want what is best for my situation... Have been eyeing up some second hand lenses...
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I use my Sigma 150-500mm on a daily basis, cracking lens - get saving is my advice

Les
 
Only had my Sigma 150-500 a few weeks and not had as many chances out with it as I would have liked because of other commitments, but so far I'm very impressed with it. I don't find it as heavy to use as I was expecting the way people were talking. I've only ever hand-held it and it does take a bit of practice to get sharp shots but it's no where near as difficult as some people say. I've also found while it is a tiny bit soft at the 500mm end it's no where near as bad as others said it would be and I'm more than happy with shots at both ends.

All in all, I'm very happy with mine so far, don't regret buying it for a second and just want to get out all the time using it (although life gets in the way).

Couple of examples below:

This was at the 150 end (F/5.6 1/1000 ISO720 @150mm)
Red Tailed Hawk by Ian-Highlander, on Flickr

This was at the 500 end (F/6.3 1/1000 ISO720 @500mm)
Juvenile Robin by Ian-Highlander, on Flickr

And yours truly hand holding it using my built in suspension (arms tucked tight into fat belly) lol
Yours truly with his new toy by Ian-Highlander, on Flickr
 
LOL Ian! In that case, I have triple camera support.... One by each arm and a shelf below that (which I'm darn well going to reduce ... Packing too much paunch for my liking)

Beautiful images.... Think I ought to give in now, not in a million years am I going to get those results! If I could, I'd probably have many of the photos by you guys plastered all over my walls.... Stunning!

Out of interest, I've seen a 50-500mm on Panamoz for £825, with 3 years UK Warranty. I know someone mentioned them before as having good service...likely an import but then, most warranty isn't beyond that length of time anyway is it? I steer away from most sellers like the plague, scared of the grey import where I may get a dud, only used Amazon own stock and Jessops online...
 
The 150-500 cashback's been extended to August 31st, could pick one up for £686 from amazon then it's down to under £600 with the cashback.
 
Funny, I was literally just weighing that up.... For the loss of 100mm of lower end zoom (which I have in other lenses if I'm willing to tote more than one about) it is a MASSIVE saving of enough money to get a converter too, if I wanted one.... Hmmmmm. Plus, it might be slightly lighter to carry too ...
 
Yep, on it Mike :) I did the same when buying the Macro.... Feel excited but sick... Its so much money for me (TMI prob, but I've just had to pay £2825 for a reversal for hubby out of £3000 given to me and same to my brothers by mum, for helping her care for my grandad till he passed away end of May) ... I feel I want something tangible from it, other than possibly a wailing bundle (IF it works) ... All my money will be tied up in a baby if it does....so ought to get it while I can.

I'd love the bigger lens, but all said and done, I'm not a pro and the time it takes me to get off auto settings etc, it would probably be wasted on me!
 
stu.artd said:
The 150-500 cashback's been extended to August 31st, could pick one up for £686 from amazon then it's down to under £600 with the cashback.
Click to expand...

You dont know how pleased i am to hear that, have been dithering between that and the tamron and missed two months offers,will have to make my mind up.
 
Too late to turn back, have clicked on Amazon a couple times and on Prime trial delivery. I now feel sick, ha ha! Must just think of the photos....forget the credit card screaming... Lol....
 
I bought the Sigma 150-500mm from amazon a couple of weeks ago but I was one of the unlucky ones in that I got a very poor copy. VERY soft at all focal lengths, lucky I bought from Amazon and they refunded immediately. Can't fault Amazon at all for their customer service, absolutely perfect. I so wanted to like this lens.
 
Oh.... Now you tell me... :confused: Hope I'm lucky to get a good one in that case. If it is only slight softness I probably lack the skill to tell, so pray its right....
 
SalsaFaye1983 said:
Too late to turn back, have clicked on Amazon a couple times and on Prime trial delivery. I now feel sick, ha ha! Must just think of the photos....forget the credit card screaming... Lol....
Click to expand...

The screams stop after a while. ;)
Hope you like your new lens.
 
SalsaFaye1983 said:
Too late to turn back, have clicked on Amazon a couple times and on Prime trial delivery. I now feel sick, ha ha! Must just think of the photos....forget the credit card screaming... Lol....
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The sick feeling will stop when it's in your hand and you're using it ;)

Oh and good luck with the "other" thing too, hope hubby's ok after his op and it gets you what you both want.
 
Thanks :D

What was the reckoning on the teleconverter issue for the 'super-macro', while I'm on a roll... Sick feeling has gone already, now just bouncing up and down waiting for tomorrow and the arrival of my 'bazooka'! :banana:
 
I use a teleconverter on my macro lenses and there is very little loss of quality.

I don't know anything about the Nikon 55-300mm but I'm guessing it's a consumer grade zoom? if so I would forget using any type of teleconverter on it as you would probably take a big hit in IQ.
 
Now I've gone for the Sigma telephoto, I wouldn't need to use a teleconverter on the Nikon 55-300mm (yep, its a consumer lens I'd say...but then the body is too, so can't complain) ... Would still look at one for macro to get even closer. Adore the way bugs eyes etc are captured etc...though I definitely won't be getting any pro kit for that...not after this expense. I'm looking at the sigma 1.4 or 2x converter to match the macro and this new lens. (For a little later of course...I'm broke now!)
 
Its not great and I've uploaded from a facebook download ... But I got this Dunnock on the 55-300mm... Not toooooooo bad for a novice shot. Going in the right direction anyway...View attachment 15350

In all honesty, it was darn close, I lucked out that it was just about a meter away but I had no option but to shoot on the zoom I had set...any mucking about to get a better setting would have scared it off....
 
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i like it :)
theres good video's on youtube that can teach you nearly everything, and good glass has value, a leica lens from 1935 will still produce superb images :)
 
Wow... It arrived.... Compared to my little 4ft 11" self, its less Big'ma' and more Big'pa'.... Lol. Arm aches after just a few mins of checking it is working ok. Will look in more detail later as I've a kitchen to help paint....but heck....I better start weight training! Can't wait to try a proper bird photo later (without being through a window!).
 
I've got the 50-500 after owning the 150-500 and the extra flexibility is more than welcome. Both excellent lenses, but it's surprising how the additional 100 at the wide end leads to much less lens swapping. You can always send the 150-500 back...!
 
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Long lenses take a lot of getting used to ... I recently got a canon 800mm f5.6 and it's incredibly hard to get sharp, handheld shots as any kind of movement robs the shots of sharpness, time, practice and perseverance will pay off - i notice you're in cornwall like me :). It's worth going to beaches like marazion late evening / early morning, not so much now though you will still see waders, but more so the autumn - you'll make great use out of the lens :). Enjoy your new purchase!
 
SalsaFaye1983 said:
Wow... It arrived.... Compared to my little 4ft 11" self, its less Big'ma' and more Big'pa'.... Lol. Arm aches after just a few mins of checking it is working ok. Will look in more detail later as I've a kitchen to help paint....but heck....I better start weight training! Can't wait to try a proper bird photo later (without being through a window!).
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I suggest you get a monopod, makes using large lenses much easier and far less tiring. When walking with lens you can rest lens on your shoulder and use the monopod as a handle to hold it.
 
Yeah, I have a monopod that I got secondhand from a friend, as well as a tripod (I bought his Canon 300D off him several years back) .... I did try taking some moon shots lastnight using the tripod, I'm not happy with it though....I just don't trust the weight of the lens on it...soon as I tilted the head the lens weight pulled it down. I ended up having to try holding it steady as best as I could...terrified of blowing just over half a month's wages on a lens, only to break it. I need to hunt out my dads old tripod to see if it is more robust...if not, I just might need to try getting something to take the weight properly, looked at a slik 700DX, when I can afford it.

Actually, I must go into the loft to look through dads old kit (he passed away 13 years ago...before I was into photography...and it has been something we have meant to go through for years), he has film camera up there, don't know if I could part ex. it on some kit for me, or what the value may or may not be. Anyone on the site know much about film cameras?
 
SalsaFaye1983 said:
I did try taking some moon shots lastnight using the tripod, I'm not happy with it though....I just don't trust the weight of the lens on it...soon as I tilted the head the lens weight pulled it down.
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Just to be certain, you should be mounting it on the tripod using the collar on the lens.
 
digital said:
Just to be certain, you should be mounting it on the tripod using the collar on the lens.
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No worries, already did that.... Was still not sturdy enough for my liking, even before it started to pull down... Be ok for lighter lenses but I'll not risk that tripod and lens combo a second time :confused:
 
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