Sigma xxx-500?

gramps

gramps

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Her indoors won't let me buy a Nikon 500 VR! :nono:
I see an almost endless variety of Sigma 'up to 500mm' zooms, 50-500, 120-500, 170-500 etc etc.
My question for those of you who have used these lenses, is which is best for AF speed and IQ when used with Nikon bodies .. or is there a better option in the price range? (I have a Nikon 300 f4 and 70-200 f2.8 and 1.4 & 1.7 TC's)

TIA
 
personally i have had 4 170-500mm and 2 150-500mm hsm os and 1 50-500mm os, the 50-500mm has about the same image quality as the older 170-500mm which i found all very sharp wide open but does not have os for nikon mount. and both those lenses are sharper wide open then both the 150-500mm i have had.
Af speed is best on the 150-500mm and 50-500mm os as there hsm,
personally i love the 170-500mm but the 50-500mm is the muts to me, sharp fast and hell of a range.
abd the 150-500mm is still very good but the 150-500mm and 50-500mm both have os and thats a big advantage if shooting with nikon.
a couple pics from each
170-500mm
IMGP7174.jpg


SJB10943.jpg


150-500mm
DSC_3169.jpg


peregrinefalcon80.jpg


50-500mm
SJB_8422.jpg


SJB_2468.jpg
 
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I know its a bit short, but the 120-400 OS is really sharp even at 400mm.

I sold my 300mm f/4 which was pin sharp, and the sigma isnt far behind.

Its in the classifieds cos I need to fund a new car, but I shall miss it.
 
scottthehat said:
personally i have had 4 170-500mm and 2 150-500mm hsm os and 1 50-500mm os, the 50-500mm has about the same image quality as the older 170-500mm which i found all very sharp wide open but does not have os for nikon mount. and both those lenses are sharper wide open then both the 150-500mm i have had.
Af speed is best on the 150-500mm and 50-500mm os as there hsm,
personally i love the 170-500mm but the 50-500mm is the muts to me, sharp fast and hell of a range.
abd the 150-500mm is still very good but the 150-500mm and 50-500mm both have os and thats a big advantage if shooting with nikon.
Click to expand...

So the 150-500 os and 50-500 os would be your choice with the 50-500 os slightly ahead?
 
I didn't bother with the 500 end of Sigma as I had the terrible, awful, bad quality 170-500, instead I tested out many and went for the 120-400 and wider ap.

Also lighter, very nice lens.


Img_4689a.jpg
 
I have been looking at these lens, so I popped down to my local camera shop and tried a 50-500 non os lens, it was very sharp at both ends, but needed good light as I needed to use quite a hight shutter speed to get these sharp images, then I tried a os version and I was getting sharp images at 500mm at 1/200 shutter speed. So that made it for me, I will be going for the 50-500 OS version, as I will probably go on a safari next year as this lens gives a good focal range and will be able to shot in low light.
 
gramps said:
So the 150-500 os and 50-500 os would be your choice with the 50-500 os slightly ahead?
Click to expand...
for nikon mount yes as the 170-500mm has no os i had 3 170-500mm in pentax mount and they were awsome also had one in nikon but it haad no os so sold it for the 150-500mm, but the 170-500mm has better image quality imo.
 
JSER said:
I didn't bother with the 500 end of Sigma as I had the terrible, awful, bad quality 170-500, instead I tested out many and went for the 120-400 and wider ap.

Also lighter, very nice lens
Click to expand...
funny thats because i found all 4 of my 170-500mm at 500mm wide open very sharp.
170-500mm
IMGP3784.jpg



SJB11664.jpg


SJB10042a.jpg


SJB10933.jpg


SJB11679.jpg


SJB15376copy.jpg
 
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I use the non OS version of the 50-500mm on my Pentax and have to say I really love using it. Yes, it's a bit on the bulky side but I always use it handheld and have had some good results with it over the last few years. It is quite a slow lens but as the ISO performance has got better on newer cameras so the lens has really started to perform.


Cowes Powerboat Race 2011 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr


Bournemouth Air Festival 2011 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr


Duckling by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr
 
Whereabouts are you from Gramps?

If anywhere near Portsmouth you could come and try mine.........
 
OK Cannon version but Just got my Sigma 50-500 OS from Digital Rev and Im well pleased with it.
Its bit of a chunk but with the range its got Im intending it to live on my 7d.
You wont be disapointed
 
fancy one of these 50-500mm os lenses myself, can't justify the new price, but can't seem to find a used os version
found a couple of non os models but they want to much money for them
I'll keep searching
 
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scottthehat said:
if you want it you have to pay for it its worth it.
Click to expand...

I fancy one but I don't want one that bad yet lol
spent to much this last month on kit
the wife would have killed me had I still got one
if i still had one I could have easily afforded all the things on my wish list and just put up with the moaning :lol:
wives are expensive x wives are cripplingly expensive
 
Now I have just had a discussion with a supplier about the non-OS Sigma 50-500 and possible use with teleconverters. I have been informed that it is not possible to mount the Sigma 50-500 on a Nikon 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter and that only Sigma teleconverters will work ... is that true? He also said AF would be lost with any teleconverter ... also true?
 
gramps said:
Now I have just had a discussion with a supplier about the non-OS Sigma 50-500 and possible use with teleconverters. I have been informed that it is not possible to mount the Sigma 50-500 on a Nikon 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter and that only Sigma teleconverters will work ... is that true? He also said AF would be lost with any teleconverter ... also true?
Click to expand...

Two possible problems ....

1 - The rear element of the lens may hit the front element of the TC

2 - The Nikon TC's have a small tab on their mounting ring to prevent anything other than AF-S lenses actually fitting on ... however they can be removed ;)

With regard to focusing, it is more than likely his reservation that at f5.6 adding 1 or 1.5 stops would prevent the cameras AF working properly due to lack of light.

I was going to suggest a divorce and just get the 500/4, but I doubt that you were planning on spending that kind of money :D
 
Martyn... said:
Two possible problems ....

1 - The rear element of the lens may hit the front element of the TC

2 - The Nikon TC's have a small tab on their mounting ring to prevent anything other than AF-S lenses actually fitting on ... however they can be removed ;)

With regard to focusing, it is more than likely his reservation that at f5.6 adding 1 or 1.5 stops would prevent the cameras AF working properly due to lack of light.

I was going to suggest a divorce and just get the 500/4, but I doubt that you were planning on spending that kind of money :D
Click to expand...
 
gramps said:
ThankS that's helpful - 500/4 would be brill but home life
might be a bit stressful! :)
Click to expand...

No problem, here is a link to the info on Nikon TC's and modifying them LINK

I did it to my 1.4TC when I had the Sigma 500 f4.5, but I could not get it to AF, although others reported that they could, must admit I was never happy with the lens, ended up part exchanging it for a 200-400VR.
 
I know nothing on the Nikon side of it but for my Canon I've had 2 150-500s and I've now got a 50-500 non-os. I returned my first 150-500 after a few days as it was really soft and the focussing seemed very slow and clunky. I eventually bought a second one which I had for a while but was never really happy with and I spent ages trying to adjust it. SWMBO however wasn't pleased with me when I asked to change it for something different as to her it was good enough. I managed to get her to let me try a 2nd had 50-500 and it only took 3 shots and she then let me swap them over :lol: .

Here is one of my better shots with my 2nd 150-500 taken at ISO 3200, it was a very dull day though.


Snow Leopard by Scott Boulton, on Flickr

And here is one taken with my 50-500 also at ISO 3200 but a brighter day.


Poser Gorilla by Scott Boulton, on Flickr
 
With the 50-500mm and Sigma teleconverter you have to move the lens to around 100mm and then lock it so that the the teleconverters front element doesn't touch the rear one of the lens. You can then attach the teleconverter with no problem. You can still zoom from 100-500mm (or added length with tc attached)

On my Pentax K-5 the combo autofocuses (1.4x)
On my Canon 50D it is manual focus only. (1.4x)

Would only use a TC with the 50-500mm under desperate circumstances though.
 
gramps said:
Now I have just had a discussion with a supplier about the non-OS Sigma 50-500 and possible use with teleconverters. I have been informed that it is not possible to mount the Sigma 50-500 on a Nikon 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter and that only Sigma teleconverters will work ... is that true? He also said AF would be lost with any teleconverter ... also true?
Click to expand...

NO, to an extent, I have Kenro and they work.
 
This was an experiment with the 150-500 on a Tamron 1.4 on my Pentax K20. IIRC it errored out 3 times then autofocused slowly on the fourth.

IMGP1926.jpg
 
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