Which Sigma?

spike241

spike241

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Name
Selena
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Hi,
I'm currently using a 450D and a 55-250mm lens.
It's a lovely lens considering the price but I want something with a bit more reach. I'm looking at the Sigma 50-500 and 150-500 but considering the price of the 50-500 it would have to be the non-OS version.

It would mostly be used for zoo photography, I live quite near Port Lympne so 500mm would be good for the safari too.

I am pretty much decided on the 150, I'd probably need the os.
I had the 50 recommended to me though so I just wanted to check I was making the right choice.

If you have any other suggestions I'd welcome those too, budget is ~£600

Thanks
 
Having used both, I couldn't imagine using either without the OS. They're heavy and (physically) long.
 
If I recall right a sigma 50-500mm OS just went on the classifieds within your budget,its supposed to be slightly better than the 150-500mm.
 
twist said:
Bigma has better image quality.
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With all due respects, that comment would only be useful if "Bigma" was defined! I've heard it used in reference to the 50-500 (OS and pre OS versions), the 170-500 and the 150-500 OS and "Bigmos" has been used to refer to the 50-500 and the 150-500.

StuartH said:
If I recall right a sigma 50-500mm OS just went on the classifieds within your budget,its supposed to be slightly better than the 150-500mm.
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The 150-500 is (IIRC) significantly cheaper than the 50-500 and not that much inferior once stopped down a little. Both are big, heavy lumps to lug around on the off chance they'll be used - one of the main reasons for me trading mine in against a Macro lens. Both the OS lenses are significantly better than the 170-500.
 
Yup, I know you did - I was agreeing with you! :p
 
I've had a Sigma 150-500 OS since the start of the year and I've got loads of great photos from it. Once you get used to the weight, and it doesn't take too long, then you'll find yourself getting some cracking shots from zoos, wildlife, birds, planes and lots of other subjects. I love this lens and it gets a lot of use from me.

On the downside, mine has recently developed a problem. See here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=447750 but I'm sure it'll get sorted soon and I'll soon be back using it regularly. I certainly wouldn't want to go without the OS system permanently though, I've managed to get handheld shots as slow as 1/10sec and still get decent results.
 
Nod said:
With all due respects, that comment would only be useful if "Bigma" was defined!
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With all due respect, type Bigma into google it will bring up the 50-500. Ive never seen anyone refer to the other larger Sigmas as a Bigma.

Ill also add a quote from the OPs original query "but considering the price of the 50-500 it would have to be the non-OS version"

As I read the initial post I wouldnt be referring to the OS in comparison.
 
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I have seen the others referred to as Bigmas - on this forum and heard it elsewhere.
 
Okay then. One of the most respected lens review sites. Digital picture.com

As can be expected for a lens with a 450-500mm focal length available, the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM Lens is not small or light. It has even acquired a nickname - "Bigma". The 50-500 measures 3.7" x 8.6" (95mm x 218.5mm) and weighs 4.1 lb (1.8 kg).
 
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Nod is my nickname. It's also the nickname of several other people I know (confusing sometimes, especially since 2 of them share the same given name as me!)

Further down in the original post, after she mentions that she probably can't afford the OS version of the 50-500, she says that he would probably need the OS version of the 150-500.

To be honest, I've never heard of Digital picture.com.
 
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spike241 said:
Thanks guys.

Think I'll go with the 150-500. It'll definitely be used so I don't mind the weight, could use the excercise :)
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I think you'll be very pleased to have OS :thumbs:

It's quite rare for me to achieve a high enough shutter speed to mange without it.

There's a bit of a learning curve involved but it's worth it!
 
Carrying on with the tangent, I refer to the 50-500 as the Bigma and the 150-500 as the BigmOS - but I have heard others swap them round too - I have also heard the 150-500 referred to as the Bigma OS (before the OS version of the 50-500 came out) and the Bigma II - which the 50-500 OS has also been called. Where's that 'confused' smiley?

I have the 150-500 and am very happy with it, Sometimes I fancy the extra bit on the short end when I'm on 'walkabout' but more often than not, when I've got the 150-500 on the camera, I want the reach and 150mm is more than short enough, so I don't rue it.
 
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I generally referred to mine as the heavy b****r! Firstly a 170-500 which was a bargain when I bought it off a mate for just £250 c/w a protection filter. reasonable images from that but nothing special, so a while after the 150-500 OS came out, I took the 170-500 and a kit 24-120 (from a D700 kit) down to Mifsuds who gave me over £500 as trade in for the pair against the 150-500 OS. Far better images and camera shake was less of a problem.

However, my tastes lie more in the wider end of the FL spectrum so the lens tended to stay on the shelf, only coming out when I was damn sure I would need it and those occasions were rather few and far between! During my week's recovery after brain surgery, I decided I would buy myself a new Macro lens to replace an aging (but still very good) Tamron 90mm f/2.8. I had the little used and perfct condition 150-500 sitting on the shelf so decided to put it to better use than it had ever had in my employ and chopped it in against the Nikkor 105mm VR Macro. One main reason I wanted a new Macro lens was that I was expecting a rather long recovery period and sitting at the table with a macro on a support seemed a likely way to pass some time. However, my recovery has been bordering on the miraculous as far as speed has gone, so I'm far more active than I have been for months (if not years!), although being without a driving license as a result of the surgery, I haven't been out and about with the camera as much as I should be - should be back on driving duty in early January though and planning a new 4 wheeled toy in celebration of my refound life!

Do I miss the 150-500? Not really, since I barely used it anyway and to save my aging back etc, I bought myself a bridge - a Fuji HS30 with a zoom range (35mm equivalent) of 24-720. So much lighter than the 150-500 on its own as well as having the extra reach!

To all that have the long Sigmas, use and enjoy them! Take care of your backs and shoulders though...
 
Nod said:
Nod is my nickname. It's also the nickname of several other people I know (confusing sometimes, especially since 2 of them share the same given name as me!)

Further down in the original post, after he mentions that he probably can't afford the OS version of the 50-500, he says that he would probably need the OS version of the 150-500.

To be honest, I've never heard of Digital picture.com.
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I guess people call a Focus a Mondeo all the time. Confusing to some I guess. Should really check out digitalpicture, great review site thats highly regarded with loads of lens performance tests and comparisons.

edit: Good to read youre getting better and sorry to read you needed surgery.
 
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:)
 
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:)
 
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Nod, FYI we just have differing opinions doesnt make either of us a :), not really a term that should be thrown around so easily. Anyway back on topic.
 
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You mean like I did in post #17?

I think Selena (BTW, apologies to her for a few references to her as he - I was going by the user name of Spike which tends to be a man's name) has already made her mind up as to which to go for and I hope she's very happy with her choice.

BTW, Selena (I do hope you haven't been scared away from the thread or the forum by the bickering), as with all Sigma purchases, it's probably worth trying the actual copy you'll be buying before parting with your hard earned cash - while I've never had a problem with any of my Sigmas, there are plenty of reports of poor/bad quality control leaing to softness and poorly aligned elements in the optical path through some of their lenses.
 
Sorry, post #17 was where I got back on topic. Post #19 was where the T word was inferred (now editted to remove that inference). Post #14 was where I explained that names (especially nicknames) don't necessarily refer exclusively to one person or thing.
 
Already have.
 
Not scared, just sounds like I'm living at home again :)

I was planning on buying new from Panamoz but if I can find any 2nd hand camera shops in the area I will go there first.

Thanks for all the advice!
 
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