Advice on Sigma 150-500 Usage

Mr Bump

Mr Bump

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Hi folks pleased to say my Sigma 150-500 for Nikon has safely arrived from Cardiff Camera Centre, have to say a big up for me for super service.

Just a quick question hoping for a nice day maybe this weekend for a wander out and a play, any users got advice on how this performs at best?

My other zoom is the Nikon 70-300 VR which is a bit soft at 300mm wide open F5.6 and I was getting good results but stopping it down a bit.

Anyone, ta
 
my 150-500 is a touch soft wide open at 500mm but its very sharp stopped down to f/8.

yours could be sharp wide open i think you will be in :love: with the lens.


enjoy it


bleddyn
 
Thanks so far just been running some basic tests on my test pole which is a telegraph pole across the road with a little BT label on it.

at 300mm wide open about the same as the Nikon 300mm and as I push it out towards 500mm does seem to like being stopped down a bit so I think you are right, just out of interest how do you find the Sigmas version of VR, I try to keep my shutter speed up to 800/1000 and have it turned off?
 
Why pay the extra ££££ for OS and not use it?
 
Gr8Shot said:
Why pay the extra ££££ for OS and not use it?
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Do you have experience with it off/on at high shutter speeds?

I found on my Nikon 70-300 @ 800 and above it showed no difference and at 1000+ I actually noticed in some shots a very slight blurring of super fine detailed which went away if I turned off the VR.
 
OS on when hand held but you will get much sharper pics using a tripod with OS off.

Mine's sweet spot is about 450-480mm at F9.

Need good light too!


Heather
 
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Still undecided as to whether or not I will by this lens :thinking: If you can keep this thread going Paul and put up some examples it would be great.
 
Thanks Heather sounds good that, I do have a tripod and a monopod but would like to also try handholding, i appreciate its a bit heavy for long periods so have also adjusted a sling which should allow easy rests of my arm in between shots.
 
u8myufo said:
Still undecided as to whether or not I will by this lens :thinking: If you can keep this thread going Paul and put up some examples it would be great.
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I think its a difficult one going longer/bigger and very much depends on your usage and budget, I am a walker/hiker with my wife and have merged that love with nature photography. To that end the D7000 and 70-300VR is a very good solution. With a comfy padded side sling I can wander for miles with no real discomfort.

However I wanted to go longer to try and get some of the shots I just could not seem to get close enough to so I am trying the Sigma but I don't think its a walkabout lens like the 70-300. I think it will take a little more planning and I will need to use its carry bag as well.

Hope to post some pics up soon .
 
Mr Bump said:
Do you have experience with it off/on at high shutter speeds?

I found on my Nikon 70-300 @ 800 and above it showed no difference and at 1000+ I actually noticed in some shots a very slight blurring of super fine detailed which went away if I turned off the VR.
Click to expand...

That surprises me as 1/800th isn't that fast really.
 
I use a Black Rapid strap if I am going walkabout with it.

I wouldn't be taking it on and off whilst I was out so no need to lug the bag around with you.( It is a PITA!)

I have a Lowepro bag big enough to take camera with 150-500mm mounted on it and other lenses that I might want if I think I might need to change, but mostly just take it out on the strap or tripod.

Get out and use it!

...oh and the OS needs to settle when focussing or you will get blur (which is probably why your ones with OS off were sharper!)


Heather


Heather
 
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When I used to own both lenses I actually preferred to use the 70-300 and crop as the quality ended up about the same and I didn't have to lug a monster lens about everywhere...

Hopefully your experience will differ :)
 
Have to say that my experience was the same as Ned's. The 70-300 is still in the bag as is the 105mm macro that I chopped the 150-500 in against! Not got many examples from the 150-500 - I was pretty ill for the whole time I owned it and barely used it (mainly because I was weak as a kitten so couldn't carry the bleedin' thing) but from memory, I now get better results from cropping into the 70-300's long end stopped down a little on my D800 than I did from the 150-500 on my D700 (both lenses at f/8).

I found that the OS allowed hand holding down to about 1/250th even when I was ill so now I could possibly take it down to 1/125th (only I don't have it any more!) The 70-300 VR has the huge advantage of its (relatively) small size and light weight.
 
Nawty said:
When I used to own both lenses I actually preferred to use the 70-300 and crop as the quality ended up about the same and I didn't have to lug a monster lens about everywhere...

Hopefully your experience will differ :)
Click to expand...

Im allready seeing better results with the 500mm over the 300mm Nikon so not sure why your results were poor, for me the Sigma gives me extra reach lacking with the Nikon, I can then crop as well, result :)

Heather, your right about a well rigged strap, im on it :D
 
Brought the canon fit version of this lens and am pleased with the results. As said stick to IS 1 when hand held. don't know what the crop factor of your camera is, but my Canon bodies have 1.6 factor which gives 800mm (35mm equivlent) and I think as with the Fuji HS50 just released correct handling is oh so important. Don't think that IS is a substitute for poor handling technique.

Has stayed in the camera bag so far this year, but used it for birding and the New Forest Show extra reach very useful when you can't get close to subjects such as a visit from HRH the Queen. Also Bournemouth Air Show

As said, stick to F8 or smaller and fast shutter speed, get used to the weight and it is capable of producing excellent results
 
I have the 70-300 VR and have been thinking about either the 150-500 or the 50-500. My only concern is the speed of the lens as I'd be shooting a bit of motorsport.

Be interested to see your pics and any comparisons between the lenses, thanks
 
It can be a little slow to latch on to a racing car but once locked on it can track one coming towards you at flat chat! It can even stay locked on to a jet coming towards you again, once locked on.
 
Thanks. Big lenses need to be smaller - don't manufacturers know that we need to hide purchases from our other halves ??

Might have to hire one for a few days ( a lens...not a wife )
 
I found it easiest to use on a monopod. When walking around I keep it on the monopod with the camera over my shoulder. I found this more comfortable than using straps and the camera can be used more quickly. I still have my Sigma 150 -500 but since getting a Nikon 200-400 F4 I have stopped the using the Sigma, however I agree with the comments above that IQ is best at around F8.
 
Use mine on a d90 and love it. In sunny weather I can't fault it, just my shocking panning skills let it down. I mainly use it a monopod and as described on here prop it over my shoulder when on the move. Used it at silverstone for various motor sport. Also at our local aerodrome for the blades display team.
Even friends have had play at silverstone with it and still produces good images for people who are only used to point and shoot. I switch my os to number 2 when on the monopod seems quite happy there.
 
I love my Sigma 150-500 OS, it's my most used lens throughout the summer for aviation and wildlife shots. Mine is sharp wide open and I've got loads of great photos from it.

This is SOOC with no other PP apart from a crop and was taken wide open IIRC.
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This is a Dunnock shot wide open and is a very heavy crop with no other PP.
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There's a lot more on my Flickr that's been taken with the Sigma and I'd recommend the lens to anyone. I had a Canon 100-400 as well and after lots of testing I decided to keep the Sigma and sell the Canon which gives you an idea of how highly I rate the lens.
 
modchild said:
I love my Sigma 150-500 OS, it's my most used lens throughout the summer for aviation and wildlife shots. Mine is sharp wide open and I've got loads of great photos from it.
Click to expand...

Agree. It really does offer great IQ for the money. The OS is ridiculously good on it too.

For 500mm the lens is relatively compact and easy to travel with. It fits nicely in a lowepro flipside 400aw bag with another body, 70-200 and a couple of small lenses.

For those considering buying it, here's a few examples. Some are slight crops:


Eastern Bluebird by ACW#, on Flickr


White Breasted Nuthatch by ACW#, on Flickr


Summer Tanager by ACW#, on Flickr
 
I love mine and even more so since I broke it and sigma repaired it :thumbs:
It's come back better then it was before.

I don't use the OS that often, I usually shoot moving targets and find it does slow the focus down a bit,

I have a harness for 2 cameras but often just have one camera and 2 lenses attached, makes it easy to carry them around and handy if you need to change lenses :thumbs:
 
Am I crazy to think about chopping by 70-300 VR in for one ? The only problem is I'd lose the short end....
 
33832189


I hate 500px why is it so awkward to share pictures.
 
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Re that ^^ pic...What on earth ?? I've just eaten..
 
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