sigma 150-500

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bennie

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Robert
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Hi Folks

I think I have made a decision need a longer focal distance to shoot birds in my garden.

I have a Nikon D40 and I think I am going to buy a sigma 150-500 lens

Anyone any views good or bad.

Regards
Bob
 
Fantastic lens for the money. I don't think you will get a better lens capable of 500mm unless you pay a lot more money.
I would suggest you have a play with the image stabilisation as it is very good and the camera may well try and increase the iso a lot in order to give a fast shutter speed. Overall you may get a better picture limiting the max iso if you have it set to auto.
 
I love mine. (Canon version)

I have to say the image stabiliser on setting 1 is outstanding. Not needed setting 2 yet!
 
Search Lancashireoatcake on Flickr and you can see pictures I've used it for. Anything over 150mm basically!
 
Had mine about 2 years now love it use it for wildlife but mostly for motorsport and have even used it for some sport even used it for aircraft. It does work better in good light I tend to try and get it to work at around f8 send to be sharper there on mine. As for the image stabilization I have only ever used it on number 1 even for panning shots. I have some shots on here with it and on Flickr
 
I got mine in january and it's a fantastic lens. Mine very sharp wide open and the OS system is brilliant. I compared it to my Canon 100-400 IS L and was so impressed with the Sigma I decided to sell the 100-400 and keep the 150-500. If you have a look at www.panamoz.com you will find it at a very good price at the moment and they give very good service. I bought mine from them and have just ordered a Canon 60D from them as well. The photo below was taken at 500mm, f6.3 (wide open) on a 7D from about 40feet away and has no PP apart from crop.

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I must admit, based on the reviews I always see on TP, the copy I had must have been a Friday afternoon-er. I found it very soft and struggled to get many sharp images when I tried it on motorsport. It seemed to hunt for focus a lot and when the sun went in it got even worse as I had really up the ISO to get the shutter speeds anything like.

Having said that, for a 500mm lens you won't get anything cheaper that's for sure.:thumbs:

Gareth
 
GeordieStew said:
Sorry to hijack. How does it compare to 50-500 optically and otherwise?
Click to expand...

The 50-500 is supposed to be better optically I believe but it's also quite a bit more expensive. The 150-500 is usable handheld but if the 50-500 is much heavier then overall it might not be as usefull.
 
It is a heavy lens anyway the 150-500mm I use hand held and am pretty tired after a days use.

I've not held a 50-500mm but with the extra glass required I'd assume it's quite heavy.
 
Excellent lens, had mine about a year and a half now. I have no complaints at all, mainly used for wildlife but have used for all sorts and never fails.
 
I'm a recent owner of this lens and love it!! I've barely had chance to give it a good outing yet just pop shots of garden birds, but am already getting used to the weight and when I change it for my 55-250 it feels like there isn't a lens on the camera at all!!
 
The IS on this lens is superb, and it's fairly sharp as well.

Here's a few examples of bird shots I've taken with this lens as you said that's what you'll be shooting.

(these are all at 500mm, with some being then further cropped)


Summer Tanager by ACW#, on Flickr


Military Macaw by ACW#, on Flickr


Gulls Feeding by ACW#, on Flickr


Great Tit by ACW#, on Flickr


Blue Tit by ACW#, on Flickr
(highish iso shot [3200])

Hope this helps.

You won't regret buying it.
 
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ACW
If I get shots half as good as those I will be happy (I'm only a novice)

Regards
Bob
 
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