Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 how good?

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I've got one and in absolute terms (i.e. vs. good primes) it isn't fantastic BUT in terms of value for money it is great.
 
Thanks guys, i was worried the aperture wasn't large enough, changed my mind now i have seen the prices for a good prime.
 
I just traded mine in at LCE in Nottingham for a Canon 100-400mm L IS, I wanted better quality for motorsports.The Sigma is quite good especially for the price but I found it a bit patchy in difficult lighting conditions.:)Hope this helps to some degree besides which it also depends on what you`re gonna use it for.
 
BIKE FAN said:
I just traded mine in at LCE in Nottingham for a Canon 100-400mm L IS, I wanted better quality for motorsports.The Sigma is quite good especially for the price but I found it a bit patchy in difficult lighting conditions.:)Hope this helps to some degree besides which it also depends on what you`re gonna use it for.
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And how have you found the 100-400?
Thinking of swapping my 400 5.6 prime for one myself.
 
Nawty said:
I've got one and in absolute terms (i.e. vs. good primes) it isn't fantastic BUT in terms of value for money it is great.
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That's one of the best descriptions of the 150-500 I've seen. Not the best lens but it's cetainly the best value for money lens I've bought.
 
also, why can i not have OS on a sony fit? I am aware i have it built in to the camera body, but i should be able to have the option of having it, and switching sony's OS off
 
I mainly use my Sigma 150-500 for shooting birds, but had a go at motorsport last week. It's an excllent lens and hard to beat for value for money.

http://SPAM/c3whur/mar/IMG_5215.jpg
 
subliminal1ne said:
i will be buying the sigma 500 f7.2 now
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The sigma 500mm f/7.2 is a manual focus lens, and that's a very slow max aperture.
Gonna be pretty useless for motorsport unless you've got an amazing knack for manual focussing.
I'd steer clear from that lens.

I agree with everyone else about the 150-500, unbeatable value for money.
 
I've got one and I can't say that I'm disappointed with it. I've mainly used it for aircraft photography and at first I was not getting a great percentage of keepers, but I think that was more down to my technique and getting used to the lens rather than the lens itself. I recently used it to take some shots at Whipsnade and was really pleased with the results some of which are in this thread:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=308354

It's definitely not a lens for bad light; it does need a little stopping down; and it can at times be a little soft at 500mm, but once you get used to it I think it's pretty capable. I'm sure that the 100-400L would be better, but for the money and what I use it for I'm happy.
 
I did the research on this lens with a view to buying one. I found far too many negative comments to consider buying. The main critisism being that it was hit and miss weather you actually got a good or bad one!!!
 
After reading pages of reviews and various blogs i found it was about 50/50 on good and bad points. So i got one anyway and i love it.

Ive used it for motorsports aircraft and wildlife. Ive used and on a monopod and free hand and found it great imho.

My only issue i have with it is you have the hood revered down the lens i find it a pain to zoom in and out. But hey just take it off as i keep telling my self. :bonk::bonk:
 
davep90 said:
I did the research on this lens with a view to buying one. I found far too many negative comments to consider buying. The main critisism being that it was hit and miss weather you actually got a good or bad one!!!
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To be honest, I wouldn't let that put you off.
Buy from somewhere where you can return it for another one easily if you get a bad one, and it won't be a problem. It's a small price to pay for the price you pay :lol:

Even the 100-400L has some copy variation (though much less in recent years). I think it's common to lenses that extend a lot when changing focal lengths, easier for elements to get out of place.
 
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I have one and find it a very handy range, it gets sharper if stopped down to f8 .
Rob.
 
I'm pretty pleased with mine.

It's slightly soft wide open but improves nicely @ f7.1, I've not noticed any problems @500mm. The OS is really impressive & dramatically extends my shooting time, as long as the subject is reasonably still.

I have to confess that I returned my first copy with a focus problem, I bought new to be sure of being able to try out multiple copies, once I was happy it was well worth the effort.
 
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