Sigma 150-600mm contemporary

Spiritflier said:
I have the Sport version which is a bit bigger than the Contemporary but it fits in my LowePro Flipside 400 with room for another couple of smaller lenses (like your 17-50mm). :)
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Another vote for the Flipside 400 here, fits the Sigma in plus others, and plenty of room for my Rapid strap and binos, spare batteries etc etc. Really comfy to ware as well.
 
WWA said:
Another vote for the Flipside 400 here, fits the Sigma in plus others, and plenty of room for my Rapid strap and binos, spare batteries etc etc. Really comfy to ware as well.
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Well i tried mine last night in my Flipside 200, it just about fits (with nothing else in) but the lens hood is a fair bit deeper than the bag itself, so it sticks in your back when its on, works great without the lens hood, but thats not much use really

I might have a look at the Flipside 300 as i think the 400 might be a bit big for me, i much prefer a smaller bag that will just take my kit, rather than a larger one and all my kit sloping about inside
 
rpsmith79 said:
Well i tried mine last night in my Flipside 200, it just about fits (with nothing else in) but the lens hood is a fair bit deeper than the bag itself, so it sticks in your back when its on, works great without the lens hood, but thats not much use really

I might have a look at the Flipside 300 as i think the 400 might be a bit big for me, i much prefer a smaller bag that will just take my kit, rather than a larger one and all my kit sloping about inside
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Yer I suppose it all depends on how much gear you want to lug around. I find the spare room in my 400 handy for binoculars and a small rain coat etc. Horses for courses, the 300 would be amble for this lens I would think.
 
Yeah, i generally try to travel as light as possible, another reason for picking the Sigma C as it it one of the lightest of the bunch

I have got a Lowepro Mini Trekker, quite how they call in a Mini is beyond me as it's huge, i pretty much only use that for storing stuff in the house, if i ever did fill it up i'd only be able to walk about a mile with it on :p
 
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My Flipside 400 will take the D750, the Sigma 150-600 (with the hood reversed) and another couple of lenses... I generally use the extra space for sandwiches etc. though. :)
 
Has anybody tried a Nikon 300 f2.8 + 2xtc III and can compare IQ at 600 to the sigma? I'm really torn between the two. I know the Sigma is much lighter and cheaper but if the Nikon has better IQ (I'm on a d7200) I might have to go for that (funds allowing!) I also have a 1.4tc so the 300 would give me 420 @ f4 and 600 at f5.6....not sure if 5.6 to the sigmas 6.3 will make much difference though.

Thanks!
 
htid said:
Has anybody tried a Nikon 300 f2.8 + 2xtc III and can compare IQ at 600 to the sigma? I'm really torn between the two. I know the Sigma is much lighter and cheaper but if the Nikon has better IQ (I'm on a d7200) I might have to go for that (funds allowing!) I also have a 1.4tc so the 300 would give me 420 @ f4 and 600 at f5.6....not sure if 5.6 to the sigmas 6.3 will make much difference though.

Thanks!
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If your buying new and UK stock your looking at approx £4300 for 300mm f2.8 and X2 convertor. Have you considered the 400mm f2.8 and 500mm f4, as they seem like very good alternative lenses for birding.. When l have read these threads (Tamron & Sigma) there are usually comments that these lens are good, but they aern't as good as the long primes from Nikon or Canon, which is to be expected for the price paid.
 
Swanseajack said:
If your buying new and UK stock your looking at approx £4300 for 300mm f2.8 and X2 convertor. Have you considered the 400mm f2.8 and 500mm f4, as they seem like very good alternative lenses for birding.. When l have read these threads (Tamron & Sigma) there are usually comments that these lens are good, but they aern't as good as the long primes from Nikon or Canon, which is to be expected for the price paid.
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I'd be looking at a used 300 VR1 which can be had for around £2100 plus £300 for a tc. That would be my absolute limit so the 400 and 500 are waaay out of my price range (although I'd love to have one!). The other problem is the weight. Those lenses are much more cumbersome, whereas the Sigmas and the 300f2.8 are more hand holdable and portable which is why I was asking for opinions between the two.
 
Has anyone tried using the 150-600 for Astrophotography? I am thinking of chopping my Meade Telescope and Zeiss Spotting scope if I get the lens as I see little point having all of them and then ending up only using the Sigma.
 
Not too shabby at 600mm either, as long as you don't pixel peep


Black Headed Gulls (Winter Plumage) by Richard Smith, on Flickr

Overall i'd say i'm pretty damn pleased with my new purchase, and certainly don't think i could have coped with the Sport version if it is twice the weight of the C

But i'm also glad i've kept hold of my 300m f4 for now as i would have had to let that go had i gone or the Nikon 200-500mm
 
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kingo15 said:
Still toying with this lens or the tamron?
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From all the reviews i have seen they seem to rate this lens above the Tamron, i know a friend of mine had the Tamron (albeit on a Canon, so i could never test it on my Nikon) and found it too soft at the long end and too slow to focus on BiF

Saying that, i only had a quick play at BiF at the weekend and i was struggling, but then i've never used a lens as long as this before, so could well be down to technique, and it wasn't the best day in terms of light either
 
My Tamron 150-600 was sharper than the Sigma 150-600 C i have now,the OS was just as good if not slightly better,thats the two areas i can be certain of,focus speed would be a guess as you would need to test them side by side,the only advantage i have with the Sigma is it doesn't keep freezing up instead of focusing.
I still keep thinking i may change back.
 
That's the only thing I guess some people have had some slightly different versions of both lenses. How many reports do you read haha.
Guess I'll have to just look and decide and take the plunge. I'm sure both would be fine on the d750
 
I have had both the Tamron and the Sigma C - they are both pretty equal in IQ but the Sigma I owned had faster and more consistent af. Also having the benefit of the Sigma dock allows more flexibility on use of the IS systems which is useful and the firmware updates are easy to install this way too. I do believe however, that there are variations from lens to lens. Also, the Sigmas have a zoom lock which helps with creep which can be a problem with the Tamron from my experience.
I now have the sport version of the Sigma which imo is the better of them all if you can handle the extra weight and price difference.
They are all good lenses and represent excellent value given the reach they offer.
I would choose the Sigma but either are very good lenses.
 
Well tamron have made my mind up for me today with there slack warranty. Totally disgusted and now have an expensive 24-70 paper weight.
 
kingo15 said:
Well tamron have made my mind up for me today with there slack warranty. Totally disgusted and now have an expensive 24-70 paper weight.
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Please explain,rather than just knock a company
 
mikew said:
Please explain,rather than just knock a company
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Sorry will do.
Purchased the lens in September 2013, sent it back as it wasn't focusing. They then email to say it wasn't registered for warranty, and it had been dropped and broken and gave a estimate for repair of over £500.
It was registered and it most definitely wasn't dropped, so am seeking further advise at the min as they won't listen to anything I have to say
 
Yer it was a big crop and as I say no PP done as not had a chance yet. Will have a look at it tonight or tomorrow.
 
Have done a quick back ground noise reduction, as I say it was a heavy crop. But to be honest I'm not at all bothered about the noise, I'm just chuffed to get the chance to get a photo of such a wonderful bird
 
Here are a few more recent snaps with the 150-600 c - all at 600mm, hand held and cropped fairly heavily. All taken with the 7D2

stonechat%201P_zpsohvjlwl0.jpg


mead%20pipit%202P_zpsyevuni8o.jpg


weatear%2001P_zpsfbhpr7hv.jpg


stonechat%202P_zpsptxbtd8f.jpg
 
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Roy C said:
Here are a few more recent snaps with the 150-600 c - all at 600mm, hand held and cropped fairly heavily. All taken with the 7D2

stonechat%201P_zpsohvjlwl0.jpg


mead%20pipit%202P_zpsyevuni8o.jpg


weatear%2001P_zpsfbhpr7hv.jpg


stonechat%202P_zpsptxbtd8f.jpg
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Roy, do you mond if i ask what setting you used as the EXIF seems to have been removed on Flickr, i suppose more specifically what aperture and ISO as these are cracking quality at 600mm

And have you had to do any focus adjustments at the long end?
 
My exif viewer in fire fox picks it up F8,iso 400/800
 
rpsmith79 said:
Roy, do you mond if i ask what setting you used as the EXIF seems to have been removed on Flickr, i suppose more specifically what aperture and ISO as these are cracking quality at 600mm

And have you had to do any focus adjustments at the long end?
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Richard, all at f8, from top to bottom ISO 800,400,400,800. No I have not done any micro focus adjustments. I always shoot in AI servo mode (with back button focusing) and have changed the focus priority to 'Focus' via the dock. I also use dynamic OS.
 
Roy C said:
Richard, all at f8, from top to bottom ISO 800,400,400,800. No I have not done any micro focus adjustments. I always shoot in AI servo mode (with back button focusing) and have changed the focus priority to 'Focus' via the dock. I also use dynamic OS.
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Cheers Roy
 
BTW has anyone on here bought a lens cover set for this lens?. I am trying to decide between 'wildlife watching supplies' or 'outdoors photography gear'. I see both now do a zoom sleeve sock for the zoom portion so you can still use the zoom with the protective kit on.
 
Roy, I have had the Outdoor Photography Gear cover set on both my Sigma 150-500mm and my present 150-600mm C.
No problems with either, and the zoom sleeve is a nice touch.
 
dougan said:
Roy, I have had the Outdoor Photography Gear cover set on both my Sigma 150-500mm and my present 150-600mm C.
No problems with either, and the zoom sleeve is a nice touch.
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Thanks for that Dougie. Is there a see through window for the lens switches? also has the piece that goes on the zoom portion when fully extended got velcro so you can just take that piece off when storing the lens? (not thinking about the zoom sleeve).
 
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Roy I can help you here - the outdoorphotography supplies version has a see through window (in fact they both do).
Where I believe the sock wins over the velcro wrap around version is that it moves with the zoom so you're not restricted to full zoom or no cover (which you are with the velcro wrap) and imo it's a bid advantage. It's elasticated and stretches well beyong the zoom range so it doesn't drift and it also shrinks easily when the zoom is retracted.
I hope this all makes sense and helps you.
 
wardy07 said:
Roy I can help you here - the outdoorphotography supplies version has a see through window (in fact they both do).
Where I believe the sock wins over the velcro wrap around version is that it moves with the zoom so you're not restricted to full zoom or no cover (which you are with the velcro wrap) and imo it's a bid advantage. It's elasticated and stretches well beyong the zoom range so it doesn't drift and it also shrinks easily when the zoom is retracted.
I hope this all makes sense and helps you.
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Cheers Chris for explaining this, you beat me to it!
 
No problem, I hope I didn't tread on your toes. Was just trying to help when I saw your post.
Incidentally, if you do choose the outdoor gear version, the zoom sock doesn't come with lens cover, it is a separate item.
 
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