Sigma 170-500mm AF APO Zoom Lens

[9dna]

Thinking of getting a secondhand Sigma 170-500mm AF APO Zoom Lens for my D7000, I mainly shoot landscapes and wildlife. The reach of the 500mm and price these are going for appeals to me, any good/bad points about the lens?

 

[mikew]

Have you looked at sample images here.

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/adv/?le...&iso_max=none&exp_min=none&exp_max=none&res=3

Not the best way to decide but with out input from owners its the only way

 

[Nod]

Good points - Cheap.

Less good points - Slow (small maximum aperture), soft, slow (to attain focus), heavy (but not too bad for its class).

The later OS lenses (150-500 and 50-500) and the contemporary 50-500 are all better but are also more expensive. Personally, I would give the 170-500 a miss and save for the 150-500 (or 50-500) OS version. (Having said that, I ended up selling my 150-500 since I rarely used it, even though it was far better than the 170-500.)

 

[9dna]

Thanks for your input, guess i'll wait a bit longer and go for the 150-500mm.

 

[HILLCLIMBER]

I used to have a 170-500 (my first wildlife lens) it was ok as a starting point but as others have said not the sharpest and none too fast, one lens I can highly recommend is the Tamron 200-500, superb picture quality very sharp and quite light, easily hand holdable, my wife uses one to great effect and she is certainly not a large person! I only mention the Tamron as I have no experience of the later Sigma`s although they do have good write ups, hope I am not confusing the issue!
Good luck.

 

[magicaxeman]

Another to say "dont bother with it", slow, heavy, suffers from lens creep & soft as well

 

[Just Dave]

both hand held almost pitch black when I took this shot 150-500mm in India


Spotted Owlet Baga Goa India by Just Daves Photos, on Flickr

better/brighter light in Kenya


Long-Crested Eagle East Tvaso National Park Kenya by Just Daves Photos, on Flickr