Best lens - Sigma 150-500mm OS or 50-500MM

[DAZZER]

Hi All

New here, have been looking at some of the post.

Quick poll.
Which lens is the best then?
A Sigma 150-500mm OS or the Sigma 50-500mm.

I am looking to buy a long lens and will hopefully be doing a fair bit of bird watching but also love motor sports (mainly bikes). With this in mind would it be better to go for the 150-500mm because of the OS (using it handheld and monopod).
Also has any one use them with the teleconverters (i.e. the 2x) because I have one and it would give a terrific reach to the lens?

Thanks

Dazzer

[Geoff F]

They are both good value for money. The 150-500 is a relatively new lens while the 50-500 has been a firm favourite with wildlife photographers for some time, just look at the excellent photos in the Gallery which have been taken with it.

Difficult to advise you so I will only say that if you are intending to take handheld action shots with reduced light, then the 150-500 has excellent stabilisation. I am amazed that I can get decent shots at 500mm as low as 1/100. But if you are using a tripod or only in good light then there is little between them, although the 50-500 is a well proven lens and it gives you a lot more flexibility over a larger range.

Either way, shop around for the best value because both lenses are rapidly increasing in cost.

[ron1863]

I have neither but I would opt for the Bigma for the extra range and judging by some of the images in the Gallery, there's not a lot wrong with the optics.

[NicolaB]

I've got a Bigma and I love it, and I know there are a lot of other fans on here as well. I like having the extra reach just in case that bird I'm photographing decides to come a bit closer.

[wrogers]

I picked either...

If you have a sturdy tripod and use the camera in reasonable light conditions I think the 50-500 is better, marginally from what I have seen.
If you have less cash to splash or you want to do BIF (brid in flight) photography, or maybe you want to do sport I would go 150-500 OS

I personally have the 150-500 and love it, it works well and seems every bit EX quality as the 50-500.

It is down to either what I listed above or personal preference when handling.

Will

[DAZZER]

thanks all

I have gone for the 150-500 OS because of the better handheld use for motorsports and I have a Sigma 70-200 2.8 that I will use for the closer work.
Ok not so good as I might miss somethings if I have to swap lens but I will have to live with that for now...

Dazzer

[Dreamer]

good, its the better lens from what i've read.