Help me offload some wonga - 'bigma' or 150-500?

[StuMack]

Hello all,

Well I've Finally got frustrated with my 70-300 kit lens and am looking at the sigma 50-500 or the newly released APO 150-500.

I was set on the latter but from reading many of the threads here it seems that many prefer the bigma, however that doesn't have OS which is a big attraction for me and my 450d doesn't have OS in the body. I also primarily shoot hand held rather than on a pod.

im still pretty new to wildlife Photography so any advice (sorry if its repeated) would be most welcome. Also some of said that the bigma can be bought online for around 700 but im seeing nothing at that price as they're all coming in at over a grand!

thanks, Stuart

[Geoff F]

If you search around the photo forum section you will find many posts where this has been discussed in great detail. But basically there isn't a correct answer to your question.

When using a large zoom, would you want to sometimes use a size below 150 mm, and are you willing to carry around an extra small lens for those landscapes or snaps of friends, etc.

They are both good cameras and there is now a 'Bigma' with image stabilisation, although at an extra cost. Each lens has it's fair share of devotees.

When using a large lens you will probably be using a tripod for most of the time so the OS issue isn't so important.

I purchased the 150-500 and I am happy with it. Some early models had production quality problems but that appears to have been overcome now. Occasionally I do want to take a quick shot in situations where a tripod isn't suitable and then I am glad of the OS facility; but I mostly use it on a tripod.

My general purpose wildlife kit consists of; Canon 40D and 150-500 plus either a 180 macro lens or a 24-105 general lens. Although if I specifically want to take landscapes and macro work I sometimes leave the 150-500 behind.

Weight will always be part of the decision process, especially when you include a sturdy and rather heavy tripod.