Sigma 170-500mm f5-6.3 APO EX DG HSM Lens

[RobinP]

Hi

Do you think this lens is worth the £560 price tag? It seems like a good alternative to the 'bigma' if you don't need the lower focus range though the widest aperture is only f5 against f4.

[glsammy]

The biggest difference between the two is the Hyper Sonic Motor the Bigma has. It focuses much faster than the 170-500mm.
The Bigma is not F4 by the time you get to 170mm. Much the same. If you look around you should be able to get the Bigma for that kind of money.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by glsammy

The biggest difference between the two is the Hyper Sonic Motor the Bigma has. It focuses much faster than the 170-500mm.
The Bigma is not F4 by the time you get to 170mm. Much the same. If you look around you should be able to get the Bigma for that kind of money.

so of these x-500mm sigma lenses what which is the 'best' if its possible to say?

[RobinP]

Cheapest Bigma I can find is £669.

Sigma also offer a 150-500 HSM with OS (optical stabilizer) for £700+ I must admit I do like to have that on a lens.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

so of these x-500mm sigma lenses what which is the 'best' if its possible to say?

The Bigma is generally regarded as "Better" than the 170-500mm, I've no idea how the two compare optically, but the Bigma is branded their top range EX series, with the HSM. I've shot with another member here who was using the 170-500mm, which he affectionately calls the "Coffee Grinder" (The sound it makes when auto focusing!) I'm sure he would agree that the Bigma can rattle off far more shots in focus than the 170-500mm, so you stand more chance of getting the shot you want. To me focusing speed and accuracy is vitally important in a lens, it's one of the reason I rejected the Sigma 120-300mm, at least with the sample I had which couldn't hold a candle to the Bigma.
Don't get me wrong the 170-500mm is capable of producing fine shots, no doubt about it.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by RobinP

Cheapest Bigma I can find is £669.

Sigma also offer a 150-500 HSM with OS (optical stabilizer) for £700+ I must admit I do like to have that on a lens.

Have a look at this thread, it may help you.

Sigma 150-500mm

[big bill]

Hello Robin I use the 170-500mm lens and I have had no problems with it except at the beginning in getting used to it I found after advice from other members like Graham was not to go below f8 and not to zoom completely out to the 500mm end and I have had no complaints at all ,only complaint now is I want extra distance so now looking for a teleconverter to go with it any ideas Graham?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I've shot with another member here who was using the 170-500mm, which he affectionately calls the "Coffee Grinder" (The sound it makes when auto focusing!) I'm sure he would agree that the Bigma can rattle off far more shots in focus than the 170-500mm, so you stand more chance of getting the shot you want. Don't get me wrong the 170-500mm is capable of producing fine shots, no doubt about it.

that'll be me - it can get good shots no doubt about it but the bigma is definitely better - no idea what the 150-500 OS is like which is a compromise between the two.

btw 560 is very expensive for a little bigma - mine was £430 three yeasrs ago and that was in jessops - you can find them sub 400 notes if you shop arround.

[tony a]

Robin, If your still thinking of buying a 170-500 they are coming up a lot on ebay, I sold one a couple of days ago for £290.

It's a very good lens for that kind of money, but I think £500+ is a bit steep.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by glsammy

The Bigma is generally regarded as "Better" than the 170-500mm, I've no idea how the two compare optically, but the Bigma is branded their top range EX series, with the HSM. I've shot with another member here who was using the 170-500mm, which he affectionately calls the "Coffee Grinder" (The sound it makes when auto focusing!) I'm sure he would agree that the Bigma can rattle off far more shots in focus than the 170-500mm, so you stand more chance of getting the shot you want. To me focusing speed and accuracy is vitally important in a lens, it's one of the reason I rejected the Sigma 120-300mm, at least with the sample I had which couldn't hold a candle to the Bigma.
Don't get me wrong the 170-500mm is capable of producing fine shots, no doubt about it.

Thanks - I a little while of being able to afford it, but by the time I can Im sure there will be a new model to confuse things further!

[Wirralpix]

I've got the older version of the Sigma 170-500mm which I'm selling on e-bay in a few weeks. It's capable of taking good images although focusing can be slow. On saying that I've caught birds in flight pretty well.

[eeyore]

just to emphasise that it can do the biz these were both taken with the little bigma