Sigma Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM - Description:
This ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows photographers to bring the subject close and short perspective. Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. It is ideal for sports, wildlife and landscape photography with handheld shooting. Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The addition of the (optional) 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 210-700mm F7-9 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens or a 300-1000mm F10-13 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively. A removable tripod socket (TS-31) is included as a standard component.
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Author
advaitin New Member
Registered: June 2008 Posts: 5
Review Date: Fri 20, June, 2008
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
Strengths:
Good reach, quiet focus, manual override, works well with extenders
Weaknesses:
Can focus hunt, OS makes some noise, Canon 40D has reported problems with lens
After one week with the Sigma 150-500mm OS, even with the smaller aperture range of f5 to 6.3, this lens exceeds my expectations. In fact, it gave me such good results that I put my 100-400mm IS L Canon up for sale.
While it is a heavier lens, without monopod or tripod, one can handhold it successfully for very nice flower and wildlife shots, although two bird examples with extenders and monopod are posted in my images.
Adding an extender or teleconverter, requires a bit more support. Don't look to using either of the Canon extenders, they will not fit the Sigma. Older converters, such as Tamron and Kenko, easily fit. The Sigma pro converters will also fit, but I don't have examples of those. With monopod I had good shots from backyard squirrels, doves and cardinals with surprisingly sharp results using the Tamron converters. The autofocussing continued to work, although I had to manually finetune the focus from time to time, but the red window in my Canon 1DM3 lit up when focus was achieved. OS worked as well, but it did seem to be as noisy as non HSM lenses were in focussing--a gear-grinding noise that disturbed me, if not the creatures I shot.
In low-light conditions, while I was testing the lens resolution with a Canon 40D, the OS motor would come on and not shut down when using teleconverters. This did not occur when shooting outdoors, so light levels may be a consideration somehow in operation of the optical stabilizer. On the other hand, with the 40D, while using the 2X extender outdoors, the autofocus just would not settle down, so I had to switch to manual focus. Even so, test shots and quick shots to doublecheck my finding produced images that satisfied me as to the value of this lens. Other extenders, especially those by Sigma, may work differently with thois lens, so do not make any decision based on my unscientific ramblings.
I'll add a flower shot done with the combination above to my images. Keep in mind it was shot at 3200 ISO, handheld--with OS on and manual focus using the 2X extender equaling 1600mm at f18.
Best do similar testing for yourself and I look forward to seeing the results.
eastkent64 New Member
Registered: July 2008 Posts: 1
Review Date: Sun 20, July, 2008
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: £599.00| Rating: 10
Strengths:
Image quality/price, build quality and OS
Weaknesses:
Can't think of anything
I recently sold a Tamron 200-500mm lens and bought the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS lens for wildlife photography. Probably like many Canon users I was torn between buying the Canon 400mm f/5.6 or the Canon 100-400mm. If money was no object I would have chosen the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM. Back in the real world, I opted for the Sigma 150-500mm because of the extra reach and the OS system, at an affordable price!
First impressions are very positive, the lens seems to be EX standard in terms of build quality (even though it doesn't have the EX designation). The lens is definitely light enough to be hand holdable, and the OS system seems quick, effective and quiet (despite some reports that it is noisy). One thing that is immediately apparent compared to my Tamron 200-500mm, is the bokeh is much more pleasing.
The lens is light enough to carry around all day, all my shots so far have been taken handheld. I definitely get a lot more 'keepers' compared to the Tamron 200-500mm and when using it yesterday in fading light I was able to get some shots hand-held which wouldn't have possible with the Tamron 200-500mm.
I've only had this lens for a few days, but overall I'm very happy with it. In terms of image quality/price this lens is a bit of a bargain.
