Sigma 500mm f4.5

[woollyback]

Hello folks,

I have been looking for a longer prime lens to concentrate on birding and wildlife (mainly) and was looking at the 300mm f2.8 (Sigma).

However, I have come across the above lens, any views as to wether it is any good or not?.
Does the DG version give anything extra?.

I will be using on canon 20D/400D

Many thanks for any info

Cheers

Rob

[Pluvius]

I use it and would highly recommend it.

[stevo]

Check out Andy Bright`s review on www.digiscoped.com (http://www.digiscoped.com) (Nikon fit)

Steve.

[Keith Reeder]

Do a gallery search for pictures by "Paul Goode", "A.Dancy" and "PostcardCV" - they all use the Sigma on Canon bodies, and the quality of their pictures is all the confirmation you need that this is a gem of a lens in the right hands.

[postcardcv]

I use this lens on a 400D and am very happy with it - the AF is very fast and the images are good and sharp even when shooting wide open. It is a big chunk of glass and weighs in at ~3.2kg so you need to be prepared to lug it about, you'll also need a decent tripod to put underneath it. I use mine with a Kenko 1.4x tc quite a bit (I've taped the pins so it still AFs), the AF is still good and fast and the IQ is almost as good as the 'naked' lens. I use the non-DG version of this lens, as far as I know there is no real advantage to the DG... Personally I think this is the best third party prime lens for bird photography. I'd only part with mine if I could suddenly afford one of the big Canons.

[RogW]

I also have the sigma 500, and also only have good things to say about its performance, both with and without t/c's it is outstanding.

Only negative points in my opinion are that the lens hood is a little on the short side, and the 'furry' finish of the lens.

That said it is amazingly good value compared to the (lack of) alternatives at that price point.

Rog

[Rob Chace]

Absolute bargain of a lens! I use one with a Nikon D2x often with a Nikon TC-14e attached. Best value long lens out there. Very fast, quiet af (even with 1.4x tc on). As already mentioned, decent support needed as it is a big lump. Available s/h for around the £1000 mark (if you are lucky). Great value for money when compared to a Nikon or Canon f4 at the cost of an extra 1/3 stop of aperture. Mine is an EX non dg version & i dont think it makes a bit of difference (except in price!). Make sure if buying S/h that it is a apo lens, as there are several versions of this lens, the oldest being a non apo.
Regards Rob.

[Chris Galvin]

I have used this lens for over three years and have been very impressed with it. I have used 10D, 20D and 1D MKII N. most of the pictures on my website were taken with this lens. I agree that this is probably the best value 500mm prime lens on the market. Should anyone be interested then I will be putting my lens up for sale in the next few weeks

[Rob Chace]

One offered for sale here:
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=15052&b=vf16&st=0&la=3555&ph=11&sid=25547&u=25547
Scoll down to find post.
Regards Rob

[paul goode]

. Make sure if buying S/h that it is a apo lens, as there are several versions of this lens, the oldest being a non apo.
Regards Rob.

I got the impression that it was important to make sure it's an EX lens, earlier APO non EX's can, apparently, have problems with the most recent bodies. Certainly my EX non DG works fine on the 20d and 400d.

From the picture on his pbase site Brian's looks like an EX so it could be well worth going for.

Paul

[Adey Baker]

I got the impression that it was important to make sure it's an EX lens, earlier APO non EX's can, apparently, have problems with the most recent bodies. Certainly my EX non DG works fine on the 20d and 400d.

From the picture on his pbase site Brian's looks like an EX so it could be well worth going for.

Paul


I think you're right - I don't believe the older Apo models are re-chippable for modern bodies

[woollyback]

Thanks for the replies folks, time to spend some cash methinks.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Cheers

Rob

[speckled wood]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW

[silkybepswant]

[/QUOTE]Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW[QUOTE]


As its an F2.8 I would have thought that rather obvious

[woollyback]

SW,
I hope so (not that I've shot with Bigma) - plus prime is f4.5 and zoom is f6.3 @ 500mm (I think).

Primes I think are generally regarded as sharper than a zoom at comparable focal lengths, but then there is always copy variations and user to consider.
Cheers

Rob

[postcardcv]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW

There is indeed - but it's not just a quality issue, the f4.5 allows you to get shots in some situations where the f6.3 of the zoom would struggle. The Sigma 500 prime is very sharp even when shooting wide open, the zoom needs to be stopped down a bit to get the best out of it.

[Andy Bright]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SWAnother important factor is that long fast primes do great things to separate the subject from the background, giving a far more aesthetically pleasing effect (for the most part).

cheers,
Andy

[paul goode]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW


As its an F2.8 I would have thought that rather obvious

A 500 f2.8? Wouldn't mind seeing the size of that!

As has been stated the Sigma 500mm is f4.5

As a 500mm prime owner and former owner of the 50-500 yes there is an improvement in Image Quality, AF speed and, possibly, most significantly the results with a 1.4x tc.

The 50-500 can produce cracking images but I found it a non-starter with a tc. The prime can produce great images with and without a tc.

Paul

[silkybepswant]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW

A 500 f2.8? Wouldn't mind seeing the size of that!

As has been stated the Sigma 500mm is f4.5

As a 500mm prime owner and former owner of the 50-500 yes there is an improvement in Image Quality, AF speed and, possibly, most significantly the results with a 1.4x tc.

The 50-500 can produce cracking images but I found it a non-starter with a tc. The prime can produce great images with and without a tc.

Paul

My mistake, sorry I was somewhere else. I was thinking of the 300 as that was the lens stated at the beginning of the thread

[silkybepswant]

Am I right in thinking that as a prime lense the Sigma 500 would potentially offer a quality advantage over images from the 50 to 500 Sigma zoom lens?

SW

A 500 f2.8? Wouldn't mind seeing the size of that!

As has been stated the Sigma 500mm is f4.5

As a 500mm prime owner and former owner of the 50-500 yes there is an improvement in Image Quality, AF speed and, possibly, most significantly the results with a 1.4x tc.

The 50-500 can produce cracking images but I found it a non-starter with a tc. The prime can produce great images with and without a tc.

Paul

Your gallery is super Paul, and a fantastic advertisement for the 50-500. I am very tempted to start saving for one. I see you live in Sutton Coldfield. I remember Sutton Coldfield but where do you go for such shots? Not too much opportunity in Birmingham surely?

[paul goode]

Your gallery is super Paul, and a fantastic advertisement for the 50-500. I am very tempted to start saving for one. I see you live in Sutton Coldfield. I remember Sutton Coldfield but where do you go for such shots? Not too much opportunity in Birmingham surely?

Thanks very much for the comment on the gallery.
Being stuck this far inland isn't wonderful, mind you neither was Norfolk this weekend :-C
But the Tame Valley as it passes Birmingham is basically a string of nature reserves so there are plenty of photographic locations within a few miles of my house

Paul

[woollyback]

Folks,

Managed to find and secure one of these beasts (thanks Rob Chace) which I will pick up next week.

Now - Tripod or monopod ?, what type of head?

Again any views will be most welcome.

Cheers

Rob

PS - I am very excited at this time

[postcardcv]

Managed to find and secure one of these beasts (thanks Rob Chace) which I will pick up next week.

Now - Tripod or monopod ?, what type of head?

It really is quite a beast so I'd recommend getting decent support. Most of the time I use a tripod with mine (occasionally a monopod or a beanbag), I use a Manfrotto 055 legs with a 501 head. I have tried a few heads with this lens, the smaller video heads (128, 701) can hold the weight but are not really up to the job. I have also tested the 393 (gimbal type head), it is very nice to use, but didn't hold it as solid as the 501. I get a higher percentage of sharp shots using a 501 than any of the other Manfrotto heads I've tested.

[woollyback]

Postcardcv,

Brilliant - thanks for that just what I was after.

What sort of percentage of sharp / keeper shots should I expect / aim for from this set up ? (my inexperience not withstanding!!).

Rob

[postcardcv]

What sort of percentage of sharp / keeper shots should I expect / aim for from this set up ? (my inexperience not withstanding!!).

That's a near impossible question to answer... generally I'm aiming to get about 25% keepers, though this can be much lower when the conditions are poor.

Don't expect to much to start with, it is a big long lens and does take some practice to get the most out of it. I feel I'm consistently better results with it now than I was 18 months ago, and I hope to keep improving as I learn more about photography and using a long lens.

[woollyback]

Right folks,

Picked this up today - thanks again for all the advice, and to Brian for tolerating our lateness.

First impressions - it's a big beast, but feels like a featherweight compared to Brian's Canon 600mm. Too dark to give it a proper test drive tonight but my daughter zapped off a couple of shots...of pegs on the washing line??.

Hopefully I will get out and about with it next few days when I'm off work.

Thanks again for all the support - look forward to posting some pics, if I can prise it off my daughter!!!.

Cheers

Rob

[Rob Chace]

Folks,

Managed to find and secure one of these beasts (thanks Rob Chace) which I will pick up next week.

Now - Tripod or monopod ?, what type of head?

Again any views will be most welcome.

Cheers

Rob

PS - I am very excited at this time
Hi there again Rob,
Glad you got sorted. What i would say is don't skimp on a tripod. Get the best legs & head combo you can afford. Look at the maximum loads of both. Ideally you should be looking at 1 1/2-2x the weight of your lens/camera combo to get the best chance of a sharp shot. To many people buy a decent prime lens & then negate any benefits by using a sub-standard support.
Geottos do some fairly substantial legs at a decent price, or if you want the ultimate & dont mind the price, go for a big Gitzo.
Regards Rob.

[postcardcv]

Right folks,

Picked this up today - thanks again for all the advice, and to Brian for tolerating our lateness.

First impressions - it's a big beast, but feels like a featherweight compared to Brian's Canon 600mm. Too dark to give it a proper test drive tonight but my daughter zapped off a couple of shots...of pegs on the washing line??.

Hopefully I will get out and about with it next few days when I'm off work.

Thanks again for all the support - look forward to posting some pics, if I can prise it off my daughter!!!.

Cheers

Rob

I'm glad to hear that you've got your 'new toy', I know from experience how much you'll enjoy using it. Once you've got out birding with it you'll have to post some pics in the gallery (though perhaps not photos of clothes pegs)!

[Andy Bright]

Right folks,

Picked this up today - thanks again for all the advice, and to Brian for tolerating our lateness.

First impressions - it's a big beast, but feels like a featherweight compared to Brian's Canon 600mm. Too dark to give it a proper test drive tonight but my daughter zapped off a couple of shots...of pegs on the washing line??.

Well done Rob, good decision and glad you found one. Post a couple of those photos of your daughter holding it, and put all those wimps to shame ;)

cheers,
Andy

[woollyback]

OK, quick pic of new toy on the "portable Bipod". Seriously though I need to invest in a tripod or my assisstant says she will quit!!.

I will post some pics taken with it - if it ever stops raining.

Cheers

Rob

[postcardcv]

OK, quick pic of new toy on the "portable Bipod". Seriously though I need to invest in a tripod or my assisstant says she will quit!!.

a good tripod is a real plus with this lens, I've managed very few good handheld shots...

[matt green]

Could I ask what the magnification of this lense is in optical terms??

Not having used any of things before I haven't a clue,just wanna get an idea of it's ''reach'' compared to spotting scopes.

Matt

[postcardcv]

Could I ask what the magnification of this lense is in optical terms??

Not having used any of things before I haven't a clue,just wanna get an idea of it's ''reach'' compared to spotting scopes.

Matt

Hi Matt

a 500mm lens works out at ~10x magnification. A spotting scope will allow much higher magnifications, which is one of the reasons why digiscoping is so popular.

[matt green]

Hi Matt

a 500mm lens works out at ~10x magnification. A spotting scope will allow much higher magnifications, which is one of the reasons why digiscoping is so popular.

Cheers

Think I'd stick to digiscoping LOL

Matt