Sigma 50-500mm APO Lens (should I?) (1 Viewer)

I have mentioned a few lenses on this forum recently and wondered what this lens perfoms like for birding, how sharp is it and can it be handheld are all questions buzzing away inside. I have read a few reviews but you can't beat the opinions of those who have got one. I am currently saving for a lens and this one may be an option, depending on how good it is rated by the users. Has anyone got one going just in case they are a cracking lens.

Thanks in advance

Marc

It`s a good lens by all accounts a bit heavy to handhold,a lot of people go for the Tamron 200-500mm because it`s lighter & sharper wide open.

Steve.

The jury is still out on the new Sigma 150-500 OS. I would wait awhile to see how good this one turns out as the OS system is bound to help hand holding.

Bigma handheld at 500:

http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/168687344_9jU4h-O.jpg

Quite a few handheld in this gallery (indicated as such in the caption):
http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/gallery/3079082_R3y8L

In my experience the Tamron 200-500 is not as good as the Sigma 50-500.

Marc--
The Bigma's rep as a quality long reach lens is well documented. With good technique, one can get a good number of keepers while hand holding. For the street price, its one of the better long lens alternatives.

The consensus alternatives for less than $1K include the 300 f/4 + TC and the Tamron 200-500 Di which both have their proponents.

It remains to be seen if the new Sigma 150-500 OS/HSM objective reviews find it living up to its promising MTF numbers. You may want to read the linked reviews of alternative long lenses at --
http://www.dslrgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2726#post2726