New Sigma 150/600 (1 Viewer)

[Roy C]

For me the weight of the 'sport' more or less rules it out but I am sure it is a fine lens for the money.
What I do find interesting is the Sigma MTF charts for both the 'Sport' and 'Contemporary' models. If using on a crop sensor camera there is not a lot in it from what I can see. For full frame users when using more or less the whole frame the Sport is certainly best as there is a fair drop off in the corners of the Contemporary model (this is the same on the Tammy) . Sigma themselves claim there is little difference in resolution between the two models. With the weight and price difference I suspect the Sport is better built and apparently it offers weathersealing and a closer MFD. The 'Contemporary' will be more or less the same weight and price as the Tammy 150-600 and is due out in March although it is anybodies guess as to when it will be widely available (the sport model is almost as rare as rocking horse sh#t and that's been out since October I believe).

 

[the black fox]

apparently its lighter than the tammy roy .i do think i might have to m/a the sport slightly on the 1D3 the 70d seems to check out spot on ,but as we all know its what happens in the field thats critical .just wish the weather would improve enough to do it all

 

[Paul - Herts]

I've had a good look at the MTF charts and my conclusion is that they look very pretty :king:

I can never understand those things so will have to wait for images from the contemporary to arrive but those are interesting comments from Roy about the differences: I would be shooting on a crop sensor. The lack of weather sealing not an issue as I would get a rain cover anyway (and I don't really do rainy days except in a hide). Reduced weight is a plus as is price. MFD isn't an issue for me. So it would come down to whether it delivers better resolution than the Tamron.

Would be interested on the actual focal length when set to 600mm - I'm sure I read somewhere that the sport model comes in at below 500 but can't find the reference now.

I hope the contemporary delivers - it would make a nice holiday lens!

 

[Roy C]

apparently its lighter than the tammy roy .i do think i might have to m/a the sport slightly on the 1D3 the 70d seems to check out spot on ,but as we all know its what happens in the field thats critical .just wish the weather would improve enough to do it all

Yep it is marginally lighter Jeff (1931 g v 1951 g) the US price is identical to the Tammy at $1089 (so I guess around £949 as a starter in the UK as per the Tammy - I know this does not reflect the $ - £ exchange rate but that's the way the cookie crumbles outside of Asia and the US ).

Re the MA Jeff - I have 4 lenses at the moment and after spending countless hours testing the AFMA on the 5D3 they are all set at 0 :eek!:. Not that I am doubting that there are lenses/Camera combos that do require MA and it is always worth checking anyway but I have never needed it - maybe I am just lucky.

 

[Roy C]

I've had a good look at the MTF charts and my conclusion is that they look very pretty :king:

I can never understand those things so will have to wait for images from the contemporary to arrive but those are interesting comments from Roy about the differences: I would be shooting on a crop sensor. The lack of weather sealing not an issue as I would get a rain cover anyway (and I don't really do rainy days except in a hide). Reduced weight is a plus as is price. MFD isn't an issue for me. So it would come down to whether it delivers better resolution than the Tamron.

Would be interested on the actual focal length when set to 600mm - I'm sure I read somewhere that the sport model comes in at below 500 but can't find the reference now.

I hope the contemporary delivers - it would make a nice holiday lens!

The MFD is 2.8 mtrs compared to 2.6 mtrs of the sport Paul so no big deal.
Re the actual focal length, in common with all tele zooms (inc Canon) they are measured at infinity (and even then they have an allowable tolerance) - the nearer you are focusing the less they will be at the long end so a 600mm zoom could be around say 580-600mm at infinity but maybe down to 500- 550mm at the MFD. This is called 'focus breathing' something to do with Focal length variation with focus distance from what I read :eek!:

 

[the black fox]

some more shots from the beast .still pondering the M/A question though a few test shots in limited light today seemed to confirm a -5 or -6 to be optimal at 600mm .to be honest there are lots of variables in it and it may yet turn to be a neutral 0 setting .further field testing required on that front .
anyway a couple more shots for perusal

 

[Mickr]

some more shots from the beast .still pondering the M/A question though a few test shots in limited light today seemed to confirm a -5 or -6 to be optimal at 600mm .to be honest there are lots of variables in it and it may yet turn to be a neutral 0 setting .further field testing required on that front .
anyway a couple more shots for perusal

I've been floating between the 120-300 S plus TC and the 150-600 S and I've ordered the 150-600 after seeing what some people are getting out of the lens. I hope I've made the right decision because the f2.8 would have come in handy at times.

Do you ever go home because it has become too dark for the lens to focus and if so, what time? I know the lens will become useless at sometime during the day/evening and I wonder if you've had to pack up because of this or if you go home earlier by choice anyway.

 

[the black fox]

I've been floating between the 120-300 S plus TC and the 150-600 S and I've ordered the 150-600 after seeing what some people are getting out of the lens. I hope I've made the right decision because the f2.8 would have come in handy at times.

Do you ever go home because it has become too dark for the lens to focus and if so, what time? I know the lens will become useless at sometime during the day/evening and I wonder if you've had to pack up because of this or if you go home earlier by choice anyway.

not yet come across the problem ,i suppose it depends how far you can push your camera iso wise really ,being retired i don't have to work to time restraints .this length of lens will obviously need good light to function properly ,but to get 600 mm out of the 120-300 you need a 2x tc that will not only cut down your available light but also your sharpness .mine works fine a/f wise with a canon 1.4 tc but the i.q does suffer and would probably do with a m/a as well .
its all a compromise the best way is to spend 5k plus on a 500 f4 and 1DX but thats not always possible

 

[the black fox]

some more shots of last weeks marsh harrier .the cross spread one is a re-worked image .considering these were taken the third time i had used the lens and were hand held ,i'm quite chuffed with the results

 

[Paul - Herts]

I'd be chuffed with them too Jeff

 

[Mickr]

not yet come across the problem ,i suppose it depends how far you can push your camera iso wise really ,being retired i don't have to work to time restraints .this length of lens will obviously need good light to function properly ,but to get 600 mm out of the 120-300 you need a 2x tc that will not only cut down your available light but also your sharpness .mine works fine a/f wise with a canon 1.4 tc but the i.q does suffer and would probably do with a m/a as well .
its all a compromise the best way is to spend 5k plus on a 500 f4 and 1DX but thats not always possible

Thanks for the reply, when I said the f2.8 would come on handy, I meant without the T/C and up to 300mm. What's the latest time that you've used the lens? You're in Wales and I'm in NE England so your daylight hours are within minutes of mine.

 

[the black fox]

Thanks for the reply, when I said the f2.8 would come on handy, I meant without the T/C and up to 300mm. What's the latest time that you've used the lens? You're in Wales and I'm in NE England so your daylight hours are within minutes of mine.

The latest time was last week in Cambridge just before sunset when I got some deer shots ,also shooting into the setting sun with no problems .never really thought about timing myself though ,I'll see if I can dig anything out of exif data .for the record though ,the first day I had the lens I took a hand held shot across my office of some books with just normal room lighting on ,the shot was pin sharp at 1/10 sec shutter speed ,just messing in reality but I was stunned by the result.
Just had a look if you go on my flickrstream there's a cotton tail shot ,roe deer taken at 3.57 pm on the 15/02/15

 

[stevo]

some more shots of last weeks marsh harrier .the cross spread one is a re-worked image .considering these were taken the third time i had used the lens and were hand held ,i'm quite chuffed with the results

These are really cracking images,number 3 is my favourite.

Cheets.

Steve.:t:B

 

[the black fox]

after a few days of driving myself half insane ,worrying about the M/A on the lens and doing various tests in house and in the field i have finally come to the conclusion that roy c was right in his assumption .0 is best so thats where is set .any variations i have been encountering i think are down to user error .its not a pick up and use lens like the 400 5.6 you have to think about what your doing more and also keep a careful eye on shutter speeds and focus points etc .and like any f6.3 lens it does really need the light to get its best performance ,carefull watch on that and histogram is definitely paying dividends. a nice redwing to prove my point anyway .

 

[Paul - Herts]

I like the scruffy great tit too!

 

[the black fox]

couple or few more

 

[Mickr]

couple or few more

You've really got the hang of that lens, which camera are you using?



Edit.

No need to answer, I've checked and you're using the 70D. Do you shoot everything in jpg?

 

[the black fox]

You've really got the hang of that lens, which camera are you using?



Edit.

No need to answer, I've checked and you're using the 70D. Do you shoot everything in jpg?

nope everything is shot in RAW ,i use a 70d and a 1D mk3 ,they both excel in different ways .its only converted to j.peg for uploading .couple more below from yesterday

 

[djohnston]

Hello Mr. Fox.
Your Goldeneye is very sharp and has a good depth of field. What aperture did you use?
I took some goldeneyes the other day at f6.3 and the d.o.f. is still paper thin.
D

 

[the black fox]

Hello Mr. Fox.
Your Goldeneye is very sharp and has a good depth of field. What aperture did you use?
I took some goldeneyes the other day at f6.3 and the d.o.f. is still paper thin.
D

that was at f7.1 .the d.o.f question had me initially fooled to ,as the lens is pin sharp at f6.3 we tend to use it when in reality it gives to shallow a d.o.f so f7.1 or f8 is better ,light allowing .you really have to think a lot more with this lens but thats not a bad thing sometimes :t: