Sigma 150-500mm

[Babu]

Hi Roy,
I chose the 7D as my crop factor camera as it has the Digic IV processor (not the dual Digic III in the 1D III). The 7D has 18MP and 8fps compared to 10MP and 10fps. Then there are other improvements (LCD screen, Live View, built-in controller for off-camera flashes, full HD movies, HDMI interface...)

The Nikon D700 is Full Frame and costs more than a 5D II. It has only 12MP and 5fps (w/o a special battery pack, then 8fps).

[Blueywa]

Just a quick update on my test run with 150-500 Sigma; I was so impressed with it that I bought it instead of the 'Bigma' - I'll post a picture or two when I get the hang of attaching to AP.
Cheers, Ray.

[Harrier]

This lens is a real ripper, at times it is not long enough! Then what is? Of course much dearer lenses should be are better? or are they! To me it is a hobby!

I suggest you go to Fliokr and look up the sigma 150 500mm group or what ever lens you are looking at.
It is the nutt behind the butt that counts!

Pin sharp shots of nothing are just that!

Cheers John

[tim71]

G'day Scherry,

does the HSM focusing work on your K-7?

cheers,

Tim

[selaw]

Just a quick update on my test run with 150-500 Sigma; I was so impressed with it that I bought it instead of the 'Bigma' - I'll post a picture or two when I get the hang of attaching to AP.
Cheers, Ray.

Good one mate. I have been thinking of buying this lens for general purpose/wildlife use and am keen to see some of your results. At the moment my least expectant genre (landscape) has a bit of a stranglehold an me and I find myself looking at other suitable small zooms & primes...Ahh!! the turmulteous mind juggling

[OzzieTraveller]

G'day all

Harrier asks "... This lens is a real ripper, at times it is not long enough! Then what is? ..."

In my film slr days, I regularly used my 1000mm + 2x TC for wildlife pix and even then (sometimes) it wasn't long enough

However, from experience - over about 1000mm heat thermals bugger up sharpness lots of the time anyway

These days I stick to < 600mm and stay there

Regards, Phil

[RRRoger]

If in doubt, do what I did.
Take your camera to a store and put on several lens.
I tried the "Big Ma" (old version), Sigma 150-500, both 24-70s, and a 70-200.
Take some test shots.
Go home (cool down your lens lust).
Compare your pictures by zooming in with a good monitor.
Make your buying decision. Then come back or order on the Internet.

I am glad I bought the Sigma 24-70 MACRO, 70-200 HSM MACRO and the 150-500 APO HSM. These work great on my 5D2. http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...lies/smile.gif

[Blueywa]

Sigma 150-500mm.
A resized shot of a power pole 20metres away using full 500mm.

[Blueywa]

The same pole/same lens from same spot using lens at 150mm.

[RRRoger]

Has anyone gotten good results with any teleconverter on their 150-500?
If so, which one?
And the proof is in the picture, please.

We went out to the Pinnacles a few weeks ago.
The Condors are just little guys in my pictures.
I need more reach.

[NikonNellie]

I love my Sigma 150 - 500mm. I haven't used it too much as it is a bit heavy for me to carry but I hope to start using it a lot more. I have had some great results with bird shots - very sharp. My next purchase will probably be a teleconverter to use mainly with this lens.

[Blueywa]

For anyone that doubts the capability of the Sigma 150 - 500, I took the attached shots with my D300s handheld.
I am no expert so was pleased with the result.
Cheers, Ray.

[RRRoger]

Thanks for the pictures. Huge depth of field.
What was the f stop and your other settings?

I just tried a C-AF 1.5x teleplus MC DG Kenko (not SHQ) and am very pleased with the results.
For one thing it Auto Focuses very well in average light.
I will post some pictures as soon as it cools down at the Pinnacles.

[LJG]

So far I'm happy with mine. I brought it for birding but have so far only managed to go to an airfiled as a trial run.

It can be a bitch trying to find small objects in flight at 500mm, but it will also focus on them when you do get them in the viewfinder.

I have to use auto focus because of my eyes, I have tried adjusting the viewfinder and have to go to its maximum, but it still does not deliver "in focus" images. They still come out blurry, like the rest of me it all goes to hell when you get older haha.

Now, I know these are boring but this trip was only to try it out and experiment with different settings (in manual), all are hand held.

This shot was at 150mm, F8 (which it seems happy at)



This one at 500mm, same settings, I'd hate to even try and guess the distance, substantial, well over 100 metres at least and heavily cropped



Back to 150mm, taking off. I was standing around 30 metres from the strip edge, plus it was in the air, so 30 to 40 metres. It is hard to judge exactly (still cropped)



This one was further away, again, shot at 500mm and quite a substantial distance (100mtrs?), plus I shot it at F8 with a 1250 shutter speed to try it. It froze the prop, but was reasonably good on the machine. Again, very heavily cropped



I'm impressed with the reach it has and so far my only citicism with it is the physical size and weight of the thing, it is heavy (1.9kg) and quite big, a lot bigger than the 100-400 Canon.

Even though I have a tripod, I can see a monopod in my very near future haha

All I've got to do now is to get out birding to give it a real try out. That'll certainly be the acid test! If it works well birding I'll be happy. If not, I won't be haha

[Harrier]

Good comment Phil, you can always walk backwards! I think the 150 500 is about right!

I loved your quote "of all the stuff in your kitbag the Ability To See Photographically is the most
important.,

Wish we could patent that!

[Harrier]

Nice shots too guys, when I sort out my resizing will post some.

[Speedway]

Ray how do you get the 18mm and F3.5 out of a 150-500 F5-6.3 lens in your first image?

[Blueywa]

RRRoger,
Second shot was using the Sigma @170mm, f/5, 1/160sec, ISO 200, OS 'on'.

Sorry Keith,
I should have explained better.
The first was taken with Nikkor 18-70 lens; what I was trying to do was show the Difference between a relatively 'normal' lens and the Sigma 150-500.
They were both taken from the same spot and aimed at the same point in the distance.

[ving]

got the 150-500 on a nikon... i think it works pretty good.

[Blueywa]

Ving,
The 1st shot reminds me of a teacher I had many years ago.
A real character.