Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM

the main attraction of this lens is the wide zoom range which gets you in close when you need it but allows for decent quality at all lengths.The main drawback is the slow aperture size of f6.3 which means this is a 'sunny' weather lens and should be used in conjunction with a sturdy tripod or monopod if you don't venture past 300mm.
The af and zoom is excellent being fast and smooth/quiet, although on mine the zoom binds a little at the 200mm mark and I expect this to ease with more use/wear.
Image quality is surprisingly good for such a big range and the low speed of the lens can be overcome by increasing sensitivity in lower light although this usually means a quality sacrifice above 400iso.
All in all I highly recommend this lens as it's only 'fault' as such is it's slow speed, but at a third of the cost of an f2.8 300mm carrying that tripod around is worth the effort!.

Massive zoom range
Surprising quality at all focal lengths
Quiet and smooth af operation
Low price
Collar mount included(adjustable easy to use)

Slow aperture
Weight(although compared to even the lightest f2.8 300mm this is a lightweight lens!)

Nothing else out there anything like this beauty.

Never needed.

Sigma 50-500



I have some difficulty hand holding the lens to shoot over 300mm and at any range you must have a good tri/monopod. It is heavy so that hand holding the camera while working the zoom or working the manual focus is difficult . My work around is to preset the zoom and focus. This is a great bird lense if you can get enough light. The good images are sharp with good contrast and good color saturation and no signs of color fringing. I loose most of my shots to camera shake. This is best thought of as a fair weather lens. You need a bright sunny day to get enough light so that you have shutter speed to eliminate camera shake. The 2x factor of the 4/3 mount works against you with this one. The lens was designed for the other guys so on a CanNik mount this lens would be about 750mm on my E330 it is 1000mm. You don't have to use all the zoom but it is too tempting. That said I have some photos that I would not have gotten if I did not have this lens. That said I have a lot of ones that got away (camera shake).

-pro
sharp images
good contrast
huge range
well built
fast and quite focus
tripod mount included
front lens doesn't rotate (this only matters if you can afford the 86mm polarizer filter)
only lens of this lenght for under $1000
about $5000 less than a prime (put that money towards food and shelter)
Very pleasing Bokeh

-con
two hands plus handling
a little large and front heavy
a little slow on the long end f5.6 (but workable if sunny day)
86mm filters cost big (must have UV to protect front glass)
a little too long (1000mm) for practical use on 4/3 mount.
have to carry tri/mono pod if plan on using.

Nothing else this big to compare to

n/a

Originally had this lens for almost a year. Never quite satisfied with the sharpness of the images beyond 400mm. Sent some photos to Sigma, but no reply. Then did some head-to-head comparisons of this lens with my Nikon 300 F4 with a Tamron 1.4 teleconverter. Once Sigma saw this actual comparison, they said that the lens should be returned for service.

Took 5 weeks to get a result - lens replaced with new unit. Have done the same comparative tests - and now aside from some minor color variation, there is no difference in sharpmess even when viewed at 100% (about 1 stop slower than the 300 + 1.4 combination - but much greater flexibilty).

Had seen a number of positive reviews for this lens and now agree. Very satisfied with this replacement lens and look forward to using it at various sporting events.

Fast focus
Sharp images
Zoom range / flexibility

Need good light due to higher f stop - or boost the ISO to get adaquate shutter speed

Although some photographers claim to be able to hand-hold, I need to use a mono-pod or tripod for stability (but that is probably expected at 500mm)

Nikon 70-200 f2.8 AF-S VR
Nikon 300 f4 AF-S

Although it took multiple emails and five weeks with the lens at Sigma customer service, they did send me a new lens that is much better than my original - see comments above.

After extensive due diligence in evaluating ways to get to 500mm for a moderate price, I decided that a Bigma offered the best 'bang-for-the-buck' potential. Thus far, I can state that it has been one of the best investments for my system.

Other lenses considered (but not personally handled/used) included a Nikon 300 f/4 + TC; Tamron 200-500 Di; Sigma 170-500. In the end, the greater availability/lower pricing of used Bigmas, its 10X range, HSM AF, better perceived build and perceived better IQ/AF capabilities across most all of its range won out.

My passion is for long distance large Raptors such as Bald Eagles, Hawks, Falcons and the like. I'm blessed to live in southern California where its unusual to not have good light so the f/6.3 aperture is very seldom an issue. I do most of my shooting hand held or on a monopod and use Auto-ISO and shutter-priority on my Nikon D50 to ensure high enough shutter speed to overcome lack of VR/IS. For me, the bulk and weight of the Bigma are not an issue - even treking for miles -- yes, it gets a bit heavy and it'd be even better if it were half the size/weight but only if its IQ and capabilities weren't diminished.

I moved up to my D50 + Bigma specifically due to my previous experiences with owning both a Panasonic FZ5 and then my FZ30 that feature both quality Leica glass and OIS - Optical Stabilization. Having 'learned' long distance imaging on these recommended digitals, I initially found that the D50 and consumer kit zoom lens -- a Tamron 70-300 LD was hard pressed to equal the IQ of my Pany FZ cameras past ~200mm -- even when using an OLY TCON-1.7 TC on the Panys.

Once I obtained my Bigma, the Panys have very seldom been used.

Who should buy it --
Those that are looking for a moderately priced long lens that affords good - great IQ, contrast, color rendition, sharpness/resolution and AF speed for distant wildlife. Its IQ is even more impressive with minimal subject distance and stable tripod and/or body stabilization. The 10X range also makes it as a good, 'all-in-one' zoom that allows one to minimize the need for changing lenses for different opportunities at hand.

Who shouldn't buy it --
Those that are usually faced with poor lighting conditions such as mostly shooting with heavy cloud cover/misty conditions; darker environs with heavy tree cover -- especially if they have minimal digital experience and/or poor technique. It seems these shooting conditions are more the issue when reading of frustration with this lens. Likewise, those that are incapable of/put off by its bulk/weight. (Of course, there are few lenses that offer 500mm reach with its quality/capabilities/price and also have less bulk/weight)

--A near Pro quality 500mm zoom lens that just happens to zoom backwards is an apt description;
--Great build quality;
--Great & quiet HSM AF system that is actually quite accurate and fast -- even between sunrise/sunset with minimal cloud cover
--Provides surprisingly good - great IQ over quite a large range
--Provides very good-great contrast, color rendition, sharpness and resolution through its entire 10X range; Really helps when later cropping in Post Processing;
--For me, affords great hand held images in good light by using good technique and Auto-ISO/Shutter-priority modes;
--10X zoom range allows one to have a great reach but also to zoom backwards for pulling back when needed to for better image/FOV composition at time of shutter release; Imaging landscapes at 50mm still retains good-great image qualities
--Really shines when used with good support on static subjects;
--Minimal IQ/AF-speed hit when used with Kenko Pro DG 1.4X TC for getting to 700mm (1,050mm EQ w/ 1.5X crop factor);
--Good magnesium lens foot assists in system balance/stability on monopod/tripod and when carrying system;
--Lens lock to preclude creep while carrying
--Smooth manual over ride focus ring
--Very smooth/pleasing, IMO, Bokeh

(Non-DG version)
--Apparently can be frustrating when used in very poor lighting and/or with poor/inexperieced operator technique;
--Weight (4-#) and bulkiness (9" at 50mm and 14" at 500mm) can be problematic for some;
--Large lens aperture requires very pricey CP and/or filters
--No focus range limiter on my non-DG version when attempting AF on low contrast subjects
--No VR/OS -- if it did, this would be one killer lens;
--Slow f/6.3 min aperture requires good light/user technique for consistent image quality;
--Lens support foot only has one threaded opening for mono-tripod mounting;
--Has been reported to be somewhat stiff when zooming between 50 - 200mm range;
--Subject to lens creep when carrying in vertical orientation and not using lock -- not really surprising considering the amount of glass; Not much of an issue when imaging within 0- ~60 degrees of horizontal;
--If it occurs, cleaning of problematic internal lens' dust by Sigma can run between $150-300; (In my case, I did have some dust bunnies that were easily cleaned by myself since they were behind the front set of lens elements)
--Can be subject to slower/AF-hunting on low contrast subjects in poor lighting circumstances; Some of this can be possibly attributed to the camera AF system

Tamron 70-300 LD Macro Kit Lens on D50
Other lenses owned/used for IQ comparison judgements--
Nikon 35 f/2 DX
Nikkor 18-70 DX
Prosumer super zooms--
Panasonic FZ5 w/OIS - 36-432mm Leica optics + OLY TCON-1.7X TC
Panasonic FZ30 w/OIS - Leica 36-420mm optics + OLY TCON-1.7X TC

Not needed thus far

Have used this lens for various sports - soccer / motor racing of various forms. Seems to do a reasonable job up to 300mm, but beyond that, the images appear to be a little soft when viewed at 100%. Focuses quickly in all but low light situations.

The color seems to be somewhat faded when I shoot at 500mm (this could be that because I'm shooting at 1000th to 2000th of a second to stop action and minimize lens blur, plus the slower lens speed of f6.3, results in shooting at higher ISO with this lens verses my other lenses). While most of this can be corrected in PhotoShop, it is just an extra step that is not necessary with my other Nikon lenses.

Not sure I would purchase this lens again.

Fast focus
Weight
Great zoom range
Sharp up to 300mm
Price - good value for the cost

Soft at long end - 500mm
Colors appear muted at 500mm (see comment above)
Odd filter size - expensive and hard to find

Nikon 70-200 f2.8 AF-S ED VR, Nikon 300 f4 ED AF-S