sigma 150-500

[BGeise]

Anyone using the sigma 150-500? How do you like it? Is the 50-500 worth the extra money?

 

[baturn]

Several of this forums members use a 150 - 500 with great success. I have one and love it. Can't speak to the 50 - 500 as I've never even seen one.

 

[manicmike]

I've owned the 150-500 and the original 50-500. I really liked the 150 and got pretty good results from it. The 50 I didn't like and everything was always soft. The new 50 is supposed to be pretty good, but I haven't used it so no opinion on that one.

 

[JacaRanda]

Check out Grafxman. I believe it's him that really endorses the 50-500.

 

[KmH]

For the cost the Sigma 150-500 is tough to beat.

Sigma's newer version of the 50-500 is also reportedly well worth it's somewhat higher cost.

Also see posts by member coastalconn for examples of photos made with a Sigma 150-500.

 

[sm4him]

I use a Sigma 150-500 for almost all of my bird photos. So does SCraig. You're welcome to look at my flickr page for examples; pretty much all the birds in the last year are with that lens.

Mine is great; I love it. But I think the issue is that you can get a really good one, or you can get a not so great one. I got a good lens.
I have no experience at all with the 50-500 and don't even know if it has the same inconsistencies in quality from lens to lens.

However, as much as I like mine, I'm probably going to sell it and buy the new Tamron 150-600 when the Nikon mount is available. You might want to look into that option as well. 100mm more length, as good or better quality than the Sigma 150-500 from what I'm hearing, and a price point of just barely over $1000.
Or (if you're a Nikon user) just wait until that lens comes out and then you can probably get a pretty decent deal on a used Sigma 150-500.
If you're a Canon user, you may already be able to get a deal on a Sigma canon mount lens, since the Tamron canon mount is already out.

 

[DarkShadow]

I have the sigma 150-500 and I like it a lot and getting some good IQ from it providing there is enough light. Couple things, don't expect close focusing and the focus speed is not all that fast and find it hunts at times. If you can live with the short comings then its worth every penny.

 

[Fox_Racing_Guy]

You have a A77 correct?
It's my experience that the Tamron 200-500 has much faster and accurate focus then the 150-500 Sigma. I owned them both, sold the Sigma and kept the Tamron.
I like sm4him suggestion to wait for the new Tamron SP150-600, all the previews look great. I'm hearing early May release for the "A" mount.

 

[BGeise]

Thanks for all the input. I will definitely look at the Tamron

 

[DorkSterr]

I wouldn't bother with the 50-500, after the 370mm mark it just gets too soft, major drop in IQ, hazy and photos come out looking under saturated. Anything below that mark its actually a very good lens.

 

[dxqcanada]

If you look at the Dyxum forum you will see that many are dumping their Tamron 200-500mm (I think coastalconn also used this lens in the past) ... so you may be able to grab one there.

 

[SamSpade1941]

how does the 120-400 Sigma compare to the 150-500 Sigma?

 

[coastalconn]

I just cut and paste this from a post I did in the Nikon forum. Ignore the Nikon lenses, but it will give you some reference points...

Well I have used many of the lenses available at this price point. The newest lens out there is the Tamron 150-600 which is $1069 but has not been released for Nikon yet. It has some pretty good reviews for Canon with a few glitches depending on the camera body.. Here's the flickr group for that lens.. These are random people that have the lens for Canon.. Flickr: The Tamron 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Pool

All the links below here are from my Flickr galleries...
The Older Tamron 200-500 F5-6.3 is $949 new and about 500-600 used. It is an underrated lens but does not have VR. I would not recomend buying it new with the 150-600 around the corner..
I shot this lens for about 18 months.. Tamron 200-500 - a set on Flickr

The "go to" lens for Nikon is the 300 F4 AF-S with a 1.4x TC. $1350 new, $900-1000 used It's sharp, focuses fast and is pretty light. I had one briefly but returned it.
Nikon 300 F4 AF-S - a set on Flickr

There is also the Older 80-400 AF-D nikon, which I have shot with. Optically it's OK AF is very slow. I don't have a sample gallery.

I shot for 6 months with a Tokina 300 F2.8. It is very heavy, AF is good for a screw drive lens. Optics are good, sometimes to much CA wide open. Worked intermittently with TC's used 800+
tokina 300 F2.8 - a set on Flickr

Another go to lens is the Sigma 150-500 OS. Optics are OK think F8 at 500mm for decent results. Medium weight about 3-4 pounds. The price has dropped to $899 new with the announcement of the Tamron.. Used 600-700... Sigma 150-500 OS - a set on Flickr

Sigma 300 F4 APO Tele Macro. I was always curious about this lens and tried one for awhile. It was incredibly sharp, but the AF speed was incredibly slow. It didn't work well with teleconverters.. about 350 used.. Sigma 300 F4 APO Telemacro - a set on Flickr

 

[Fox_Racing_Guy]

Costalconn is definitely the "birding authority" here and nobody can ague with his results.
I think many here are forgetting that the OP is wants this for a Sony A77 so lens IS,VR, or VC is meaningless, the A77 has image stabilization built into the body. The new Tamron 150-600 will not have VC built into the lens for the Sony A mount either.
Keep in mind that I have about 2% of costalconn's ability when it come to birding but here is a recent shot with my Tamron 200-500 mounted on my older A560.

 

[PWhite214]

The 150-500mm Sigma is such a leap from the 170-500mm I had previously. I do wonder if the Tamron 150-600 will be as good.

You can find a set shot at Brazos Bend State Park, in Texas, https://www.flickr.com/photos/pwhite214/sets/72157633212956569/.

I photographed everything from dragon fly to alligators that day.

Both lenses list for the same price, though I see Adorama has the Sigma for $899. I am going to wait for a bit before considering replacing the Sigma.

Phil