This is my nine months hands-on review of the Sigma 150-500mm with sample pictures.
"I really hope you will find this review useful and do feel free to get in touch should you have any questions, or should there be anything you think I have not covered, or anything that you think is inaccurate"
At the time of writing this review I have used this lens for about nine months, mainly for wildlife photography, and with it I have taken some of my best pictures. For a more detailed review feel free to watch the video.
LET'S START BY TAKING A LOOK AT SOME PHOTOS
These photos have already been edited. If you want to see the photos before editing have a look at the video above.
This photo was taken with a Nikon D800 at 450mm as the sun was setting with a shutter speed of 1/400 sec, ISO 2000, f/6.3
Photo editing: the light has been adjusted and sharpening increased to 80 using Lightroom
This photo was taken with a Nikon D800 mid-afternoon on the same day as the photo above at 380 mm with a shutter speed of 1/2500 sec, ISO 1000, f/6.3
Photo editing: the light has been adjusted and sharpening increased to 80 using Lightroom
This photo was taken with a Nikon D800 early in the morning on a foggy day at 380 mm with a shutter speed of 1/250 sec, ISO 2000, f/7.1
Photo editing: the light has been adjusted and sharpening increased to 100 using Lightroom
HOW DOES THE LENS PERFORM
I have been using this lens for wildlife photography and like all super telephoto lenses with an aperture of F5-6-3 it can struggle in low light situations but this is an issue you will encounter with most lenses of a similar focal range.
It is fairly compact and lightweight if compared with other lenses of the same focal range from Canon or Nikon, but it is still a relatively big and heavy lens. Personally I do not mind the weight but that is something to consider if you need to use it for many consecutive hours.
If the weight of the lens is an issue for you, using a monopod could help, and it could also help with holding the camera steady and getting some nice sharp pictures.
I initially used it with a monopod, but now that I got used to the weight I can manage to get some really sharp pictures at a relatively slow shutter speed without the need for a monopod.
Overall this lens performs really well and it is great value for money, I highly recommend it.
JARGON BUSTING
These definitions have been taken from Sigma's website and there is my explanation right below:
APO Lens: SIGMA’s top-of-the-line telephoto lenses use at least two elements of ELD, FLD, SLD or other low-dispersion glass to deliver impeccable image quality unsullied by chromatic aberration.
Explanation: After doing a bit of research online I found out that APO stands for Apochromatic, and all that means is that the lens, as explained above, will deliver better quality images, and reduce the level of chromatic aberration.
DG: The dedicated SLR lens line with full-frame sensor coverage
Explanation: DG lenses are meant for full frame cameras, but will work also on cropped sensor cameras. If you want to use it with a mirrorless camera you might need an adapter.
OS: An optical stabilizer mechanism built into the lens helps assure a sharp image while giving you freedom of movement and more latitude in camera settings.
Explanation: DG lenses are meant for full frame cameras, but will work also on cropped sensor cameras. If you want to use it with a mirrorless camera you might need an adapter.
SPECS
Focal length: 150-500mm
Image stabilisation (OS): yes, two different modes, mode 2 for panning, and mode 1 for normal hand held use
Max aperture: F5-6.3
Min focus: 7.5 feet (2.2 meters)
Weight: 67.1 oz (1900g
Length: 3.7x9.9” (94x251.5mm)
PRICE AND WHERE TO BUY IT
I bought mine second-hand from Wex here in the UK for 400 GBP, but you can also buy it from MPB, Ebay, Amazon, and Cex. Personally I would suggest you buy it either from Wex or MPB as they are professionals who know what they are doing, and all the lenses are checked by them and graded.
Here are links to Wex and MPB: