sigma 150-500

[Davi]

I want something to get me a little closer to the action, but am on a somewhat restrictive budget (i.e. whatever I can get for an old micro lather, a mill and a classic snooker cue )

Am I likely to think "I've just wasted £800" if I get this, or be jumping for joy?

I'd like to do more motorsport shots with it too, if that is a no no I wouldn't bother.

[14-7]

What camera are you using firstly?

Park Cameras have those lenses in for Canon at £699. Most on here seem to use lenses with up to 400mm zoom and have never expressed any problems with getting close to the action so is 500mm to big?

Have a look on flickr though for the quality it's capable of. Just search for 'Sigma 150-500' and it will throw up the group for it.

[Davi]

Nikon D60, though the operator is far more restrictive than the camera :P

what I didn't want to do was replicate the mistake I made with the camera - which already has some limitations that annoy me - by getting a 400 then wishing I'd got a 500... but I'm more than willing to take advisement on it period!

[14-7]

Davi said:

Nikon D60, though the operator is far more restrictive than the camera :P

what I didn't want to do was replicate the mistake I made with the camera - which already has some limitations that annoy me - by getting a 400 then wishing I'd got a 500... but I'm more than willing to take advisement on it period!

Sticking with the Nikon though Park Cameras do have a 2nd hand Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM in stock for £519. (No I don't work for them!)

http://www.parkcameras.com/c/69/Nikon-Fit-SLR-Lens...

(bottom half of the page)

So it's a slightly quicker lens which on overcast days will help and it saves you a few hundred pounds for other goodies . I'd probably try to go for a quicker lens for motorsport photography and they also have a 2nd hand Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX HSM DG in stock but that may be a bit out of your budget at £1349.

[Davi]

14-7 said:

Davi said:

Nikon D60, though the operator is far more restrictive than the camera :P

what I didn't want to do was replicate the mistake I made with the camera - which already has some limitations that annoy me - by getting a 400 then wishing I'd got a 500... but I'm more than willing to take advisement on it period!

Sticking with the Nikon though Park Cameras do have a 2nd hand Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM in stock for £519. (No I don't work for them!)

http://www.parkcameras.com/c/69/Nikon-Fit-SLR-Lens...

(bottom half of the page)

So it's a slightly quicker lens which on overcast days will help and it saves you a few hundred pounds for other goodies . I'd probably try to go for a quicker lens for motorsport photography and they also have a 2nd hand Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX HSM DG in stock but that may be a bit out of your budget at £1349.

yeah, I *may* get around £1k for the bits I'm selling, don't really have another £400 to stick in, though that would be rather nice, but would still leave me a bit short on length!

Hmmmm... Guess I'll have to see what I get for my sales first then!

[Yellabelly]

Here's my first real opportunity to try out the BigmOS Sigma 150-500 APO DG OS. It is a weighty beast, handheld, following a 600mph missile and with the grey sky and smoke it occasionally needed a bit of a nudge to get focus but on 5 frame continuous shooting it works a treat.

The Sigma 150 - 500 flickr group love this lens and have posted some superb shots

Final practice at RAF Scampton, before they crashed in Crete:












YB

Edited by Yellabelly on Tuesday 30th March 13:16

[S47]

I asked this Q awhile ago, Got no replies, but evemtually I bought the lens anyway
I needed it to use as a lightweight walking lens when carrying one of my big heavy Canon 'L' primes was not possible.
The big problem with it for my uses are the slow Max aperture, I only use it at 500mm and F8, where the performance is quite excellent IMO
At full aperture [F6,3] sadly the pictures arn't sharp enough for my use.
IMO At the £720 I paid for it is a fantastic bargain for a 500mm lens, the IS works very well and it's a considerable improvement over the 100-400mm canon 'L' zoom which I previuosly owned [and £500 cheaper too]- though to be honest I won't be selling any of my fast Canon 'L' primes anytime soon
So yes I can recommend it, at least for use on Canon Bodies, provided you can afford not to use it at full aperture that is, So in other word it's a lens for bright days [summer or snowy winter days]

[_dobbo_]

I have one which I purchased to use on a safari. I got it to replace the significantly more expensive but horribly compromised Nikkor 80-400VR.

I like it although it's not really suited to my style of photography so I probably should have rented. Could be convinced to sell it if you were interested Davi?

[Davi]

what sort of price would you be looking for dobbo? feel free to IM me got to sell my bits n bobs first but may not sell them all if don't have to!