Sigma - 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO?

Dredden85

Asking if anyone has some experience with this lens. I plan to use it for wildlife and day time sports on a D7000.

Juergen

Hi Dredden,
I have seen very nice and sharp images with that lens. But the model I have is simply too soft. It is not a focus or a calibration issue. I have tried everything I could to find the right aperture settings for it.
Finally I just gave up on it.
Maybe you have a chance to try it out on your D 7000 before you actually buy it.

Jürgen

NSXTypeR

You may wish to rent it first.

From what I hear you need to stop down to get acceptable sharpness.

Dredden85

Thanks guys, I will give one a test drive before I go for it.

Dredden85

@Juergen, Did you end up returning your copy?

Msmoto

I think Coastalconn uses a Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 and get great results on the D300.

cbg

@msmoto, you are right on Coastalconn using the Tamron.

@Dredden85, I have, what I think is a good copy of the Sigma, that I use on a D7000. Nearly all of the bird photos I have posted here and in my flickr stream have been with that lens. But I agree with renting it first if you can so you can get a good feel for what you can and can'r do woth it. It does need light and is much sharper at f/8 than wide open. I do think that if you work with the limitations of the lens and don't try to shoot in poor conditions, you will get excellent resutls.

adamz

get the new bigma and forget about this one unless You wanna shoot no longer than 400mm. it was weak on d200 so on d7000 it can only go worser.

Juergen

@Dredden, i did not return it, it is siiting useless in my cabinet.
Jürgen

Dredden85

@msmoto- Thanks ! A local dealer has one here. Unfortunately, I'll have to test it inside the store

@cbg- I'll check your posts out. The Tamron may be the way to go.

@adamz- Good to know. But I do need the that 500 reach and more cash!

@Juergen- If you feel like giving to the poor and wanting a good home for it, I'll take it off your hands! I might even entertain paying for shipping!

Dredden85

@cbg- I just took a look at your shots of the red tail hawks and eagles. All I can say is Wow! Fantastic shots! I noticed your notes stated that you were using a D300.

@adamz- What were your concerns?

adamz

It was extremely poor beyond 400mm and only good up to 400mm. N70-300/vr is sharper and costs less. also in order to get any sharpness You had to closed it down to f8, and that's a lot.

Dredden85

The lack of a VR on the older Tamron 200-500 is some what a concern for me. But I'll still give it a try this weekend in the store. Your right f8 is moderate.

Dredden85

~O) + me=VR

Dredden85

I just visited some of the old forums (late 2009) about a Nikkor 80-400VR. It maybe an older model but who cares about age. I am going to do some research on this one too.

mk2pop

Msmoto will be able to help with that one, she has done tests against a few other lenses,
I have used one once and was quite impressed

cbg

@Dredden85, I'm not sure where you saw the reference to a D300. if it's there , I fat-fingered something while typing since I only have the D7000. Now, Coastalconn does use a D300, not me.

adamz

@mk2pop - the biggest problem with N80-400 is the lack of AF-S or be more correct the lack of the ability to override the focus in AF mode

Dredden85

@cbg- My apologizes dude. I had gotten your Flickr mixed up with Coastalconn's. I had them open at the same time.

mk2pop

@adamz yes i dont see why nikon hasnt updated this insted of handing the customers straight to sigma

Msmoto

I am a big fan of the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR Nikkor. Still have one, the first generation, I believe, made about 2001 or 2002. The serial number is 201xxxx. But, the only way to see this is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/7415832684/sizes/o/in/set-72157629918001642/

Or, if you like Fords...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/7415833014/sizes/o/in/set-72157629918001642/

400mm at f/11, 1/1000...ISO 800. The car is about 200 feet from the camera position.

Dredden85

Partially working with Adamz comment,
@msmoto- Great shot BTW, Did you AF or Manual for your shot?

Msmoto

@ Dredden85

This series was shot with AF-C nine point, most likely set at 8 or 9 FPS. Manual mode, auto ISO. More recently, I have been shooting at 1/250 sec but when things break loose, this speed is inadequate to capture cars, etc. in air. The pros will be shooting quite often with one around the neck and the other in their hands, although I have never actually seen them switch when things start to happen...it is all over in a second or two. And, usually I am trying to find the action in the viewfinder...

Coastalconn

I just noticed My Tammy came up in this thread.. My take is probably the best poor man's 500. If you can find one used like I did, it is hard not to be happy. It does have it's limitations. It is incredibly light, weighing in under 3 pounds. It can be very sharp even wide open as you saw in the hawk vs bunny set. Focus speed isn't really too bad for a screw drive lens. It does seem to fall apart a little a long distances, but it could be finicky AF fine tune, or perhaps missed focus. I've taken 40K shots in the past year so I know the lens pretty well...

Dredden85

Thank you, Coastalconn. I am going to test one out soon but it will be in a store, unfortunately. I know that it won't test it fully. Any other lessons learned with your lens?

Coastalconn

It obviously is not a 500 F4 I think it probably takes a little more work getting used to then other lenses. I got mine used for under 450 US. My friend has a Nikon 80-400 and focus speed is faster on the Tamron. I'd say it lacks a little contrast. I think the best thing is the weight, I customized a cheap dual camera strap and I can carry the D300 and the Tamron around for hours and hours and many miles. I often shoot under the 1/500th rule because it balances so well with the camera (I had a successful shot on a deer at 1/30th HH). It is really a light hog as all the 500 F6.3 crowd tends to be. The deer... http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastalconn/8205256567/