Customer Reviews

Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO RF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The auto focus is super quiet and reasonably fast in most situations, although mounted on my D30 it does get confused in complex lighting. This is a BIG and HEAVY lens. I use the neck strap provided with the lens, as well as the strap on the camera at the same time. Although I'm probably overcautious, I don't trust the weight of the lens hanging from the camera without extra support. Mounted on a monopod, it is well balanced although following birds in flight presents a challenge. Optically, it's truly beautiful through all f stops. It looks like it will take any abuse I can reasonably give it, being solidly constructed and manufactured to very precise tolerances. I wanted a quality super telephoto and I got one at a great price.

This has been my primary lens for all of my aviation photography and has never let me down! I have photographs that I've taken as slow as 1/40 at the 500mm end without the use of any tripod/monopod with fantastic results! The lens obviously comes in at 8 pounds and in my opinion really helps with panning. The real reason for purshasing this lens is its incredible zoom range. At airshows I keep it in the 300-500mm end of the lens most of the time but there have been many times I had to quickly zoom to the 50mm end to frame that "perfect" shot to include an aircraft taxiing right in front of me along with the other aircraft still in the air. I also shoot at a local airport for my clients and not having to quickly change lenses/bodies continually makes this lens well worth its weight in gold!

the only issue I've had with this lens is when I'm shooting in windy conditions. That long lens acts like a sail and can really be a problem when shooting a slow/stationary object.
Nearly every photograph on my website, fight2flyphoto.com, was taken with this incredible lens.

This is the lens that is on my camera (Cannon Rebel XTI) the most. It is very versatile. I am still a beginner, but a serious one, and the range it has is very useful. I shoot a lot of wildlife and it is great. It is very heavy so you need a sturdy tripod, although, you can hand-hold this camera, even at the 500 range, in good light and get great shots. One big problem with the lens is it gets a lot of dust on the inside on the internal lens. I have to go get it cleaned every now and then. I am too nervous to take it apart myself. I have had this lens one year and love it very much. It has even taken a couple of spills and still works great.

If you are looking at a BIGMA, you are most likely price-conscience. Nothing wrong with that because this lens gives a lot for a little price. In good light, it provides a great pictures. Great ability to change to varying degrees of distance from the subject, making it very versatile. But without IS and good light, it lacks a bit. I love to shoot youth football, and day games are great, but night games are impossible. So if you want to shoot at night, get a Canon IS lens. If you are going to shoot different distances, especially outdoor sports, this is a great lens.

This lens is about as versatile as they come with 50mm up close and 500mm to get you out there. It is not for the faint at heart. It is a full load to carry, but it takes great pictures. T-pod mounted this lens is tack sharp on detail.The HSM is fast and with no rotation on the front you can get those split second shots. While not prime glass it is all the bang for the buck.

Very goood Lens for the price . I use it for taking pictures of my son who plays second base in high school and it reaches good enough to take good close up shots. I am really pleased with this product

Great range and a super lense. I would recommend this lense to any one wanting this enormous range for this price.

I've had my bigma for close on five years and I love it. I have lots of other lenses in that 50-500 range, most of which are sharper, lighter faster and lots of other better things, but his lens does it all, and does it pretty well.

It has a massive range. When I have taken it to a baseball games I've never been bothered with this beast, while I have been hassled if I use a big white lens, It just doesn't scream "pro". At 50mm you can shoot the folks ten seats over going for a foul ball, at 500 mm you can frame up a player all the way across the playing field. It's range is hard to understand until you use it. Compared to the Canon 100-400, you gain 100 mm on the long end which is nice , but the 50mm on the short end is a game changer.

It can get lost when hunting in low light on the long end, and I hear people complain about it, but no long zoom can compare to a prime for focal speed, and the longer the zoom the slower acquisition can be. This is not a studio lens, it is best used when you don't know what range you will be shooting at and don't have the time to swap cameras, or change lenses.

One of my favorite tricks with this is using it at 50mm and shooting with the camera and lens cradled in my arms. It keeps people from becoming tense sometimes, and the length give you pretty good from the hip accuracy in framing.

One big caveat; this thing is big and bulky. hand holding it(which I do 90% of the time) is a work out. Many of the lenses I bought after this one have been replaced, but the bigma has has a unique place in my camera bag.

I wanted to get a long zoom for Wildlife and Astonomy Photography. I was trying to decide between the Sigma 150-500 OS or the 50-500. I saw the 50-500 was getting an update with OS later this summer so I started favoring this focal range. I found a lot of video reviews on the 150-500, but a lot of article reviews on the 50-500. The argrument for either is compeling, but I finally decided on the 50-500 due to the range. Boy am I glad for that. One day at the Cleveland Metropark Zoo convinced me. I miss the OS for the long shots, but the written acrticles were correct, one needs to learn proper holding technique. I have really learned a lot about depth of field/focal length/ISO/standing and supporting technique. If nothing else it is a life time tutorial on technique for just over $1000.00. I could have waited till July for the OS version, but that is not me. When I get something in my head I have to have it. Prior to the zoo trip I had considered returning it and waiting, but I did not and am very happy with that decision. I love the focal range and the fact Sigma includes a hood and tripod mount.I use the trek-tech monopod system and it works great. I rigged a small strap on the dedicated strap bar on the lens so I can use my R-Strap system with it, rather than the supplied strap.
Dislikes are limited to weight (heavier than I thought, but what do you expect for the range so not really a minus). Also when I open the lens wide open at 500mm, it has trouble focusing. My fix, zoom out a little-focus-zoom back in-focus.
Accessories I would recommend: Kenko extension tubes (makes it a macro lens), Trek-tech monopod/magnetic system, and the r-strap(gerry-rig until black rapids and trek-tech get the rumored combo mount out).
This lens is a wonderful learning tool. Should you wait till the os version comes out? If you have $600 for it yes, if not buy the lens and get out shooting. Cleveland weather is warming up and I want to get out an shoot.

I switched to digital in 2003, buying a Digital Rebel and this lens shortly afterwards so mine's a very early non-DG version. One of the first things I did was set it up next to my brother-in-law's 300 2.8 EDIF Nikon and shot a distant fencepost. He and I were both stunned. The Bigma was sharper at all apertures, and yes we went to great lengths to keep all other variables equal. I use it wide open at 500 often and anything that ain't sharp is my fault.

Build quality is as good it gets. Beleive me, I do not baby my equipment and this thing still works like the day I first used it.

It's slow, but with a modern body having a cleaner high ISO that is less of an
issue.

USE A MONOPOD! My old Sunpak Ezee Pod folds forward and everything hangs discreetly behind you and carries well by the lens strap. It's heavy, but you can get used to it.

Throw the kit lens in a pocket, keep a tripod nearby, and you'll have pretty much all you'll ever need, incluing a 250mm edge over virtually anyone around you. The range and the potential distance between you and your subject are why you're buying this lens. Use them wisely and you'll be well pleased with the results.