Customer Reviews

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

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

 

 

I own the Olympus 35mm Macro lens and the Leica D 14-50mm Standard Zoom lens, so I needed something with more zoom capabilities. I searched for all the telephoto lenses available for the Four Thirds Mount System, but either too expensive, or not they don't come with a high zooming range. Then I saw the Sigma 50-500mm Telephoto lens, and thought that with that price tag, this would be like a dream come true. I had to wait about 4-5 months for this lens to be available on line (but it was worth waiting for), and as soon as I found out it was on sale I ordered one.

Assembly: The lens is very sturdy and all the parts are well assembled. You won't see any loose parts. And its a perfect fit for my camera, Panasonic DMC-L1K. Afterall, it's 'Made In Japan'.

Materials: High Quality matt, yet metallic feel. High quality rubber zooming and focusing collars.

Focusing: Auto focus could take some time if you're shooting a scene with lots of objects. And when the zoom is at it's maximum, it would be quite a challenge to focus on your subject, so it's highly recommended to use a tripod. Manual focus works perfectly, although a tripod is highly recommended, not only to steady the camera, but also due the lens' own weight.

Image Quality: I've used this lense for about 1 month, so far excellent image quality (colours, sharpness, etc.)

Weight: This could be an issue for this lens, because weighing about 6 pounds, you could get tired of holding the camera for a long time, resulting in a shaky and blurry images. So tripods are recommended.

Price: Excellent price for this type of lens. Most telephoto lenses with the same range cost about $2000 and over.

Overall: Excellent lens for any photographer. A valuable asset for any photographer's gear.

People all say this len is great. So how great is it? Let us go cheesy and ask just one question, how sharp is it?
I recently bought the lens. Today I did a simple resolution chart test. Of course there is sample variation out there. I hope my result is typical. I tested it on my E-510. Note the maximum horizontal 'absoute resolution' of E-510 is 2100 LPH. Anything sharp won't show here. Ok here you go:

50~400mm any aperture: 1900~1950 LPH
500mm F/6.3 1750+ LPH; F/8~up 1800+ LPH
'+' mean not sure but at least.

These are all 'alsolute resolution' (where you can tell between the chart lines); 'extinction' resolution goes a bit higher, usually 250 LPH higher.

Although the sharpness is quite constant, I found the contrast clearly reduced at wide open aperture, at all focal length. One stop down it improves to good. Two stops down it gets great.

So this is quite a consistent lens however you set it! Consider it is a whopping 100~1000mm equiv on the E-510, this sharpness is quite incredible! Try find an equivalent lens in other mounts!
Heavy? Not too much for me. Work out instead of complaining guys. It is an IS lens on my E-510! I handheld it half of the time for mobility. Of course a good tripod always helps. I found the auto-focus quite fast even at 500mm on my E-510. It is quiet too. Compared to this, my Zuiko 70-300mm lens seems noisy and slow.
I am alway skeptical about Sigma lens. But there is simply not many alternatives out there. And for this lens, I am well satisfied! Now I need sunny weekends.

As a nature photographer, expanding into wildlife and in particular bird
photography, I was looking for a long reach lens to compliment my Olympus
E3. Settled on this one based upon reviews from various locations.

Although best use is with a tripod, the combination of this lens with the
E3's stabilization allows long distance shots from a monopod, or medium
distance shots, hand held.

It is hefty, and takes a little getting used to, but the additional strap
that attaches to its tripod collar makes for a comfortable neck carry.

The Zoom Lock is great, when you are carrying it around your neck, as
it prevents the lens from creeping out to full length, as you walk.

When used with a telecoverter, (I used a 1.4X), the directions recommend
use only from 100 - 500. You set the lock on the upper side of 100 and
it prevents you from zooming down below 100. Not sure why these cautions
are listed in the instructions, as there are no apparent movements of the
lens to interfere with the teleconverter. Plus, to lock the lens, and
remove it from the TC, you unlock it, set to 50 and then lock it. Kinda
strange, but not a big deal.

A wonderful addition to my lens arsenal!

This lens is fantastic. I photograph a lot of wildlife and this lens allows me to get the close up shot without getting so close that the animal is spooked by my presence.

This lens was really an excellent buy. It is somewhat compact for such a large lens. It is great because it is a 50 to 500mm in the same size lens barrel as a 70 to 200mm. It is clear and focuses very easy. I use it all the time to get out past my 300mm. A must purchase for any camera enthusiast that is wanting something more out of there 70 to 300mm.

this lense has been incredible Since using it several of my pictures are hanging in the local art gallery Thanks Sigma

This is an ok lens, but I had to sell it less than 6 months later becuase it just was not up to speed with the zoom and f stops.....Trust me on this, get the canon (IS if you can afford it)a 2x if you need and you are set. this lens is OK, but why get OK when you can get amazing for almost the same price.

The lens was everything I expected, and then some. Crisp images, good autofocus, solid construction - none of that plastic junk that is way too common in lens design. And all of that came with a reasonable price tag, too. A bit on the heavy side, so lugging it around all day in Texas heat becomes a chore, but that is expected with a lens of this caliber. Due to its weight, a monopod (at least - a good solid tripod is better) is a must, though.

On the other hand, service I received was not even half that good. Seriously, 5 days between the order and the actual shipment? For comparison, a certain outfit sells the same lens, for the same price (incidentally, Amazon shows the price as "discounted", whereas the store in question lists the same price as "regular") with the same shipping terms. The difference is, they ship the same day, and being a photo-only store, they have a wealth of advice to offer. Whereas I have nothing but praise for the product itself, I honestly see no reason not to buy it elsewhere.