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Sigma 150-500mm F5-6,3 DG APO OS HSM the perfect low budget safari and wilde life lens?
During this review of the Sigma 150-500mm OS, I will try to find
out if it fulfill my
expectations and needs as a enthusiastic
amateur.
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Nikon D7000+ Sigma 150-500mm OS
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I didn't find any review of this new lens from sigma when I first
heard about it anyhow due to an upcoming expedition style polar-
bear safari
to Svalbard I just had to get a long lens to bring.
The Nikon 80-400mm VR , Sigma 80-400mm OS was at the time
the only alternatives
available to me since optical stabilization
was a must have criteria.
The Nikon lens had a bad reputation for being slow due to non AF-S
design so I was heading towards the slightly faster focusing Sigma
80-400.
Then the 150-500mm OS was announced and I just had to sit an
wait to se if it was about to be available before the Svalbard trip.
I got the lens one week before we left for Svalbard, and I must say
I couldn't have lived without it.
Back from Svalbard I decided to try to do a review of this New
Sigma lens that not only gave me some nice polar bear shots.
The 150-500mm OS HSM
also suprised me of being quite a bit
cheaper than the old and discontinued 80-400 from the same
company. |
The Sigma 150-500mm OS review starts here..
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Lens Construction
21 Elements in 15 Groups
Angle of View 16.4 - 5 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades 9 Blades
Minimum Aperture F22
Minimum Focusing Distance 220cm/86.6 in.
Maximum Magnification 1:5.2
Filter Size Diameter 86mm
Filter Size Bayonet-type Hood
Dimensions Dia 94.7mm X L 252mm
3.7 in. X 9.9 in.
Weight 1910g / 67.4 oz.
Corresponding AF Mounts SIGMA, CANON,
NIKON, PENTAX (1*, 2*), SONY (1*)*1 OS function is not available.*2 If the camera body does not support HSM motor, AF will not work.
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Image and data above taken from www.sigmaphoto.com
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That was a short presentation of this
new exciting lens from Sigma I will
make a review of this lens in my own
way of reviewing things you might like
it
or might not (I'm not a pro nor am I Ken Rockwell).
The proffesional way to review lenses
is way to complex for me :0) click
[HERE] if you like to know wy!
Few words will be written, but there
will be many photos in this review
to
help you
evaluate this
lens by your
self.
Review will start A.S.A.P , and will run
until I find it done. To start with I will
compare the Sigma 150-500mm OS to
the good
old Sigma 80-400mm OS that
I have on loan from a friend.
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The 150-500mm (Bottom)compared in size to the
trusty old Sigma EX 80-400/4,5-5,6 DG APO OS (Top)
| Lens |
150-500mm OS |
80-400mm OS |
Lens Construction |
21 Elements in 15 Groups |
20 Elements
in 14 Groups |
| Angle of View |
16.4 - 5 degrees |
30.3 - 6.2 degrees |
Number of
Diaphragm Blades |
9 Blades |
9 Blades |
| Minimum Aperture |
F22 |
F32 |
Minimum
Focusing Distance |
220cm/86.6 in. |
180cm/70.9 in. |
Maximum
Magnification |
1:5.2 |
1:5 |
| Filter Size |
Diameter 86mm |
Diameter 77mm |
| Dimensions |
Diameter
94.7mm X Length 252mm
3.7 in. X 9.9 in. |
Diameter
95mm X Length 192mm
3.7 in. X 7.6 in. |
| Weight |
1910g / 67.4 oz. |
1750g/61.9 oz. |
Corresponding
AF Mounts |
SIGMA, CANON, NIKON |
SIGMA,
CANON,
NIKON (D) |
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The trusty old 80-400 has the EX marking and the corresponding golden stripe the 150-500mm OS does not.
Anyhow I can't spot any difference in built quality between them.
As a matter of fact this lens does not carry the EX designation because Sigma will now only use that for lenses with a fixed aperture. It's still seems built like an
EX lens would be, there's no difference in that respect.
The 150-500mm is new cheaper faster focusing and available.
The 80-400mmis more expensive and according Sigmaphoto.com [discontinued]
Both lenses ships with a removable tripod collar of quite god quality
a lens hood and a big high quality synthetic carrying case that are big and bulky
[go here to se how to make a new one for backpacking].
The 150-500 came with a new improved lens cap that looks similar
to a Nikon lens cap it almost looks cloned :0)
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Both lenses are equiped with Zoom lock (I wish my Nikon 18-200 Vr had the same)
On the next page I will start to compare optical quality.
Note: Sigma has also released a replacement for the 80-400, the 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
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