Sigma 50-500 mm F4-6.3 APO DG HSM Optical Stabilised lens for Nikon Full Frame and Digital APS-C SLR Cameras

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As is often the case, APS-C format DSLR owners need not worry about vignetting from this full frame lens. I am getting about 3 stops of benefit from OS at 50mm (hand-holdable at 1/6 second) with a low percentage of shots being sharp with exposures as long as .5 seconds. A lion shot through a wire mesh on a Nikon D70 with an exposure of 1/40sec at f/7.1 and the lens at 320mm. Sigma has produced something unique here, as no other manufacturer has a lens that matches its range of focal lengths. Others come close, and we'll examine the notable contemporaries.

Its ok at wider ranges and has pretty decent bokeh, so its got potential for some portrait work and a variety of work if your prepared to lug it around. Bigma - I have the "for Olympus 4/3" fit "EX Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG HSM" and not it will not fit on the Pentax (because Sigma fitted it with a permanent 4/3 adapter), it is adapted to MFT with DMW-MA1. I actually have two of them. One is broken with a strip lead off which means neither the AF not the aperture works, spares. The other is a "good" copy. Because it was built for these systems only the AF works imperfectly (the AF motors are old school), everything else feeds through, the lens is recognised, the aperture automated and corrections applied. Nearest modern Sigma range would be Sport, or Art. The new lens coating reduces flare and ghost, which is a common problem of digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance. This is our first user review for Sigma’s new “OS” image-stabilized 50-500mm “Bigma” zoom lens. The Bigma is popular with wildlife photographers who want an economical and reasonably sized alternative to big telephoto prime lenses. I’ve been waiting for a review of this lens because the OS image stabilization makes it a much more compelling superzoom option. Cara’s review is a good one, too – detailed and well written. It also highlights the fact that you can rent lenses if you’re not ready to buy them. I still kept my Tamron 70-300mm because that has a macro feature that his doesn't, although looking at some other people's photos (nice butterfly above) perhaps "macro" mode is not really necessary.With a 5D Mark III behind it, I captured hundreds of shots of athletes in action with the majority of those images being properly focused.

External zoom system (but this is not a critical problem), Weight (not easy to carry for a long at the field for somebodies) No, this particular lens will not fit the Pentax. I believe the original Bigma was built for Olympus 4/3 (4/3 sensor with mirror) c.2003. All lenses for that system can be properly adapted electronically to MFT. Which is why I got them, at the time there was nothing close to their length that would fit. But it is the same lens discussed here.

FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing (I really like this feature) is available and the front element does not rotate. I'm completely happy with the Bigma. It provides superb results, considering the zoom range and price. It pretty much loses autofocus capability with the converter, but since you're using 500 to 700mm, autofocus probably isn't your main concern. It's not a wildlife lens, unless your wildlife doesn't move around much and poses in perfect daylight conditions. This lens needs some modern camera capable of clean ISO800-1600 for good use handheld. SR helps a lot, but does no magic. You'll need at least 1/200s shutter speed or faster at 500mm to keep image sharp. With K10D or other older models, or with film, you'll need good tripod or sunny day. If you want to use this lens for moon shots or 500mm nature shots (or any with shutter speed slower than 1/800 sec), you need to use the skills and technique required to do this well. This means using a solid tripod and head, mirror up mode, stopping down the lens a bit, and using a remote shutter release... and all in a wind protected area. Wait for the mirror vibe to settle before taking the shot, using only a remote release. If you cheat on any of these, don't expect perfection with ANY long lens. While the D3x employs automatic chromatic aberration reduction, CA is significant only when set to 50mm. At other settings, CA is nominal.

While it is easy to sit in one location and create a wide variety of subject framing from this lens, don't let the huge focal length range make you lazy. I will use as a reference for this review the Canon 70-200 F2.8L which, I believe, is one of the greatest sub-2k lens available: With this lens, add a vertical grip to your camera body, you stand out from the rest of the crowd of picture takers as a serious gent. This can get you respect from the crowd milling around, and helps give you access to the vantage points you need. Any 10x DSLR zoom lens is going to be attractive, but one that ends with a 500mm focal length is going to get an especially large amount of attention. By adding an APO teleconverter (sold separately), you can use this lens as a 140-700mm F7.3-8.8 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 1.4X EX teleconverter, or as a 200-1000mm F10.4-12.6 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 2X teleconverter.（Teleconverters can be used in 100mm – 500mm focal length range）

Is this lens more work than your average lens? Of course it is. Being new to photography, I had difficulty with the lens initially but I didnt blame the lens. It will take you some time to master this lens, but once you do, it will amaze you. Some pieces of advice. Try and stay in the f8 range. Use the rolling shutter button technique. Make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/focal distance when possible when hand holding. If you can't do that, take a bunch of pictures and a few will come out regardless of the conditions. If you want to capture a subject as enlarged as possible, zoom to 200mm where the 1:3.1 MM label rests against the end of the zoom ring (0.32). The 50-500 OS Lens' predecessor, the pre-OS Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM Lens AKA "Bigma", shares the range but has a 1/3-stop faster "f/4" in its spec

Files printed to A3 on an Epsom 1290 printer showed the lens to be sharp enough for the vast majority of circumstances with good contrast throughout the focal range. Although not producing the exceptional levels of say, the 120-300 EX, it certainly beats the average zoom lenses.

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If you don't need the extra wide-angle or telephoto capabilities, you may wish to consider this model, which includes optical image stabilization. Image sharpness is comparable, perhaps even a little better at the ''wide'' end (120mm), but is noticeably weaker at 400mm. Chromatic aberration performance is significantly better, and results for corner shading and distortion are about the same. That last 100mm of range is the Tamron's weakest, but again, the Tamron is considerably sharper than the Sigma from 300-500mm. I’m currently in my second two week rental of this lens. Note that is second rental, not second week of the first rental. I think from the fact that I opted to rent it again, you may be able to guess that I rather like it.