Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
This Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Lens is an ultra telephoto zoom lens ideal for nature, wildlife, or sports photography. This zoom range translates into an equivalent range of 240-800mm when used with a Canon digital SLR camera.
The OS (Optical Stabilizer) system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed 3-4 stops faster. This allows handheld telephoto zoom shooting even in poorly lit conditions.
The use of the OS (Optical Stabilizer) system, HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), APO apochromatic design, three elements of SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, and multicoated optics all enable this lens to provide a high level of performance throughout its entire zoom range, as well as versatility. A rear focus system insures quick, convenient manual focus and a non-rotating front barrel.
The improved DG lens design corrects for various aberrations. This lens is specially coated to get the best color balance, while cutting down on ghosting caused by reflections from the digital image sensor. The lens provides the utmost correction against lateral chromatic aberration, which is a serious problem for digital SLR cameras.
By adding the optional Sigma APO teleconverter, you can use this lens as a 210-700mm f/7-9 manual focus ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 1.4X EX teleconverter, or as a 300-1000mm f/10-13 manual focus ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 2X teleconverter.
- The OS system uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical and horizontal movement of the camera. It works by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group, to effectively compensate for camera shake. It automatically detects movement of the camera and compensates for camera shake when shooting moving subject such as motor sports.
- The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system ensures quiet and high-speed auto focusing with full time manual focus override.
- Three Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration.
- Super Multi Layer (SML) coating reduces ghost and flare.
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 150 - 500 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/5 - 6.3 Minimum: f/22 |
| Camera Mount Type | Canon EF |
| Format Compatibility |
35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Canon (APS-C) |
| Angle of View | 16.4° - 5° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 7.22' (2.20 m) |
| Magnification | 0.19x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:5.2 |
| Groups/Elements | 15/21 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | Yes |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 86 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 3.7 x 9.9" (9.40 x 25.15 cm) |
| Weight | 4.19 lb (1.90 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 90 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
93%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (74)
- Strong construction (53)
- Durable (45)
- Consistent output (39)
- Easily interchangeable (36)
Cons
- Heavy (47)
- Poor in low light (13)
- Lens creep (7)
- Blurry focus (6)
- Slow focus (6)
Best Uses
- Wildlife photos (51)
- Sports/action (42)
- Wildlife (23)
- Landscape/scenery (18)
- General purpose (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (42), Enthusiast (13), Semi-pro photographer (12), Semi-professional (7), Casual photographer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (31), Yes (4)
Most Liked Positive Review
Affordable Birding Lens
I have owned this lens for about 16 months now. I am an amateur/enthusiast that uses this lens mainly for birding. I am a male 61 years of age and while a lot ...Read complete review
I have owned this lens for about 16 months now. I am an amateur/enthusiast that uses this lens mainly for birding. I am a male 61 years of age and while a lot of reviews state that this lens is heavy you will not find a birding lens that is lighter in the 500mm range. I will use this lens hand held all day as I make frequent trips to the coast to photograph birds. I find that staying on the move and photographing birds in flight with a monopod is somewhat cumbersome. The excellent image stabilization helps in that respect. I often will take a thousand or more exposures during the course of the day. I also own a Canon 100-400mm lens and I usually use that for sports action. In my opinion, the Sigma is very close in quality to the Canon lens. The OS system is good if not quite as fast as the Canon. Both lens get confused with a lot of contrast so that is not an issue with me. The quality (sharpness, contrast, color, etc.) is very close also the the Canon lens. If there is a slight problem with the OS it is that sometimes the system will initialize and then seem to hang up when focusing on some objects. It definitely is not an issue that would deter me from using or buying this product. I get 100mm more range with an updated image stabilization system and fast auto focusing. There is one piece of advice I would pass on to someone using this lens for the first time. I find the quality of the photo has a lot to do with technique with this lens. I use this lens on a Canon 7D which gives me the equivalent (field of view) of an 800mm lens. Hand holding thus requires good technigue especially when photographing birds in flight. I find it makes a big difference gripping lens near the end to reduce vibration. You will be surprised in the difference when the lens is not held firmly near the end to seady this movement. I think with practice you will find your shots improving greatly by doing this. There is probably more but overall this lens is the best you will find with this kind of range for this price. If I had a lot of money maybe I would purchase a Canon high-end product but I'm not sure I could justify the price for what I do. This would also probably be the difference in my ability to hand hold a birding lens all day since the weight would increase dramatically. One other note. While the lens has a low light performance of 6.3f at 500mm the image stabilization is very good. With my camera body I have an equivalent range of 800mm. I can hand hold and get acceptable photos at around three stops at times (around 100mm) and for sure around two stops. So don't let the 6.3f prevent you from purchasing this lens if that is a major sticking point.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Very nice lens, but not without issues
Pros: Very nice range and OS gets you 4 stops or so when it's working. Lens sharpens up nicely by f/8 on the long end. It is well-built and has EX-grade finish (...Read complete review
Pros: Very nice range and OS gets you 4 stops or so when it's working. Lens sharpens up nicely by f/8 on the long end. It is well-built and has EX-grade finish (although not officially an EX lens). The ring HSM is not as responsive as my Sigma 100-300, but is largely adequate considering the focal range of the lens. It tracks large birds quite nicely and has a high keeper rate for such shots. It also has very nice minimum focusing distance which seems to provide 1:3 to 1:4 magnification at 500mm. It can give reasonable images with Sigma's 1.4x TC, but the 2x TC really isn't suitable (except in times of desperation, perhaps).
Cons: The OS seems to be unstable. Sometimes it activates and works as it's supposed to (within about 1 second), while other times it does not seem to engage or will engage then drop the OS. I will likely send mine in to have Sigma take a look at it. The focus is very nice in good lighting (but not excellent), but will hunt in poor lighting at the long end. The zoom lock is a bit finicky - you have to be exactly in the right spot for it to engage and it's not the minimum turn.
Overall: If Sigma can rectify the OS issue, then I would give this lens a 4 to 5-star rating. I am hopeful that they will be able to do so; otherwise I'm a bit disappointed in it. It's not what I expected compared to my other Sigma lenses (and I own 7 others).
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 90 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I use this lens for wildlife photography, primarily birds so the OS feature is a godsend in lower light conditions. I previously had a Tamron 200-500 mm and the Sigma lens if 1.5 lbs heavier but I have had no issue with putting the camera on the shoulder and using it handheld. Even after miles of walking and shootoing no shoulder or neck ache.
The OS system definitely gains a good couple of f stops although as yet I have not tried the '2' setting for panning. The OS system does click on and off but so far no wildlife has heard it and departed due to the noise.
I am very happy with the lens as a great trade off between price (I can't justify spending thousands on a lens)and performance.
The lens is sturdy and better built than the Tamron.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Great picture quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Wildlife
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
Great crisp photos
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Great color
- Great picture quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
nice crisp photos..
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I have the Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon 300 IS USM f4L. I also have the Canon 1.4x EF Extender II (Teleconverter).
This 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Sigma Lens was cheaper than either one of the Canon Lenses and in my opinion for the money is just as good. I use it on a Canon 7D mostly for bird pictures and I'm pleased with the results. It does like the sun, as with the Canon 100-400 the focus is a little slow in low light. I knew that before I bought it so that doesn't bother me. I'm pleased with the Optical Stabilizer, in my opinion works as well as the Canon IS. Some complain about the weight. But it goes to 500mm. It isn't a small lens, so if you want 500mm then accept the size. I studied and researched this lens before I bought it and no, it isn't a Canon, but to get a Canon 500mm f4L is nearly $11,000 not $1100. To me for that kind of money you have to give the Sigma a shot. I did. I love it. I would buy it again...
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
Cons
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
Purchased the lens to replace the Sigma 170-500mm. Lens is far superior than previous lens owned. I used it for the 1st time this weekend and able to take photos consistently without a tripod. I found that it focused fairly quickly and the optical stabilizer operated as expected. It is a little heavy, but I did expect that.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- NONE
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
When I saw the results of my first photos of a female Ruby Throat in the late afternoon, I couldn't believe my eyes! Never in my life had a seen such clarity and sharpness. I was absolutely thrilled. I have other telephoto lenses but this particular lens outshines all of them. it certainlyis worth every penny that I paid for it and then some. I am so very glad that I bought it and I will really enjoy using it on a continuing basis. I use it with Canon eos 7d and the combination works perfectly.
So, once again i will reiterate that it was a great purchase of a reasonably priced magnificent lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I use this with 50d
Its a value for money product
The lens is not good for low light
you can check the result on INW
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I purchased this product as an anniversary gift for my wife. On her first outing she was able to take photos like a pro. We now have to purchase an external hard drive for the computer because of the additional pics she now has, lol
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Lightweight
- Price
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Blurry Focus
- Huge oversized lens case
- Poor in Low Light
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I recently bought this lens to compliment my Canon EF 400mm / 5.6 lens. I mainly photograph birds, with a focus on raptors in flight. This lens is nice for the price. Compared to the Canon 400 mm the image quality is not as good when fully open (5.6 on the Canon, 6.3 at 500 mm on the Sigma). The degradation on image quality is really noticeable in this regard. My Canon 400mm is fine fully open. When stopped down to f/8 or smaller the Sigma does however have very good IQ. Very impressive. I am using this with a Canon 7D. The autofocus is much slower than the Canon 400mm, noticeably slower. I have also used this with Kenko 1.4x extender and it does not have the IQ I want, or expect -- this has been stopped down with a tripod and in manual focus mode. One issue here is the manual focus is hard to evaluate when looking through the viewfinder, I should maybe try in live mode on the 7D to see if that helps me get a better focu. BTW, this lens does NOT work with the Canon 1.4x III extender, you can not put the Sigma lens onto the Canon Extender -- it will not fit. So, why 4 stars then? 1) great price for a reasonable 500 mm lens. 2) well made, feels very solid. 3) works well when there is enough light to shoot at lower f/# settings. 4) light enough to actually take hand held shots for most bird shots. The slower autofocus though makes BIF photography harder though. Overall, I am glad I made this purchase. The next step would have been a lot of cash (e.g. for a Canon 500 mm lens).
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I have been using the product for landscape and wildlife which is a result of the MO river flooding. I am a bit of an amateur and this lens has helped me really technically focus. I see nothing different between my buddies L glass shots and my shots other than this lens was significanlty better in pricing.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
So far happy with product. A little heavier then I expected but after using for a while have gotten comfortable using the lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
We use this lens all the time. We want to be ready for any animal, bird, or flower that we see. It takes amazing pictures. The only complaint I would have is that it is heavy.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I am a bird lover (birder) since I was a kid and have been photographing birds for more than 30 years now. I needed a Canon telephoto lens to take those hard to get photos but they are too expensive, so I searched the internet and came up with a review of the Sigma 150-500 mm lens which said that the quality of the photos compares favorably with those taken by Canon lenses, and decided to give it a try.
Since then (it has been 2 months since I got it) I have taken hundreds of spectacular photos which are the envy of my fellow hobby mates. This lens has the OS (Optical Stabilizer) features that make you get a sharp and high define picture under any conditions. And the best of all, it has automatic focus which works perfectly with my Canon XSi camera and costs a fraction of a Canon telephoto lens. Although it is a little bit heavy, the results you get make you forget about this only negative feature. Thank you Sigma for this great lens!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
- Lens Creep
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
Uses: wildlife photography
Pros: nice sharp images even with some handheld work. I'm still practicing to see if I can photo birds in flight without a tripod.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Fast focus
- Sharp Image
Cons
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I use this lens for wildlife, bird watching and kids' sports. Very fast focus with sharp images at 500mm. Would recommend this lens for everyone needing a large magnification lens. The only negative is the lens is a little heavy, but I think all lenses this size is heavy. Using it on a tripod solves the weight issue.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
Used for birds in the backyard so far. Works better than I expected. Haven't tried any low light yet. Focus is fast and quiet on my Canon 40D. OS is super, haven't had a blurry picture yet, haven't needed a tripod. Looking forward to a field trip.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I bought this lens mainly to shoot wildlife and so far it hasnt let me down. The only area I can rate it bad is low light and that should be expected with a max aperature of 5-6.3
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- NONE
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I want to start by saying that I own the Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and it was great. But I feel the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO is every bit as good if not even a little better in some areas. I use the lens mostly for birds but will use it for sports as time allows. I've noticed shots at dusk have been sharper and the focus did not take as long as the Canon would. It does love the light like the Canon but I feel it performed better in low light. It might just be the lens I have but I love it. I bought a Canon 7D the same day and they work great together. I read a lot of reviews for this lens before I bought it. Most all comments bring up how heavy it is. I honestly don't think it's that bad. When you buy a lens like this you expect it to be heavy and I don't think it's much different than the Canon. I would buy this lens again and will now consider buying another Sigma in the 70-200mm range. I have three "L" lens, I wish I would have tried a Sigma a long time ago..[...]
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Poor in Low Light
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
I purchased this lens from B&H 3 months ago, so I had time enough to evaluate it.
The lens is heavy, but for a lens this big, its weight is very decent. I feel comfortable to carry it by hand, but a tripod or monopod sure helps.
The images I took with this lens didn't disappoint me. They can be a little bit blurry for very distant subjects (I would say more than 100 meters), but I must be sincere, I never tested another 500 mm lens to compare the results. However, closer subjects look very good. Bu the way, the other telephoto lens I have is a Canon 70/300m and it presents a similar lost of sharpness on telephoto position.
I believe because its minimum aperture at supertele position (f/6.3) it is a little bit poor in low light. This demands higher ISO sensitivity and some details will be lost.
Of course, I believe I could have better results with other lenses with larger aperture, but their cost are way beyond what I am willing to expend, since I am not a pro, just an amateur having fun.
Right now, I am studding to buy a tougher tripod, since the one I have bears the lens+camera (Canon 50D) weight with severe limitations.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS:
For wildlife photos. Was so impressed on how detail shows up so well. I am just starting at photography, so I am so amazed at the quality of pics I have been able to take.
Cons. The weight
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Displaying reviews 1-20
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- Price: $95.88
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- Price: $39.95
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- Price: $79.99
- Price: $89.99
What's in the Box
- Front & Rear Caps
- Lens Hood
- TS-31 Tripod Collar
- Case
- Strap
- 3-Year USA Warranty
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