Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I had a hard time deciding between this and the Canon 100-400L. Ultimately I picked this because of 1:the much more recent design, 2: the increased reach, 3: better claimed OS/IS and 4: the fact that Sigma has improved its quality greatly over the last few years.
This was the right choice for me. I have used this lens for 4 1/2 months. I have used it for wild life, sports and an air show. It feels solid in my hands with no slop or play and a firm zoom ring. I am pleased with its results. At the Air Show it did occasionally hunt for focus on the fast moving planes that are colored similar to the sky but generally did quite well. The image quality is very good and perfectly good for 11x14 prints at the very least.
It is softer at its widest f stops with vignetting on 5Dii near the widest end but it does not stand out in a bad way from other lenses and seems fairly average. IT IS HEAVY, no joke but with this range that problem can't be avoided. OS (IS, VR, VC) is as good and quiet as my Canon lenses. If you think this lens will be useful indoors or in low light you are wrong, it is weak in low light and I expected that. It is great in bright light and by its numbers that is what it is designed to do. -E-

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

Been using this to take some really good wildlife photos. Works very nicely with lots of sunlight. But when used at the 500mm range with less light, the picture is quite degraded. Lense is also very heavy.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I use it for birds, flowers,people at public events.
It works well when using AF. There are times when the image isn't tack-sharp. I don't know if it's me or the lens. I thought the OS would take care of that. Need to work with it more.
It is quite heavy (6 lbs.), so to help stabalize it I use a monopod. I also noticed some slight vignetting.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

Unbelievable zoomed close shots 15 or so feet away looks like macro lens

Kinda heavy but it focuses fast and perfectly.

I am so glad i bought this lens. Saved 8000 as opposed to the Canon ES400 f2.8. This lens is fast even at f4.5 I could not be more pleased.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

It is very usefully to have a lens that has a nice range. Instead of carrying many different lenses.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

This is a great lens for the money. After Micro adjustments with my Canon 7D. (This lens had forward focus). Moved it to a -3°. Now very sharp at F/8. Talked to a wildlife photographer that uses the Sigma 150-500 and now this lens. He said that he uses this lens at F/8 and he is right. You'll have to go to a higher ISO to get a faster shutter to freeze those flying birds, but I had no issues with noise that can't be removed in Lightroom 3. Will be taking this lens to Alaska this year other than renting a Canon 500mm. Using this lens so far, I'm glad I could zoom out a little to frame my shot better. You get a wide range with this lens. Yes I have most of the Canon L lenses but I wanted something that could reach out there. The Auto Focus is better in good light and the OS worked well when I was walking with Big Horn Sheep the other day in Borrego Springs. If this fits an open spot in your lens collection as it did mine, than yes this lens is well worth it. You can always rent one of those over priced Canon lenses.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I was a little leary about buying this lens but now after using it I am glad I got it.
yes it is heavy but I do fine using it on a monopod and even have taken handheld shots and the pictures are really good for this kind of a lens.Don't know how it would work without the IS though. Am happy with it. I find it autofocus fast enough for me and the autofocus is quiet on my camera(Canon D50). I also really like the bokeh on it when I take close up shots of flowers

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

Wow is an understatement. This is the second 50-500mm Sigma lens I've purchased. I use the lens when shooting wildlife, specifically the kind that eats meat, and when shooting landscapes. The first didn't have image stabilization so was a little difficult to hand hold without a good tripod, but even it was a great lens. This one with stabilization is without doubt fantastic. Photos are clear and crisp. While a little heavy its a great lens to have in the field. Imaging starting at 50mm and being able to go all the way to 500mm telephoto in one lens. I wont be in the field without it. [...]Overall great experience and great lens.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

THIS LENS IS A FINE LENS, MOST OF THE TIME I USE IT AT 500mm END OF THE RANGE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I ZOOM BACK WHEN THE ANIMAL I AM TAKING THE PICTURE OF COMES CLOSER. I CAN NOT WALK, SO THIS LENS BRINGS THINGS TO ME. THE LENS IS HEAVY, BUT I SIT IN MY WALOKER AND HAND HOLD IT.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I got this lens for wildlife photography to use with a Canon 5D Mark II, and it works very, very well with my camera. I am very satisfied with the image quality and lens operation. The only down side with this lens is the weight. It is luggable, but heavy. For me, the trade off in considering competitors was a lighter lens that did not have image stabilization, or this one which clearly wins because of the built in lens stabilizaiton. The range is phenomenal and the image quality is great throughout the range.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

First, this lens is not as heavy to use as many reviews indicate. Yes it's heavy but what should one expect when using a 500mm lens. The weight is not my issue.

(I should note that I used this for a full day hand held and didn't have a weight problem. I will try this lens this week on a tripod which when combined with the camera and lens is a heavier rig to schlep around!)

The problem with this lens is image quality. From 50-300 images are very sharp and well focused. From 300-400 image quality falls off a bit but is still very good.

But by the time you get to 500, image quality is noticeably off. Not that images are fuzzy or not recognizable; they just look slightly out of focus.

I am using this lens on my Canon 7D. Since I bought this camera I have never been totally satisfied with image quality with this camera. The only lens I've used with this camera that I've been totally happy with has been Canon's 300mm L lens. 5-star image quality. I mention this because I suspect a little of the image quality issue I have with this Sigma lens can be attributed to the 7D.

Had I been more happy with image quality with my 7D, I'd knock off one more star from this rating but I've rated this lens four stars on the suspicion that some of the drop off at 500mm is due to the 7D.

All of this said, I am keeping this lens because I really wanted something to get the extra reach that my Canon 300 couldn't get and I'd rather have the shot than not. And having the 50-500 zoom lets me have to carry only one lens on my Canon (in addition to the other camera and lenses I carry).

I'll also add that the image stabilization on this lens works very well! That alone is worth an extra star.

If there is any improvement with the camera and lens combo when I use this with a tripod later this week, I'll update this review to indicate the improvement.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

So far the pictures that I have taken are sharp as a tack.
I have been using this lens for all around use, so far mostly birds, mammals, and some landscape.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

this lens is all that I expected, it is a bit heavy, but thats ok, it takes clear pictures, I take pictures of birds and wildlife and its great for this, I highly recommend it.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I have used the older version for over 4 years and been happy with it. But the new OS version will expand the capabilities of this lens significantly allowing bird photos in lower light, hand held. I have been able to shoot at 1/125 and got sharp results. The closer focus will expand it to large insects and other close ups.
THe old lens has been used for 5 years almost every day. I expect the same durability out of the new version.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

Great lens but it is a little heavey

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

Its hard to compare this lens since there really isn't anything out there to compare it to. If you are looking for the same quality as a prime 500mm lens, then you will be disappointed, but for the price and the flexibility, there isn't anything better on the market. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants a great deal of flexibility and a solid telephoto lens. For sample pictures and much more thorough reviews, just google search 50-500mm Sigma and you will find a great deal of information and comparison photos with other lenses. Overall, I love this thing! (Yes it is heavy, but look at the weight of most 500mm lenses and this is light in comparison.)

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I consider myself to be an advanced hobbyist with limited funds. This lens is used mainly for wildlife but is great in almost any situation. Having only one camera body and not carrying a bunch of equipment and lenses around, this lens gives the widest possible range. It's weight, especially when attached to a heavy camera can make it cumbersome, but when compared to all the other lenses you would have to pack and carry, makes it much less so. I have it attached to the Canon 1D MarkIIn and the results have been excellent, even when comparing it to the Canon 70-200L 2.8 IS.
The OS works well, the clarity and sharpness are very good and the focus is easily as fast as the Canon lens. I look very closely at very fine details (feathers on Great Blue chicks and Great Egrets) and so far have not been disappointed.
The only physical/mechanical flaw I have come across so far is the little locking mechanism...sometimes it won't engage and lock the lens in. The lens is only a few weeks old but so far it is still tight and doesn't drift or creep, so the lock isn't that important to me, but it's enough to take a star off. I own an older version of this lens (non OS) and the inner elements are now coated with dust and the aperture no longer functions. I'm hoping they did a better job sealing this lens, but I'm not expecting it considering the low price.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I read many articles about this lens prior to my purchase. Many people said the lens always needs a tripod, others said it takes poor low light photos. First I found that I have taken many, very clear photos of wildlife without a tripod at full zoom. Secondly low light condition, unless you want to spend thousands of dollars all lenses with this much zoom will require a tripod to take a nice photo under low light conditions. The auto focus works just as well as any of the cannon lenses that I have.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

I bought this lens beause of price and use. I have a T1i Canon and lens works great so far.
I will be getting out more when weather improves. Only have taken about 20-50 pictures so far but an very happy with the results.

Comments about Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:

lense is heavy, takes some time to get used to.
should come with a instruction book,not a multi lingual pamphlet.Still unsure of some of the functions,OS 1& OS 2 for example.