*UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

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Archive 2008 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

davekone
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p.2 #1 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

mfisnc wrote:
looks pretty good .
do you have some more ??
eric

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Jun 21, 2008 at 10:13 AM

yido
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p.2 #2 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Nice to see some comparisons.
Thanks.

Jun 22, 2008 at 07:08 PM

dfresh
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p.2 #3 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

You're right, your copy of the Bigma is pretty darn good!

Jun 22, 2008 at 08:03 PM

davekone
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p.2 #4 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

After shooting with the lens yesterday and a few more tests today I can say that I am consistently getting better shots with OS turned off. This copy is definitely softer in the 400-500mm range versus the 50-500. I can say that below 400mm it is on par with the 50-500.

This copy is going back to Sigma, the OS issue is baffling. I purchased this lens hoping for decent OS performance in the 300mm+ range in less than ideal light. As of the moment it seems to do more damage on than off.

After this one is sent back I will update everyone again. I will also say that my 1st 50-500 was not nearly as good in the 400+ range as my second copy. We will see.

Edited on Jun 22, 2008 at 09:21 PM

Jun 22, 2008 at 09:20 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.2 #5 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

I wouldn't touch the 120-400 or 150-500 until they release the mk II versions. Sigma lately has been releasing lenses that don't live up to expectations like the original 50-150 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 macro and have now replaced them. There have been a lot of issues with the 120-400 and apparently 150-500. I'd be waiting a lot longer before going near them. Shame really as the 150-500 is something I'd like. I wish Canon would get a 150-500 f/4.5-5.6L IS out the door.

BTW is the 150-500 closer to actually being a 500mm than the Bigma which is really more a 465mm?

Jun 23, 2008 at 01:20 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #6 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Dave, are these full pictures or 100% crops?

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jun 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM

davekone
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p.2 #7 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Yakim Peled wrote:
Dave, are these full pictures or 100% crops?
Yakim.

The test photos "Price" & "Cranium" are 100% crops. The air show photos form my 50-500 are: 1st full image, then second a 100% crop.

Edited on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:55 AM

Jun 23, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #8 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

If so, I'd still take the 150-500 for its IS.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jun 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM

davekone
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p.2 #9 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Yakim Peled wrote:
If so, I'd still take the 150-500 for its IS.

Not trying to be rude, but obviously you did not read all my comments through this thread, especially about the OS. Go back and read each of my posts.

Edited on Jun 23, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Jun 23, 2008 at 11:17 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #10 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

I did. I am guessing it's a problem in this specific copy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jun 23, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Gerry Szarek
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p.2 #11 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Did you consider the Tamron 200-500, or is there a reason to avoid this lens?

Thanks,
Gerry

Jun 23, 2008 at 11:54 AM

Paul Gardner
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p.2 #12 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Bigma:
http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/snowbirds
http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/shoreline_5d_first_images

Jun 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM

RobertLynn
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p.2 #13 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Regardless if the 150-500 is actually 500 over the Bigma, the Bigma clearly kicks the 150-500's butt in this comp.

Jun 23, 2008 at 03:02 PM

davekone
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p.2 #14 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Gerry Szarek wrote:
Did you consider the Tamron 200-500, or is there a reason to avoid this lens?

Thanks,
Gerry

Tamon does not have stabilization and a slow focusing motor. My 50-500 works well for me but have always wanted a copy with IS or in Sigmas case OS.

Jun 23, 2008 at 03:20 PM

davekone
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p.2 #15 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Yakim Peled wrote:
I did. I am guessing it's a problem in this specific copy.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

I hope you are corrrect!

Jun 23, 2008 at 03:20 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #16 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

We'll see when your second copy arrives.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jun 24, 2008 at 06:51 AM

davekone
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p.2 #17 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

UPDATE:
The 150-500 replacement arrived. This OS seems to do a better job, and its a tad sharper at the 500mm end. This is much closer to what I would expect out of the box. It takes time to get used to new lens and at least I feel I can work with this copy. Did I mention that this lens is much lighter or feels much lighter than the 50-500?

Here are two samples. The cat photo has OS turned on very slow shutter speed of 1/30th 500mm f6.3. The transformer was at 1/500th OS turned on 500mm f6.3.

Edited by davekone on Jul 02, 2008 at 06:51 PM GMT

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Edited on Jul 02, 2008 at 11:51 PM

Jul 02, 2008 at 11:45 PM

davekone
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p.2 #18 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Edited on Jul 02, 2008 at 11:47 PM

Jul 02, 2008 at 11:45 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.2 #19 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

1/30 is probably asking for too much from the OS but the 1/500 looks very good. Looking forward to more pictures.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Jul 03, 2008 at 05:34 AM

davekone
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p.2 #20 · *UPDATED* A Sigma 50-500 150-500 comparison

Yakim Peled wrote:
1/30 is probably asking for too much from the OS but the 1/500 looks very good. Looking forward to more pictures.

Yakim, Do you own one of these Sigma super zoom lenses? Are you considering purchasing one?

The reason I did 1/30th is that the last lens OS improvement could only be seen at ridiculously slow shutter speeds. As I shoot with it over the next several days I'll post my experiences.

In a direct 500mm to 500mm comparison the Bigma 50-500 still has the edge in clarity compared to the new 150-500. So far as 500mm the field of view appears to be the same, one does not have more reach than the other. The 150-500 appears to deliver more saturation and contrast, almost to the point one would say its slightly to much. Since this lens is 150-500 instead of 50-500 it has a longer hood, I think this was a smart move but some will still want the 50-150 range covered as I do for Air Shows. This is not a show stopper given I tend to use the lens mostly in the 300-500 range for wild life as well.

I really want the image quality of this lens to be as good as my 50-500. The reason I wanted this lens was to have stabilization especially while at the long end of the lens. If you are in the market for a lens like this especially for an economical way to shoot birds or wildlife I believe you would be happy with it. For me I have wanted and hoped Simga would introduce a 50-500 with OS or something similar. I think for those of us in this boat a more expensive lens from Sigma that performed better would be our desire. I'd gladly shell out $1,500 for a 150-500 or 50-500 with OS that performed optically like or better than the 50-500.

Edited on Jul 03, 2008 at 11:51 AM

Jul 03, 2008 at 11:48 AM

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