Is Sigma 500mm F4.5 a good alternative to the Canon 500L F4 IS? IS or not, I have no problem with it since I used a tripod for bird photography anyway. Currently using a 400L F5.6 + 1.4 converter on a 1D MarkII. The Sigma is cheaper, about $1000+ cheaper.
TooManyShots wrote:
Is Sigma 500mm F4.5 a good alternative to the Canon 500L F4 IS? IS or not, I have no problem with it since I used a tripod for bird photography anyway. Currently using a 400L F5.6 + 1.4 converter on a 1D MarkII. The Sigma is cheaper, about $1000+ cheaper.
Thanks.
I am interesting in this lens real shots/test results too, to me nothing yet could come close to 500L F4 IS
Oct 18, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Since we're bringing old threads back to life (seriously, who actually reads that far back, and then replies?) ---
IIRC, Victor actually did purchase the Sigma for a short while. He was not satisfied with his crops, as he claimed they were unsharp. I'm not sure if it was technique or just "Sigma", but he ended returning the lens for the Canon.
All this from foggy memory on Ars Technica's Perpetual Photography Thread, back when I was a Pentax shooter I believe.
Well at least we know saaketham tried to search before starting a new thread. I guess he kinda went overboard with it though. I would've just started my own and eerily, I was thinking about starting a new thread comparing the 500L and the Sigma 500.
I have had two Sigmas and two Canons. The Sigma's do not AF with the 1d III and TC. Not sure why - this was a glitch that maybe has been fixed in firmware. So be aware if that.
As with many Professional Lenses, if you put both lenses on a solid tripod with the sun at your back, appropriate fill flash, and stop down a notch or two, the images will be virtually indistinguishable. However, when lighting begins to be a challenge, you need those TCs for reach, or the wind is blowing the Canon 500mm will come away with many more keepers. Overall, I subjectively felt I got way more WOW shots with the Canon than the Sigma.
n0b0 wrote:
Well at least we know saaketham tried to search before starting a new thread. I guess he kinda went overboard with it though. I would've just started my own and eerily, I was thinking about starting a new thread comparing the 500L and the Sigma 500.
I own a community on orkut (google's version of facebook, which is big in India and Brazil), which currently has 75,000+ members. And one of the rules we try to maintain is that members should search and reuse an existing thread so that all the content related to a particular event/politician/actor/whatever is contained within one thread and makes it easy for people to read later. I did search for Sigma 500mm and found this thread and thought of re-using it, rather than create a new one. Maybe the OP himself might have his experiences with this lens to add, which will be valuable.
I bought this lens on FM last week .. the old non-DG version, for much cheaper than a used Canon 500 f/4.5 non-IS. I'm also considering an upgrade to my camera body to a 7D or something .... so didn't want to spend all the $ on the Canon lens. I'm supposed to get the Sigma on Friday .. will see if I can get decent shots with it. Will be taking it to Florida in 2 weeks .. Venice rookery, Sanibel Island, etc.
Another FM-er sent me a link to his picasaweb albums full of bird photos - many of which were taken with the Sigma 500 on a 20D, 30D and so on. They're really good samples, and I'm prepared to settle for that quality if I can get close to what he's getting. But, if anyone else has some samples taken with this lens to share, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Wow, someone dig up this old thread from last year.....?? I got a 500L F4 IS around February. Did try the Sigma but I believed the 2 copies I tried were missing focus. Soft. Muddy looking shots. Shooting a dollar bill and at 100% crop the shot looked fine. In the real world with ducks and birds? The lens wasn't cutting it. Even my 400L F5.6 beats the IQ on that lens. Some serious quality control issue with the expensive Sigma telephoto lenses. The 2 I tried were from BH, brand new. I am sure the lens would perform great if it is re-calibrated by Sigma. I was dropping more than $4k on a lens and I still have to send it back to Sigma to have it re-calibrated? Total ridiculous. I was in heaven the first day I got my 500L F4 IS.
TooManyShots wrote:
Wow, someone dig up this old thread from last year.....?? I got a 500L F4 IS around February. Did try the Sigma but I believed the 2 copies I tried were missing focus. Soft. Muddy looking shots. Shooting a dollar bill and at 100% crop the shot looked fine. In the real world with ducks and birds? The lens wasn't cutting it. Even my 400L F5.6 beats the IQ on that lens. Some serious quality control issue with the expensive Sigma telephoto lenses. The 2 I tried were from BH, brand new. I am sure the lens would perform great if it is re-calibrated by Sigma. I was dropping more than $4k on a lens and I still have to send it back to Sigma to have it re-calibrated? Total ridiculous. I was in heaven the first day I got my 500L F4 IS. ...Show more →
I got mine 500L F4 IS two weeks ago and still in heaven what a lens!!! Ultimate birding machine
Wow, Leonid......that's one of the best (and chubbiest) Road Runners I have ever seen.
I love naturally looking shots, well and generously framed with a sense of composition.
PetKal wrote:
Wow, Leonid......that's one of the best (and chubbiest) Road Runners I have ever seen.
I love naturally looking shots, well and generously framed with a sense of composition.
Thanks, you were right this lens fine to handold, monopod max I need so far. I guess gimbal will help if I shoot something in flight. Tenba 400 also holds this lens with 2x + mk III fine.
Would you suggest good window bag for car?
?? I got a 500L F4 IS around February. Did try the Sigma but I believed the 2 copies I tried were missing focus. Soft. Muddy looking shots. Shooting a dollar bill and at 100% crop the shot looked fine. In the real world with ducks and birds? The lens wasn't cutting it. Even my 400L F5.6 beats the IQ on that lens. Some serious quality control issue with the expensive Sigma telephoto lenses. The 2 I tried were from BH, brand new. I am sure the lens would perform great if it is re-calibrated by Sigma. I was dropping more than $4k on a lens and I still have to send it back to Sigma to have it re-calibrated? Total ridiculous. I was in heaven the first day I got my 500L F4 IS. 
