Amateur Photographer Magazine

Skip to Content
Digital Photography Forum - A shared resource

Equipment >> Canon Discussions
 |  Print Topic
Jump to first unread post. Pages: 1
PapaLazarou
member


Reged: 04/01/2006
Posts: 182
Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body
      #675591 - 07/07/2008 12:38

I am thinking of getting one of the big sigma zooms with the 500mm tele end for use on a 1.6x body, anybody got any EXPERIENCE with such a set up?

I'm looking for direct user feedback only please, I've read various reviews and would welcome a valid personal opinion.

I also intend to use any lens on a 35mm EOS as well, so if anybody has any experience of this (not full frame digital, 35mm only, thanks) as well I look forward to your comments.

Many thanks


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
FenModerator
BAD WOLF


Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 20187
Loc: Currently Unknown!
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: PapaLazarou]
      #675604 - 07/07/2008 13:15

I've got the Sigma 50mm-500mm (aka the BIGMA), but use it on my D3. You only want reviews from people using it on 35mm or APS-C bodies though.

--------------------
Fen .......... My Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
PapaLazarou
member


Reged: 04/01/2006
Posts: 182
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: Fen]
      #675628 - 07/07/2008 13:53

Hi Fen

Please share your experience of this lens, I was more hoping to avoid people of the 'have only seen it in a shop / read a review of it but have an opinion anyway' variety.

I won't be using it on a full frame DSLR so the characteristics are different but as you are an actual user please continue.

Cheers


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
FenModerator
BAD WOLF


Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 20187
Loc: Currently Unknown!
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: PapaLazarou]
      #675633 - 07/07/2008 14:13

Quote:

Please share your experience of this lens, I was more hoping to avoid people of the 'have only seen it in a shop / read a review of it but have an opinion anyway' variety.




This isn't DPReview

The Bigma isn't the fastest lens in the world and I don't think you'd be able to keep up with sports cars, but for Nature I think it's a cracking lens.

The two gulls in this thread were taking using it.

Also, this one: Finch


I've also used it for street/general photography and find it to be superb.

The first three photos in this thread were taken with the Bigma.

It's big, it's heavy, but seems sharp enough at both ends. Adding it onto your camera will also make it into a 750mm (approx) lens which can't be bad

What are you planning on using it for?

--------------------
Fen .......... My Galleries - My Blog - My Flickr


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
PapaLazarou
member


Reged: 04/01/2006
Posts: 182
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: Fen]
      #675643 - 07/07/2008 14:35

Cheers Fen

I have been getting more and more into the wildlife stuff, like the range that this lens potentially offers, I have a 70-300 IS lens which is nice and sharp and pretty fast focusing, but sometimes a wee bit extra reach would be nice and a very fast 200 2.8 and a not so fast 135 2.8, so I would probably pare my kit down to accomadate this lens (probably keeping the 200 2.8) I'm just trying to decide if its better to get a big cover all zoom and lose the brightness (also how is focussing speed? have you tried tracking af?) or stick with what I've got and maybe get a canon 2x for the 200...


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
beejaybee
Marvin


Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4485
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: PapaLazarou]
      #675725 - 07/07/2008 16:57

Quote:

maybe get a canon 2x for the 200...




Compact, light, relatively inexpensive and works well... the extender slows the AF down a bit but I think you'd be as happy with the AF speed on a 200/2.8 X2 as you would be with the Bigma.

Of course the Bigma looks more impressive!


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Norman



Reged: 23/09/2004
Posts: 1579
Loc: West London, UK
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: PapaLazarou]
      #675749 - 07/07/2008 17:55

I've had the 170-500 and 50-500 Sigmas. The 50-500 was/is a fine lens but I upgraded to Canon L lenses. I can recommend the 50-500 and can point you to a couple of reviews that helped me decide. clicky and clicky

I don't think there's much point in directing you to web images to demonstrate it's quality because at 600 or 800 pixels most cameras/lenses can impress.

--------------------
Regards,
Norman
www.photobox.org.uk

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the start of a new argument.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Roger_Provins
Made-it Man


Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 2827
Loc: Gloucester, UK
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: PapaLazarou]
      #675753 - 07/07/2008 18:06

I had a 170-500mm Sigma. It was quite sharp throughout the range but I found it too cumbersome and awkward (I have arthritic hands). I still have a Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO Macro (last they made in this series) it is extremely sharp, very smooth to use manually (if needed) and quite fast on auto-focus. I definitely recommend this lens - if you can find one.

--------------------
Rog


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Dave_Cox
old'n'grumpy


Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 2894
Loc: somewhere in Sussex
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: Roger_Provins]
      #675774 - 07/07/2008 18:40

I use the Bigma on the Pentax K10d (APS-C sensor). It's big and heavy but it's a good lens, not the fastest at focussing but that could be down to the Pentax's system. Needs a fast shutter speed even with the cameras anti-shake working though (or of course a tripod/monopod)..
I bought it mainly for wildlife and airshows, and for those it's ideal.

--------------------
Growing old disgracefully..!
http://snapper56.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave2006/


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
BenchistaModerator
Wich Tyler


Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37049
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
Re: Sigma telezoom to 400mm/500mm on EOS APS-C DSLR body [Re: beejaybee]
      #675894 - 07/07/2008 21:53

Certainly I'm a fan of the 200mm and 2X combination.

--------------------
Nick

www.nbrphoto.com

Light and Shade II - the new blog


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1

Subscribe now »

FIRST LOOK: SONY ALPHA 900
Damien Demolder gets a first look at the new 24.6-million-pixel, full-frame Sony Alpha 900. Can it cement the company's reputation as an accepted DSLR manufacturer?

More




Extra information
3 registered and 3 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  admin, GCW, Benchista, Siuya, huwevans, Fen, TheFatControlleR, Damien Demolder, AndrewC, mark_jacobs, daft_biker, Myk.R 


Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      Mark-up is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 835

Rate this topic

Jump to

Contact Us | Privacy statement Main website

Generated in 0.147 seconds in which 0.02 seconds were spent on a total of 12 queries. Zlib compression disabled.