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Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Description:

The APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows photographers to bring the subject close and short perspective. Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. It is ideal for sports, wildlife and landscape photography with handheld shooting. Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. A removable tripod socket (TS-31) is included as a standard component. 16.4 to 5-degrees Angle of View 220cm/86.6 Minimum Focusing Distance Dimensions – 3.7 x 9.9 (94.7×252mm) Weight – 1910 grams (67.4 ounces)

• Brand: Sigma
• Model: 737-101
• Released on: 2008-05-21
• Dimensions: 3.20 pounds

Features

• Incorporating Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function
• An ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows short perspective
• Three SLD glass elements and a rear focus system provide optimum image quality throughout the entire zoom range
• Super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting
• HSM ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus

Customer Reviews:

Great Lens!
I just received this lens and made a test shot I’ve made with other lenses. I took a shot of a satellite dish over a half a block away. Handheld. Magnifying it with Photoshop not only can I see the ‘Dish Network’ clearly, but magnifying a little more I can read the ‘TM’ underneath the logo. Clear as a bell.

This lens is a vast improvement over the 170-500 model. I used that lens on a wildlife trip and had to jack up the ISO to 800-1600 to get decent shutter speeds and a clear picture. Unfortunately that introduced noise, really bad in some shots. The D300 is much better than the D200 in that regard, but the lens was pretty much unusable without a tripod. This lens will alleviate any of those problems.

I usually buy Nikon lenses. This and the Sigma earlier models including the 170-500 (which I had to buy for a trip and now I’m selling) are the only lenses I could find that gave a substantial difference over the Nikon 70-300 VR. The Nikon 80-400 VR is $[...] and focuses slowly, and you can pretty much just crop to achieve the 100mm difference (I tried it to be sure.)

I’m looking forward to using this with a 1.4 teleconverter, you lose autofocus and 1 stop, can only go down to 100mm but get a 35mm equivalent of 1050mm! For only $[...]!

The quality of the lens is very good. There is zero zoom creep. Autofocusing is fast, though just a tad off (a few pixels off on the ‘TM’ – could be the camera, and that can be adjusted.) Manual focusing is tricky with the tripod collar on, it blocks the focusing ring so either move your hand to the top, slide your hand in between the lens and collar, or take the collar off. I got perfect focus using the viewfinder indicator as a reference point. The finish is of high quality, but a little strange. The whole lens including the hood is coated in some kind of flat black matte textured finish, makes me think of a stealth bomber.

I did a lot of research to find this lens, and was waiting for it since it’s introduction 2 or more months ago. There is just no Nikon equivalent without buying a f/4 400mm with a TC-17 for about $5000 or so. If Nikon had a lens at 500-600mm for not too bad of a price hit I would have bought it. After playing with this lens just a little bit I’m glad I bought it. I’m fiercely loyal to Nikon, and it’s arguably a better product, but I can afford to buy this lens 5 times over if it breaks, and it also saves the whole price of 2 photography workshops/tours.

There will probably be a lot of testing and comparing of this lens. None of that matters to me as it passed the satellite dish test with flying colors, I didn’t even know the TM was there before today.

Edit 3/16/09 – I recently bought the Sigma 1.4 teleconverter to go with this lens. The 1st time I really used the combo was during the adding of the spire to the Trump Tower in Chicago. I was on the 7th floor of a building 1-1/2 miles away measured by Google Maps. I could see the men waiting in the spire for the next section to arrive. I had to back way off on the lens to get the tower and the helicopter lowering the sections into the frame. I lost autofocus, but it was no big deal to focus manually visually or with the in-focus indicator. Unfortunately I had to shoot through a dirty window, and it was pretty hazy, so the shots aren’t that great but I don’t blame the lens, the shots are better than anybody else got.

Edit 3/18/10 – Added Trump Tower picture to product images.

Very happy with this lens
I am thrilled to have bought this lens to mount on my Nikon D80 after having read loads of reviews on the few options available like the Sigma 50-500 or the Nikon 135-400 and 80-400. I wanted the longest possible range below $1,500 in a recognizable Brand. I narrowed my choice to the 50-500 or this one. The Optical Stabilizer and the fact that Sigma had proven itself with the 50-500 were the determining factors in my decision. So far I shot some 200 pictures of various subjects at various distances handholding the camera with the OS turned on. Half way through my shots I reverted from full manual mode to Aperture control and noticed an improvement in the sharpness and colors which tells me that I need to hone my skills with this lens. So far, I am amazed at the quality of my shots with this huge glass. I take all my pictures with a -.7 exposure compensation as I like very vivid pictures and until I develop a better feel for what the lens can do I will continue to used it with Aperture control. The Autofocus is smooth, the overall feel is quality and the pictures are phenomenal for the distance. I look forward to plenty of fun with this lens, if you go for it you won’t regret it.

UPDATE: In response to the person who rated this lens three stars I would like to quote David Bush’s book “Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide” where he states “most lenses produce their sharpest image approximately two stops less than wide open. For example, if you’re using a zoom lens with an f/4 maximum aperture, it probably has its best resolution and least distortion at roughly f/8″. I’ve practiced David’s suggestion with my Sigma 150-500 and it works beautifully, but like everything else, it takes some time to getting used to unless you’re a professional photographer then you’d know this before hand. I added a few recent pictures shown above as part of this review.

I purchased my lens from B&H and it came in Sigma’s black nylon zipped box which keeps the lens practically immobile. The box was very safely packaged when it arrived.

The New B-2 Bomber Completes my Lens Arsenal
I have only had this lens for a few days and I feel that this is the lens that was missing in my arsenal. I will try to update my review in future, but here are my ten cents:
- Heavy and huge but certainly handheld manageable
- Fast autofocus, OS is great and excellent image quality
- As expected requires a lot of light (tripod recommended for low lighting)
- Solid built and its color makes reminds me of the B-2 Bomber
- Nice hood
- Comes with a durable case and 2 straps
- Only 1 year warranty (why not 5 years)

This is my 1st non-Nikon lens and I am very pleased by it. Its zoom ring rotates in anti-clockwise direction for zooming in which I found a bit odd, but may be this is a Sigma thing.

So far, I am very impressed by it. I am considering getting 2x EX DG APO Tele Converter.

Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma 150-500mm ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range of up to 500mm, letting you bring almost any subject close for short-perspective shots. The lens employs Sigma’s original Optical Stabilizer (OS) function, which gives you access to shutter speeds approximately four stops slower without blurring the image. As a result, you can capture low-light, long-distance shots such as football plays, wildlife profiles, and landscape scenes without using a tripod for each photo. In addition, the lens incorporates a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for quick, high-speed autofocusing, along with a rear focus system that guarantees optimum image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And photographers will love the three special low dispersion (SLD) glass elements, which correct for chromatic aberration, and the super multilayer lens coating, which reduces flare and ghosting. Other details include an option for full-time manual focusing, a close focusing distance of 86.6 inches, and an 86mm filter size. Compatible with optional 1.4x and 2x tele converters–which produce a 210-700mm length or 300-1000mm length respectively–the Sigma 150-500mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

Specifications

• Focal length: 150-500mm
• Maximum aperture: f/5-6.3
• Lens construction: 21 elements in 15 groups
• Angle of view: 16.4 to 5 degrees
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 86.6 inches
• Maximum magnification: 1:5.2
• Filter size: 86mm
• Hood type: Bayonet
• Mount: Canon
• Dimensions: 3.7 inches in diameter and 9.9 inches long
• Weight: 67.4 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

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