Please help me! I need your opinion about SIGMA APO 500mm F4.5 EX DG
Hi Folks:
I'm a Pentax user considering buying a long prime lens for BIF (I already own a DA* 300) but the Pentax FA* 600 is out of my reach. Have any of you experience with this lens? How does it behave with a K10D/20D/K-7? If not please could any Canon or Nikon user tell me your thoughts about it? Thanks a lot.
Bye,
Hola Diego.
Hombre esto esta dificil ya que en este foro la mayoria usamos Canon o Nikon, yo he visto muy poco equipo Pentax, a excepcion de mis binoculares o prismaticos como les llaman ustedes. Yo uso un 300F4 para casi todo, incluida la fotograifia de aves en vuelo. Espero que pronto puedas subir alguna foto para ver que tal con el equipo Pentax, una amiga mia tiene una camara DSLR de esta marca y segun ella obtiene muy buenos resultados a la mitad del costo de las marcas antes mencionadas. Espero saber de ti pronto.
Hi Diego - I have owned and used the sigma 500 f4.5 on a nikon camera - very capable lens if stopped down just a little - would try and get the HSM VERSION it is noticeably faster than the previous versions.
NO IS which isn't really a problem - IMHO!
Does produce excellent results - NOT as good as the Nikon 500MM - But then 1/2 the price also.
Hi Lance:
Thank you, I really appreciate your information. I'm not sure but I think HSM version doesn't work on Pentax bodies so I've have to live without if nothing changes until I save enough money to make this investment. My main concern is about the image quality wide open, the AF speed without HSM and the noise when AF is working. What about build quality, I'd like to know your opinion, please? Thanks
Hi - Build quality was very very good - AF speed is a little slower than the nikon - no real noise when focussing. Image quality wide open was acceptable at least - IMHO!Originally Posted by Diego Torrentes
Heres one - full frame - wide open.
Hi Diego,
I use this lens as my main bird lens with a nikon d300. Agree with Lance on specs, there is a big jump in quality from wide open to stopped down to 6.3. Really is great quality then. try before you buy! mine had focussing issues wide open and spent two months with sigma uk then sigma japan only for them to say there were no problems found. However is works perfectly now! Can't fault sigma service though. Gave me a loan lens for my trip to florida and the service was free!
regards.
Stu.
Hi Diego, I owned a Sigma 500 f4.5 HSM (Canon mount) for nine years and never had a problem. Build quality was excellent, focus was very fast and quiet on the HSM version and IQ was very good, this was the older version of the EX DG - the newer ones have improved coatings to reduce chromatic aberration so there should be an improvement in IQ. Also, for a fast 500 it was fairly small and lightweight.
Thank you again Lance, now I got the complete informaton I was looking for, and from a user that can compare the lens with the highly reputed 500 mm Nikon lens! I find the picture you've attached is sharp, with good contrast and with a color redition I like very much. BTW I like your picture very much, I love the comic body and face of this heron.
Bye,
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Hi Stuart:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, now I feel more secure about this lens and also about the quality of the sevice and support Sigma deliver to their customer.
Bye,
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Hi Jim:
Thank you for your answer, it's in the same line than Lance and Stuart I think that the opinion of a 9 years of experience user is a good reference and I really appreciate it.
Bye,
I do not think that the improved coatings was/is used to reduce chromatic abberations. The coatings were intended to reduce flare and ghosting. I use the older Ex version and I have not had a problem with flare or ghosting and I certainly do not have a problem with chromatic abberation and there is negligible chromatic abberation even when a 2X converter is used.
I rarely shoot wide open at f4.5 but when I have, I have found the images sharp.
The Sigma 500f4.5 is a fantastic lens , great value. I can live without IS but the fact that it will not autofocus with a converter can be an irritation.
Last edited by adrian dancy; 07-15-2010 at 08:01 PM.
Adrian, You are correct, the new coatings are supposed to reduce flare and ghosting, it's the two ELD elements in the lens that keep the chromatic abberations to a minimum....my mistake.
Hi Andrian and Jim:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the lens, I like this forums because it's much better that read some reviews found in internet, you give me first hand information after using this lens several months or even years taking pictures in the field in which I'm interested on!! IQ seem quite good based on the replies BPN members and forum participant have posted. Now I only keep a concern and it's the lack of HSM in Pentax bodies and also the lack of AF with a 1,4x teleconverter. I hope Sigma release a HSM for pentax before I finally buy a Super Telephoto Lens.
Bye,
I own the Sigma 500mm f4.5 for the pentax mount. I love it. It is verrrry sharp. It doesn't have built in motor and focus limiter. Screw AF only. If you can live with that it is the best lens you will own for a pentax mount for birding.
Took this last week. You need a good tripod.
Sigma 500mm f4.5. Pentax K-7
http://www.pbase.com/gary1952/image/126767672.jpg
Hi Gary:
Thanks for your feedback. I think that the noise of the screw motor could be an issue for birds I hope that someday Sigma release a HSM version for Pentax mount . The focus limiter could be another useful feature that I would like to see if someday this new version come out.
BTW: I like the picture shown in the link.
Yes when your eye is at the camera and you are trying to focus it sounds like a train wreck...;). It has scared off a few birds i must say. But I find the shutter noise to more of a problem.
Good luck.
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