Advice needed - Sigma 500mm f4.5

Hello folks,

I have been looking for a longer prime lens to concentrate on birding and wildlife (mainly) and was looking at the 300mm f2.8 (Sigma).

However, I have come across the above lens, any views as to wether it is any good or not?.
Does the DG version give anything extra?.

I will be using on canon 20D/400D

Many thanks for any info

Cheers

Rob

The older versions of the Sigma 500 (not the DG versions) are not supposed to be compatible with the newer Canon digital bodies, starting with the 20D.

Either version, whether the older or the newer DG copies, are supposed to be very good lenses.

It would seem that for the prices involved, you would be better off spending an extra $1,000 for the Canon IS version new, or a bit less than that (upper 4's) for a used copy. Advantages would be IS, which is really nice at the focal lengths we are talking about here, and f4, which will allow autofocus with a 1.4 camera and the bodies you list.

Here is review of the non DG version of the lens, which appeared several years ago.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/sigma500.html

Here is review of the non DG version of the lens, which appeared several years ago.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/sigma500.html

Dan,

Thanks for the replies.
I am based in the UK and Canon IS lens retails @ approx £4K, sigma at ~£2.2K.
Second hand sigm about £1.5K canon just don't appear - very rare.

Thanks again for info.

Best regards

Rob

Rob, I didn't realize the price differences for you. That is a much more significant factor in the decision. For those prices, the Sigma makes a lot of sense as from everything I have read, it is a pretty decent lens.

I used a Nikon mount old version (not DG) for some time and I was very, very, very happy with it.
It was much smaller and lighter than my curent Canon 500 f4 IS, this made it more manageable in the field.
The bummer is the loss of AF with TCs, the good point is the excellent price in Europe for both new and used models.

Dan,
Maybe I need to plan a holiday to US!!

Enrique,
Good to hear you were well pleased with Sigma variant of 500mm.

In an ideal world (or a lottery win) I would buy the canon but it is just too expensive for me.

Thanks again for the replies

Rob

I had the Sigma 500mm for a couple years and was happy with it, except for what Enrique pointed out about using teleconverters. If you can't afford the Canon, I think this would be your best bet.

Teleconverters... can't you tape the pins? I have no idea about Canon, but I think for Nikon, some people tape one pin, and so the camera doesn't "know" the TC is there at all.

Basil

Rob,
I've been using the sigma 500mm 4.5 (non DG) for a couple of years and I'd hate to have missed all of those shots while I was waiting for a Nikon 500mm. I really love the lens and it's been great to learn how to use big glass. You can check out my portfolio (bird shots) to see some of the results of this lens. I use it on a nikon D70 and it works great - I think the DG version just has some updated lens coating for digital sensors. I don't think you'll regret getting one.

Taping the pins to get a TC combo to autofocus usually slows down the focusing quite a lot, a big handicap when shooting fast-moving subjects like birds.

Rob - I have both the 300mm and 500mm EX DG HSM (nikon fit) and they are both razor sharp.
Like you I'm in the UK and the UK Nikon prices are beyond me (US members should realise that if you have to pay $5k we have to pay £5k in other words $10K ).

I use both lenses on my XL2 video camera as well.

If you can live without IS/VR then I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of them - if you buy the Sig TC's to go with the lens I can tell you the 1.4 x is superb on both lenses and the 500mm seems to like the 2x but the 300mm doesn't - I have not managed a tack sharp image off the 300mm+2xTC combo yet.

Regards

Andy