1.4x TC for Sigma 50-500mm Lens

I have discovered there is conflicting information and critiques on using a 1.4x TC for the Sigma 50-500mm Tele Lens. This was via NPN and FredMiranda.com. I would like to purchasing one, however, I don't want to waste my $$$ if it really will not give me better range (or the range equates to loss of sharpness). I understand with some critiques, they say I must use manual focus, and that is OK for me. On the other hand, I see you lose a great deal of light, like 2-3 stops. That, too, will be fine if a sharp image is still achievable with the proper technique

FYI, I am using a Nikon D50 body.

Thx so much my friends for listening and hopefully subsequently giving me some sound advice.......

You lose 1 stop with a 1.4x. Will you still have enough light to focus by hand? Try stopping down your lens by one stop and see if you can still focus sharply before you even order one.


Kent in SD

I used to own that lens and a TC for it. It didn't work for me just because manual focus was too slow for birds, which was my primary target with that set-up. It will increase your range and the results, with proper technique, will be better than shooting without the TC and trying to crop for the same composition.

You have to be very careful with the 50-500mm and TC's. There is a zoom limit switch you must engage when using a TC. If you forget to use it and try to zoom out too much you can cause lens elements to crash with the TC. Like stated above, you will lose one stop of light and AF will be impossible. It's a good lens for what it is but if you are trying to shoot birds with this set-up I'm afraid you will be disappointed with the degree of difficulty and frustration factor. If your subjects are stationary then it will probably be OK.

The good news is, if you stick with Sigma lenses and TC's (they are fine lenses and I used them for a long time), the TC will work with their very nice 70-200mm f/2.8, 300mm f/2.8 or 120-300mm f/2.8 should you decide to upgrade someday. That's what I did and I was amazed at the improvement when I moved to the 300mm. The sharpness is much better than the 50-500mm. You give up some reach but the sharpness improvement and ability to maintain AF even with a 2x TC more than makes up for it. It is more expensive so only you can decide if it's time to move up.

Hope this helps

The Sigma is already f/6.3 at the long end, and will become almost f/9 with the teleconverter. You'll lose sharpness, so you want to stop down one stop at least. You're at f/13 now. I don't think it works well in terms of shutter speeds with most subjects.

Additionally, it'll be very difficult to MF with the D50 viewfinder, and the situation is made worse by the small maximum aperture. Can you reliably MF your lens without the TC?

Bottom line: TCs are made for fast primes, not slow zooms.

Basil

I have the Sigma 50-500mm lens and the Sigma 1.4TC for the last couple of years. With my tripod, I've shot some great old barns way out in the field with it using MF. I've even captured a bald eagle 200 yards away sitting in a tree, and once a hummer that hovered long enough. But in general, anything that moves, even slowly was too much to keep sharply in focus at f/11 or f/13. Now the TC goes along for the ride in my backpack in hopes of spotting an old building or neat rock formation off in the distance on a bright and sunny day.