Big lens!

Hi, im new to this game, i just got my first DSLR I had an old PENTAX MV1 but i now have a Samsung, i have a 18-55 and 50-200mm lens but i want MORE!!! Im looking for a 400 or 500mm for reasonable price. I would be very grateful if you could recommend some and if possible give me some links to good sites!

thanks very much!

Gavin

I have the Bigma - Sigma 50mm-500mm lens, which I really like. Not that cheap though.

There is the Sigma 135-400 or the 170-500 which are to all intents the same lens, same optical construction but slight difference in size. Both are cheaper than the bigma but probably not that much lighter. I have a pre digital 135-400 and with my GX10 I can hand hold it at 400mm down to 1/60 second. Stopped down to f8 it is quite sharp but I would expect the DG version to be better.

Carl

The Cosina 100-400 f4.5 is a good lens for its price and nicely sharp.

Becomes 150-600 on a digital body

I have the Sigma 170-500 (pre DG) which I am quite pleased with (though I have not used it that much as yet) Used they can be had for about £250. They are significantly lighter than the 'Bigma' (1345g vs 1842g)

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/telezoom.htm

Reviews:

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=389

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=431 (this is the 135-400 but I suspect the perfomance is very similar)

Also worth considering are the Tokina 100-400 (which lacks a tripod mount and may be the same as the Cosina) and the Tamron 200-500 (but which according to some reviews suffers from Chomatic Aberration.)

Review:

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=386

I have the Sigma 135 - 400, also the non-DG version, which I originally acquired for my DS. I bought it when it was in an 'end-of-line' offer with a view to take pictures of the moon, tripod mounted, and for which it really is not long enougth. However with anti-shake I have found that I can use it hand held on the K10D and for me its given it a 2nd life.

Here is a picture of a robin, taken in my garden yesterday, with this lens hand held:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Garden%20Birds/IMGP0781.jpg

Glyn