Sigma 120-400mm or 50-500mm for Wildlife Photography?
Posted 05/01/2019 - 19:27 - Helpful Comment
Link
The one that sold on here recently at £470 that was an absolute steal, bit annoying because when people don't do any research before selling their lenses it devalues them for other sellers (plus they lose a fair bit as well).
The lens you are linking to is the old version with no HSM and no OS .. it also has the coating on the body that peels off. Wait for a newer f/4.5-6.3 lens, it's optically much better.
The lens you are linking to is the old version with no HSM and no OS .. it also has the coating on the body that peels off. Wait for a newer f/4.5-6.3 lens, it's optically much better.
Posted 05/01/2019 - 21:03
Link
Mike-P wrote:
The one that sold on here recently at £470 that was an absolute steal, bit annoying because when people don't do any research before selling their lenses it devalues them for other sellers (plus they lose a fair bit as well).
The lens you are linking to is the old version with no HSM and no OS .. it also has the coating on the body that peels off. Wait for a newer f/4.5-6.3 lens, it's optically much better.
The one that sold on here recently at £470 that was an absolute steal, bit annoying because when people don't do any research before selling their lenses it devalues them for other sellers (plus they lose a fair bit as well).
The lens you are linking to is the old version with no HSM and no OS .. it also has the coating on the body that peels off. Wait for a newer f/4.5-6.3 lens, it's optically much better.
Thanks for your helpful advice Mike
Posted 05/01/2019 - 22:33 - Helpful Comment
Link
Hi Phil
Hopefully I can speak from having some experience, I have owned the Sigma 50-500, Sigma 150-500 and still own the DA*300 plus 1.4TC.
Here are my thoughts - just opinions of course and based solely on the copies of the lenses I have owned or still own:
Sigma 50-500 - I didn't like this lens. It was soft at almost all focal lengths / apertures and it was very big / heavy. I suspect that I had a bad copy of the lens, or that it got knocked in transit as I had bought it from this forum, from a respected member who had shown excellent (sharp) photos taken with it. Other members may be able to vouch for its excellence, but I can't unfortunately.
Sigma 150-500 - This lens was excellent, very sharp and consistent, good focusing. The only downsides were the limited max aperture and the sheer weight / size, plus it gets a tad soft at the extreme telephoto end of its range.
Pentax DA*300 (with our without 1.4 TC) - This would be my recommendation - it knocks spots off the Sigma lenses. Clearly it does not zoom, but a 1.4 TC adds flexibility. I have used this extensively on my K-3 and my K-5iis, it focuses well, has great bokeh, is very sharp even wide open and is not too big / heavy. I would never swap this for either of the Sigma zooms. The max f4.0 aperture is a massive advantage.
Regards
David
Hopefully I can speak from having some experience, I have owned the Sigma 50-500, Sigma 150-500 and still own the DA*300 plus 1.4TC.
Here are my thoughts - just opinions of course and based solely on the copies of the lenses I have owned or still own:
Sigma 50-500 - I didn't like this lens. It was soft at almost all focal lengths / apertures and it was very big / heavy. I suspect that I had a bad copy of the lens, or that it got knocked in transit as I had bought it from this forum, from a respected member who had shown excellent (sharp) photos taken with it. Other members may be able to vouch for its excellence, but I can't unfortunately.
Sigma 150-500 - This lens was excellent, very sharp and consistent, good focusing. The only downsides were the limited max aperture and the sheer weight / size, plus it gets a tad soft at the extreme telephoto end of its range.
Pentax DA*300 (with our without 1.4 TC) - This would be my recommendation - it knocks spots off the Sigma lenses. Clearly it does not zoom, but a 1.4 TC adds flexibility. I have used this extensively on my K-3 and my K-5iis, it focuses well, has great bokeh, is very sharp even wide open and is not too big / heavy. I would never swap this for either of the Sigma zooms. The max f4.0 aperture is a massive advantage.
Regards
David
Posted 05/01/2019 - 23:53
Link
davidstorm wrote:
Hi Phil
Hopefully I can speak from having some experience, I have owned the Sigma 50-500, Sigma 150-500 and still own the DA*300 plus 1.4TC.
Here are my thoughts - just opinions of course and based solely on the copies of the lenses I have owned or still own:
Sigma 50-500 - I didn't like this lens. It was soft at almost all focal lengths / apertures and it was very big / heavy. I suspect that I had a bad copy of the lens, or that it got knocked in transit as I had bought it from this forum, from a respected member who had shown excellent (sharp) photos taken with it. Other members may be able to vouch for its excellence, but I can't unfortunately.
Sigma 150-500 - This lens was excellent, very sharp and consistent, good focusing. The only downsides were the limited max aperture and the sheer weight / size, plus it gets a tad soft at the extreme telephoto end of its range.
Pentax DA*300 (with our without 1.4 TC) - This would be my recommendation - it knocks spots off the Sigma lenses. Clearly it does not zoom, but a 1.4 TC adds flexibility. I have used this extensively on my K-3 and my K-5iis, it focuses well, has great bokeh, is very sharp even wide open and is not too big / heavy. I would never swap this for either of the Sigma zooms. The max f4.0 aperture is a massive advantage.
Regards
David
Hi Phil
Hopefully I can speak from having some experience, I have owned the Sigma 50-500, Sigma 150-500 and still own the DA*300 plus 1.4TC.
Here are my thoughts - just opinions of course and based solely on the copies of the lenses I have owned or still own:
Sigma 50-500 - I didn't like this lens. It was soft at almost all focal lengths / apertures and it was very big / heavy. I suspect that I had a bad copy of the lens, or that it got knocked in transit as I had bought it from this forum, from a respected member who had shown excellent (sharp) photos taken with it. Other members may be able to vouch for its excellence, but I can't unfortunately.
Sigma 150-500 - This lens was excellent, very sharp and consistent, good focusing. The only downsides were the limited max aperture and the sheer weight / size, plus it gets a tad soft at the extreme telephoto end of its range.
Pentax DA*300 (with our without 1.4 TC) - This would be my recommendation - it knocks spots off the Sigma lenses. Clearly it does not zoom, but a 1.4 TC adds flexibility. I have used this extensively on my K-3 and my K-5iis, it focuses well, has great bokeh, is very sharp even wide open and is not too big / heavy. I would never swap this for either of the Sigma zooms. The max f4.0 aperture is a massive advantage.
Regards
David
Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and recommendations David
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
62 posts
15 years
Totnes