Sigma 50-500mm lens

[gordeaux]

I've gotten a recommendation that the Sigma 50-500mm lens works a lot better than you'd expect. It's not as good as a bag full of lenses, but it's surprisingly good and an excellent choice when you aren't sure the range you need and don't want to get caught having to change lenses before taking the shot.

Anyone out there had experiences either way with this lens?

If you've used the lens, will it work with the 10D? One source told me to check
"You may want to verify what the 10D's minimum aperture is for autofocus. A number of EOS cameras cut off at f/5.6."
Maybe someone already knows the answer to this question, also.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I am not sure about it's entire zoom range,. but it makes a fantastic and affordable 500mm!

In fact I would say it is a fantastic 200-500mm

.. at 50m it is definately pushing its envelope. :) But this is truly a remarkable lens and a remarkable bargain considering it's focal range.

Feel free to check out the bird photos in my gallery. About 90% of them were taken with the 50-500mm

[dleewo]

gordeaux wrote:

"You may want to verify what the 10D's minimum aperture is for autofocus. A number of EOS cameras cut off at f/5.6."
Maybe someone already knows the answer to this question, also.

I have the lens. It DOES autofocus at f6.3. I think Sigma does it by fooling the camera.

[Barnsie]

I love mine. It's amazing through the range. I've gotten some great shots at 50mm, but the size, weight and speed sort of limit it's usefulness at the short end. You won't want to throw it over your shoulder for a walk around the block...

On the long end, it's terrific, especially when cost is factored in. I like shooting baseball, and sometimes I wish for a little more speed, but if the lighting is at least "okay", then it's great. I shoot it pretty much exclusively hand held, and I find it's got enough wait to keep it pretty balanced.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

Barnsie

[Barnsie]

Yep, the lens reports it as 5.6; no problems focusing....

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think the 10D will autofocus beyond f/5.6 anyways,. it was earlier EOS cameras where that was the limit?

Regardless the lens autofocuses fine and and quite quickly in most situations. (it has trouble and 'hunts" when focusing against the sky)
As far as weight,. it is heavy,. but is still probably one of the lightest 500mm available (short of mirror lenses) and with a monopod it is wonderfull.

(barnsie, you should really try a monopod at least,. it makes the weight so much easier to manage)

[Barnsie]

CDS,

I've got a reasonably decent monopod, and I have tried using it a couple of times, but so far it hasn't converted me. I just don't feel like it helps that much. I get a touch of shake when hand held at 500mm with reasonable light (shots are more than useable, but when I get a clean one the shake in the others becomes more evident), but I can combat it pretty well if I'm thinking about my breathing and all. I'm tired at the end of a long baseball game, but it's not horrible unless I'm holding it too my face for ten minutes at a time. I seem to get lateral shake or motion when I'm on the monopod, and I really haven't developed a method to minimize it yet. If I get similar shots with both methods, I'd rather have the range of motion that hand holding offers.

It's something I know I need to work with, but when I'm shooting, it's hard to accept the handicap. It's sort of like shooting with only your weak hand in a pick up basketball game....

Barnsie

[CyberDyneSystems]

I can see your point. In the end it is for each his or her own I guess. For me I literally use the monopod as a cruch to take the weight of the lens. (obviously mount the lens to the 'pod, not the camera) Even if it doesn't offer the total support that a good tripod has as far as shooting goes.

Without the monopod I could never lug that lens out hiking in the feild for the periods that I tend to do now,. (4 or 5 hours at a stretch with very little effort)

It means when actually shooting I carry ZERO% of the weight in my hands,. the 'pod has it all,. and when walking,. I can rest the crook of the 'pod and back of the camera on my shoulder,.. and thus have none of the weight in my hands again. Without it I would be limited to maybe an hour and a half of hiking :(

As far as mobility go at that moment of shooting, I hear you,. there are three things I have done to overcome this.
1. A quick disconnect plate: At desive moments (such as a bird in flight overhead) I will simply drop the pod where it lays.
2. A tilt only head: The pod obviously allows for panning on its own, so a small titlit head is extremely helpfull to allow quicker "follow the motion" shots

3. Pratice: It is definately a new skill to learn. It is like the difference in skills involved in going from shooting a rifle to a pistol. There are similarities but there are a lot more differences in how you must work than one would imageine beftoe actually expeiriencing the differences.

Lastly, Once I got used to letting the 'pod take the weight,. it freed me anf my hands to make me MUCH more capable at grabbing those quick moments. As my hands aren't holding the weight, they are much more free to adjust zoom and manual focus or even jab registered focus point buttons etc... This is wehere the pratice comes in.. it took me a biut of time to get that comfortable.

Once conquered,. using the camera with a monopd is like using the camera attached to invisible wires that hold the camera at eyelevel for you,.. your hands are free of the weight and can be used to much higher effectiveness in actually controlling the camera and lens functions. Once this level of compfort is acheived,. the monopod becomes much more UNLIKE a tripod in that the freedom of motion becomes actually GREATER than the freedom of motion afforded by hand holding. (at least with a heavy heavy camera lens combo)

[Barnsie]

Thanks for the advice CDS.

I know that I should learn to use the monopod (obviously I bought it). It's got the qr plate and the tilt head. I guess the main problem is that once the pod takes the weight, it's actually more difficult for me to keep the camera steady. Just something I'll have to force myself to work on.

Maybe I'll give it another shot this afternoon....

Barnsie

[CyberDyneSystems]

It didn't come to me overnight I have to admit. :)

I guess I should have mentioned that I too felt hampered by the monopod at first,. I think that is the main reason why many won't use a tripod either...

But again,. given the weight and the long hikes I like to take with that heavy lens,. I was forced to get used to it. It was this forced "training" that pushed me into being able to really take advantage of it as a tool.

I can't really recall how long it took me to finally feel that the 'pod was no longer hampering me in any way. I realized the help it was offereing as far as taking the weight right off the bat,. but there were many times I was unable to disconnect the quick release,. or just move the camera and pod fast enough to get a shot...

..but eventually at some point I bacame acutley aware that the use of the monopod had become a big help all around.

So,.. now I am trying to get used to a tripod!
I have only recently tried lugging that into "the feild".

In low light,. the tripod is a life saver,. and at home on the screen it is pretty eveident that tripod shots are clearer and sharper. But talk about feeling hampered!

I suspect with time I will grow accustomed to that as well :)

Good luck and keep shooting :D

[PacAce]

Barnsie wrote:
Thanks for the advice CDS.

I know that I should learn to use the monopod (obviously I bought it). It's got the qr plate and the tilt head. I guess the main problem is that once the pod takes the weight, it's actually more difficult for me to keep the camera steady. Just something I'll have to force myself to work on.

Maybe I'll give it another shot this afternoon....

Barnsie

Barnsie,

Try this link. It's show how to properly use the monopod and with a few minutes of practice, you'll be using the monopod like a pro....well, almost, at least. :)

http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo5.php3