My 500mm f/4.5 arrived today!

[CyberDyneSystems]

:D :D Woohooo!

Yes, it is a Sigma f/4.5 and it was used, thus I saved $3,500.00 Vs. a New Canon f/4 @ $ 5,499.95.

The f/4.5 also makes it a good deal lighter than the Canon f/4 (but thats a small plus given once you are in this category,. what difference is a pound here and there? )

:)

I purchesed it used from KEH and I have to tell you I am stunned! :)

The customer service/sales was excellent,. the salesman took the time to look up any questions I had that he could not answer,. which were few as he pretty much had answers to most of my questions. All told he spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me before I was convinced and coughed up my Card number :)

I have a 14 day no hassle return period, 60 day KEH warranty and I went for the full year MACK warranty for an additional $50.00


BUT I WON"T NEED IT!

This lens is brand new! There is not a single mark on it. The front element (which is in fact replaceable on this lens) Was PERFECT,. (not even a grain of dust? ) the body is perfect,.

...THERE ARE NOT EVEN ANY SCUFF MARKS ON THE TRIPOD MOUNT/THREADS!!!

This lens looks as if it was never out of the excellent soft case that comes with it!

A quick test on a tripod in my kitchen and I am convinced it is the fastes most accurate focusing lens I have (including my Canon 17-40 f/4 L )

O-kay,. so I am very happy :D :D :D

And,. to top it off,. it is a nice sunny day!


See ya! :D

[robertwgross]

Did you purchase the optional trailer for that thing?

---Bob Gross---

[HeatherJL]

Awesome, let's see some pics!

[ChrisNardone]

What was the lens condition rating? i.e. "excellent", "excellent plus?" Sounds like you're describing "like new," just curious how their rating system pans out.

[photography By Evangelos]

CDS,

Nice like a kid in a candy store. I know the feeling when you get a new toy. So enjoy your new toy. Buy the way how much did you get it for? I also will be ordering my new 120-300 Sigma in the next few weeks. I just sold off my canon 70-200 L and now will sell off the 2X canon extender. I did not like the 2X extender with the 70-200 L not sharp at all poor image quality. I think the sigma will fit the bill if not I am sure the canon 100-400 IS will. But I need the large F 2.8 that is why I am going for the sigma. Have fun and post some PIX soon.

[CyberDyneSystems]

First I will say this,. I was really not braced for the dramatic difference in image quality and performance that a peice of $3200.00 glass has to offer.

I should have been better prepared,. one day when shooting with the 50-500mm Sigma Zoom I was sharing a small lookout view of some Bald Eagles with a Woman who had a Nikon 500mm f/4.

Side by side the difference in the viewfinders was staggering!

Well,. today was the first day I could see that same staggering difference through a lens I own! It is unreal how much clearer the images are in the VIEWFINDER!

Then of coarse,. getting them home and seeing it on the Big Screen, :D well,... it is simply breathtaking.

As I suspected in my crude kitchen test, the autofocus is faster and more accurate than any lens I have ever used.

Even after the beefy 50-500mm Zoom,. it is still a very heavy lens! But it is MUCH smaller and lighter than that Nikon 500mm f/4

I was surprised to find that with the excellent balance that can be acheived using any of the four tripod monting holes,.. the lens and camera work very well on my existing Manfrotto 3001PRO tripod and Ball head.

I was able to hike with the dogs for about 4 hours today lugging the whole works and some spare batteries, T-Cons and the 50 f1.8 in my pockets with out too much trouble.

Below are some sample images from todays trek with the lens.

Big Blue Clearing for Take Off... :)

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1384300&outx=980&oq=0&noresize=1&nostamp=1

Bumpus as seen through a 500mm PRIME! :D

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1384301&outx=980&oq=0&noresize=1&nostamp=1

A snuggly Mallard in some interesting light :)

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1384299&outx=980&oq=0&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[CyberDyneSystems]

The reduced jpegs don't do it justice of course. I suppose if anyone is interested I can post some full sized links.

Oh and Bob,... :D

I'm glad I was able to give you the opportunity to "roll out" the old "trailer joke" :D

The truth of the matter is in this case the Sigma lens is much lighter than the OEM versions (unlike most Sigmas which tend to be much "beefier" than there OEM counterparts) due to it's f/4.5 aperture as opposed to the standard f/4

....this way Sigma can use a front element the size of a saucer,. as opposed to a dinner plate! :D :D :D

[robertwgross]

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
Oh and Bob,... :D

I'm glad I was able to give you the opportunity to "roll out" the old "trailer joke" :D


Yes, I have to get the main axle lubed for my telephoto lens trailer. I have to get it ready for winter wildlife and skiing season.

---Bob Gross---

[benlimt]

CDS,
Nice shots... I am really sold on Sigma EXs. I have a 50-500mm which has amazed me with its sharpness time and again. Hmmm looks like the 500mm prime is another contender in my inventory....
=)

[CyberDyneSystems]

I agree Benlimt.

I now have three EX Sigma's (including the 50-500mm)and all three are superb!

[ChrisNardone]

CDS,
What do you think of your Sigma 50-500? At f/11 or so is the prime significantly better. This new post got me pondering the super telephoto range again. I don't know if I can afford the prime anyway, but do you think it's performance justifies the price difference over the zoom? Currently my top lens us the 300 f/4L IS. It AFs with my 1.4x, so I probably won't be pulling out the wallet; but I am curious!
Chris

[ChrisNardone]

Bump

[CyberDyneSystems]

Chris,. so funny you should knock :D

To answer your question,.
The 500mm Prime DOES offer significantly improved images and performance.

I am not at all sure if this is "A Prime thing" or what,. but I intend to get more primes after this.

Heres a few I took today

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1393371&outx=980&oq=0&noresize=1&nostamp=1


http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1393372&outx=980&oq=0&noresize=1&nostamp=1

I have tried to get a flight image that clear dozens and dozens of times with teh 50-500mm,. to no avail. Today the first time I ever put this glass on a bird in flight I get this! :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

That said, I still would recomend the 50-500mm to anyone who wants 500mm in a lens under $1,000.00

It is a deal that can't be beat.

I went for the 500mm f/4.5 Prime lens as I felt that I was compromising my passion by not having a truly pro level lens for the type of photography I am doing.

Still ,. I tried to get a deal,. (used and Sigma Vs. Canon) but at this level I really feel I have acheived the holy grail.

I will be looking at more primes definately!

And Oh Yeah,. KEH rated it "Like new minus"... I guess it didn't get "Like new" because the manual is missing?

[ChrisNardone]

All the photos in this thread are spectacular -- very sharp. I guess you get what you pay for. How can anyone not appreciate Sigma glass?
For me the 300L will have to quench my prime thirst for now.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I will be looking at a 300mm next (many many months from now after my bank account recovers... :( )

Either the same 300mm f/4 L you have or perhaps the Sigma 300mm f/2.8.... I will have to do some research to see of the Sigma 300mm is as well respected as the 500mm is.

[RichardtheSane]

CDS, if you have a 500mm f4.5 then I am sure you would be much better waiting for a 300mm f2.8!

Those are stunning shots, absolutely incredible. I think my next tele will be a 500mm prime, just for the supreme sharpness!

[mapdealer]

I have a $100 el cheapo Samyung 500mm reflector lens and I have gotten just as good of shots with it! JUST KIDDING!!

I have really gotten some great shots with my Sigma 50-500 but nothing like yours. Congrats!

I guess this is what defines a true step up in quality and professionalism in a Sigma lens (not with standing L glass).

[CyberDyneSystems]

I imagine what it comes down to is partly sheer resolution. The diameter of the fron element on the 500mm prime looks about twice as big around as that of the 50-500mm.

I believe this along with overall element quality is what contirbutes to what I have heard referred to as "resolving power" which = resolution or the lenses overall ability to define minute detail.

What is so surpirising though is how this added lens quality seems to effect the whole cameras performance. Not only is the autofocus faster and more accurate,. but I am finding that the cameras built in exposure is much more "spot on"

My images with blue sky in them actually have a BLUE sky,.. with no polarizer used (can't find one that fits yet :( ) instead of a washed out light grey I am so used to seeing??? I can't quite understand how but the lens seems to make the difference.

[slau]

From looking at your images, even they are resized down, I have a feeling that the success ratio with this 500 prime lens will be a lot better then the 50-500@500.

My first taste of prime tele lens is my recently acquired Canon 300f4L IS, which continues to amaze me. While I still use my 50-500 regularly, the Canon 300 slowly becomes my walk around lens. Yes, the 50-500 lens is very good for its price, but every thing has to be working right in order to get a good image from it. I agree that once you have tasted a good prime lens, it can be very dangerous (for your wallet that is :)). Enjoy your new toy and post more images later.

[defordphoto]

Congrats on the big-boy there CDS! That's awesome!!!