Sigma 170-500 opinions?

[MrKickalot]

Has anyone tried the Sigma 170-500/5-6.3 APO Aspherical lens? I am looking at an affordable way to get more focal length and this looks to be pretty nice. Another question about this lens, it's not on the compatability list for the Tele-Extenders. Does this mean it will not work or just that it will not auto-focus?

Thanks,

[rdenney]

MrKickalot wrote:
Has anyone tried the Sigma 170-500/5-6.3 APO Aspherical lens? I am looking at an affordable way to get more focal length and this looks to be pretty nice. Another question about this lens, it's not on the compatability list for the Tele-Extenders. Does this mean it will not work or just that it will not auto-focus?

Thanks,

It's not fast enough to auto-focus with teleconverters. I don't know if there is some electronic prohibition on using a converter other than the loss of auto-focus.

My wife has one of these for her Nikon. For what it is, it works pretty well. It is no competition for an L lens, but neither is it as pricey. I don't think you could do any better for the half-kilobuck that a good one might cost. The next step up from this lens would be the 100-400 L, though it doesn't reach as far. I can't think of any lens in between those two in terms of quality or cost at approximately this focal range, unless you adapt a Pentacon Prakticar or something silly like that.

It comes with a decent tripod mounting ring, and I would strongly suggest using it. The lens is quite long and difficult to hold steady. It comes with an effective shade and a decent case, too. Always use the shade--with lenses this long, you need all the contrast you can get.

Rick "who suggests high shutter speeds" Denney

[chrisswan]

I've had one for a few months and it's quite a substantial lense - difficult to hold steady and heavy to carry around.
I'm going to use it for the next few weeks with my new 10D (due tomorrow, woohoo!) and see what results I get.
FWIW, the autofocus is quite slow and sometimes you just have to focus manually.

[robertwgross]

The above opinions are valid. I've had mine since January, and it has already made two trips to the Sigma warranty repair shop.

If you purchase it, just make sure that you purchase the optional trailer. It is pretty big to haul around. I guess that is good training.

---Bob Gross---

[DigitDan]

I've had one since May. I've used it extensively shooting high school football games at night. I use a monopod and it took me a few games to learn how to hold the lens steady. I got some really good pictures using a Metz flash, ISO setting of 800 and exposure setting of 1/200 with my Canon 10D.

Dan in Phoenix

[CyberDyneSystems]

I compared this lens sidde by side with Sigmas 50-500mm ex lens..

If you can swing it I highly recomend the extra $$ for the 50-500mm.

The 50-500mm EX is a newer desigm that incorporates a host of improvements over the 170-500mm.

* HSM Focus motor.. MUCH faster focus and virtually silent.

* To my eyes it had somewhat better image quality in the 200-500 range over the 170-500mm.

* The 50-500mm can be used in Manual focus with both of Sigma's T-converters.. Sigma DOES NOT list the 170-500mm lens on there compatibility chart.

* The extended zoom range.. (this was of no importance to me as I use it at 500mm 90% of the time, biut it can come in handy whaen you least expect it)

Lastly,. jumping the price limit again,. if you want the best "image quality, Vs. focal range, Vs. Dollar value" out there.. none of these zooms can touch a good prime like the Canon 400mm f/5.6

But that is another story alltogether.

[CyberDyneSystems]

P.S.

the 170-500mm turns up used at good prices fairly regularly at

www.keh.com


like this one here;

http://www.keh.com/shop/SHOWPRODUCT.CFM?CRID=6271517&SKID=CE09999040825R5&SID=newused&BID=CE&CID=09&SOID=N&ISPRICE=379.0

The 50-500mm is a little harder to find used,. but I've seen them for sale here, and on Ebay.