Sigma 50-500mm on order ....

[SteveCliff]

ok, I've finally done it and placed an order for the Sigma 50-500mm zoom. I was trawling the net and managed to find a place on the net selling them new for £659 ! The only thing that worries me is that it only said "50-500mm/F4-6.3 APO" and didn't mention "EX HSM".

Now I am pretty sure that Sigma only make one 50-500mm lens, and I also think that as I have specified a Canon mounting that it will automatically have the hypersonic motor as standard, but does anyone else know any differently ???

[DamienB]

Yeah, there's only one 50-500. Which is the place doing it for that price? I've got the 50-500 already but I want to see what else they sell!

[drandy]

I just ordered one today too and the same question applies. I am also presuming that they only make one Canon 15-500 lens. You got a better price than I - I paid $711 for an import version through Delta International and it is being shipped today. Got my fingers crossed for me and you now!

[traveler]

I can speak for Delta and say that without a doubt you WILL be receiving the 50-500 APO EX HSM for a Canon camera. I was the first one to test it for them (they have me pre test a lot of gear before commiting to large quantity purchases) and it is a honey. REAL sharp and handles like a dream. Don't let the 4lb weight intimidate you. It just makes for a more stable platform . I would encourage you to use a tripod whenever possible, or try to keep shutter speeds above 1/200 to maximize the sharpness. Enjoy.........

[SteveCliff]

DamienB wrote:
Yeah, there's only one 50-500. Which is the place doing it for that price? I've got the 50-500 already but I want to see what else they sell!

http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk

or

http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page20.htm at the bottom to be exact!

[drandy]

Aha! You are paying 659 UK pounds not dollars. I guess you are a UK resident? If not you are paying a high price as the exchange rate is 1.6 = $1054.40. The price at Delta International is $711 = 444 UK Pounds. Not sure why things are so expensive in England - someone making a lot of money somewhere. I am English and live in the US and boy do notice the difference!

PS Thanks to "Traveler" - it was your advice which turned me on to buying this lens!

[traveler]

Glad I could be of service drandy. You'll have an awful lot of fun with that lens. It does everything right. If it had Optical Image Stabilization I doubt Sigma would be able to make enough to satisfy the market. On a tripod it is above reproach. Even 50mm is impressive. I have to give them credit they really did a great job on the design AND the execution of this product. Of the dozen or so I've heard back from purchasers of this lens ALL were thrilled with the build and performance. It seems that Sigma pays a bit more attention to this one in production. It won an award in the German photo show for "best of". For European buyers (British especially) Delta has built up quite a clientele over there and it is surprisingly fast and easy for you guys to do business with Delta. Just contact them by phone or email. The best one to contact there is Betty in Customer Service. She can tell you all the details on shippings and charges for overseas shipment. She can be reached at betty@deltainternational.com Good luck........

[SteveCliff]

drandy wrote: The price at Delta International is $711 = 444 UK Pounds. Not sure why things are so expensive in England - someone making a lot of money somewhere.

And then some! I love my country but we get shafted left right and centre when it comes to this kind of stuff. At least the hot sunny weather makes up for it ..... errrr ....

[SteveCliff]

All is well!

The lens arrived exactly when Bristol Camera's said it would - they have charged me the correct price - the lens *is* the HSM version and all is well with the world :)

The only downside is my freezing feet after standing in the snow for the last hour testing the lens out on a swan at the local Nature Reserve!

I'll let you know how I get on with it ....

[DamienB]

Yeah, some nice prices there alright. Duly bookmarked.

drandy - unfortunately buying something like that from the USA wouldn't actually save us much money. Customs would catch it and add import duty, then add value added tax (17.5%) to the total. The saving would be only be a few quid and it's hardly worth the bother compared to being able to return it easily within the UK if anything goes wrong.