Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM - Bigmos

I have an opportunity to buy a secnd hand version of this lens for $750.00. It is less than a year old and is barely used.
I want to use it mainly for soccer and baseball (in good light). Once in a while for wildlife photography.
I currently have the Canon 70-200 2.8IS and a Canon 1.4x extender but am dissapointed when I put on extender (image quality goes down and AF is slower). The lens itself is sweet when used without the extender. Also, the 1.4x is not that much of a gain in FL.

What are your thoughts on the Bigmos lens and do you think that it will be good enough for my needs? Yes, I have done some searching but looking for more help with my decision.

Thanks.

DL Photo wrote in post #14098201
I have an opportunity to buy a secnd hand version of this lens for $750.00. It is less than a year old and is barely used.
I want to use it mainly for soccer and baseball (in good light). Once in a while for wildlife photography.
I currently have the Canon 70-200 2.8IS and a Canon 1.4x extender but am dissapointed when I put on extender (image quality goes down and AF is slower). The lens itself is sweet when used without the extender. Also, the 1.4x is not that much of a gain in FL.

What are your thoughts on the Bigmos lens and do you think that it will be good enough for my needs? Yes, I have done some searching but looking for more help with my decision.

Thanks.

It has a great IS (called OS in the Sigma language). Stopped down to f8 will produce good (but not great) results at 500mm. It is heavy (almost 2 kilograms) so it is better to use on a monopod (with the OS on).

Miguel

I have one of these lenses, and I'm quite happy with it.

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Have you ever used it for action pics?

The Bigmos' AF isn't going to be any faster/more accurate than your 70-200 w/1.4tc. It's a big, heavy lens to hand hold, so a monopod will be a must (unless your Awwwnold ).

Might work out ok for baseball, given even lighting, but soccer games can run to dusk(with poor lighting often)... and the max aperture of 6.3 will very-likely shut things down for you in a hurry(plus stopping down a little). Having a 5DII or 1D1V would allow for usable high ISO's that will be necessary.

Of course, only you know if ISO 3200 will be acceptable on your 7D. For other non-sports shots, it has potential.. except for BIF.. that gets trickier even. The one good thing going for it..very good OS, won't really be much help, in action/sports shots.

I think it's a great versatile lens and a good alternative to the 100-400. The lens is sharp at f/8, and mildly soft but useable at f/6.3 @ 500mm. I'm not sure what kind of action you're looking for, but I've done a fair bit of BIFs (small and large birds) with it and I think it performed okay. The AF can be fast in one instance and slow in another though...may be only for birds though, larger subjects may be a little different. I don't use this lens anymore after it suffered an accident. If you want to do captures faster than 1/2000 sec., you're will need a fast prime (i.e., f/2.8, maybe f/4 with higher ISO).

I picked one up recently. It's pretty sharp, but not as sharp as my 100-400 and doesn't focus as fast, though it didn't feel particularly slow. It costs half as much too...

My thread with link to some quick samples: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1160836

DL Photo wrote in post #14098201
I want to use it mainly for soccer and baseball (in good light).

Soccer and baseball from a Sigma 150-500mm OS lens.

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DL Photo wrote in post #14098201
I have an opportunity to buy a secnd hand version of this lens for $750.00. It is less than a year old and is barely used.
I want to use it mainly for soccer and baseball (in good light). Once in a while for wildlife photography.
I currently have the Canon 70-200 2.8IS and a Canon 1.4x extender but am dissapointed when I put on extender (image quality goes down and AF is slower). The lens itself is sweet when used without the extender. Also, the 1.4x is not that much of a gain in FL.

What are your thoughts on the Bigmos lens and do you think that it will be good enough for my needs? Yes, I have done some searching but looking for more help with my decision.

Thanks.

Yupe, for outdoor daylight sports, it'll be a great combo with your 7D that has new AF system. The zoom allows your to frame your shot right on the spot. Less need of cropping during PP. The versitility is hard to beat.

I really like mine I have some rth I posted that were handheld. And for the price I don't think it can be beat.

$750 is a pretty good price for a used copy...i'd say get it and give it a shot, even if it doesn't work out for you you should be able to sell it for the same amount...

it's a heavy lens, but it's certainly not handholdable...only time i've mounted mine to a tripod is for moon/fireworks shots...

the AF should be fast enough to track players...i've used mine for plenty of BIF

Great shots DCFan.. do you have any soccer and baseball shots, where the sun isn't out.. or bright mid-day..or 1/2 hour before sunset?

1Tanker wrote in post #14099205
Great shots DCFan.. do you have any soccer and baseball shots, where the sun isn't out.. or bright mid-day..or 1/2 hour before sunset?

that's like asking if you have any shots from a 70-200f2.8 at 500mm...different tools for different needs...i think most people know this lens isn't the best lens to use in low-light...

DreDaze wrote in post #14099163
$750 is a pretty good price for a used copy...i'd say get it and give it a shot, even if it doesn't work out for you you should be able to sell it for the same amount...

it's a heavy lens, but it's certainly not handholdable...only time i've mounted mine to a tripod is for moon/fireworks shots...

the AF should be fast enough to track players...i've used mine for plenty of BIF

I'd agree with this too. They seem to go for $800 and up used normally - I've seen good copies go for closer to $900.

DreDaze wrote in post #14099232
that's like asking if you have any shots from a 70-200f2.8 at 500mm...different tools for different needs...i think most people know this lens isn't the best lens to use in low-light...

Not really.. the OP lives in BC... not the sunniest place to live.