What? (Sigma 500mm f/7.2)

Canon-fit Sigma EOS EF 500mm f/7.2 APO Lens
Does the f/7.2 mean that this lens needs a lot more light than other lenses. Thanks for any help.

yes. are you planning on buying this lens?? if so, I hope you're getting a really good deal on it for something that slow

You'll be needing some BRIGHT sunny days to take advantage of that lens, I'd say. Good luck.

no, i was just wondering why there was such a dramatic price difference... thanks for that, will prob still be looking at the canon 100-400L IS or the Bigma... lol thanks.

Speed would not be my biggest concern for this lens..

It would be compatibility with modern EOS DSLR bodies. Many of Sigma'd older lenses were made incompatible with newer EOS bodies when the Elan 7 and 10D were introduced. Changes in the EOS system aperture control relageted the Canon mount versions of these lenses to the junk heep.

Some could be upgraded by Sigma with the replacement of a chip.. some could not.
As time went on and Sigma had to repair more and more of there lenses,. it got harder and harder to get Sigma to do it.. eventually they started telling there customers.. "that lens can't be upgraded,". even when it could.

This is one of those older designs and chances are it will not work without the hard to get upgrade.

Shame really.. becuase even though it's a bit slow,. it was optically a real steal for a 500mm at that price. Certainly better than the zooms. Of course it had dog slow AF as well..

I'm saving up for my 100-400L right now...had one, but sold it. Now I regret it. Fantastic lens.

These pop up on ebay now and again. I think they are a pretty old design. I doubt they'd be worth trying and probably won't work with a DSLR. It's not that slow if it works well wide open most you use their Bigma and 100-400 IS L at 8.0 I would guess! You'll need decent light for them all.