Product Description

Sigma EX 4,0-6,3/50-500 DG FT APO

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129204 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B000FBFXYM
• Released on: 2008-10-21
• Dimensions: 3.70" h x 3.70" w x 8.60" l, 4.06 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
This lens covers focal lengths from the standard-to-super telephoto range that's ideal for film and digital cameras. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass is used for superior correction of chromatic aberration. The HSM provides quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing. And by adding an APO 1.4X Tele Converter, you can use this lens as a 140-700 mm F7.3-8.8 MF lens, or with a 2X Tele Converter, as a 200-1000 mm F10.4 12.6 MF lens. (With a Tele Converter mounted on the lens, the zoom control can be set between 100mm and 500mm.)

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Highly underrated lens which is excellent for airshows and motorsport
Sigma lenses have a reputation of being excellent lenses, but of a marginally lower cost and quality than Canon (and likewise Nikon). When comparing the 50-500 to Canon, the nearest competitor is the 100-400mm lens, which is a professional L series lens with a higher price.

Sigma have chosen to offer a wider focal length range than its competitor (50 - 500) although in reality given the weight of this lens (it is nicknamed the Bigma) you won't be using this to take your holiday snaps anyway. When using the lens for airshows or motorsport events the 400-500mm lens range is key, and that's when this lens comes into its own.

The photos are sharp, the focussing surprisingly quick (expecially when compared to older Sigma lenses) and when panning the lens feels remarkably comfortable. It is not the fastest lens (an f2.8 lens is going to be considerably more expensive) but given that you want to blur the wheels or propellers at such events you're more likely to want f8 at 300-500mm or similar (if the light is good enough).

The negatives for me are the tight zoom collar (when panning something which is at a variable distance from you it can be difficult to move the collar smoothly throughout the pan), and vignetting at open-apertures (this may be a function of the digital camera rather than the lens though, and can be corrected with photo editing software).

To conclude, this lens offers excellent value for an amateur photographer to further their photographic ability but make sure you've thought carefully about what you want to use it for (if you're using it a lot at 50mm you're not getting the best image possible).

Great value for money but with limitations
I have only been into photography for about a year so my comments may appear a bit `non techie'. This is a very good value for money lens that feels well made and pretty sturdy. It's not an easy lens to get good shots with but when I have they have been as good as my Nikon 70-300 DX lens. If you are interested then please bear the following points in mind:

The lens is prone to vibration and with a Nikon camera (such as my D80) there is no anti-vibration technology in the loop. I assume that those who buy it for a Canon have an advantage as Canon integrate their anti-vibration technology into the camera and not into the lens like Nikon. Also this lens seems cheaper for a Canon fitting so it's an even better buy.

You must use a good quality tripod and head which needs to be on solid ground. I have found that suspended floors such as those in hides make getting a good shot an even bigger challenge.

Invest in a camera remote control as it will definitely help with the vibration problem.

It would be wise to buy a UV filter to protect the lens and this will cost £50 plus.

Be careful before buying a circular polariser as it will cost an arm and a leg and given the slowness of the lens it could cause difficulties getting the right exposure.

In low light you will have to crank up the Camera sensitivity so if you have a noisy camera at ISO 800 and above your ability to use this lens will be reduced to good light conditions.

It's a good lens for shooting wildlife but is limited to good lighting conditions for action shots.

You will not get good shots without understanding all about exposure and having good shooting technique so don't buy it unless you are a real enthusiast. Having said this I find that this lens is making me improve my knowledge and technique and I am getting better results with every shoot that I do.

I have read reports of people finding it noisy in use. Mine is very quiet so if yours is noisy return it and get a replacement.

The bottom line is that this is a very good lens for the price. Faster lenses are 4 to 5 times the price! This lens is a bargain but you will have to persevere with it and except it's limitations in low light conditions. If you are buying this lens for a Canon camera, then given the price reduction and availability of some vibration reduction it's an even bigger bargain. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

Not a great lens
When I purchased this lens I couldn't believe the range it offered - but then I came to use it and discovered it limitations.

Firstly, I would only recommend using it in good lighting conditions. You will definitely need a tripod and release cable in lower light - altering the ISO is only going to add noise.

Secondly, there are issues with the sharpness of the images. From 50-100mm there is a slight softness to the images but this is more significant at 420-500mm and there is a slight chromatic aberation at this end too.

I didn't notice any vignetting but with the problems above I had already decided to sell the lens, spend a lot more and get a couple of Nikkor lenses (70-200 and 100-400) and I didn't regret it.