Perhaps one of the most famous telephoto zoom lenses is the now discontinued Sigma 50-500mm EX HSM. For a long time this was the de facto standard in how much technology and sharpness you can put into a 10x optical telephoto zoom lens – At least for the DSLR market.
The 50-500mm focal length range is still unique and to this date Sigma is the only one who have this type of lens in their repertoire.
With this new 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM length Sigma added a couple of things the most important being the OS or optical stabilizer.
The massive 10 times zoom span gives the user an impressive ability to switch between a number of tasks often done with multiple lenses. Ranging from portrait to motorsport to wildlife photography. Sure it would be quite awkward to carry a lens of this size to a portrait session but you have the option to do so. The most obvious choice of use for this lens would be wildlife photography and it is for such I´ve been using it for.
Compare it to the older non-OS version they are very alike. They both feature the same superb tripod collar with the built in grip. Although it only have threads for one bolt it´s long and solid. Locking or unlocking the collar goes with ease and the lens rotates very smooth within the collar if you´re switching to portrait orientation or back to landscape orientation.
Another great thing in the space for the tripod colar strap so the user carries the camera plus lens from the lens and not from the camera preventing stress on the lens mount. The lens includes the tripod collar strap as well!
The front element is increased to roughly 82mm probably to prevent vignetting on a full frame body being slightly larger than required for a 500mm F6.3 lens. Sigma´s includes and adapter if´s you´re using a APS-C size body. Otherwise the lens requires 95mm filters!
The lens features a couple of obvious buttons with the new one being the one for the built in optical stabilizer or OS. This will allow the user to select either Off or mode 1 or 2.
In mode 1 the lens stabilises both in vertical and horizontal while in mode 2 its horizontal only. I found mode 1 to be the most useful. It function very well adding a couple of stops of “light” to play with.
The lens also features a lock/unlock button that allows the user to lock the lens at the shortest focal length 50mm to prevent lens creeping. Oddly Sigma didn´t add the same option for 500mm. I tried to roll back to 50mm and walk around with it for some time with the lock button unlocked and didn´t notice any lens creeping. Either way its a useful feature!
There´s also the typical AF / M focus button, where you choose auto focus or manual focus. Worth mentioning is this Sigma lens features a full-time manual focus override. If you´re in a situation where the auto focus fails to achieve whatever you´re aiming at, you can always manual focus afterwards. – You do not need to hit the AF / M switch.
Being a 500mm F6.3 zoom lens adds quite the weight. Bare in mind this lens is, although heavier than the Tamron 200-500mm F6.3 still a lot lighter than a 500mm F4 or F4.5 prime. Weighing in at barely 2 kg´s (1970 grams) you can in fact hike or walk with it all day. Compared to a prime 500mm F4 it´s more compact and less cumbersome albeit being slower F6.3 at 500mm. Worth mentioning it´s cost a fraction of the bare 500´s and adds 10x optical zoom. – As with everything it´s a compromise!
For a F6.3 at 500mm zoom lens the first thing that surprised me was the focus speed. It´s not lightning fast as a 500mm prime but despite the lack of focus limiter it´s quite good. Slower than Sigma´s own 100-300mm F4 it´s probably close to the 70-200mm and remember this is a 10x zoom lens. Highly impressive if you ask me but since I´m using a 1d series body so expect slower speeds on consumer orientated bodies. Either way it boggles me that Sigma didn´t went all the way and added a focus limiter. – Perhaps some day this would be a built in function on a camera body?..
The photo above of the yelling coot wasn´t to much of a challenge for the auto focus as it tracked it nicely. – I recon the Coot was at full rudder 🙂
One of the most important things if not the most important thing of any lens if the sharpness. I´ve been reading the few reviews of this lens available only and I didn´t know what to expect. Luckily I was in for a pleasant surprise.
The Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is sharp lens wide open at pretty much any focal length. So far I´ve been shooting most at 500mm and F6.3 and each and every time I´ve been blessed with sharp shots thanks to the SLD glass and the OS. Most shots are done without tripod some in very low light and some as slow a 1/80 in shutter speed! Since I´m usually shooting with the Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX HSM lens which weighs the same as three 50-500mm lenses and does not feature optical stabilization the 50-500mm is quite pleasant to use. So a big plus for sharpness and another for the OS.
The power of the 10x 50-500mm zoom can be very addicting. This above shot is taken a 50mm and 500mm. That is going from landscape photography to wildlife photography in a second!
Framing your subject is also much easier with a zoom lens. If it´s too tight just zoom out slightly and if you want a tighter framing just zoom in accordingly.
Downloadable samples straight from RAW. – Right click and choose “save as..”
Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Conclusion
To be honest I could probably go on about this lens and cover all focal length but choose to concentrate of the focal length I suspect most would use.
Overall the Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is a great lens. A true pendant to the famous Canon EF 100-400mm L being wider and longer.
It´s quite sharp wide open on all focal lengths and therefore perfectly usable at F6.3.
There´s few things I wished for. One is the focus limiter and the other is that it would be a F5.6 lens up to around 450mm and not as it is now, around 200mm. There´s certainly the right amount of glass for it.
Either way it´s wonderful landscape, portrait, motorsport and wildlife lens – And that is quite the acheivement in itself!
18 Comments
Thanks to danish Sigma distributor Fovitech for lending me this lens!
Hi there, loved your pictures and reviews 🙂 when a review of the sigma 150-500mm ? 🙂
Thinking about buying that one, but the 50-500 looks like a good option too
Thanks, keep up the Great work 🙂
Hi Ruben
Thank you for looking and commenting. – I haven´t had the opportunity to try the 150-500mm yet other than a short hands on basis, but I think the 150-500mm will be inferior to the 50-500mm in every category. With that in mind the 50-500mm cost a lot more than the 150-500mm.
Either way both lenses would give you a long reach and some fantastic photographs.
Happy shooting!
I did notice the price diference but i guessed it was because of the “extra” focal distance of the 50-500. Will look for more reviews.
Thanks 🙂
Hello and thank you for the reviews,
I am in the market and currently have a Tamron 18-270 VC which i love, but i need that extrat from 300-500+ range.
Now how does this lens sigma 50-500mm compare to the Canon L series 100-400mm lens? (other then the obvious difference from 100-400 etc) is the Canon L series lens crisper & Sharper? Lighter and over all better for focusing? or are they about the same?
Thanks much
Jeff
Hi Jeff
Thank you for looking and comment.
I felt this lens is about equal or close to in terms of sharpness. The 100-400 is a bit more contrasty. The focus speed is about the same but slower if you´re using the built-in focus limiter on the 100-400.
Either buy would be a great choice although I would choose the 50-500 for the focal length.
Tobias
Nice review!
As you stated on the Conclusion that start @ fl 200, the wide open aperture become f5.6. How about its distribution of aperture for Sigma 150-500 OS HSM?
Regards,
RTogog
RTogog
Thank you for looking – I´m glad you liked it. I honestly can’t remember although I’m think it was distributed different with F5.6 being in effect in a longer focal length.
Tobias
I see from your photos that you use a canon. Do you have any experience using this with a Nikon D90+. I am interested in buying this lense for it but i have heard that it has some problems. Please respond soon.
Thank you
Mr.Marcus
I haven’t any experience with the Nikon D90, how about trying it out at your local dealer and see how it works. Let me know how it goes.
Tobias
Hi Tobias
How about the focus speed on this particular lens. Would it be fast enough to capture birds flying quite fast.
Hi Zack
Thank you for the good question.
Did you read the part just above the Heron?
“For a F6.3 at 500mm zoom lens the first thing that surprised me was the focus speed. It´s not lightning fast as a 500mm prime but despite the lack of focus limiter it´s quite good. Slower than Sigma´s own 100-300mm F4 it´s probably close to the 70-200mm and remember this is a 10x zoom lens. Highly impressive if you ask me but since I´m using a 1d series body so expect slower speeds on consumer orientated bodies. Either way it boggles me that Sigma didn´t went all the way and added a focus limiter. – Perhaps some day this would be a built in function on a camera body?..
The photo above of the yelling coot wasn´t to much of a challenge for the auto focus as it tracked it nicely. – I recon the Coot was at full rudder”
In other words, yes with some birds and vise verse on others. A fast prime would be more suitable.
Tobias
Hi Tobias
Thanks for the reply. Yes I did read but I was not sure about the focus speed, but anyway I think I am going to pick one up.
Regards
Zack
Hi Tobias,
Very informative review about this serial of Sigma. I used to lay with manual camera Nikon FM2N and EOS 5000 long time. Since it is very difficult to process negative and diapositive film in Indonesia, I am thinking to start with digital SLR. As my main object is wildlife and sometime landscape and portrait, I am thinking to combine EOS 7D with this SIGMA. What do you think and any suggestion?
Hi Poli
Thank you very much for the look and question. I really appreciate the feedback!
A Canon 7D combined with the Sigma 50-500mm OS HSM would be a very effective wildlife and occasionally landscape lens! You might want to supply it with a wide-angle lens and I recon you´re good to go.
Tobias
Hej Tobias
Tack så mycket för ditt svar. Considering my budget, practical things and also after reading you reply, I can stick on my plan to combine 7D with that Sigma.
Bästa hälsningar,
Poli
Hej Poli
Selv tak.
Let me know how it goes with your purchase. I hope you will share it with the others readers on this site. Thanks!
Tobias
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