Sigma 150-500 - should I buy one?

zzeitg · 01-08-2015, 11:43 AM

Now when the price of this lens is fairly good (and 4 years warranty on top), I start thinking about it.

But... I've read several reviews and it seems like there're many contradictory opinions of existing owners.

So let me ask once again - what are the pros and cons, what would be your verdict?

Should I buy one or rather something else (and namely?)?

VoiceOfReason · 01-08-2015, 11:55 AM

Big, heavy, not as sharp at 500 as say, 470, but fun, and I am glad I got mine. It is sharp all the way out to just before the long end, and I've gotten pics with it that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I say go for it.

Docrwm · 01-08-2015, 11:58 AM

If the reviewers are comparing it to a prime they're either unintentionally or knowingly misleading the reader. It's a super-zoom. That said, its a great lens IMHO. I've had mine for a month and I've gotten the sharpest photos of the moon with it that I have ever achieved - including my K300/4.

**blackcloudbrew** · 01-08-2015, 12:19 PM

Count me in as a satisfied user of the son of Bigma. I rented one for a month in 2013 and got to like it a lot. Bought it last year when the price dipped and have been satisfied since. There is a good Sigma lens club on the forum https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/94597-sigma-lens-club-all-lenses.html here you may want to frequent as well. Might try renting one at Rent professional cameras or camera lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and more and see if it works for you.

zzeitg · 01-08-2015, 12:33 PM

One particular point... with my 60-250 I don't have to be scared of every raindrop (not that I would like to expose it to any waterspout...). I guess this Sigma is not a WR lens, right? How much vulnerable is this lens when it comes to this point?

Docrwm · 01-08-2015, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by zzeitg

One particular point... with my 60-250 I don't have to be scared of every raindrop (not that I would like to expose it to any waterspout...). I guess this Sigma is not a WR lens, right? How much vulnerable is this lens when it comes to this point?

It's not WR so I do not shoot in a solid rain. A few scattered drops doesn't bother me. There are always rain sleeves for it if you need to shoot in the rain. They tend to be rather cheap.

Reptilezz · 01-08-2015, 02:20 PM

My copy is very sharp wide open to 400mm then after that stopping down to f8 maintains the same quality through to 500mm

Docrwm · 01-08-2015, 02:22 PM

I hit best combination of length and sharpness at ~440mm.

**boriscleto** · 01-08-2015, 02:25 PM

Yes.

SpecialK · 01-08-2015, 02:54 PM

150mm hand-held.

500mm, probably monopod aided.

I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows.

Docrwm · 01-08-2015, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

150mm hand-held.

500mm, probably monopod aided.

I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows.

Nice photos, darn nice photos. What are you shooting the 150-600 on?

zzeitg · 01-08-2015, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

150mm hand-held.

500mm, probably monopod aided.

I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows.

Thanks for samples.
I thought Tamron 150-600 is not available in K-mount. How do you fix it then?

**boriscleto** · 01-08-2015, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by zzeitg

Thanks for samples.
I thought Tamron 150-600 is not available in K-mount. How do you fix it then?

Just look at his signature.

maxxxx · 01-08-2015, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by zzeitg

Now when the price of this lens is fairly good (and 4 years warranty on top), I start thinking about it.

But... I've read several reviews and it seems like there're many contradictory opinions of existing owners.

So let me ask once again - what are the pros and cons, what would be your verdict?

Should I buy one or rather something else (and namely?)?

I like mine a lot. Very sharp. But the weight and size sometimes get to you. And you get a lot of attention when you show up with this beast.

When I was whale watching I also would have liked something wider than150 minimum. The 50-500 would probably be better but costs twice as much.

zzeitg · 01-08-2015, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Just look at his signature.

That's what I did.
"K5/15/21/40/10-17/12-24/50-200WR, Sig 17-70 2.8-4 C/30, Tam 90/150-600, Can 5D/70D/40D/17TS-E/18-55 IS/28 2.8 IS/50 1.8/Elph 500HS"

Tamron 150-600 seemed me to be part of the Pentax list...

01-08-2015, 11:43 AM	#1
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,017	Sigma 150-500 - should I buy one? Now when the price of this lens is fairly good (and 4 years warranty on top), I start thinking about it. But... I've read several reviews and it seems like there're many contradictory opinions of existing owners. So let me ask once again - what are the pros and cons, what would be your verdict? Should I buy one or rather something else (and namely?)?

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01-08-2015, 11:55 AM	#2
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	Big, heavy, not as sharp at 500 as say, 470, but fun, and I am glad I got mine. It is sharp all the way out to just before the long end, and I've gotten pics with it that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I say go for it.

01-08-2015, 11:58 AM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	If the reviewers are comparing it to a prime they're either unintentionally or knowingly misleading the reader. It's a super-zoom. That said, its a great lens IMHO. I've had mine for a month and I've gotten the sharpest photos of the moon with it that I have ever achieved - including my K300/4.

01-08-2015, 12:19 PM	#4
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	Count me in as a satisfied user of the son of Bigma. I rented one for a month in 2013 and got to like it a lot. Bought it last year when the price dipped and have been satisfied since. There is a good Sigma lens club on the forum https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/122-lens-clubs/94597-sigma-lens-club-all-lenses.html here you may want to frequent as well. Might try renting one at Rent professional cameras or camera lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and more and see if it works for you.

01-08-2015, 12:33 PM	#5
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,017 Original Poster	One particular point... with my 60-250 I don't have to be scared of every raindrop (not that I would like to expose it to any waterspout...). I guess this Sigma is not a WR lens, right? How much vulnerable is this lens when it comes to this point?

01-08-2015, 12:56 PM	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by zzeitg One particular point... with my 60-250 I don't have to be scared of every raindrop (not that I would like to expose it to any waterspout...). I guess this Sigma is not a WR lens, right? How much vulnerable is this lens when it comes to this point? It's not WR so I do not shoot in a solid rain. A few scattered drops doesn't bother me. There are always rain sleeves for it if you need to shoot in the rain. They tend to be rather cheap.

01-08-2015, 02:20 PM	#7
Reptilezz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 206	My copy is very sharp wide open to 400mm then after that stopping down to f8 maintains the same quality through to 500mm

01-08-2015, 02:22 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I hit best combination of length and sharpness at ~440mm.

01-08-2015, 02:25 PM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Yes.

01-08-2015, 02:54 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	150mm hand-held. 500mm, probably monopod aided. I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows.

01-08-2015, 03:05 PM	#11
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by SpecialK 150mm hand-held. 500mm, probably monopod aided. I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows. Nice photos, darn nice photos. What are you shooting the 150-600 on?

01-08-2015, 03:06 PM	#12
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,017 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK 150mm hand-held. 500mm, probably monopod aided. I have since gone to the Tamron 150-600 because the Sigma seemed slow to focus on a K5 at airshows. Thanks for samples. I thought Tamron 150-600 is not available in K-mount. How do you fix it then?

01-08-2015, 03:14 PM	#13
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by zzeitg Thanks for samples. I thought Tamron 150-600 is not available in K-mount. How do you fix it then? Just look at his signature.

01-08-2015, 03:15 PM	#14
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385	Originally posted by zzeitg Now when the price of this lens is fairly good (and 4 years warranty on top), I start thinking about it. But... I've read several reviews and it seems like there're many contradictory opinions of existing owners. So let me ask once again - what are the pros and cons, what would be your verdict? Should I buy one or rather something else (and namely?)? I like mine a lot. Very sharp. But the weight and size sometimes get to you. And you get a lot of attention when you show up with this beast. When I was whale watching I also would have liked something wider than150 minimum. The 50-500 would probably be better but costs twice as much.

01-08-2015, 03:18 PM	#15
zzeitg Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Bohemia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,017 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto Just look at his signature. That's what I did. "K5/15/21/40/10-17/12-24/50-200WR, Sig 17-70 2.8-4 C/30, Tam 90/150-600, Can 5D/70D/40D/17TS-E/18-55 IS/28 2.8 IS/50 1.8/Elph 500HS" Tamron 150-600 seemed me to be part of the Pentax list...