K-5 and Sigma 50-500 OS

RonHendriks1966 · 02-15-2013, 07:57 AM

Stunning images. You maybe win more with upgrading to a K-5 II(s) then upgrading the lens. I know the Sigma 300mm/f2.8 is amazing fast in focussing, but no idea about those two longzooms.

LBo · 02-15-2013, 10:15 AM

Absolutely incredible pics, Siluet23. The very first image and the last image in the set are especially striking to me. I also took a peek at some of your other images on the photo-forum.net link you posted... Just amazing, amazing work! Pentax or Sigma should sponsor you. :-)

halfspin · 02-15-2013, 01:20 PM

How in the world are these taken with a 150-500mm? Every other example I've seen has been just barley ok in sharpness. Had I seen these before I bought the DA* 60-250 I would have been more confused than predictive text on a dyslexics phone.

RonHendriks1966 · 02-15-2013, 02:06 PM

Originally posted by halfspin

How in the world are these taken with a 150-500mm? Every other example I've seen has been just barley ok in sharpness. Had I seen these before I bought the DA* 60-250 I would have been more confused than predictive text on a dyslexics phone.

Well I owned a Sigma 170-500mm lens for a while and that was sharp too.

panoguy · 02-15-2013, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by Siluet23

I would like to ask if there are people here who use k-5, k-5 or k-2 5 2s with Sigma 50-500 OS. I'm interested in the speed of focus throughout the range of k-5.
Currently shooting with a 150-500 WildLife and I am very happy but I am wondering if the focus is in the 50-500 faster and by how much ..
I would appreciate if photographers who shoot with a 50-500 OS to show video

Well, as timing would have it, my 50-500 OS arrived today. I haven't had a chance to use the LensAlign to get spot-on AF, but I did compare it to my 150-500 OS very briefly.

The 50-500 is lighter and smaller than the 150-500, and it seems like it has a shorter focus throw. In any case, the 50-500 OS definitely focuses faster than the 150-500 OS on my K-5 in winter sunlight (very bright). I would say it's not quite twice as fast... maybe 1.5x?

However, in lower light (indoors, where the K-5 isn't spectacular anyhow) the 50-500 hunts and rarely locks on. The 150-500 is much more reliable in lower light, for some reason (on the same camera). Not sure how to provide "video" of the AF speed comparison, particularly since the motors are silent and they focus internally...

bobell69 · 02-15-2013, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Siluet23

Hello!
I would like to ask if there are people here who use k-5, k-5 or k-2 5 2s with Sigma 50-500 OS. I'm interested in the speed of focus throughout the range of k-5.
Currently shooting with a 150-500 WildLife and I am very happy but I am wondering if the focus is in the 50-500 faster and by how much ..
I would appreciate if photographers who shoot with a 50-500 OS to show video

Thanks in advance .. here are some of my results obtained with the k-5 and 150-500

You can see more pictures here

?????? Siluet23 > ?????? ?????? - ???? ????? - ?????? / ?????????? / ????? / ???? ?????

I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos. They are certainly the best that I have ever seen produced by a SIGMA 150-500. I never know the lens could be that sharp. Much sharper than any copies that I have seen on Nikon and Canon cameras. You have tweaked your version to perfection.

**crewl1** · 02-15-2013, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by bobell69

I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos. They are certainly the best that I have ever seen produced by a SIGMA 150-500. I never know the lens could be that sharp. Much sharper than any copies that I have seen on Nikon and Canon cameras. You have tweaked your version to perfection.

You don't have the 'View Exif' link right above the pics, it shows for me in Firefox?

Congrats on the great pictures Siluet 23, marvelous shots.

I have the 50-500 OS but have not compared the AF speed against the 150-500, but in practice the AF seemed as fast as my Sigma 70-200HSM II which is a very fast AF lens.

What I have noticed is that the IQ of the 50-500 is sharp right up to 500mm, which wasn't the case of the 150-500 I had tested where it did better at less than 500mm.

You appear to have mastered getting sharp photos from your setup, as I see most of the shots but one are at less than 500mm.

I think you could make the 50-500 work very well as you show great skill and technique, so if all you are looking for is the lower range then there is no reason not to move forward.

panoguy · 02-15-2013, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by bobell69

I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos.

There's a little link in the upper left corner above each attached image. The three taken with the K-5 show the Sigma 150-500 OS in the Lens ID section, but there isn't much data in the K-7 images...

It seems a lot of people have never thought the Sigma 150-500 was very sharp. See my review (with an image) here. It's plenty sharp at f/8, which is where any lens that starts at f/6.3 should be used...

Siluet23 · 02-15-2013, 04:31 PM

Thank you for the nice words!
Thanks for the useful information you give me.
panoguy and crewl1 You can make a video like this

You Tube

but K-5 with 50-500
I just want to see how fast you turn the focus from end to end ( from 0 to Infinity)

panoguy great review on 150-500. Every word is true!

Regards!

**crewl1** · 02-15-2013, 07:52 PM

Can you see this?

Youtu.be

Siluet23 · 02-16-2013, 04:44 AM

crewl1 I am so grateful!
This is exactly what I wanted to see
I have another question. You need calibration? I tested it all that is millimeters proper focus?

**crewl1** · 02-16-2013, 05:21 AM

I have not needed to do an AF adjustment. Seems correct with no need to adjust.

**MJL** · 02-22-2013, 04:32 PM

I have used the 50-500 for over a year now and notice it will "give up" on focus when shooting backlight or low contrast fast moving object (white bird gray sky). The only other Sigma zoom would do that is my 10-20/3.5. The Sigma 70-200/2.8 may also lost focus during same condition but continue to hunt for it. I have to turn off/on the camera (K5 & Kr) to regain focus on the 50-500!

It took Canadian Sigma service agent 3 months to look into the problem, but didn't really improve much.

Fl_Gulfer · 02-25-2013, 08:53 PM

I own the 50-500 OS and have owned the 150-500 and I think the new 50-500 is a tad faster on focus, but they did change a few things from the old 50-500. Like the 50mm is now f4.5 and the old version was f4.0. But I never get shots like that hand held.
Great work and awesome luck getting those shots.

**sergysergy** · 02-26-2013, 02:37 AM - **1 Like**

awesome pics man...you don't need a new lens

02-22-2013, 04:32 PM	#28
MJL Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Canadian WetCoast Photos: Albums Posts: 384	Sima 50-500 focusing I have used the 50-500 for over a year now and notice it will "give up" on focus when shooting backlight or low contrast fast moving object (white bird gray sky). The only other Sigma zoom would do that is my 10-20/3.5. The Sigma 70-200/2.8 may also lost focus during same condition but continue to hunt for it. I have to turn off/on the camera (K5 & Kr) to regain focus on the 50-500! It took Canadian Sigma service agent 3 months to look into the problem, but didn't really improve much.

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02-15-2013, 07:57 AM	#16
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Stunning images. You maybe win more with upgrading to a K-5 II(s) then upgrading the lens. I know the Sigma 300mm/f2.8 is amazing fast in focussing, but no idea about those two longzooms.

02-15-2013, 10:15 AM	#17
LBo New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 10	Absolutely incredible pics, Siluet23. The very first image and the last image in the set are especially striking to me. I also took a peek at some of your other images on the photo-forum.net link you posted... Just amazing, amazing work! Pentax or Sigma should sponsor you. :-)

02-15-2013, 01:20 PM	#18
halfspin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 258	How in the world are these taken with a 150-500mm? Every other example I've seen has been just barley ok in sharpness. Had I seen these before I bought the DA* 60-250 I would have been more confused than predictive text on a dyslexics phone.

02-15-2013, 02:06 PM	#19
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by halfspin How in the world are these taken with a 150-500mm? Every other example I've seen has been just barley ok in sharpness. Had I seen these before I bought the DA* 60-250 I would have been more confused than predictive text on a dyslexics phone. Well I owned a Sigma 170-500mm lens for a while and that was sharp too.

02-15-2013, 02:49 PM	#20
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by Siluet23 I would like to ask if there are people here who use k-5, k-5 or k-2 5 2s with Sigma 50-500 OS. I'm interested in the speed of focus throughout the range of k-5. Currently shooting with a 150-500 WildLife and I am very happy but I am wondering if the focus is in the 50-500 faster and by how much .. I would appreciate if photographers who shoot with a 50-500 OS to show video Well, as timing would have it, my 50-500 OS arrived today. I haven't had a chance to use the LensAlign to get spot-on AF, but I did compare it to my 150-500 OS very briefly. The 50-500 is lighter and smaller than the 150-500, and it seems like it has a shorter focus throw. In any case, the 50-500 OS definitely focuses faster than the 150-500 OS on my K-5 in winter sunlight (very bright). I would say it's not quite twice as fast... maybe 1.5x? However, in lower light (indoors, where the K-5 isn't spectacular anyhow) the 50-500 hunts and rarely locks on. The 150-500 is much more reliable in lower light, for some reason (on the same camera). Not sure how to provide "video" of the AF speed comparison, particularly since the motors are silent and they focus internally...

02-15-2013, 03:19 PM	#21
bobell69 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Courtenay BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 498	Originally posted by Siluet23 Hello! I would like to ask if there are people here who use k-5, k-5 or k-2 5 2s with Sigma 50-500 OS. I'm interested in the speed of focus throughout the range of k-5. Currently shooting with a 150-500 WildLife and I am very happy but I am wondering if the focus is in the 50-500 faster and by how much .. I would appreciate if photographers who shoot with a 50-500 OS to show video Thanks in advance .. here are some of my results obtained with the k-5 and 150-500 You can see more pictures here ?????? Siluet23 > ?????? ?????? - ???? ????? - ?????? / ?????????? / ????? / ???? ????? I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos. They are certainly the best that I have ever seen produced by a SIGMA 150-500. I never know the lens could be that sharp. Much sharper than any copies that I have seen on Nikon and Canon cameras. You have tweaked your version to perfection.

02-15-2013, 03:35 PM	#22
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Originally posted by bobell69 I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos. They are certainly the best that I have ever seen produced by a SIGMA 150-500. I never know the lens could be that sharp. Much sharper than any copies that I have seen on Nikon and Canon cameras. You have tweaked your version to perfection. You don't have the 'View Exif' link right above the pics, it shows for me in Firefox? Congrats on the great pictures Siluet 23, marvelous shots. I have the 50-500 OS but have not compared the AF speed against the 150-500, but in practice the AF seemed as fast as my Sigma 70-200HSM II which is a very fast AF lens. What I have noticed is that the IQ of the 50-500 is sharp right up to 500mm, which wasn't the case of the 150-500 I had tested where it did better at less than 500mm. You appear to have mastered getting sharp photos from your setup, as I see most of the shots but one are at less than 500mm. I think you could make the 50-500 work very well as you show great skill and technique, so if all you are looking for is the lower range then there is no reason not to move forward.

02-15-2013, 03:35 PM	#23
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by bobell69 I would be interested in seeing the EXIF on these photos. There's a little link in the upper left corner above each attached image. The three taken with the K-5 show the Sigma 150-500 OS in the Lens ID section, but there isn't much data in the K-7 images... It seems a lot of people have never thought the Sigma 150-500 was very sharp. See my review (with an image) here. It's plenty sharp at f/8, which is where any lens that starts at f/6.3 should be used...

02-16-2013, 04:44 AM	#26
Siluet23 Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 6 Original Poster	crewl1 I am so grateful! This is exactly what I wanted to see I have another question. You need calibration? I tested it all that is millimeters proper focus?

02-16-2013, 05:21 AM	#27
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	I have not needed to do an AF adjustment. Seems correct with no need to adjust.

02-25-2013, 08:53 PM	#29
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	I own the 50-500 OS and have owned the 150-500 and I think the new 50-500 is a tad faster on focus, but they did change a few things from the old 50-500. Like the 50mm is now f4.5 and the old version was f4.0. But I never get shots like that hand held. Great work and awesome luck getting those shots.

02-26-2013, 02:37 AM - 1 Like	#30
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	awesome pics man...you don't need a new lens