SIGMA 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO - Opinions?

Andy Lees71500 · Jan 9, 2002

I'm watching an online auction (which finishes in 8 hours!) for a 2 year old model of one of these lens's.

Does anyone own this lens, or have experience of it, that could give me opinions, or know of any online reviews. (I've already done a bit of research)

My other option is to buy a brand new Sigma 135 - 400mm f4.5/5.5.

Any quick advice would be much appreciated, I need to make a decision soon!.......

Andy Lees--Motion Blur Formula One Photography
http://www.andylees.com

H. Meijer · Jan 9, 2002

Excelent lens, both of em. At the moment i have the 135-400 and a friend has the larger one. The lenses are of good quality, but always use the shade that should come with it.

Harry

Andy Lees said:
I'm watching an online auction (which finishes in 8 hours!) for a 2
year old model of one of these lens's.

Does anyone own this lens, or have experience of it, that could
give me opinions, or know of any online reviews. (I've already done
a bit of research)

My other option is to buy a brand new Sigma 135 - 400mm f4.5/5.5.

Any quick advice would be much appreciated, I need to make a
decision soon!.......

Andy Lees
--
Motion Blur Formula One Photography
http://www.andylees.com

Andy Lees71500 · Jan 9, 2002

Thanks Harry,

Some of the reviews say autofocus is a bit slow - would you echo this?
Do you have any example photos online that I could look at?

all the best,

Andy Lees
--Motion Blur Formula One Photographywww.andylees.com

Chris Maddock · Jan 9, 2002

Andy Lees said:
I'm watching an online auction (which finishes in 8 hours!) for a 2
year old model of one of these lens's.

Does anyone own this lens, or have experience of it, that could
give me opinions, or know of any online reviews. (I've already done
a bit of research)

My other option is to buy a brand new Sigma 135 - 400mm f4.5/5.5.

Any quick advice would be much appreciated, I need to make a
decision soon!.......

A good lens for the price. Quite a few of the shots on my website were taken with it (all shots have EXIF data so you can see which)

However, it does tend to be on the soft side, and there is nothing like the D30 to show up lens weaknesses. As it happens, mine is in my desk drawer at the moment, awaiting my lunch break, when it goes to be traded in for a 100-400IS Canon.

Not that there is anything wrong with the Sigma, just my standards have shifted, especially having seen the excellent results that many people here get with the 100-400.

The following URL has User Reviews for many lenses, including the 170-500, which may help;
http://www.cmpsolv.com/photozone/lsurveyEOS.htm

KRs
Chris

Chris Maddock · Jan 9, 2002

Andy Lees said:
Thanks Harry,

Some of the reviews say autofocus is a bit slow - would you echo this?
Do you have any example photos online that I could look at?

Not having much similar to compare with, I can;t say for sure, but it's definitely slower than my Canon 28-135.

As for examples, my earlier posting missed out my URL, I think;

http://www.maddock.org.uk/d30

KRs
Chris

H. Meijer · Jan 9, 2002

AF isn't as fast as a 100-400 L from canon but the price is also a bit different.

And for the online pics, i use this lens only with my 1V, so no dig. pics online .

Andy Lees said:
Thanks Harry,

Some of the reviews say autofocus is a bit slow - would you echo this?
Do you have any example photos online that I could look at?

all the best,

Andy Lees

--
Motion Blur Formula One Photography
http://www.andylees.com

DSylvester · Jan 9, 2002

Hi Chris,

Not sure if you remember me, but we exchanged eMails a while ago about this very lens (and D30). Managed to get a D30 in the end - my wife bought it me for xMas with a whole load of other goodies (including the 100-400IS).

Thanks for your previous advice. By the way, I like your heli shots.

Derek.

Chris Maddock said:
Andy Lees said:

I'm watching an online auction (which finishes in 8 hours!) for a 2
year old model of one of these lens's.

Does anyone own this lens, or have experience of it, that could
give me opinions, or know of any online reviews. (I've already done
a bit of research)

My other option is to buy a brand new Sigma 135 - 400mm f4.5/5.5.

Any quick advice would be much appreciated, I need to make a
decision soon!.......

Click to expand...

A good lens for the price. Quite a few of the shots on my website
were taken with it (all shots have EXIF data so you can see which)

However, it does tend to be on the soft side, and there is nothing
like the D30 to show up lens weaknesses. As it happens, mine is in
my desk drawer at the moment, awaiting my lunch break, when it goes
to be traded in for a 100-400IS Canon.
Not that there is anything wrong with the Sigma, just my standards
have shifted, especially having seen the excellent results that
many people here get with the 100-400.

The following URL has User Reviews for many lenses, including the
170-500, which may help;
http://www.cmpsolv.com/photozone/lsurveyEOS.htm

KRs
Chris

Rahul · Jan 9, 2002

Exellent lense for its price .....I have used it a lot in last few months ....here r few samples for u :

Andy Lees said:
I'm watching an online auction (which finishes in 8 hours!) for a 2
year old model of one of these lens's.

Does anyone own this lens, or have experience of it, that could
give me opinions, or know of any online reviews. (I've already done
a bit of research)

My other option is to buy a brand new Sigma 135 - 400mm f4.5/5.5.

Any quick advice would be much appreciated, I need to make a
decision soon!.......

Andy Lees
--
Motion Blur Formula One Photography
http://www.andylees.com

--....take careRahul Dutta

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SIGMA 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO - Opinions?

Andy Lees71500

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H. Meijer

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Andy Lees71500

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Chris Maddock

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Chris Maddock

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H. Meijer

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DSylvester

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Rahul

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