Need advice: spotted a used Sigma 150-500mm EF-mount [NEX-6]

Hi there,

I just spotted a used Sigma 150-500mm lens for the equivalent of $525. The seller says it's in great optical condition.

I'm wondering if I should jump for the deal or wait for something better, in view of the following:

1. I'll still be stuck with manual focus

2. Saker Falcon Lite / Techart III adapters hold promise, but their performance is unproven with either the NEX-6 or lenses with focal lengths longer than 200mm

3. Many reviews say the Sigma 150-500mm is significantly inferior to the Tamron 150-600mm in IQ terms, i.e. sharpness and CA

4. I already have an EF-mount Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6, which hasn't delivered good results for me with MF, so that should tell me something

I need some honest advice here. Do help out.

Hi davelok, FWIW, I have a Sigma 50-500 that I bought new for my Pentax dslr, a few a years ago. To be honest, I was never real happy with it. I did get some nice shots with it but also got many where the focus was just slightly off and I don't know why but it never would AF at 70mm. I've been doing photography since back in film days and even had a photography business which made a lot of money. I only state this to emphasize that my ability to use a camera is generally very good. Thinking that there might be some issue(s) with the lens, I even sent it to Sigma to have it cleaned, test and calibrated. When it came back, there was a letter with it stating that they had cleaned, tested and calibrated it. But, I couldn't tell any diference in it's performance and it still failed to AF at 70mm. I have had and still do have other Sigma lenses that perform excellently. The Tamron 150-600 is a very good, sharp lens but kind of expensive. If it fits your budget, I'd say get one. For my Nikon dslr, I picked up the earlier model Tamron 200-500, at less than half the price of the new 150-600 and it is sharp and has worked reliably and without any issues. So, I can recommend it as another possibility. Anyway, good luck with your lens acquisition.

hex anon

davelok said:

Hi there,

I just spotted a used Sigma 150-500mm lens for the equivalent of $525. The seller says it's in great optical condition.

I'm wondering if I should jump for the deal or wait for something better, in view of the following:

1. I'll still be stuck with manual focus

2. Saker Falcon Lite / Techart III adapters hold promise, but their performance is unproven with either the NEX-6 or lenses with focal lengths longer than 200mm

3. Many reviews say the Sigma 150-500mm is significantly inferior to the Tamron 150-600mm in IQ terms, i.e. sharpness and CA

4. I already have an EF-mount Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6, which hasn't delivered good results for me with MF, so that should tell me something.

Click to expand...

You'll also be stuck with lack of image stabilisation, which you are probably already finding with the Tamron. Manual focus is hard enough with my 135mm legacy lens on the a6000; I'd say it will drive you crazy with those longer lenses.

Here's something I posted recently showing what the Tamron will do when used as it was designed. This was actually the first shot from that lens, hand-held...

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56694047

hex anon, the Tamron is out of my budget right now - it costs more than double of this used Sigma if new, and I might be in the market for a camera that can auto focus these lenses soon. I guess if that happens, I might end up selling my existing Tamron SP 70-300mm - or not.

I was really looking for a reason to decide against buying the lens, because GAS is really hurting my pocket. However, in the end, I got tempted by the price (and seller's photos too), and decided to buy it.

Thanks for looking in and offering your considered advice.

Hi Lynniepad, I would have a problem if it were an A-mount lens. However, this is the Canon-mount version, so I'll be missing AF but not IS.

TBH, I have been tempted at times to get the A-mount version and buy an LA-EA4 too, but it's difficult to find used A-mount lenses in India, apart from the expense of a new adapter. I think the use of a shoulder rig can provide better stabilisation than hand holding, and provide more flexibility than a tripod/monopod.

Thanks for your advice as well.

OK, I didn't catch the Canon connection; I'd hate to do without the AF on the D7100.

I hope your GAS subsides soon.

LynniePad said:

OK, I didn't catch the Canon connection; I'd hate to do without the AF on the D7100.

I hope your GAS subsides soon.

Click to expand...

Unlikely - it needs a good deal of catharsis

davelok said:

Hi there,

I just spotted a used Sigma 150-500mm lens for the equivalent of $525. The seller says it's in great optical condition.

I'm wondering if I should jump for the deal or wait for something better, in view of the following:

1. I'll still be stuck with manual focus

2. Saker Falcon Lite / Techart III adapters hold promise, but their performance is unproven with either the NEX-6 or lenses with focal lengths longer than 200mm

3. Many reviews say the Sigma 150-500mm is significantly inferior to the Tamron 150-600mm in IQ terms, i.e. sharpness and CA

4. I already have an EF-mount Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6, which hasn't delivered good results for me with MF, so that should tell me something

I need some honest advice here. Do help out.

Click to expand...

Your best option, if you want to build around that lens, is to buy yourself a used Canon camera. This way you will have autofocus. That is what I did, my a6000 is my main camera. But once every few months, when I need to use my 70-200mm f/2.8 or 300mm lenses for sports, my Nikon D5300 at least gives me autofocus, exif data, etc. And today, those entry level Canon cameras are as cheap as most smart adapters.

Yes, and I hope to find a used 750D at an attractive price a few months down the line. Currently, it's not too far from the cost of an imported Metabones IV, new! Even now, I can get a used 70D with 25-30,000 actuations for about $800.

hex anon said:

Hi davelok, FWIW, I have a Sigma 50-500 that I bought new for my Pentax dslr, a few a years ago. To be honest, I was never real happy with it. I did get some nice shots with it but also got many where the focus was just slightly off and I don't know why but it never would AF at 70mm. I've been doing photography since back in film days and even had a photography business which made a lot of money. I only state this to emphasize that my ability to use a camera is generally very good. Thinking that there might be some issue(s) with the lens, I even sent it to Sigma to have it cleaned, test and calibrated. When it came back, there was a letter with it stating that they had cleaned, tested and calibrated it. But, I couldn't tell any diference in it's performance and it still failed to AF at 70mm. I have had and still do have other Sigma lenses that perform excellently. The Tamron 150-600 is a very good, sharp lens but kind of expensive. If it fits your budget, I'd say get one. For my Nikon dslr, I picked up the earlier model Tamron 200-500, at less than half the price of the new 150-600 and it is sharp and has worked reliably and without any issues. So, I can recommend it as another possibility. Anyway, good luck with your lens acquisition.

hex anon

Click to expand...

As far as the Pentax unit you got - was that the original Bigma (50-500 EX DG) or the BigmOS (50-500 with OS but dropping the EX designator)? I was always happy with the original Bigma.

I've heard good things about the 150-500/600 lenses - they seem to perform better than the 50-500 lenses optically (probably fewer tradeoffs due to the reduced zoom range, 4x instead of 10x)

As to the original poster: It depends on the resale value of the items involved. It would be very interesting to see the results with a long Sigma. While Techart's official stance is that lenses longer than 200mm won't work well, someone was posting good results with a 200/2.8 on a 2x TC.

Interestingly:

1) Documentation of Canon's EF mount indicates that TCs signal their presence to some lenses with a few extra pins. When a lens detects a TC, it slows down its focus motor

2) The Techart III always drives the lens at maximum focus speed. The end result is that lenses with *slow* AF actually perform better than those with fast AF!

The Sigma 150-500 is also questionable in terms of how much power its AF motor needs. From what I recall, the Bigma family are rear-focus lenses which should reduce AF motor power requirements.

Thanks Entropy512, the 150-500mm is a rear focus lens too as per B&H. I hope there is some development on the AF front soon. I keep a track of your posts on the subject of reverse engineering, though as a non-engineer, I am able to grasp little of it. Keep up the good work! Someone will listen some day, I hope!

Davelok, as you know I've got the A-mount version of this lens. Most of the reviews I found prior to purchase are scathing on the edge of frame sharpness. Using it on an APS-C camera helps to negate that problem.

My biggest issues with it are the size and weight. It is a big lens to cart around and support (I do need to get a monopod + decent tripod.)

I've ordered a Stedi-Stock shoulder rig, which should be reaching me soon. I carry the camera on a sling (Focus F1) now, which keeps the weight off my neck and allows quick draw.

Of course, the shoulder rig will be of little use right now, as I would still need both hands on the camera - one for focusing, and the other for the shutter, because the NEX-6 doesn't support wired remotes, and IR remotes don't support half-press for activating stabilization.

The StediStock looks interesting. Are you getting the original version or the StediStock II with adjustable tripod mount distance?

The original version - to save some money

Actually to reduce my risk if the product turns out to be not good enough.

The lens arrived yesterday (Friday, it's 1 am now) afternoon. I just checked it out in the dark after coming home from work (daylight testing later).

The lens sometimes focuses on very high contrast areas at between 150-400mm. I don't have much idea about the effectiveness of its OS, but holding it by the tripod collar foot stabilises it quite a bit.

But boy is it heavy! I got tired within a few minutes. It's going to give my biceps and forearms much needed weight training! I don't think I can manage focusing it manually while chasing BiF. Even static birds will be a task. So will be carrying it around on hilly trails.

This lens makes my full frame Tamron SP 70-300 look like a carry around lens, and the 55-210 now looks like a pocket miracle! The NEX-6 looks like an accessory mounted on the lens. Pictures tomorrow (or today at daytime).

davelok said:

The lens arrived yesterday (Friday, it's 1 am now) afternoon. I just checked it out in the dark after coming home from work (daylight testing later).

The lens sometimes focuses on very high contrast areas at between 150-400mm. I don't have much idea about the effectiveness of its OS, but holding it by the tripod collar foot stabilises it quite a bit.

But boy is it heavy! I got tired within a few minutes. It's going to give my biceps and forearms much needed weight training! I don't think I can manage focusing it manually while chasing BiF. Even static birds will be a task. So will be carrying it around on hilly trails.

This lens makes my full frame Tamron SP 70-300 look like a carry around lens, and the 55-210 now looks like a pocket miracle! The NEX-6 looks like an accessory mounted on the lens. Pictures tomorrow (or today at daytime).

Click to expand...

When I shot sports, my best work was done with a monopod. This way, the monopod was doing the supporting, and my hands were free to just do the pointing, with an axis of support. Your alternative, less mobile, would be a tripod with one of those fancy heads that act as big-lens support systems.

I'm thinking of getting a monopod, but this is a never-ending story. There is a bean bag too that would weigh double the weight of the lens, and hence has never been used. My current tripod is a cheap Chinese knock off that barely handles the 70-300mm.

davelok said:

....

Click to expand...

davelok said:

But boy is it heavy! I got tired within a few minutes. It's going to give my biceps and forearms much needed weight training! I don't think I can manage focusing it manually while chasing BiF. Even static birds will be a task. So will be carrying it around on hilly trails.
This lens makes my full frame Tamron SP 70-300 look like a carry around lens, and the 55-210 now looks like a pocket miracle! The NEX-6 looks like an accessory mounted on the lens. Pictures tomorrow (or today at daytime).

Click to expand...

Yes, I've mentioned that a couple of times about mine. It's something an A6000 owner won't comprehend until they attach the lens. I don't buy into the whole balance thing (with a DSLR)- it's just even more weight you need to lift! ;-)

I can manually focus mine while supporting it via the tripod mount in my palm. Luckily the manual focus mechanism is really nice and smooth. (The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 manual focus is a coarse pig of a thing to operate in comparison.)

Yes, that's how I tried it too. The focus ring can be turned by my left thumb, and it turns in the same direction as the Tamron, so I don't have to bother about a learning curve. The lens creep is a pity though. I wish they had given the lock at both ends.