Sigma 150-600mm Sport for Nikon

saaber1 said:

Tord, re handholding/portability I would suggest using a black rapid type strap (around your shoulder) attached to the original lens foot. If you use a short monopod like the 14" siruii carbon fiber one shown in the pic below, you can leave the monopod and the strap attached all the time.

Here are the benefits of this carry system (I am not selling anything! : ) ):

1) Weight is spread around your shoulder, not your neck

2) Lens lays at your side at it's center of gravity (parallel to the ground) thus is very stable and reluctant to inadvertently swing (think of a gimbal mount which is also stable due to being at the center of gravity)

3) Lens can easily be swung behind you when going through heavy brush

4) Since monopod is already attached, you can grab it as a vertical grip at any time

5) If you carry with monopod slightly extended, you can swing the camera up and put the base of the monopod at/on top of your belt giving you an ultra steady handheld position

6) you can carry the monopod fully extended, meaning you don't have to collapse it all the time. If used according to the pic below, the lens hangs parrallel to the ground while the monopod is perpendicular to the ground and behind your back. Thus it doesn't matter if it's 5 feet long, you can leave it extended and it won't get in your way (it will look a bit strange to others though ha ha).

7) If you carry the monopod fully extended you can swing the whole thing up to shoot and set the monopod on the ground. No need to attach or detach monopod or tripod. You are ready to shoot at any time.

If you carry this way it's a total breeze.

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RidgeRunner130 said:

Thanks for the heads up! I was able to register a lens I purchased last year!

John

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DMKAlex said:

I ordered one through my connection. Got it at a very good price and I wasn't sure that it was not gray. I logged on to Sigma USA's website and created an account and registered the lens with the serial number. It went through and acknowledge that I've got the extended warranty (3 years, 11 months, 28 days).

I got it for the price of the gray selling on eBay. I am pretty happy with the saving.

Took it out to tested it and here's my preliminary impression so far:

1. This thing is gigantic, huge.

2. It is very heavy. Definitely not something to hand hold, or dangle around your neck or shoulder.

3. It is well built with a lot of controls and metal.

4. The OS (optical stablization) works very well (I tried that on a monopod).

5. The ultrasonic motor drive for focus is fast and precise, a lot faster than my older 80-400mm Nikon.

I took a few snaps at max. 600mm with the monopod, the image is crystal tack sharp.

Now, I just have to get used to using this huge lens. And I am now wondering if I should sell my 80-400mm Nikon, which is still good for walking around.

I also am looking for a dolly arrangement to carry this gigantic new lens.

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Bernard Waxman said:

Funny, I do not find it all that hard to hand hold, though I often use it with a monopod or tripod. By the way, I find the strap that comes with the lens works well for me.

--
bmw

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AKRover said:

Bernard Waxman said:

Funny, I do not find it all that hard to hand hold, though I often use it with a monopod or tripod. By the way, I find the strap that comes with the lens works well for me.

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AKRover said:

Bernard Waxman said:

Funny, I do not find it all that hard to hand hold, though I often use it with a monopod or tripod. By the way, I find the strap that comes with the lens works well for me.

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DMKAlex said:

I ordered one through my connection. Got it at a very good price and I wasn't sure that it was not gray. I logged on to Sigma USA's website and created an account and registered the lens with the serial number. It went through and acknowledge that I've got the extended warranty (3 years, 11 months, 28 days).

I got it for the price of the gray selling on eBay. I am pretty happy with the saving.

Took it out to tested it and here's my preliminary impression so far:

1. This thing is gigantic, huge.

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

2. It is very heavy. Definitely not something to hand hold, or dangle around your neck or shoulder.

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

3. It is well built with a lot of controls and metal.

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

4. The OS (optical stablization) works very well (I tried that on a monopod).

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

5. The ultrasonic motor drive for focus is fast and precise, a lot faster than my older 80-400mm Nikon.

I took a few snaps at max. 600mm with the monopod, the image is crystal tack sharp.

Now, I just have to get used to using this huge lens. And I am now wondering if I should sell my 80-400mm Nikon, which is still good for walking around.

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

I also am looking for a dolly arrangement to carry this gigantic new lens.

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

I have a chance to truely tested this lens today. Went to the zoo for some easy targets.

The pros:

1. This lens is supper sharp.

2. The auto focus is so good that it is jaw dropping fast and accurate. The ultra sonic motor is just great. Fast and quiet. It is also extremely accurate. I don't know this is what you should expect in the newer technology (newer lenses). It is so perfect I was lead to believe that there is some kind of computer logic or algorithm that aided the fucus. It seems to be very smart to guess where I want the focus.

The cons:

1. The brightness. That f/6.3 is very noticeably darker than my Nikon 80-400mm f/5.6. I tested this indoor in the bird house where it was dark and I had to strain my eyes when I tried out the manual focusing. I don't know if this is something that would be offset by the excellent auto focus (as I mentioned in the pros section) that I would not need to manual focus as much.

2. The weight. Maybe this is just a natural property of a big lens. For those who claim you can hand hold this lens, you must be one of the Mario brothers. I took it off my monopod and I lasted about 10 minutes when my left arm went numb.

I have yet to test it on BIF shoot but I ran out of time this afternoon.

My preliminary report is that this is an excellent addition to those who want to shoot birds, wildlifes and sport actions. But be prepared to use it on a good heavy duty monopod.

Sigma 150-600mm Sport

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

I have a chance to truely tested this lens today. Went to the zoo for some easy targets.

The pros:

1. This lens is supper sharp.

2. The auto focus is so good that it is jaw dropping fast and accurate. The ultra sonic motor is just great. Fast and quiet. It is also extremely accurate. I don't know this is what you should expect in the newer technology (newer lenses). It is so perfect I was lead to believe that there is some kind of computer logic or algorithm that aided the fucus. It seems to be very smart to guess where I want the focus.

The cons:

1. The brightness. That f/6.3 is very noticeably darker than my Nikon 80-400mm f/5.6. I tested this indoor in the bird house where it was dark and I had to strain my eyes when I tried out the manual focusing. I don't know if this is something that would be offset by the excellent auto focus (as I mentioned in the pros section) that I would not need to manual focus as much.

2. The weight. Maybe this is just a natural property of a big lens. For those who claim you can hand hold this lens, you must be one of the Mario brothers. I took it off my monopod and I lasted about 10 minutes when my left arm went numb.

I have yet to test it on BIF shoot but I ran out of time this afternoon.

My preliminary report is that this is an excellent addition to those who want to shoot birds, wildlifes and sport actions. But be prepared to use it on a good heavy duty monopod.

Sigma 150-600mm Sport

Click to expand...

DMKAlex said:

DMKAlex said:

I have a chance to truely tested this lens today. Went to the zoo for some easy targets.

The pros:

1. This lens is supper sharp.

2. The auto focus is so good that it is jaw dropping fast and accurate. The ultra sonic motor is just great. Fast and quiet. It is also extremely accurate. I don't know this is what you should expect in the newer technology (newer lenses). It is so perfect I was lead to believe that there is some kind of computer logic or algorithm that aided the fucus. It seems to be very smart to guess where I want the focus.

The cons:

1. The brightness. That f/6.3 is very noticeably darker than my Nikon 80-400mm f/5.6. I tested this indoor in the bird house where it was dark and I had to strain my eyes when I tried out the manual focusing. I don't know if this is something that would be offset by the excellent auto focus (as I mentioned in the pros section) that I would not need to manual focus as much.

2. The weight. Maybe this is just a natural property of a big lens. For those who claim you can hand hold this lens, you must be one of the Mario brothers. I took it off my monopod and I lasted about 10 minutes when my left arm went numb.

I have yet to test it on BIF shoot but I ran out of time this afternoon.

My preliminary report is that this is an excellent addition to those who want to shoot birds, wildlifes and sport actions. But be prepared to use it on a good heavy duty monopod.

Sigma 150-600mm Sport

Click to expand...

Just wanted to add a comment on versatility of this lens.

With its weight and bulk, this is definitely a special purpose lens. You take it when you go to Yellow Stone, or go to shoot birds in flight. It is definitely not something you hang around your neck and walk around with. You need to have the dolly to haul it around.

My original intend, or my question, was to replace the 80-400mm with this. Now I have a chance to test it, and loving it, it is definitely no replacement of the good old favorite 80-400mm in terms of versatility and walking-around-with.

Click to expand...

Bob Wolf said:

DMKAlex said:

DMKAlex said:

I have a chance to truely tested this lens today. Went to the zoo for some easy targets.

The pros:

1. This lens is supper sharp.

2. The auto focus is so good that it is jaw dropping fast and accurate. The ultra sonic motor is just great. Fast and quiet. It is also extremely accurate. I don't know this is what you should expect in the newer technology (newer lenses). It is so perfect I was lead to believe that there is some kind of computer logic or algorithm that aided the fucus. It seems to be very smart to guess where I want the focus.

The cons:

1. The brightness. That f/6.3 is very noticeably darker than my Nikon 80-400mm f/5.6. I tested this indoor in the bird house where it was dark and I had to strain my eyes when I tried out the manual focusing. I don't know if this is something that would be offset by the excellent auto focus (as I mentioned in the pros section) that I would not need to manual focus as much.

2. The weight. Maybe this is just a natural property of a big lens. For those who claim you can hand hold this lens, you must be one of the Mario brothers. I took it off my monopod and I lasted about 10 minutes when my left arm went numb.

I have yet to test it on BIF shoot but I ran out of time this afternoon.

My preliminary report is that this is an excellent addition to those who want to shoot birds, wildlifes and sport actions. But be prepared to use it on a good heavy duty monopod.

Sigma 150-600mm Sport

Click to expand...

Just wanted to add a comment on versatility of this lens.

With its weight and bulk, this is definitely a special purpose lens. You take it when you go to Yellow Stone, or go to shoot birds in flight. It is definitely not something you hang around your neck and walk around with. You need to have the dolly to haul it around.

My original intend, or my question, was to replace the 80-400mm with this. Now I have a chance to test it, and loving it, it is definitely no replacement of the good old favorite 80-400mm in terms of versatility and walking-around-with.

Click to expand...

It also works extremely well with the Sigma TC-1401.

Bob

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