This is a page from my old website, but I thought I’d reproduce it here for any who are interested in the Sigma 150-500mm
First Impressions: Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens
(some new shots added in October 2008 – scroll to bottom)
I decided to make this page mainly because, when trying to research this lens, there wasn’t too much information out there and there was a fairly limited number of sample photos.
I just got the lens yesterday (August 08, 2008) and I don’t want to load all of these photos onto my Flickr site, so I thought I’d make a separate web page with some of the test shots I took yesterday and today.
I had been looking at the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L because I want to be able to cover all focal ranges (and because I’m going to the F1 in Tokyo in a few months), but the truth is that I probably won’t use this lens that regularly, so I’d rather allocate the price difference to another lens or something else.
This was a completely quick and random test (with photos 1 to 6 (the bulildings/bridge) and 12 to 16 consisting of a number of shots taken from my 30th floor balcony). To be honest, I am not overly interested in extreme tech-specs – I am more interested in the actual photo produced at the end of the whole process. Out of curiosity, I took a few shots at ISO 1000 with no flash to see what the results would be and I have to say that I was extremely surprised/happy with the results.
Overall, I am extremely happy with the lens so far and, for the price and focal reach, I think it is a fantastic lens for the price.
All shots taken on a Canon 40D, RAW format, no tripod, OS 1 turned on.
Wondering what 500mm looks like?
(this is a December, 2008 shot – original review is below)
These first 5 look a bit dull more as a result of the hazy/smoggy light yesterday afternoon in Tokyo than because of the lens
@ 150mm ISO 200 f/5 1/400sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@198mm ISO 200 f/5.6 1/400sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@247mm ISO 200 f/5.6 1/320 sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@313mm ISO 200 f/6.3 1/320 sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@403mm ISO 200 f/6.3 1/320 sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@500mm ISO 200 f/6.3 1/320 sec (very minimal adjustments in Adobe Lightroom):
@500mm ISO 200 f/6.3 1/1250 sec (post-processing close crop):
Nice smooth bokeh as well:
Some street shots – I’ll never use it for street candids, but good clarity and nice bokeh:
Alonso, Kubica, and Hamilton at Fuji Speedway F1 – vignette was added in processing:
