Sigma Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

 Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars====================Product price: Check new Price in amazon====================Buy with Secure Transaction Amazon now…====================
Product DescriptionThis ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows photographers to bring the subject close and short perspective. Sigma's original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. It is ideal for sports, wildlife and landscape photography with handheld shooting. Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The addition of the (optional) 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 210-700mm F7-9 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens or a 300-1000mm F10-13 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively. A removable tripod socket (TS-31) is included as a standard component.

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Customer Reviews:* I have now had this lens for about a month. I had read many reviews before purchasing it and so far the performance of the lens has exceeded or matched my expectations in every category.I have used the lens a number of times mainly for bird photography - trying to capture birds in flight. Surprisingly the lens is not too bad to carry with you on a walk, and it is far better for hand-holding than I had expected. The Optical Stabilization is outstanding - I believe better than equivalent Canon tele-lenses that I have used. The only problem is that it is a a little noisy and slow. The key thing is that the OS makes hand-holding possible even for a 500 MM lens.The build quality is good and both the focus and the zoom operate smoothly and for now have sufficient resistance to prevent lens creep. The plastic lens hood is a little cheap and sometimes difficult to mount, but at least Sigma gives you a lens hood!!!Unlike other reviewers I have had no problems with the lens working with my Canon bodies.Now for the downside - and I am unfairly comparing to Cannon Prime tele-lenses. Auto-focus is slower and less reliable than with the Canon lenses. When taking shots of birds in flight I guess that I miss a few more shots than I might with a Canon lens - but what can you expect for one quarter the price. At least I am able to even have an opportunity to get those shots on my budget. I just wish Sigma had included a focus range limit switch like Canon - this would be a vast improvement.Lastly and most important, this lens has a softer focus than equivalent Canon lenses particulrly full open at 500MM. I have now resigned to try and shoot at an aperture of f/8 or less which improves the sharpness to acceptable levels. The sharpness is much better at less than 400 mm.Bottom line I am able to take shots that I am extremely happy with on a long lens that I can afford. It has provided me with a tool to do bird photography. Sure compared to a Cannon prime, I probably miss a few more shots because of the slower focus, and sharpness may be slightly less. If you stop the lens down, the softness is difficult to see unless you do a full size pixel comparison.The proof is in the pudding and I have been able to get some surprising good shots of bald eagles in flight with this lens. Would I buy a Canon prime instead of this lens if I could afford it - sure. Would I recommend this lens to a friend with a tight budget - absolutely without hesitation.PS.I have since heard that the build quality of these lenses may be variable. The example that I got may be an exceptionally good one. * I resently purchased this lens after reading a very postive review in Popular Photogaphy Magazine. I have been using it extensively for coverage of high school soccer, hockey,and football, and it has performed flawlessly. It has exceed all expectations and has become my favorite lens for shooting daytime sports. Each and every photo I've taken is tack sharp at all focal lengths. There is no perfect lens on the market today, but this one comes pretty darn close! I would highly recommend this lens to anyone involved in sports or nature photography.