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Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3
© 2010 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Recommendations

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Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 (86mm filters, 63.2 oz./1,792g as shown, 7.2'/2.2m close focus, about $1,000). enlarge. The biggest source of support for this free website is when you use these links, especially this link directly to this lens at eBay and at Amazon when you get anything, regardless of the county in which you live. It comes in mounts for Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta Maxxum, Sony and Sigma cameras. Thank you! Ken.

 

October 2010    Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses   Canon   LEICA   Pentax

Tokina 150-500mm f/5.6 (1986-2000, manual focus)

 

Optics:
Mechanics:
Ergonomics:
Usefulness:
Availability:
Overall:

 

Ideal for: Perfect for use on FX digital, DX digital and film.

Not for: If 200mm or 300mm isn't long enough for wildlife for you, nothing is. Getting closer will get you better results than a longer lens.

 

Introduction       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Recommendations

Versions and Formats    Compatibility

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This Sigma 150-500mm's optics are superb, and its excellent stabilization system lets one shoot at 1/30 - 1/60 hand-held at 500mm!

Autofocus is leisurely, so it's not ideal for action, but for nature, landscapes and portraits where you really need 500mm, go for it! Neither Nikon nor Canon offers any zoom beyond 300 or 400mm, and this lens' price, at $1,000, is very reasonable.

It is at least as sharp as Nikon's lenses, and has almost no visible distortion. I'm impressed: it's sharp edge-to-edge, full-frame, at every aperture and focal length. Bravo!

The 150-500mm has instant manual-focus override: just grab the ring at any time for manual focus; no switches needed. The biggest drawback is that manual focus is backwards on Nikon.

I hope to test the larger and more expensive Sigma 50-500mm lens later.

 

Versions and Formats       intro     top

The Sigma 150-500 comes in mounts for Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta Maxxum, Sony and Sigma cameras.

I am only addressing the Nikon version here. You may make the usual extrapolations for other brands of camera body.

This is a full-frame lens optimized for 35mm film and FX cameras, and I will be testing it on a Nikon D3. You again may make the usual extrapolations for use on DX and other format Canon cameras.

 

Compatibility       intro     top

This is not a Nikon lens. Nikon does not warrant anything about anything. I found this Sigma lens worked fine on every camera with which I tried it, but as a discount-brand lens completely unassociated with Nikon, it is always possible that some camera you own today, or buy in a few years, won't work with this lens.

This aside, this is Sigma's best attempt at an AF-S and G lens.

Therefore, everything should work perfectly on every digital Nikon, both FX and DX, and even on Nikon's cheapest digitals like the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100 and D5000.

It also should be perfect on decent or recent AF film cameras like the F6, F100, F5, N80 and N75.

The incompatibilities for older or cheaper film cameras are that:

1.) It won't autofocus with the cheapest new AF 35mm cameras like the N55, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. Even if you lose autofocus, these cameras have in-finder focus confirmation dots to help you.

2.) Late 1980s ~ early 1990s AF cameras like the N90s, N70 and F4 will focus just fine, but you'll lose VR. You'll have Program and Shutter-priority modes, but lose Manual and Aperture-priority since you have no way to set the aperture on the camera or on the lens.

3.) You're really pushing it with the oldest AF cameras like the N2020, N6006 and N8008. You'll have no AF, confused exposure modes, and no VR. Manual focus is fine, along with electronic focus indications.

4.) Since it has no aperture ring, it's just about useless with manual focus film cameras.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details with your camera. Read down the "AF-S, AF-I," "G" and "VR" columns for this lens. You'll get the least of all the features displayed in all columns, since "G" (gelding) is a deliberate handicap which removes features.

 

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Recommendations

 

Name        top

Sigma calls this the Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM.

    APO: Better optics. Doesn't really mean apochromatic.

    DG: Last-decade marketing fluff implying these work on digital cameras – duh.

    OS: Optical (Image) Stabilization. Same as Nikon's VR and Canon's IS.

    HSM: Hyper-Sonic Motor: quiet internal AF motor. Same as Nikon's SWM and Canon's USM.

 

Optics        top

21 elements in 15 groups.

Sigma claims 3 SLD elements, which are the same thing as Nikon's ED glass.

It's multicoated, which Sigma calls Super Multi Layer Coating.

Rear focusing.

 

Diaphragm        top

9 straight blades.

Stops down to f/22-29.

 

Coverage        top

Film, FX and DX.

 

Focal Length        top

150-500mm.

When used on a DX camera, it gives angles of view similar to what a 220-750mm lens gives when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

 

Angle of View        top

16.4° - 5.0° on FX and 35mm.

 

Close Focus        top

7.2 feet (2.2 m).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio        top

1:5.2.

 

Hard Infinity Focus Stop?        top

No.

You have to let the AF system focus at infinity.

 

Focus Scale        top

Yes.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale        top

No.

 

Infra-Red Focus Index        top

No.

 

Aperture Ring        top

No.

 

Tripod Collar        top

Part Number TS-31, included.

Removable.

 

Filter Thread        top

86mm, plastic.

Does not rotate.

Pumps in and our as you zoom.

 

Stabilization (OS, a.k.a. VR or IS)         top

Claims 4 stops improvement.

 

Size        top

Sigma specifies 9.9" x 3.7" (252 x 94.7 millimeters).

 

Weight        top

Lens alone: 58.350 oz. (1,654.2g), measured.

With tripod collar: 63.225 oz. (1,792.4g), measured.

Sigma specifies 67.4 oz. (1,910g).

 

Hood        top

Plastic bayonet hood, included.

 

Case        top

Case, Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Case, Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3.

A nice padded case is included.

 

Made in        top

Japan.

 

Teleconverters        top

Sigma 1.4x EX DG APO.

Sigma 2x EX DG APO.

 

Packaging        top

Micro-corrugated cardboard box.

Lens in case inside.

Paperwork and two straps lie on top of case inside box.

Box, Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3.

 

Performance       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Recommendations

Overall   Focus   Bokeh   Color   Coma   Distortion   Ergonomics

Eyeblow     Falloff     Filters     Focal Lengths, effective   Ghosts

Lateral Color Fringes    Maximum Apertures    Mechanics   Sharpness

Sunstars   Survivability   Tripod Collar   VR, IS & OS   Zooming

 

Overall       performance     top

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 is optically superb, but feels gritty mechanically as do most Sigma lenses. Sigma is a discount brand; it lacks the finesse of better products like those from Nikon and Canon.

 

Focus       performance     top

AF at f/6.3

I had no problems on a Nikon D3.

 

AF Speed

AF speed is leisurely. This lets it focus precisely at 500mm and not hang-up, but it's not what you want for sports.

If you are shooting action, get the lens in the general vicinity of your subject with the manual focus ring first, and it ought to do pretty well tracking small variations in distance.

 

AF Accuracy

AF always was right-on up through about 300mm.

At 500mm, my sample focused a little behind the subject.

This will vary with your on sample of lens and camera, and if it's a problem, most cameras now have manual fine-tuning adjustments.

 

Manual Focus

Manual focus is swell. Just grab the ring at any time.

It feels better than most Sigma lenses; it's pretty smooth.

 

Bokeh       performance     top

Bokeh, the character of out of focus backgrounds, not simply how far out of focus they are, is usually pretty good.

Look out at 500mm: thermal currents in the air will affect bokeh.

 

Color Rendition       performance     top

I didn't notice any difference from my NIKKOR lenses.

 

Coma       performance     top

None.

 

Distortion       performance     top

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 has no visible distortion, which is extremely good for any zoom.

Its tiny amount of pincushion distortion can be corrected even further for more critical use by plugging these figures into Photoshop's lens distortion filter. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.

 

On FX and Film at 10' (3m)
150mm
-1.0
200mm
-1.5
300mm
-1.0
500mm
-1.0

© 2010 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

In my copy of Photoshop CS5, this is the first lens for which correction magically applied itself from some mysterious database.

 

Ergonomics (handling and ease-of-use)       performance     top

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Controls, Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

This is a big lens (1,792g, 86mm filters), but not much bigger than Nikon's 70-200mm VR II (1,540g, 77mm filters) or Canon's 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II (1,490g, 77mm filters).

Half the lens moves in and out as you zoom, so the zoom ring is stiff.

Manual focus is easy, but it turns backwards on Nikon.

The tripod collar comes off. It looks like a grip with which to carry the lens and/or camera, but it isn't particularly comfortable.

 

Eyeblow       performance     top

This is a big lens moving a lot of glass as it's zoomed, and surprisingly very little air blows out of the eyepiece.

 

Falloff (darkened corners)       performance     top

Falloff on FX isn't bad. It's only slightly visible wide-open.

It won't be an issue at all on DX (see crop factor).

I've exaggerated this by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background.

 

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 falloff on FX and film at infinity, no correction.

 
f/8
f/11
150mm
300mm
500mm

© 2010 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

 

 

Filters, use with       performance     top

86mm is a big filter.

Don't buy cheap filters: at 500mm, any lack of flatness in your filters will rob sharpness. It's easy to test filters: look through them with a small telescope (or pair of binoculars) at a distant object, and if the image remains perfectly clear, you're fine. Even the smallest filter imperfections look horrible thought a small telescope.

The plastic filter ring doesn't rotate while focused or zoomed. It doesn't move while focused, but it does pump in and out as zoomed.

 

Focal Lengths, effective        performance     top

The effective maximum focal length shortens at closer distances.

At infinity where you need it, you get 150-500mm. The 500mm end gives the same angle of view as a real 500mm lens.

At 4 meters (12 feet), this 150-500mm lens needs to be set to 400mm to give the same angle-of-view as a real 300mm lens. It never really gets to 500mm at closer distances.

 

Ghosts and Flare        performance     top

I almost went blind pointing this big lens into the sun, and there still aren't any ghosts.

Here are shots at three different zoom settings.

Bravo!

Sigma 150-500mm ghosts

Sigma 150-500mm ghosts

Sigma 150-500mm ghosts

 

Lateral Color Fringes       performance     top

There are no lateral color fringes on the D3, which would correct them automatically.

 

Maximum and Minimum Apertures     Performance    top

Maximum
Minimum
150mm
f/5
f/22
200mm
f/5.3
f/25
250mm
f/5.6
f/25
300mm
f/6
f/29
400mm
f/6.3
f/29
500mm
f/6.3
f/29

 

Mechanics and Construction       performance     top

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Rear, Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 is a mix of metal and plastic.

The biggest reason I've never bought a Sigma lens is because I've never felt confident that they would last. This lens feels OK.

 

Filter Threads

Plastic.

 

Hood

Plastic bayonet.

 

Hood Mount

Plastic.

 

Forebarrel

Plastic.

 

Focus Ring

Plastic; rubber covered.

 

Zoom Ring

Plastic; rubber covered.

 

Aftbarrel

Mostly metal.

 

Internals

Seem like mostly plastic.

 

Mount

Metal.

It grabs when mounted and unmounted from my Nikons. It doesn't attach and remove smoothly as do Nikon lenses on Nikons or Canon lenses on Canon cameras.

 

Markings

Paint.

 

Identity

Painted on barrel.

 

Serial Number

Sticker bottom rear of barrel, near mount.

 

Ass-Gasket (dust seal at mount)

No.

 

Noises When Shaken

Mild clicking from the diaphragm blades and actuation system.

 

Made in

Japan.

 

Weaknesses

As a pumper zoom, don't bang the front of the lens or you'll possibly destroy the zoom system.

As a motor-incorporated lens, you loose AF if the motor dies.

 

Sharpness       performance     top

Warning 1: Image sharpness depends more on you than your lens.

Warning 2: Lens sharpness doesn't mean much to good photographers.

With those caveats, the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 is really sharp!

It's easy to review, because I can't say anything bad about it.

It's sharp at every setting all over the frame. For instance, it's sharper in the corners at 200mm than the old Nikon 70-200mm VR.

If yours isn't sharp at 500mm wide-open, be sure your AF system is getting perfect focus.

If you're not getting sharp results at 500mm, remember that on most days, atmospheric shimmer from air temperature differences will be a significant degradation to sharpness at longer distances.

 

Sunstars       performance     top

With its straight 9-bladed diaphragm, it ought to make magnificent 18-pointed sunstars on bright points of light.

 

Survivability       performance     top

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 seems tougher than most Sigma lenses, even if it is mostly plastic.

So long as you don't bang the front of the lens on anything and the AF motor doesn't die; it ought to serve you well.

 

Tripod Collar       performance     top

The tripod collar removes if you rotate it appropriately and pull it off the back of the 150-500.

It has no click stops or detents. The lens rotates somewhat grittily after you loosen the grab screw. It is not smooth as are most Nikon and Canon tripod collars.

It has a long foot, but only one threaded hole.

It is far enough away from the bottom of the lens (tall enough) that it clears the bottom of professional bodies like the Nikon D3s without any interference between the tripod head and the camera's battery pack.

 

VR, IS and OS        performance     top

This Sigma 150-500mm's image stabilization works great! Sharp hand-held shots at 500mm are easy!

Nikon says VR, Canon says IS and Sigma says OS. It's all the same thing.

By "sharp shots" I mean perfect tripod-equivalent sharpness when viewed at 100%, as shot on a D3 by me. For most uses, one can use much slower speeds. See Why VR Matters for more.

Here are the percentage of perfectly-sharp shots I got hand-held with OS in position 1:

% 100% Sharp, OS ON
1/15
1/30
1/60
1/125
1/250
150mm
60
100
100
100
100
300mm
33
50
67
100
100
500mm
33
20
80
100
100

Hint: VR improves your hit ratio. It doesn't guarantee that every shot will be sharp. I always shoot at least three-shot bursts at slow speeds so I can pick the sharp shot out of several when shooting handheld at really slow speeds.

 

Zooming       performance     top

Zooming is stiff because you're moving most of this heavy lens in and out.

The front pokes out as you get to 500mm:

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3

Sigma 150-500 F5-6.3 at 500mm. enlarge.

The front of the 150-500 in this shot looks like a hood, but this is the lens without its hood.

 

Recommendations       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Recommendations

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 is an optically great lens. If you think you want one, get it.

My caution is that most people trying to shoot things at long distances underestimate the importance of getting closer.

A 500mm lens sounds like a cure-all for any distant subject, but it you're trying to photograph birds and wildlife, too much is never enough. My professional bird photographer friends own 800mm lenses and wear wetsuits to slide around in the mud sneaking up close on critters, and still have to use teleconverters and crop the resulting images!

If 200mm or 300mm isn't getting you what you want, 500mm probably won't either. Getting closer is much more important than how many millimeters you're packing.

 

Deployment

I'd leave either an 86mm Hoya Super HMC UV on the lens at all times. I would leave the hood at home.

If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd forget the cap, and use an uncoated 86mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.

For color slides like Velvia 50, I use a 86mm Hoya HMC 81A filter outdoors.

For B&W film outdoors, I'd use a 86mm Hoya HMC Yellow K2 or 86mm Hoya HMC Orange.

if you're buying a new set of 86mm filters, you may instead want to plan ahead in case you later get the Sigma 50-500mm, and use 95mm filters with an 86 -> 95mm step-up ring.

 

Help me help you         top

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Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

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16 April 2018, 27 October 2010