Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Lens Review
The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, the company is the latest offering in the extreme telephoto financial marketplace and kicks in a couple of eyebrow raising surprises! Replacing the 170-500mm model, which is now pretty long in the tooth, the new lens has a good specification for its price.
Build and handling
The construction and operation of this lens is a significant jump up from his predecessor and bears a strong similarity in the type of well-liked 50-500mm EX model. The conventional twin-control rings have to focus on the back, while the front ring controls the zoom function to extend the run, as it does so by some 64mm. The lens has a zoom lock to this extension, if not to stop in use.
The HSM and OS functions have the lens a bit heavier than the old 170-500mm, although it is still at a manageable weight of just under 2kg. And vice versa with the supplied cap on the barrel, the lens will still fit in most camera bags, this is for a 500mm lens even more compact. The front-on 86mm lens, however, is a great, what an expensive extra filters.
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Control switches are all on the left side of the barrel, and consist of an AF/Manual switch for focusing and a OFF/1/2 switch for the OS system. With the HSM AF motor drive it is possible to manually over-ride the auto focus without turning off the AF.
The OS or optical stabilization, Sigma version of the in-lens stabilization and works well, although with a slight whimper and run a small thump as it engages or is dissolved. It is noticeable only in quiet conditions, however, and is certainly not intrusive. The No. 1 position governs movement in both horizontal and vertical plane, while the No. 2 setting compensates for movement only in the vertical plane, so that the pivoting motion of the camera without interference. At full extension of the focal length I found it possible, sharp images up to around 1/100sec quite successful. Good technique is still a long lens requirement but in the use of lenses with so much traction.
To this the lens with a significant stand clamp, can double as a carrying handle equipped, although it is remembered should turn off the OS system should be turned on when a tripod may be used.
Focusing is the biggest improvement over the single lens’ predecessor, with this very quickly in comparison. Tracking moving subjects is a breeze with this model and it is even able to catch up with them, which dealt with the older version is rarely successful. There is no sign of hunting, until you at very low light, something that bodes well for the contrast that the lens is able to obtain.
BUY SIGMA 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM NOW AT A SPECIAL PRICE!
Optical power
Keeping the zoom to 3.3x Sigma have the complicated trade-offs that go in, avoiding, for example, their 50-500mm lens, and that has value in the image quality department. Contrast, if not spectacular, is certainly good and, as already mentioned, is certainly helpful, focused and modern systems. No noticeable distortions are recorded, not that telephoto lenses usually have a problem with this aspect.
Chromatic aberrations, the dreaded fringing purple that contrast image areas can mar, never its ugly head during the test held, despite some very high contrast situations, even though they are on a full frame camera, there are some indications of light blue/red fringing on the very edge at the longer end of the zoom. This, however, were small and included no occurrence of scattered light, although decently deep hood was used over the whole period. These results were consistent right across the entire width of the frame. The lens also focused on a respectable 2.2 and still managed to produce high quality images.
BUY SIGMA 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM NOW AT A SPECIAL PRICE!
Verdict
In terms of features versus price performance ratio of this lens to the telephoto bargain of the century to date. Both Sonic with a focus system and an optical stabilization system, two of which work well, with a good optical performance and compact dimensions is reasonably linked, I can see, this look will find a lot of admirers. If the pull of a 500mm in a manageable package want, they should be comparable to the top of your list!
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