Hi all,
I am going to Florennes airshow, and therefore I am hiring another lens, up to 500mm.
I am choosing between the above two lenses, and which would people reccomend for IQ and how easy it will be to get used to the lens compared to my 70-300 IS USM?
Thanks
Harry
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RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
Harry,
I'm a 50-500 user so can comment on that, but I've never used a 150-500. I've heard the 150-500 is similar to the 50-500 in terms of performance, but if anything slightly sharper. You have to remember that the 50-500 is a 10x zoom lens so it's never going be be sharp all the way through, there are compromises. It's pretty sharp from 50-400mm, but it starts to soften as you creep towards 500mm. It's still very usable, I've plenty of example of photos on here taken from 50 all the way through to 500mm, but it's not something you'll have success with straight away. It's a big, heavy lens and takes some getting used. It's a big jump from a 75-300. How important is 500mm to you? If you want crisp results at 500mm and that's the main reason for looking at one, the 50-500 probably isn't for you, maybe not even the 150-500 as they don't perform at their best at full range. That's where primes come in. If you want a versitile lens that covers lots of options, the 50-500 is a great lens. For me, the 150-500 would be too long at the short end, it would be too limiting, same with the 100-400 L from Canon, hence why the 50-500 suits me perfectly. It all depends what focal lengths you need. I've commented loads on these forums about the 50-500, many of which are on the links below plus many other threads if you run a search. One thing to bear in mind with long lenses is atmospheric conditions play a big part in image quality. If you don't have clean air (heat haze or high humidity for example), 500mm isn't a good idea. You also need good panning technique and good light in order to use the longer focal lengths. These lenses are at their sharpest at around f/10 so are fine weather lenses really, although still very usable in duller conditions one you've got used to them.
Darren
I'm a 50-500 user so can comment on that, but I've never used a 150-500. I've heard the 150-500 is similar to the 50-500 in terms of performance, but if anything slightly sharper. You have to remember that the 50-500 is a 10x zoom lens so it's never going be be sharp all the way through, there are compromises. It's pretty sharp from 50-400mm, but it starts to soften as you creep towards 500mm. It's still very usable, I've plenty of example of photos on here taken from 50 all the way through to 500mm, but it's not something you'll have success with straight away. It's a big, heavy lens and takes some getting used. It's a big jump from a 75-300. How important is 500mm to you? If you want crisp results at 500mm and that's the main reason for looking at one, the 50-500 probably isn't for you, maybe not even the 150-500 as they don't perform at their best at full range. That's where primes come in. If you want a versitile lens that covers lots of options, the 50-500 is a great lens. For me, the 150-500 would be too long at the short end, it would be too limiting, same with the 100-400 L from Canon, hence why the 50-500 suits me perfectly. It all depends what focal lengths you need. I've commented loads on these forums about the 50-500, many of which are on the links below plus many other threads if you run a search. One thing to bear in mind with long lenses is atmospheric conditions play a big part in image quality. If you don't have clean air (heat haze or high humidity for example), 500mm isn't a good idea. You also need good panning technique and good light in order to use the longer focal lengths. These lenses are at their sharpest at around f/10 so are fine weather lenses really, although still very usable in duller conditions one you've got used to them.
Darren
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
I think the general rule of thumb here is the more 'convenient' the lens the more IQ is given up. I'm in the market for one of these and is leaning towards the 150-500. However I know someone with the 50-500 who is quite happy. They're both considered slow so there are going to be trade offs regardless. A monopod is also a good idea with either of these lenses.
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- megatop412
- Posts: 345
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RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
I have the 150-500 and love it for its convenience, with 2 caveats:
-it needs every ounce of light you can throw into it if you want to freeze action
-you cannot shoot it wide open, I prefer f/9 and f/10
-it needs every ounce of light you can throw into it if you want to freeze action
-you cannot shoot it wide open, I prefer f/9 and f/10
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
Thanks for the help all.
As i said this is not a purchase, just to be used of one airshow, so 500 will not always be needed..
The distance is a long distance though, so it would be reguarlaly quite a high focal length...
Does anybody have any more advice?
Harry
As i said this is not a purchase, just to be used of one airshow, so 500 will not always be needed..
The distance is a long distance though, so it would be reguarlaly quite a high focal length...
Does anybody have any more advice?
Harry
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
A word of caution. Using lenses like these requires practice. Something you aren't going to get a chance to do when hiring them for a short period.
I speak as a former owner of a Sigma 170-500mm and hirer of a Nikon 80-400mm.
Is 500mm essential? Would 400mm be enough?
I speak as a former owner of a Sigma 170-500mm and hirer of a Nikon 80-400mm.
Is 500mm essential? Would 400mm be enough?
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
Possibly, but 500 is preferred.
How is it different to using a 70-300 with the practise?
Harry
How is it different to using a 70-300 with the practise?
Harry
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
It weighs a lot more so panning is trickier. If you have OS to contend with you need to know how to get the best out of the lens. If you don't have OS then you may have to alter your ISO to avoid camera shake in poorer light. With a smaller field of view tracking subjects can be trickier as well.
I'm not trying to put you off but just bear these in mind, that's all.
I'm not trying to put you off but just bear these in mind, that's all.
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
Would I maybe be better with a 400mm F/5.6 and cropping a bit then?
Harry
Harry
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- megatop412
- Posts: 345
- Joined:
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
Being a heavier lens, it has greater inertia during panning and is thus more stable than 70-300 lenses, at least in my experience. Now only if it were a faster lens....$$$$
RE: Sigma 50-500 Or 150-500 For Hire
| Quoting HarryImp (Reply 6): How is it different to using a 70-300 with the practise? |
Have a look at my initial post above. Have you actually seen or picked up one of these lenses? There's a big difference in terms of size and weight. The lens is physically heavier. The 50-500 is 1.8kg from memory, about 3 times the weight of an average 70-300. Couple that with another 0.8kg for the body, and it's a fair weight to be holding and panning. Camera shake at 500mm is much more of a problem than at 200mm or 300mm. Tiny movements of the camera are large movements when viewed at 500mm, hence smooth panning and fast shutter speeds are needed, although I regulrly use mine between 400-500mm at 1/100th or less for motion and prop blur. It just needs lots of practice. The first time you use a very long lens you'll be surprised how much more difficult it is and might not be impressed with the results. It just takes practice and experience. Even when you've not used the long lengths for a few weeks, you need to practice with the first few frames to get back in to it. I don't use OS, it may or may not be useful depending on what you're doing, but you need to make sure your technique and shutter / aperture / ISO are appropriate for the task in hand. I use a momopod. Partly to keep the camera steady on some shots, and to take the weight off between shots.
| Quoting HarryImp (Reply 8): Would I maybe be better with a 400mm F/5.6 and cropping a bit then? |
It depends on what you want the lens for. A 400mm will be great if that's all you need. What you'll gain in overall quality, you'll lose in versitility.
Darren
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