nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

If money were no object then I would go with the camera manufacturer's lens. Having said that, I went with the Tamron last year and have not been disappointed. In case you've never used a super-tele, there are rules you should follow. Use a tripod, don't shoot at long distances as the compression of the atmosphere magnifies haze, dust, heat waves, etc. FWIW, here are some samples from my experience with the Tamron.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37991479@N08/albums/72157650944053099

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Recently purchased the Sigma 150 - 600 sport lens. Wow, what a great lens. Very sharp, though a little heavy to hand hold easily, but it can be done. Love it.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

I"m considering it ,as well, to put on my Nikon D800
it truly blows away the tamron version for clarity and sharpness, and detail...

leftyD500 Loc: Ocala, Florida

I had the Tamron, and after my initial excitement of such a new, big lens, I started noticing my photos just were not as sharp as I liked,. I traded in the Tamron for the Nikon 20-500, and WILL NEVER look back. It is an awesome ,ens, superior to the Tamron.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

I agree.....I"ve seen photographs taken with the tamron, and none, seem to have the sharpness and detail clarity i would like..

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

As a Sport Owner I agree 1000 Percent

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

i think I"m going to take another look at the Sigma Sport lens......as I think the photographs taken with it express beautiful color , clarity, detail, and extreme sharpness, that the tamron version, surely lacks...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I am not a Nikon user myself, but I have a few friends who love the new 200-500mm. There was also a thread here yesterday covering this.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-360763-1.html

AP Loc: Massachusetts

Jlgad, check out NEW Panasonic's 100-400mm f4-6.3 micro 4/3 = 200-800 f4-6.3 for micro 4/3rds format.

This lens has LEICA glass in it. I will buy this lens this year, I think it will be available in April. Listen to this Youtube link below. Also, this lens is listed in B&H. No piece of junk! AP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU182bZ1WIQ

JennT Loc: South Central PA

I have put the Tamron 150-600 on my 7100-- wish to upload a blueJay shot--will try to get the image up somewhere on this sight

Creta1 Loc: Vancouver, BC

I have the Tamaron in mt 7100. Sweet spot is about 400mm. I love it.
It is heavy I can do some hand held but you really need it on a tripod. The images are clean & crisp.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

best way to choose is to rent both lenses and maybe try the sigma brand also, go out and shoot some photos and compare the results before buying, that way you will have solid images to compare and get the lens that best suits you. it will save you a lot of money and you will get the lens that serves you best.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

JLGAD, neither you nor anybody else should make a decision to buy a lens based on what you see here and I do not mean these are not fine examples of those lenses you have requested information from but the sizes are small except for the cardinal photo when enlarged.
The best way to judge how good a lens is would be trying it yourself to make sure it handles as you expect and then enlarging the files to those sizes you use regularly.
I have not used any of the lenses discussed here but I am confident they are all of good quality. Just keep in mind that the final output from a camera and lens depends more on the photographer than the gear itself and without offending anyone "most lenses are better than most photographers."

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

what do you do if you have a Mac??? LOL

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

I use the Tamron 150-600mm on my D7100. Most of the photos that I have posted here since summer have been shot with that lens, including the two sets this morning (For ANGLER and Afternoon Delight).

I don't see any reason to dislike this lens. Certainly, if you have lots of bucks to spend, you can find better, but for a grand I don't believe that you can.

I believe that the Tamron is a more rugged lens than the Sigma Contemporary. Mine survived a sudden downpour that sent my body back to Nikon for repair.

I have other Sigma lens and was holding out for the 'C', but the key factors for switching my choice to the Tamron, was Sigma's delay in bringing their product to market, images that were shared by other Hogs here, and the direction of rotation for the zoom function. I have Nikon lenses also, and while Tamron zoom is the same as Nikon, Sigma is opposite.

Because we all push the limits of our equipment, it is possible to take a less than perfect photo with this or any lens, but it will still be better than what we would have gotten with the lens we used before - in my case the Nikon 75-300. I don't have to crop as much as before at the same distance, but then I will reach out further and still crop.

Had the Nikon 200-500 been available -who knows?