Sigma 150-600 Sport vs Nikon 200-500: Hi All, I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!). I have heard the Nikon...

rcrowdy86

Hi All,

I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!).

I have heard the Nikon is better (optically) however, obviously the Sigmas gets to 600mm. I wondered which was sharper, the Nikon with a teleconverter (to get the extra reach) or the Sigma at 600mm?

Any ideas?

Many thanks to any replies!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

What camera are you using? If it is a newer high pixel count model, consider that it may be better to use the lens without TC and do the very slight crop to get the equivalent of the additional 100mm. That is what I do with a D500/D810/D850.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

larryepage wrote:

What camera are you using? If it is a newer high pixel count model, consider that it may be better to use the lens without TC and do the very slight crop to get the equivalent of the additional 100mm. That is what I do with a D500/D810/D850.

IMO, the native resolution of ALL the long zooms as a practical matter are EQUAL. The bigger concern SHOULD be FOCUSING ! IMO, f5.6 will focus better on ANY camera you put it on vs f6.3 ! as well as being at a lower ISO - And, you MUST do a proper focus calibration and adjust accordingly to realize the must benefit and sleep well at night.
.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

rcrowdy86 wrote:

Hi All,

I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!).

I have heard the Nikon is better (optically) however, obviously the Sigmas gets to 600mm. I wondered which was sharper, the Nikon with a teleconverter (to get the extra reach) or the Sigma at 600mm?

Any ideas?

Many thanks to any replies!

I was recently looking at a second hand copy of a Sigma 150 - 600mm for my Sony A9/A7III, and following some YouTube research it appears there is little difference optically between the contemporary and the sport. I was a little surprised, given the difference in price. The sport version does have a better build quality and weatherproofing and the hood is metal. But, if you do not intend shooting in pouring rain, the price and weight difference may make a contemporary version a better purchase. Having said all that, when I owned a Nikon D500 I chose the Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6 over the Sigma/Tamron 150 - 600mm lenses. The Nikkor is a stunning lens and readily available secondhand now. Though I owned a Nikkor TC14EIII I cannot recommend using one with the 200 - 500mm f5.6. I always felt it was a bit soft and only used it on static subjects. It worked brilliantly on my Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR, though.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

rcrowdy86 wrote:

Hi All,

I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!).

I have heard the Nikon is better (optically) however, obviously the Sigmas gets to 600mm. I wondered which was sharper, the Nikon with a teleconverter (to get the extra reach) or the Sigma at 600mm?

Any ideas?

Many thanks to any replies!

No lens is better with a teleconverter. That said, you know I will plug the Nikon over anything else. It's even in my name, come on man. I have used the 200-500 for several years on a daily basis and I love that lens. I enlarge show prints to 20X30 that are tack sharp. The following are grab shots. Lets see some shots that compare from the Sigma. I DARE ANYONE, COME ON SIGMA FANS, MATCH ME, I DARE YOU.

Flickwet Loc: NEOhio

billnikon wrote:

No lens is better with a teleconverter. That said, you know I will plug the Nikon over anything else. It's even in my name, come on man. I have used the 200-500 for several years on a daily basis and I love that lens. I enlarge show prints to 20X30 that are tack sharp. The following are grab shots. Lets see some shots that compare from the Sigma. I DARE ANYONE, COME ON SIGMA FANS, MATCH ME, I DARE YOU.

Those beautiful pics may have won today’s internet!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Links to the rescue!

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=15236
http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600.html
http://photo.net/equipment/150-600_lenses
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/latest/articles/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600mm-the-7-key-differences-48183
https://photographylife.com/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-vs-sigma-150-600mm-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLXocpM5xno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_msTFAmwWY

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

rcrowdy86 wrote:

Hi All,

I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!).

I have heard the Nikon is better (optically) however, obviously the Sigmas gets to 600mm. I wondered which was sharper, the Nikon with a teleconverter (to get the extra reach) or the Sigma at 600mm?

Any ideas?

Many thanks to any replies!

I'm not a Nikon guy but I've got a friend that has had the Sigmas and the Nikon lenses and he tells me that the Nikon is better even though it hasn't the same reach as the Sigma.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I've owned the Sigma Sport and ended up trading it for the Nikon. I much prefer the Nikon. Best of luck.

Mary White Loc: Port St Lucie, Florida

billnikon wrote:

No lens is better with a teleconverter. That said, you know I will plug the Nikon over anything else. It's even in my name, come on man. I have used the 200-500 for several years on a daily basis and I love that lens. I enlarge show prints to 20X30 that are tack sharp. The following are grab shots. Lets see some shots that compare from the Sigma. I DARE ANYONE, COME ON SIGMA FANS, MATCH ME, I DARE YOU.

Not my best, but all I can access until later today.. Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens is phenomenal and my favorite lens ever. Handheld for this image.

Mary White Loc: Port St Lucie, Florida

Taken with my Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

rcrowdy86 wrote:

Hi All,

I am sure there are other posts about these lenses but none answer my particular question (as far as I can see!).

I have heard the Nikon is better (optically) however, obviously the Sigmas gets to 600mm. I wondered which was sharper, the Nikon with a teleconverter (to get the extra reach) or the Sigma at 600mm?

Any ideas?

Many thanks to any replies!

I had a Nikkor for two weeks from Nikon NPS. It was great. I then borrowed a Sigma Sport, and it was better. I ended up looking at (borrowing) a few other lenses, including the the Contemporary and none provided the image quality of the Sport. I am also comparing it to my 600mmF4. The Sigma Sport is in the same league, and AF performance on a D810 or D800 is fast and a accurate as it needs to be. The F4 is faster, but the 200-500 didn't seem any faster than the Sport.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

jeep_daddy wrote:

I'm not a Nikon guy but I've got a friend that has had the Sigmas and the Nikon lenses and he tells me that the Nikon is better even though it hasn't the same reach as the Sigma.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Mary White wrote:

Not my best, but all I can access until later today.. Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens is phenomenal and my favorite lens ever. Handheld for this image.

No contest yet. I put in 3 photo's, now you put in two more. Then I will post 20 more excellent ones. You'll loose this contest and every contest against the Nikon 200-500. Come on man, where are your other two. How about one in flight.

Bill P

Before my African Safari, I, like many others here got the misguided itch for a super zoom. I narrowed down to the Sigma 150-600, which a camera store let me take out onto the sidewalk and test, and the Nikon 200-400, borrowed from a friend. I settled on the Sigma (the version before it was in fashion to name lenses), based on prove. The Sigma seemed acceptable, but there was no doubt the Nikon was much better. It was also about 7 tons heavier. I strongly suggest you see and hold a lens in this category before buying.