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Feb 12, 2020 23:09:42   #
vpeek1947 Loc: Louisville, Ky
 
I shoot Nikon (D750) - Sports & wildlife - been looking for couple of months at Nikon 200-500 or Sigma 150-600 both Sports & contemporary version. Have held all three and still cannot pull the trigger. Hopefully UHH can provide real world advise.

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Feb 13, 2020 05:58:26   #
trackmag
 
Have both. For obvious reasons, use Sigma more.

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Feb 13, 2020 06:06:46   #
cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina
 
I have been using the Tamron 150-600 first generation for 4 years, last 3 years with D750 and been please with the combination. Not sure why the Tamron G2 model was not on the list you were looking at, other UHH members have been well pleased with Tamron and models you have listed. All being said what feels best in your hands and looks best through the viewfinder is the one you should go with, all listed good quality it's a personal preference.

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Feb 13, 2020 06:12:34   #
zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO
 
I also had this problem a few months back. After renting, borrowing and watching youtube reviews etc. I went with the Tamron 150-600 g2.
Price, the tap in, 6 yr. Warranty, weight and just liked the feel and resulting test pics were my final deciding factors.
Hope this helps a little.
I use it on both a D810 and D7200

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Feb 13, 2020 06:34:23   #
DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA
 
For me the D750 & Sigma 150-600 is a great combination. Not extremely heavy, but fast and rugged.

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Feb 13, 2020 07:59:43   #
VeraP
 
I have read a good number of these comparison threads on here (and every one is educational) and all of you seem to prefer the 150-600 over the 200-500. Is that because the extra reach makes such a difference to you or do you think the results are actually better? I am looking at the 200-500 for my new D500 (mostly BIF, etc) and still weighing the choices. Thanks. Vera

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Feb 13, 2020 08:31:14   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
I've been using a Tamron 150-600 G2 mounted on D500 for several years and love it. I tried a friends 200-500 for 2 weeks, I think the Tammy IQ is a little better, it's also weather sealed.

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Feb 13, 2020 08:39:54   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
I have both the G2 and the 200-500. Image quality is comparable, but the 200-500 unquestionably locks focus quicker and in lower light I leave the G2 at home. Used on D500, 850 and 7100 for thousands of shots.

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Feb 13, 2020 08:54:41   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
vpeek1947 wrote:
I shoot Nikon (D750) - Sports & wildlife - been looking for couple of months at Nikon 200-500 or Sigma 150-600 both Sports & contemporary version. Have held all three and still cannot pull the trigger. Hopefully UHH can provide real world advise.


I've shot with all of the lenses you are considering. I found the Tamron G2 and the Sigma Sport to be equally sharp - and I was using a 600mmF4 for comparison. Both provided image quality similar to the prime lens. I tested the Sport first and bought one, just before the Tamron G2 was released. A friend got a G2, which I borrowed for a couple of hours and found it to be just as sharp as the Sport and the 600 prime.

The 200-500 is also quite good, just not in the same league as the other three. The Contemporary and the original Tamron were not worth considering.

For me, the negatives on the Nikon are simple - no weather sealing, build quality not up to pro standard, and only 500mm. I did not like it with a 1.4X TC - it didn't focus and track very well, and it needed to be stopped down to F8, which, when you factored in the light loss due to the TC, was F11.

I could use either the G2 or the Sport and crop a little more and get the better results.

Only take advice from people who have handled these lenses and have no built-in brand bias. I like to let the results speak for themselves, regardless of who makes the lens.

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Feb 13, 2020 08:58:26   #
trackmag
 
Solid advice in that last graf.

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Feb 13, 2020 09:07:21   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
vpeek1947 wrote:
I shoot Nikon (D750) - Sports & wildlife - been looking for couple of months at Nikon 200-500 or Sigma 150-600 both Sports & contemporary version. Have held all three and still cannot pull the trigger. Hopefully UHH can provide real world advise.


Do you have a budget? What is the longest lens you have used comfortably so far? Do you think you might want to buy a long prime someday?

One of the advantages of the Sigma contemporary is the light weight and the greater range. If you are thinking of someday getting a 500 or greater prime, this lens can help you get the skills to handle getting a subject in frame on a long lens. The Sigma will also be the most economical. If you do get it (or the S version), get the USB-Hub so you can set up some customized focus functions. For wildlife and certain birds in flight situations having a custom setting with a near limit set pretty far out can reduce focus hunting considerably.

If this is not a stepping stone to a longer prime lens but more of a long term investment, get either the Sigma Sport or the Tamron G2 150-600. If you opt for the Tamron get the Tap-In for the same reasons I mentioned for the Sigma USB-Hub.

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Feb 13, 2020 09:46:26   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
"I shoot Nikon (D750) - Sports & wildlife"
vpeek1947 I shoot League Soccer; Fashion and Beauty genre with a Nikon D810.
Have used the AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikkor for four years, initially for League Soccer.

What's to like about this lens?
Superb optics with excellent acuity even wide open.
Amazing vibration reduction... yes 4+ stops
Needed very little focus fine tune... meaning it worked stellar right out of box.
Light weight i.e. easily to hand hold for a few minutes (albeit you'll need a monopod for shooting 90 minute soccer matches)

What are this Nikkor's limitations?
Not weather sealed
Prosumer build quality
The lack of Swiss Arca tripod foot.
No protective front filter (like Pro build Nikkors) You'll have to pony up $$ for a 95mm protective filter

However it's major flaw is you can't rotate it quickly when mounted on a monopod.
Little did I know that in it's User Guide it states that the lens collar must be locked down while in use.
Failure to do so may mean it will jump out of it's rotational "tract" and lockup forcing you to remove the lens from it's collar to free it up...FACT! this happen to me... more times than I could deal with.
So I relegated the 200-500mm to shooting fashion and beauty narratives where it works stellar!

For League Soccer I now use a AF 300mm f/2.8 and a 200-400mm f/4 Nikkor (both are pro build and work flawlessly)

vpeek1947 for your benefit I've posted two images I've captured with that fabulous 200-500mm f/5.6E Nikkor. Of merit, I've learned to assign only limited credibility to inferences where photographers fail to post supporting imagery for their claims... Sadly many on UHH sincerely believe their kit is great when in fact it may be far less than adequate.

Hope this helps vpeek1947...
I wish you all the best on your journey...
.

AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikkor
AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikkor...
(Download)

AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikkor
AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikkor...
(Download)

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Feb 13, 2020 10:09:46   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
I owned the original Tamron 200~500. Pretty nice except very soft at 500mm. I used it at 475 or lower and it was an acceptable lens. Finally bought the Nikon 200~500 f5.6 and I'm over the moon happy with it.

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Feb 13, 2020 10:41:31   #
saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee
 
This may be the most asked question here on UHH. Since I own two of the lenses that are always included in the debate I tend to read all the responses. Please allow me to sum up the impressions I have received from all this reading:
Nikon 200x500 - Excellent lens but only goes out to 500MM. Weatherproofing questionable
Tamron 150x600 G2 - Excellent lens and the G2 version is an improvement over the original. Good weatherproofing
Sigma 150x600 Sport - Excellent lens and may be the sharpest of all but too heavy to hand hold for most of us old timers
Sigma 150x600 Contemporary - Excellent lens but the consensus seems to be that it comes in second compared to the Tamron G2 - comes with a great padded bag though

Beyond this you will need to test them all out for yourself.

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Feb 13, 2020 12:46:32   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
zenagain wrote:
I also had this problem a few months back. After renting, borrowing and watching youtube reviews etc. I went with the Tamron 150-600 g2.
Price, the tap in, 6 yr. Warranty, weight and just liked the feel and resulting test pics were my final deciding factors.
Hope this helps a little.
I use it on both a D810 and D7200


I, too, went with the Tamron G2 and am happy with the choice. Lighter and less expensive than the Sport with comparable image quality. Better than the Contemporary.

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