Sigma zoom lens: I am thinking about getting a longer zoom lens for my D 800. I am looking at the Sigma 120-400 or the Sigma 150-500. Does anyone have experience with them or any...

bill unger

I am thinking about getting a longer zoom lens for my D 800. I am looking at the Sigma 120-400 or the Sigma 150-500. Does anyone have experience with them or any thoughts about them?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

bill unger wrote:

I am thinking about getting a longer zoom lens for my D 800. I am looking at the Sigma 120-400 or the Sigma 150-500. Does anyone have experience with them or any thoughts about them?

If price is not a major consideration this may help you decide.

Sorry wrong comparison.

Edit: corrected.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to post. But since I did I don't believe the 120-400 is made (any longer?) with a Nikon mount. ;)

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

bill unger wrote:

I am thinking about getting a longer zoom lens for my D 800. I am looking at the Sigma 120-400 or the Sigma 150-500. Does anyone have experience with them or any thoughts about them?

Consider the Tamron 150-600 as well. B&H has it for $1069.00.
Granted that's $200.00 more than the Sigma but, you get an extra 100mm worth of zoom for it. And, you don't lose anything in the f stop department.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Had my 150-500 for some years now and love it...heavy but what big lens isn't..?
I do all my shots, BIF, etc, all hand held and have got some great results...even at the long end, 500mm..!

No.1. Original off camera at about 75 meters @500mm
No.2. Cropped.

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DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I have a Nikon mount Sigma 120-400mm. Great lens, but I kick myself for not getting the 150-500mm instead. :-)

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

nicksr1125 wrote:

Consider the Tamron 150-600 as well. B&H has it for $1069.00.

Really?
Maybe you should call B&H and tell them. Latest figures show they are just now filling orders placed last May.

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

bill unger wrote:

I am thinking about getting a longer zoom lens for my D 800. I am looking at the Sigma 120-400 or the Sigma 150-500. Does anyone have experience with them or any thoughts about them?

I have the 150-500 in a Pentax mount. It's a great lens, focus is pretty fast and accurate. As others have said, it is a heavy lens. Manual focus is easy to use. It's great for wildlife. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Tim

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I have used the 120-400 - not overly impressed. The Sigma 100-300 f4 is the one to have or the 120-300 f2.8 -IF- you can get good ones ...The latest "sport" model is good.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I'm very pleased with my Sigma 150-500 on a Nikon D4. Read the reviews at B&H. Price is down to $869. At that price... buy two! :shock: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/549256-REG/Sigma_737306_150_500mm_f_5_6_3_DG_OS.html

sumo Loc: Houston suburb

SX2002 wrote:

Had my 150-500 for some years now and love it...heavy but what big lens isn't..?
I do all my shots, BIF, etc, all hand held and have got some great results...even at the long end, 500mm..!

No.1. Original off camera at about 75 meters @500mm
No.2. Cropped.

I have the Sigma 50-500...used it in Alaska...seems that I got the best photos when on Manual focus....
love the photo of the duck....tell me did you automatic or manual focus on that shot...

shirl2sg Loc: Northern Minnesota

nicksr1125 wrote:

Consider the Tamron 150-600 as well. B&H has it for $1069.00.
Granted that's $200.00 more than the Sigma but, you get an extra 100mm worth of zoom for it. And, you don't lose anything in the f stop department.

One of the photographers I know just bought the Tamron 150-600. He's been playing with it and loves this lens, can even take a photo of a frog across a pond. He's going to be photographing polar bears in the artic and that's why he bought this one.

Wenonah Loc: Winona, MN

SX2002 wrote:

Had my 150-500 for some years now and love it...heavy but what big lens isn't..?
I do all my shots, BIF, etc, all hand held and have got some great results...even at the long end, 500mm..!

No.1. Original off camera at about 75 meters @500mm
No.2. Cropped.

I really like that photo.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

nicksr1125 wrote:

Consider the Tamron 150-600 as well. B&H has it for $1069.00.

MT Shooter wrote:

Maybe you should call B&H and tell them. Latest figures show they are just now filling orders placed last May.

To paraphrase Mr. Clinton, I guess it would depend on what your definition of "has" is. :XD:

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

sumo wrote:

I have the Sigma 50-500...used it in Alaska...seems that I got the best photos when on Manual focus....
love the photo of the duck....tell me did you automatic or manual focus on that shot...

Auto with spot focus, I find birds in flight are too fast to be using manual focus...takes all my effort to keep the focus spot on the bird...
That particular shot won me a $1200 lens in a competition run by the Sigma Corporation..."The Eye Of The Photographer"

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