solomonv

My current favorite lens is a 70-300mm zoom but after a vacation to southern Utah I'm looking for something that will give me both a wider angle for the broad scenery shots, but also a longer zoom for animals, birds, etc., without having to change lenses. I'm looking at a gently used SIGMA APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM at half of the $2K retail price, but it's from Japan. I know that there won't be any warranty beyond the limited eBay safety net, but is there anything else I need to be concerned about with ordering a Japanese lens? (or any other suggestions?)

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

What is wrong with lenses made in Japan? What is your concern?

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Try finding a lens that has no Japanese connection. Sigma - Japanese, Canon - Japanese, Nikon - Japanese ........

You can get a fully warranted refurb from Sigma in Canon or Sigma mount for $1,239 https://www.sigmaphoto.com/50-500mm-f4-5-6-3-apo-dg-os-hsm-refurbished

B&H has an older version used for under $700.

When posting this type of question, it helps to mention what body you are using.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Do you mean you've found an ebay seller from Japan and the price seems better than from a US-based seller? Have you considered shipping and import duties and whether it really makes the deal better for a relatively widely available lens? Your profile doesn't have a location so maybe shipping and duties are not an issue? If you read the fine-print, you should find these costs are your responsibility and the seller may / may not have provided an estimate for these additional costs.

Knowing your camera would help give other options. Are you looking for a do-it-all lens or maximum image quality?

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

The fact that it is from Japan, and may not have a warranty should not be a problem. But I would research the lens carefully. It may be an old lens and not be capable of auto focus or VR. If either or both of those features are important to you, I would continue to look for something else. Also, in my experience, a lens with that much reach usually does not have very good photo quality.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

I believe you are looking at a lens whose SELLER is in Japan. The manufacturer is wherever Sigma made the lens..Japan, Taiwan, China.....
As an ebay habit, I avoid buying anything shipping from Asia that costs more than I'm willing to gamble with ($5.00 or less)and I need anytime soon. I have had bad experiences with Chinese sellers, even if they say the item ships from USA. Counterfeit items, misrepresentation, barely speak English, etc. The Chinese are experts at hiding their real business location. They also use USA locations as fronts for Chinese "businesses".

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Not sure what you mean by Japanese as most of the big name lens manufacturers are based in Japan and much of the worlds high quality optics are made by Japanese companies.

50-500 is really pushing it as far as I'm concerned. In order to achieve such a broad range and maintain a reasonable size and price, serious compromises had to be made. My utility lens is a Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS USM and that's about as broad a wide angle to telephoto focal range as I'm willing to go. Even with that lens you're giving up some sharpness to achieve its focal range and that lens new costs close to $2500 USD. My solution to your situation is simply carry two cameras. I know for a lot of people this isn't really an option but, for many it is. One way to do this, and I do it quite often, is to carry a DSLR or MILC with a telephoto zoom lens, say a Nikkor 200-500 or a Canon 100-400L II with 1.4 teleconverter or a Sigma 150-600, with teleconverter if you really want some reach, and a smaller high quality high resolution bridge camera like a Canon G1X III which has a 15-45 mm focal range and a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor.

My standard configuration is a 5D IV with a EF 28-300 and a Canon M50 with a EF 100-400L II and EF 1.4 teleconverter.
Sometimes I mount an EF 24-105L II on the 5D IV, a EF 100-400L II on the M50 and the Sigma 150-600 Sport with matching teleconverter on a Canon SL2 body to save on weight. Plus I almost always have the G1X III in a pocket. The little bugger comes in handy quite often.

Best of luck with whatever you choose but I'd seriously avoid something like the 50-500.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It should be pointed out that this lens (SIGMA APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM ) has received considerable praise from reviewers, users and even DxO finds it comprable to lenses costing $1,000 more.

solomonv

Seems like I remember reading something years ago about being careful with compatibility. It's been years ago, and maybe the concern was just about warranty issues.

solomonv

Thanks for the info dsmeltz. I'll definitely look into a refurbished unit right from Sigma. Buying from a seller from Japan would also make me wonder about gray market items.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Shipping cost might be a concern - or it might not. I've bought all sorts of things from both Japan and China. Sometimes delivery takes a couple of weeks, and sometimes it's just a few days. Ships don't travel at 500 MPH.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I never said it was a bad lens, I said that compromises must be made to achieve that large a focal length spread. That's a difference of 450 mm. The Sigma 150-600 also has a spread of 450 mm but it's a much larger lens.
I'm not talking about the optical capability of the lens. If the lens was bad optically then Sigma wouldn't sell very many. I'm talking about the compromises that must be made to keep the price reasonable and still built a half decent lens. How well built is it. What materials are used. Other than the glass, what else is on the inside and what is keeping stuff on the outside from getting on the inside.

Sigma makes two 500 mm prime lenses. One costs $5000 and one costs $6000. Zoom lenses are usually more complex than primes. How many compromises do you think Sigma had to make to make the 50-500, sell it for $1659 and make a profit?!

Nikonman Loc: Harrogate. North Yorkshire. UK

I think his question was focused on buying from Japan not made in Japan !

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

traderjohn Loc: New York City

How many camera's and len's are made in the US??? Why would you all of a sudden have concerns about Japan??