Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

This Len's is awesome. It has exceeded my expectation's for this lens. I've been able to hand hold this lens at 1\90 sec at 500mm with excellent results. It blew me away was not expecting this. I have found many more uses for this then I anticipated. Love it.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

As a serious wildlife photographer, this was a great lens right up until the AF motor quit working in week three. I'm learning this is a fairly common issue, my 400mm Nikon does seem to have a more powerful motor than the Sigma 150-500. If Sigma can refine this motor issue, it would be a top of the line lens for the money.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

For the money, you can't beat this lens. It's long, relatively fast, and has built in stabilization. The problems have to do more with consistency than features. While the stabilization does make a noticeable difference, in low light you get very varied results. Some shots are sharp and others are out of focus. In bright light, however, this lens really shines. Focusing is relatively quick and accurate, producing sharp, consistent results. Again, for the price you can't go wrong with this lens, but if you have a bigger budget, go for a 70-200 2.8 VRII and add a teleconverter. That also means one less lens you have to carry around.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I must have played with the idea of buying this lens for several months. I read most all the reviews out there. I finally pulled the trigger. I wanted a lens with that extra reach my 300mm was not getting for wildlife pictures. I took it out the next weekend and I was very happy with the pictures. Some reviews said it fit loose in a Nikon D90. Not so. Some said the OS was slow. Not so. I was shooting cranes and snow geese, and was fast enough for that. So what else is there. Now I'm no pro but I have see reviews from pros and have read good things. Adorama did an awesome job getting me the lens, THUMBS UP.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I purchased this lens in October 2008 and have now used it for all of 2009 and 2010. I replaced my older Nikon 500mm mirror lens with this one. I chose this lens due to my definition of value, that is good optical quality compared to a modest price. The lens is used with a Nikon D300, largely for wildlife photos. I am very pleased with the lens. It has greatly enhanced my ability to undertake wildlife photography in the wild. The photos are much much better than those taken with the older 500mm mirror lens. It is heavy to carry in the field, but in most cases I consider the photographic outcome worth the work. I find that I can not take hand held photos under 500th of a second if high quality is needed. Hand shake reduces the quality at lower speeds, even with optical stabilization turned on. Therefore, in duller light situations a tripod is used. However, it is my experience that hand held photos with a 500 mm lens were not possible until optical stabilization was introduced.

I have found no optical problems with the lens. It works very well for my purposes. It has amazing quality for the relatively low price.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I purchased my copy of the 150-500mm OS Sigma for Nikon 2 months ago, after I read Ken Rockwell's review. The review is very accurate, read it!I bought it to replace my Nikon 80-400 VR. Autofocus is way faster on the sigma lens and picture quality is the same from 150-400, at 500 you have to step down to F8 for better results. Of course, considering that you use all appropriate techniques when set to 300-500mm; at that magnification, you will see any kind of vibration of your lens. OS/VR improves the chance of getting sharp pictures.When I got the lens, there was an occasional miss focus or camera body lock up (it happened 3-4 times) I ignored it (don't do it) and it worked OK for another 2 weeks, then the autofocus system stopped working all together, just when I most needed it[...] I send it in to Sigma via a ground shipper (Chicago to New York) and it came back a week and a half later with a note saying that they replaced a part in the AF system (can't remember it's name). AF has been working faster and it never missed in the last week or so. Thanks Sigma!If you are shopping for a long lens, do not get the old 170-500 with screw type AF, it is a terrible lens, it is just a toy. You will get soft results even at 400 F8 on a solid tripod. OK, OK, yes, I would like to buy a Nikon 400 F2.8 or a 600 F4 or a 200-400 F4, you will definitely get better results with them, but come on!!! This is a low budget super telephoto lens.The below picture was taken hand held using the "elbow-at-the-chest-legs-spread" method with a D-90, lens set at 500mm, F/6.3, 1/250, OS (VR) on setting 1. The Camara was set to Large jpeg, program mode, Vivid +3, and as sharp as it could get on that setting, matrix metering, -0.67 exp. compensation, ISO-200, auto white balance. The Bird was at 7.1 meters, and I had a Hoya UV filter on it. I then reduced it to 800x531 for web viewing. The picture next to it is a 800x531 crop of the original file (100% crop), done on CS5. I then did a 0.6 pixel smart sharpening for better web showing. At 1/5 to 1/10 of the price of a pro-super-telephoto, this lens is sharp enough for me, at least for now. Is it for you? If not, go ahead and get the more expensive lens options from Nikon or Sigma.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I also use a Nikon 80-400zoom. The Sigma works every bit as well and is faster to focus & "settle down" with the stabilizer. Great for wildlife but best used with a tripod even though the stabilization seems to work well handheld. I just feel better with the solid support of the tripod.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

This lens is an absolute 'light hog'. But I knew that before purchasing it. I use it mainly for wildlife shots on and around my property. It is also very soft wide open and at 500mm. However, that wasn't a surprise to me. I guess what I am trying to say is don't expect this lens to perform like one costing 6 to 7 times the price. When used on a tripod and in decent light (anything more than cloudy), it performs very well on my D300. Again, you are getting what you pay for with this lens (and maybe a little more). The image I have attached is cropped and sharpened with Capture NX2

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I have purchased SIGMA 150-500 lens with lots of hope after their claims of excellant image quality and thought SIGMA being a multinational company thought will care for their customers.
But after using for last 6 months i am totally disappointed. I feel money and time wasted using this lens. Quality of pictures is terrible even after following some suggestions to improve quality while using this lens. Images come very soft and the autofocus keeps hunting especially if you tilt the lens upwards from horizontal position. Images are so soft even at few meters away from the subject. I have used the lens even at apertures 7, 8, 9, 10 also without much improvement.
Always there is problem with autofocus mechanism. I don't know whether i got defective piece. But once i started checking photography forums, found so many complaints about this lens.
The next issue is about "SIGMA COMPANY". The least said is better. I am from Indian and consumer interests are not protected that well by law. Recently my lens autofocus system totally failed and it was not focussing at all. I contacted SIGMA and told my issues with lens and its quality. Since my lens is still in warranty i requested them to change the lens or give a good alternative new piece. But they did not answer any of my concerns. I had to hunt around service center, make innumerable phone calls and many emails to them. I requested so many times to change the piece, for which there was no reply. They kept the piece for 15 days and then returned saying that they rectified the defect. After that gave so many emails to SIGMA JAPAN from where there is no reply.
Hence I suggest if anyone is trying to buy this lens especially from developing countries, please do not buy. Sigma does not care for you in these countries inspite of selling defective and substandard pieces

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

Bought this a while ago, so a review is overdue.

After reading some comments about poor focusing, my first self-assignment was down to the harbor to photograph boat rigging ... no filter, every f-stop available at each major focal length (150-200-250-etc.) at ISO 100 on a tripod.

Results were excellent for the price - crisp details, excellent color rendition, good contrast - great results given the price. I'd challenge those who say it's not for pro's. The sweet spot appears to be f/8-f/11 which is about where you'd expect it to be.

Also took some shots of the full moon - beautiful. Very crisp and the detail is awesome. I'm thinking about the 1.4x or 2x tele extender to get closer to the moon, but may lose some of the detail - a toss-up to enlarge in PS or enlarge in camera.

Finally, took some shots at our tall ships festival last Sept. - from the shore, the ships mostly filled the frame at 1/2 mile or so out, with good rigging detail and wonderful warmth from the sunset.

It is a big, heavy beast, but as another reviewer put it: I knew that going in. This keeps me from hauling it around with my normal kit (12-24, 18-200, and 28PC). And, the focus is a tad slow.

I'll be using it for daytime wildlife mostly, but at a higher ISO (400-800 on my D200), I would not hesitate to use it for daytime sports like baseball, football, or soccer (sorry, I'm not into cricket ;-).

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

There is some vignetting / light falloff in the corners when shooting wide open, but it's not bad. It's sharpness is OK wide open, but gets appreciably sharper if you stop down 2/3 to 1 stop (and the vignette goes away too). Unfortunately this means f/8-f/9, but the images are quite good for the price. This is not a low-light lens (except perhaps on a D3S). The image in the viewfinder is noticeably dimmer than fast f/2.8 lenses, but in bright daylight it's certainly nice and bright. The not-very-quiet stabilization allows hand-held shots, even at 500mm, which heavier lenses would make more difficult no matter how good their stabilization is.

It may only be half as good as a 500 f/4 VR, but it's about ONE TENTH the price. That's a good deal if you can live with the trade-offs. If an 80-400 isn't long enough for you, this is a good way to get some extra reach without having to sell a kidney.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

This lens exceeds my expectations. It is very sharp (sharper than my Nikon 70-200) and has very fast auto-focus. I used it over a recent trip for wildlife shots in Southern CA. I got excellent photos of migrating whales at very great distances and super sharp birds and other critters along the coast. The lens needs good light. I wouldn't want to try an shoot a basketball game or a hockey match with it. I bought it for wildlife photography and it is great for that.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

This lens is so heavy it really works best with a tripod. However if you are trying to photograph wildlife it is difficult to utilize a tripod. The OS is slow and noisy. The focus is also slow and once it is focused it is not a crisp clear image. This was to be my dream lens but instead I was extremely disappointed.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

This lens is a great value. I just received it and initial test shots are tack sharp, focus is quick and accurate. Sturdy tripod mount is very well balanced with my Canon 50D. I also noted that OS (Sigma's image stabilization) is very effective when handheld. One little quirk mentioned in other reviews I noticed as well is the funny sound the OS makes when you activate it. I look forward to using this lens for my bird and wildlife photography. One other note, the lens case that comes with the lens is huge, but well padded.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

for the money it is a nice option for taking photos of animals, birds and sports.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

Bought this on a gamble for my Nikon D90. Reviews online had been mixed, although most of them were by Canon users who compared it against their 100-400 Canon zoom. Unfortunately, I can't use the Canon 100-400 on a Nikon, and the 80-400mm Nikon zoom is another $600 (with reported slow auto-focus and first-generation VR)

I went to the Los Angeles Zoo and LA Airport to test this lens. Got home to review the pictures, and I must say I was very impressed. Most of the Zoo pictures were at 150-250mm, since the animals are put close for easy viewing, but there were a few 500mm shots, and all the LAX shots were from that range.

Optically, this lens is as good as my Nikon 18-200 zoom, if not a hair better. The OS works great, I'm consistently getting keepers at 1/125s at 500mm, and at 1/50s at 150mm handheld. This lens is wonderful to fill a picture with a target, I got many good shots of animal heads with this. Even from half a mile away (at the airport), shots are sharp (although thermal effects in the air did affect the distance shots, looked just like bad seeing in a telescope, not a problem with the lens).

I made an interesting discovery with this lens. One of my shots of a duck earlier was out of focus, along with some bright sunlight reflections on drops of water on the duck (user error, not the lens). What I saw was a classic out-of-focus diffraction pattern, more importantly, I noticed the size of each ring in the pattern, which told me that at 500mm and f/8, we're right at the diffraction limit for a DX sensor. Now I understand why no-one makes an f/6+ lens longer than 500mm, and all the big-name camera makers only have F/4 or faster in the 500-600mm range. Optically, at least on a DX sensor, you're right at the limit at F/8 and 500mm, which my copy of the 150-500 seems to handle just fine.

For daytime use (due to the long F-ratio), this lens is supurb, and you have to pay much, much more to get better (plus possibly lose the zooming capability). It's big and heavy (for a consumer lens), but it works great as a handhold telephoto for non-professional work. If you're looking for the longest reach w/o breaking the bank or giving up image stabilization, the Sigma 150-500 is a good choice, IMO.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I was expecting a large lens, but WOW...this thing is huge! Seems to be well constructed and works as expected. One strange thing is the optical stabilization has three settings. Off, #1 for horizontal and #2 for vertical. It seems a little noisy at first, but once I used it a little this was not as noticeable. It comes with a nice case with shoulder strap for the case and one for the lens. The case provides very nice protection for the lens.

I debated a long time between the 120-400 and this 150-500. I am glad I chose this over the alternative. One drawback it it takes very large (86mm) filters, so you will most likely have to invest in a new polarizer if you use one.

I would recommend this lens to anyone wanting to take wildlife photos. The only caveat is that it does get heavy after a few hours. I love using it on visits to the zoo.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

great telephoto, yet focus on even slow moving wldlife has been chalenging

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I ordered one of these, it arrived quickly - I took a few shots, they were terrible. Called up Adorama, they sent me a new one right away (because Adorama is awesome) and this one is perfect. It takes clear, sharp pics handheld, no problem. Perfect for birding.
Only problem is it's silly big. A hassle to carry around. I cant fault the lens for this, I knew it going in, so I will still give it 5 stars.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

Good lens, great optics. very sharp images in almost all zoom.
The only thing is did not like is that it is noisy and focus motor continues even after it focuses.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

Superb lens for the money. The matte black polycarb barrel does seem prone to scuffing but it is only an aesthetic concern. The included strap is a very handy item, combined with the camera body strap (adjusted correctly) makes for a comfortable carry.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I am very happy with this lense. Well worth the money.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

A very heavy lens and very long from lens hood to camera. OS is a great help , but some support is highly recommended, I use"Bushhawk". I also use this lens wih a 2x APO extender. Support really needed here, though pictures are clear. It is a cheap way to digiscope without an adapter and a zoom scope. I use the combination with a Nikon D80 which gives me the equivalent of a 1500MM lens. When used with the 2X APO extender the lens is manual focus only.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

absolutely fabulous build quality. I have been using this lens in Iraq and find it up to thwe demands of this environment and super quality images.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

I am into aircraft photography: Spotting at airports and attending airshows. Until this lens, my longest glass was a Sigma 70-310 DG APO, which was great for the price but not long enough for what I needed and not sharp enough. 400-500mm is ideal, and I only had $1,000 to spend, which made this new Sigma lens my main option for a Nikon D200. After using it for a couple of months, I am very pleased with the results. Images at 500mm are sharper than expected and the autofocus is not as slow as I had feared. My only real worry is that the lens does not have the solid construction of more expensive lenses, and even the older Sigma 50-500. So I am worried about it's long term durability. There are reports of bad copies of the lens out there that are not as sharp as they should be, so test the lens thoroughly before your return period is up. One of the reasons I bought from adorama is the ability to try it for 30 days. I was not disappointed.

Comments about Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon AF Cameras:

Fun lens. I have been taking a lot of wildlife and this lens has performed very well, even with birds in flight. The neck strap works very well in combination with the camera strap. I have had it around my neck for over 3 hrs in the woods and barely knew it was there.