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Review Summary
2012-01-22T19:00:00
Easy to use, some shots require manual focus which is not a problem. Good results through out range.
Hugh C.
2011-11-06T19:00:00
I purchased this lens specifically for outdoor sports. It is a great lens for football, soccer, field hockey & track. Its wide focal length range allows me to cover these events without moving up and down the field. it has good sharpness even at the larger f-stops (f8 @ 350-500mm, f6.3 @ 80-350 mm & f5.6 @50-80 mm) and pretty good results even when shooting wide open. It's a bit heavy but that's to be expected for this type of len, a good monopod is a must. I have also used this lens for some personal wild life & candid photography, very good results. Just not made for low light situations.
MattBigBlu
2011-10-23T21:00:00
A very good alternative lens for daylight sports or any outdoor event. covers a wide range. I use it for football mostly (saves a lot of moving back and forth) but also for auto racing balloon Festivals and air shows etc. Successfully hand held at 500mm @ 1/400 second but recommend using a good monopod. The one drawback is that it's not an internal zoom so you have to watch when moving around that you lock the zoom or the barrel will creep out. A little soft at the edges especially when fully extended to 500mm but acceptable. If youdon't want to put out the money for a matching brand lens of the same zoom range you might consider this one
MUSTAFA A.
2009-06-23T21:00:00
I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the photos. Having a range from 50 mm to 500mm made me a little suspect until I actually had an opportunity to put it through its paces. The AF is fast, quiet and sharp. The only draw back I have is the weight. It is heavy, but a tripod and cable release are a cure.
RICHARD W.
2008-01-27T19:00:00
I bought "The Bigma" to replace a disappointing Canon 70-200 f5.6L lens, which is "L" in name only. This lens and a 2x teleconverter (don't waffle about it, just get a 2xTC) extended the reach of my gear quite significantly at a very reasonable price. It's quite unique - the range you get for the money is stunning. I'm satisfied with the quality of construction and the images. If you respect it's limitations (or, if you like, shortcomings) it will deliver sharp, neutral-color, well-saturated images for you. The bokeh is pleasing as well. The main limitation is that it's not fast glass at f4-6.3. Despite the monstrous 86mm filter size, it doesn't collect a lot of light at the far end of the zoom. It's even slower with the 2xTC. The downside to having a 450mm range is that the focusing mechanism has to travel a long way while moving heavy bits. It's simply not a fast focusing lens. I've shot wildlife, and the occasional outdoor portrait, but I bought it primarily to shoot motorcycle racing. I find that when I'm close to the edge of the track, and the bikes are whizzing by, the AF can't keep up. If I position myself further away from the action, use a tripod, and take advantage of the long reach, I get fine results. It's surprisingly easy to manual focus, as well. One other "unintended side-effect" worth mentioning is that you spend a lot of time talking to people. Fully extended, it looks a bit like a rocket launcher with a camera hanging off the back. It's hardly stealthy. I'd say the key to happiness with The Bigma is that you should consider this a 200-500mm lens that can be used as a 50mm in a pinch. It's not a good replacement for a faster, lighter, smaller 50-200mm zoom.
Alanbataar
2007-12-18T19:00:00
I use this lens for photographing birds. I've had it for a month and am finding too many con's about it as i use it more and more. This lens would be good for still photo's and Landscape photo's. As for photographing birds, i think the focus is too slow. The lock for the lens only works at 50mm and if you don't have it locked it will creep.
outdoorsman
2007-05-08T21:00:00
I was disappointed with the sharpness of my pictures with this lens. I didn't read on any of the reviews or specifications that the tele-converter could only be used between 100-500 and the focus is manual.
Dick
2007-03-26T21:00:00
I've used to to shot soccer & softball and have gotten great shots no matter where I am on the pitch or field. I the last time I used it I didn't have my monopod and after the second game my arm was sore, so make sure you have some kind of support
Ed
16 Groups /20 Elements
46.8° - 5°
22
100-300cm / 39.4-118.1 "
1:5.2
86mm C
95 x 218mm / 3.7 x 8.6"
1,842g / 64.9oz.

Choosing a lens for your DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera can be a difficult task, not because there are so few choices, but because there are often so many.
This high zoom ratio lens is optimized for digital SLR cameras and capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths from 50mm standard to 500mm ultra telephoto. This ultra-zoom lens employs a seven-group zoom system, which provides a high zoom magnification of 10x. Triple-cam Rear Focusing System ensures high precision throughout the whole focus range.
The new lens coating reduces flare and ghost, which is a common problem of digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance.
This lens uses four pieces of SLD (the special low dispersion) glass for excellent correction of color aberration. A zoom lock switch eliminates "zoom creep" during transportation, a convenient addition when traveling. The HSM Hyper Sonic Motor models provide quiet high-speed AF function, as well as full-time manual focus capability., The rear focus mechanism produces a non-rotating front lens elementwhich accepts a bayonet "Petal-type Hood", which prevents extraneous light from degrading the image quality.
By adding an APO teleconverter (sold separately), you can use this lens as a 140-700 .... ..7.3-8.8 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 1.4X EX teleconverter, or as a 200-1000mm F10.4-12.6 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 2X teleconverter. ..Teleconverters can be used in 100mm 500mm focal length range..