good value sharp 500mm lense

ethan · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:03

I use a sony alpha and was wondering if there was a comparable or cheaper lense to the sigma apo 170-500mm f5-6.3. I don't mind buying second hand either. Thank you

Incidently, what would be the vat if this was purchased abroad?

alexisonfire · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:07

Check out some reviews of the sigma 50-500mm, its suppose to be an excellent lens regardless of the small aperture.

ethan · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:12

Is it just a basic generic model or could you provide some more detail pls

Messiah Khan · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:12

ethan said:
Is it just a basic generic model or could you provide some more detail pls

Its the Sigma 'Bigma'

ethan · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:20

messiah khan said:
Its the Sigma 'Bigma'

Lol

alexisonfire · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:22

On paper its one of the best specification lenses sigma make. And from some of the reviews i have read, it works well in the real world too.

1.Good focal range, being 50mm-500mm.
2.Comes from the professional range of sigma lenses (EX) which means better overall build quality.
3.Uses low-dispersion glass (APO) which will lower the chance of colour aberration, and will help give the best quality.
4.HSM for fast and near silent autofocusing

The only downside is the available minimum aperture, which is f/6.3 at 500mm. Althought f/2.8 across the entire focal range would have been nice, this would have made the lens the same size as a car.

Your other option is getting a 300mm f/2.8 and 1.4x / 2x TC

SDK^ · 7 Jun 2007 at 20:50

alexisonfire said:
The only downside is the available minimum aperture, which is f/6.3 at 500mm.

The other downside is no image stabiliser, at 500mm F6.3 you’ll have to up the ISO a lot.

mrgubby · 7 Jun 2007 at 20:51

alexisonfire said:
*snip*
this would have made the lens the same size as a car.

You should see the size of tripod you'd need as well

Entai · 7 Jun 2007 at 20:58

alexisonfire said:
The only downside is the available minimum aperture, which is f/6.3 at 500mm. Althought f/2.8 across the entire focal range would have been nice, this would have made the lens the same size as a car.

Not quite the size of a car, but very nearly.

Here is Sigma's attempt at a 500mm zoom lens with f2.8 across the whole range, pity it only goes down to 200mm though, might have been interested otherwise.

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/336/C12003/

BUFF · 7 Jun 2007 at 23:18

SDK^ said:
The other downside is no image stabiliser, at 500mm F6.3 you’ll have to up the ISO a lot.

it's a Sony Alpha so has in-body stabilisation, any lens becomes stabilised when fitted

The Bigma is highly regarded for decent image quality (better than the 170-500) for the price & it's extreme flexibility.
You also can use the 1 & only AF 500mm mirror lens in the world the Minolta/KM/Sony 500mm F8 Reflex.
Tamron do a decent 200mm-500mm too.

Remember that with the digital crop factor 500mm becomes the equiv. on an Alpha of 750mm on a 35mm SLR.

As for the VAT it will be 17.5% of the price incl any duty if applicable.
if you don't bring it into the country yourself (e.g. mail order then the carrier will probably also charge a fee for collecting/administrating the VAT.

ethan · 7 Jun 2007 at 23:31

Entai said:
Not quite the size of a car, but very nearly.

Here is Sigma's attempt at a 500mm zoom lens with f2.8 across the whole range, pity it only goes down to 200mm though, might have been interested otherwise.

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/336/C12003/

I think I would need a HGV and a lottery win for that

Spuds · 7 Jun 2007 at 23:33

I have the Sigma 170-500 while a friend has the 50-500. Their both excillent lenses but forget about hand holding them, its next to impossible at 500mm so whatever your planning to use them for plan to take a decent tripod/monopod as well.

I've got some decent shots with mine at Silverstone and Snetterton but you do need good light.

They are great lenses though and you do really notice the extra range over a 300mm lens, just be sure what you want it for as they aren't that cheap.

Aod · 8 Jun 2007 at 00:09

Entai said:
Not quite the size of a car, but very nearly.

Here is Sigma's attempt at a 500mm zoom lens with f2.8 across the whole range, pity it only goes down to 200mm though, might have been interested otherwise.

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/336/C12003/

it weighs forty kilograms.

unknowndomain · 8 Jun 2007 at 00:41

ethan said:
I think I would need a HGV and a lottery win for that

LOL! That is not a camera lens its a flipping industrial telescope!

You would probably have to bolt the tripod to the ground to stop it causing an earth quake should it ever fall over.

SDK^ · 8 Jun 2007 at 08:42

BUFF said:
it's a Sony Alpha so has in-body stabilisation, any lens becomes stabilised when fitted

Just testing ya

Raikiri · 8 Jun 2007 at 12:26

You call that big?

Zeiss 1700mm f/4... it comes with 2 slaves to carry it for you

Spuds · 8 Jun 2007 at 16:41

Raikiri said:
You call that big?

Zeiss 1700mm f/4... it comes with 2 slaves to carry it for you

snip

Good Lord!! That thing is huge

I already get a few comments about me 'compensating' with the 170-500, whoever designed that thing must have been given one hell of a hard time

unknowndomain · 11 Jun 2007 at 20:40

Lens Porn?

ethan · 27 Jul 2007 at 12:02

Actually, because I am unable to get the Bigma @ 500gbp it would cost me about 750 gbp in the UK

As an alternative I have managed to buy a second hand Tamron 200-400 f5.4 for 100gbp on ebay. This will tide me over I hope.
Some beautiful photos on this site including a close up of a brown owl's face using the above lens.

http://www.shutterpoint.com/Photos-BrowseTech.cfm?type=3&name=Tamron 200-400mm

gt_junkie · 27 Jul 2007 at 12:18

I just got the 170-500 off the bay for under £300 which wasn't bad. Focuses nicely enough and isn't rediculously heavy or bulky.

Much cheaper alternative to the Bigma and seems to do the job.

gt