SIGMA 50-500MM LENS BIGMA

[david israel]

<p>Anyone have any expierence with the Sigma (Bigma) 50-500 MM lens? I have the opportunity to pick one up from a friend for about $200.00. I am looking for someone that could give me there honest opinion of the lens. I like nature and bird photography and would love to add this lens to my arsenal if it is a worthwhile purchase. I probally can get my friend down to $150.00. What do you think?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>David</p>

[gamitch]

<p>If I were you I would ask your friend to loan you the lens for a few days. Then you would be able to take a few dozen photos with it and decide whether or not you like it.</p>

[michaeljlawson]

<p>Terrible deal, don't do it....What's your friends number?</p>

<p>They are going for between 900.00-1300.00. If this is a working lens, and that price is real, it's a steal. Even if you use it and hate it, your going to make 5x your money back reselling it.</p>

[david israel]

<p>Hello Michael & Gregg,</p>

<p>LOL. I thought of that too. But I really want to get some honest opinions on the lens. I did try it and I was satisfied but I consider myself a novice still and need some feedback.<br>

Thanks for your responses.<br>

David</p>

[naturetrek]

<p>I wouldn't think much to get it for that price. It's an excellent lens. You must have some very good friends, this lens costs around $1000 new.</p>

[michaeljlawson]

<p>I don't have any personal experience with it, but I that price I would very soon. Here is The Digital Picture's review of the lens: <a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Sigma-50-500mm-f-4-6.3-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx">http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Sigma-50-500mm-f-4-6.3-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx</a> and the sample pics look good enough to me to be worth 200.00 <a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Sample-Pictures.aspx?Equipment=374&desc=Sigma-50-500mm-f/4-6.3-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Sample-Pictures">http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Sample-Pictures.aspx?Equipment=374&desc=Sigma-50-500mm-f/4-6.3-EX-DG-HSM-Lens-Sample-Pictures</a> especially if you don't have anything near that focal length and can't afford dropping about 1300.00 on the Canon 100-400.</p>

[andre_mcnichols]

<p>I don't have personnal experience with it but I know one PN member, Daniel Charette, who's using one on his Olympus and having a blast with it. At that price you may have some money left for a tripod. Have fun with your new lens!</p>

<p>André</p>

[John Crowe]

<p>The only lens you can compare this to in the Canon line up is the Canon EF 100-400/5.6 L, which itself is nothing like a $5000 supertelephoto. So assuming you don't want to spend $5000 and assuming you don't want to spend $1000 for a used 100-400/5.6 L, you cannot lose by buying the Bigma for $200! The absolute cheapest lens combo that will clearly beat it is a Canon EF 200/2.8 L and 2x converter for, again, about $1000 and no zooming, and not as long.</p>

<p>Don't laugh, you can always sell it for a profit if you don't like it, or give it to another friend for the $200. He is likely offering it at $200 since that is what a local retailer would give him for a trade in.</p>

<p>Buy it and have some fun with it! </p>

[juans eye]

<p>That there is an opportunity. The lens is well rated, and for that price, I'd learn to focus manually if I had to :) If you feel that you'll use it and its in usable condition, take it.<br>

/bing</p>

[robert_zellner]

<p>I agree with all of the above. It's an excellent lens at the new price, for $200 it's a steal. However, it is big and heavy, you won't wear it around your neck very much. When my grandson was still in high school I used to use it to take pictures of wrestling and got some very nice photos.</p>

[kari v]

<p>$150-200 for a decent 80-800mm equiv. on a crop sensor... let me think... :)<br>

I haven't tried it but reviews are pretty positive especially considering the insane zoom range.</p>

[kin_lau]

<p>I've been using it for years. I liked it so much I have two of them, one for my wife and one for me.<br>

$200- is a steal... don't even bother to bargain your friend down.</p>

[derrickdehaan]

<p>I own one and love it! Well, love it subjective to the price. I want a 600 f/4, but the Bigma serves me well and if you use good technique, images it produces are very very good. It is heavy, but its 500mm. Any 500 is heavy. I would not hesitate to buy it, especially at that price.<br>

Mine is a tad soft wide open, but stopped down a little, and a good tripod and fast shutter speed produces fantastic results. I did a tripod test @ 400mm and compaired it against my 70-200 2.8 IS w/ a 2x extender and the Bigma was twice as sharp as the 2x combo.<br>

Derrick</p>