Amazing for the price... Best value I could imagine for under $1000. (5 star +++ in value catagory) I'm only rating it an overall 4 star because I have the $3000+ Canon lenses to compare it to. the versatility of the 50-500 is great for golf work

No image stabilization Slightly stiff zoom (but improved over the two days)

I am based in Houston and had an assigment this week at the EDS Byron Nelson Golf Tournament in Dallas. When I arrived I realized I had done something that I had NEVER done before... I had left my workhorse Canon EF 28-300 IS USM out of my case. I had pulled it the day before to clean and prep and failed to repack as I headed out the door at 3AM. Anyway... there was no way to get the lens to Dallas in time so I went into a local photo store and found the Sigma 50-500 + UV filter + hood for about $990 total. I usually shoot with a monopod anyway... but was still very nervous about the results as I have become so dependent on the image stabilization on the Canon. The conditions were heavy overcast on both days, which made me even more nervous... But WOW! Was I pleasantly surprised with the overall results. I would say that about 80% of my shots were within 98% of the quality that I would have gotten with my Canon lens. 15% were within 90% of my usual results and only about 5% were unusable (focus, shake... etc) I did detect the slightest amount of flair expecially with dark logos on white shirts and hats, but well within the acceptable range. But on the upside... I have a 400 telephoto but rarely use it as a third lens to carry with my two bodies is just a bit much, and cumbersome to bring quickly into action... I had never used a zoom past 300 before but I found the 50-500 range "perfect" for a golf event where I can be anywhere from 20 ft. to 200 yds. from my subject. After downloading the first days work onto my laptop... I was soooooo relieved and thus comfortable enough to shoot at least as much if not more with this lens than I would have my 28-300. On the downside... As it was heavy overcast, and slower than desired speeds, I did lose a few images to camera shake... even with the monopod. Some of this was due to lack of image stabilization but I'm sure some of it was due to me just not being used to the difference in camera balance I was used to with the other setup. And I experienced a few times of the AF getting lost which cost me a few shots. (but very few actually) On a more humorous note... I work side by side with some of the best shooters in the business and they really gave me grief about how, when fully extended, this lens looked like it was on Viagra... I got to admit that it looked odd... but I had more than a few of them really check it out and make some pretty impressive comments about it. Now understand I would NOT trade my Canon 28-300 for this lens, but it's "in my bag" now and I'm sure I will find lots of opportunities to use it. Bottom line... for the "pro"sumer... to the serious amateur... I think this lens is IT!

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

See above

Very well built and sharp. Autofocus is very fast and silent.

The lens is heavy.

This lens is well built and sharp throughout the zoom range. I use it with a Nikon D100 in conjunction with a BushHawk shoulder mount. That makes it easy to carry and very steady at longer focal lengths, and it alleviates the weight problem.

Customer Service

No need for service thus far.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 80-400 mm VR.

Price

Bad Customer Service

Bought 50-500 last November(2003), ripped to New Mexico, took about 1000 photos. This month (3/2004) went to FL for spring break, on the half way; my 50-500 is stuck. Cannot auto-focus. Only can auto-focus from zero toinfinity, but cannot back to zero. I use my hand (big torque) force back to zero (that means only can manual focus). Back to Houston,call Sigma for the warranty, no RMA number needed sent to NY. I ask him when to send my 50-500 back today, she said about 1 month. It is too long for me. I ask how I can check the status. She said - only by phone, no online. I am planning to buy 300-800; right now, I wonder the Sigma quality. My friend drop the Nikon lens deformed, but still auto-focus After 3 weeks, call for status, No one reply the call for one week. ask speak to manager for Sigma USA bad service. Then I have a chance to speak to someone. said "Call next week"....

Customer Service

Bad, No call reply, long time for repair.

Build is like a tank Sharp pics If I only had one lens then this would be the one The price

You tell me I cant find any

I just had one stolen (serial no 2004557)and can't live with out it, So with in two day I have orderd a new one, that must say someting, What more can you ask for in one lens, yes its heavy but its also stong my one had travels everywhere with me it has been droped got wet in the rain so many times its unreal, but the phots produced by this lens are so stong. On my nikon d1x its a 75-750 and can be used hand held. If i put a 2x converter on there the photos are sharp

Flexibility of use. Lot of +factors and no -factors that concern me. Feels good and works the way it should. General impression is excellent. You are getting a lot for your money!!!!

Some flare but no more than any other similar lens under similar conditions. Heavy but you are not going to find an equal which is lighter.

All round quality - excellent. Finish - very good. Sharpness - I see no reason for anyone to complain. Handling - my lens is very smooth, zoom ring is uniformly fluid and fluent, AF is very fast and more than satisfactory. Filter - big, expensive filter available from Sigma in EX multi-coated grade. Low light performance is very good with my 10D. Presentation - well packaged. Overall - I know I got a lot more than I paid for. I like this lens and I don't think it gets enough credit. You will need a decent tripod to get the best out of this lens but that is quite understandable seeing it becomes a 80~800 with the 10D. I tested it on the EOS10D.

Customer Service

Have never needed Sigma Service with any of my 5 Sigma lenses.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax, Minolta.

Cheap for what you get. Silent, fast focus. Quite a novelty.

Heavy, but that goes without saying.

The biggest zoom lens I've ever seen, the size and weight is hilarious. Though Sigma have now made a 300-800 zoom. Anyway, despite the wrist-breaking weight (you need a tripod anyway) this 50-500mm lens is well made (metal) and the focus is silent on the nikon. You can also focus manually with autofocus still on. F6.3 may not be so bright, but it's still brighter than 500mm F8 mirror lenses.

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Other zooms and 500mm mirror lenses

Sharp crystal clear images. Very sturdy lens. Nice feel to it - the HSM works nicely. Auto focus is very fast, though it has hunted a few times, but light conditions were very low.

Weight - you need a tripod or wieght balancing device to use this lens. Size

I had been looking to buy a "big" telephoto zoom, the canon 100-400mm L was out of my price range and this lens was the next choice. It gives crisp and clear images on my 10d and the sharpness is quite nice. Very sturdy and strong, you are very hard pressed to use this beast hand held.

Customer Service

Had no problems with it so far - touch wood!

Similar Products Used:

75-300mm canon USM

Well Balanced, Fast Focusing(HSM), best value for lens past 300mm.

Be warned! If you buy a Tiffen polarizer the lens hood will not fit! I suspect this will be the same on most filter brands do the large filter needing large and heavy rings to hold it in place.

I initially tired the Sigma 170-500 lens and was disappointed with the slow focus and ackward focusing ring. The 50-500 is well balanced and the focusing ring is in the exact right spot for manual mode. You won't get any better unless you plan to spend $2-3000. It is heavy, but when you get out to 300mm you need the weight to stablize lens and camera.

Customer Service

I have used Sigma service on other lens and they are first rate..

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 170-500

Superb build quality and glass. Fast autofocus Huge foacla length and terrific performance at all focal lengths...you may not need it all but its sure nice to have it if you do. Best value for the dollar at longer focal length than any other lens on the market. Period. There's a reason Popular Photography said this lens is the single best lens it has ever tested at this focal length. Buy one to see why. I'm not a paid Sigma spokeman, just someone who appreciates quality when I see it.

None

I had been looking at buying a telephoto lens in the 400mm -600mm range, mostly for wildlife images. I read and re-read the reviews of the Sigma 50-500mm lens many times and like many people, thought perhaps the reviews were too good to be true. How could a lens of this focal length be so good at this price point? I've used a number of other Sigma lenses and have been extremely happy with them. I ordered this lens with the idea of shooting as many pictures as I could manage of New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens' 300th win. It was SUPPOSED to happen June 1st in Detroit. However, it didn't. Regardless, the images this lens helped me shoot were to say the least, spectacular. Crisp. Clear. Sharp. I shoot primarily slide film and I can tell you that I shot roll after roll of Fuji Astia 100 as well as Agfa Scala 200 set at ISO 200, HANDHELD at 500mm, and these images are fabulous. Granted, I'm pretty darn good at using my own body as a stable shooting platform and I stablized the lens in my hands by propping my feet up on the seat in front of me and resting my elbows on my knees....still.......in this contrived "human tripod" configuration, this lens was terrific. It is HEAVY to shoot handheld. It is built like a tank. I had little trouble with this lens' autofocus hunting throughout any of its focal range. It focused FAST and consistantly. I have two other EX series lenses from sigma, the 50mm EX macro and the 105mm EX macro and this lens, like those two, is flawless. It doesn't carry the price tag of Canon's 100-400mm L but I dare anyone to shoot and tell the difference in the image quality from these two lenses. Also, I think its important to consider that maybe...MAYBE Sigma has shot itself in the foot by introducing a new focal length lens at 100-300mm..another EX lens, that is TERRIFIC, however, it will cost around $1600 to own one!!! I'm aware of the fact that there are a few National Geographic photgraphers shooting this new lens but for the money and the performance, the 50-500mm is a huge sleeper in the sigma line of EX lenses. As for the Canon, the sigma EX 50-500mm is half the price of the Canon, and the Sigma lens, by comparison, given its build quality, its performance, and its focal length flexability is a huge bargain. If you don't have one and need a lens in the upper reaches of the focal length that this lens offers, i.e., 300, 400, 500mm, don't hesitate to buy one. Worth every penny and then some.

Customer Service

Haven't had occasion to contact them.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100-400mm L Canon 70-200mm L Sigma 70-200mm EX

Sturdy lens, autofocus silent and fast, with 10x zoom capability, only lens you need for wildlife photography.

weight, but well worth the weight for the preformance.

Great lens for wildlife photography! I was concerned about using this lens with asa 100 slide film, but the concerns left after the first roll of film was developed. For an experiment, the lens was hand held shooting in the wind at 500 mm and the pictures came out sharp! The auto focus is fast and silent, and have experienced no zoom creep.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 75-300mm f4.0-5.6