Sigma Lenses

[Aukiman]

Any good?

was skimming and saw their 50-500mm with Nikon mount.

or is this glass 2nd rate?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Sigma-50-500mm-50-500-F4-6-3-EX-DG-HSM-For-Nikon-1147_W0QQitemZ230243081340QQihZ013QQcategoryZ30070 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

[Revhed]

Well, I can only comment from a Canon perspective :)

When I was looking for a large zoom the choice came down to 2 lenses - The Sigma 50-500 (sometimes called the "Bigma") and the Canon 100-400.

I found quite a few sports shots where these were the 2 lenses used to get the shots, and the sigma produces some quality shots. It seemed to be roughly a 50/50 split between the TOGs that shot woth a sigma and the Canon lens and in the end I seemed to prefer more images taken with the Canon.

From the images and discussion there are a few things to consider with the Sigma lens. Even though it's got 100mm zoom on the canon 6.3 is quite a slow appature. You will need plenty of light to get your shots. From what I read my 10D would have had issues with it's focus sensor at such a "slow" appature too. Newer models of camera may not be such an issue.

Also the Canon has "Image Stabiliser" which gave it a slight edge when hand held. Most comments said the sigma, again, needed plenty of light to be able to get the shutter speed up to counteract the camera movement. or they needed to have the sigma on a mono or tripod.

In the end I bought the 100-400 and havn't regretted it for a second. An why is all this info relevant to a Nikon shooter? Well, Nikon make a 200-400 zoom with their version of image stabilisation (VR I think it's called) and a constant f4 appature (which is "faster" than the Canon). I don't know how much it costs though ;)

Link to info: http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/ProductDetail.page?pid=2146

Hope you find that useful :)

[4g15]

Auki, save some money and go to hong kong. I bought all my stuff 1/2 of au prices especially with our current exchange - brillant.
You'll prob find you'll get your flights + lenses around the same price as you would buying just the lens locally.
and "no" they are not fakes or inferior (but you really need to know where to shop) - I can help you out in that department