Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM

[Zeddy]

http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses...lens-test.html
The review for Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is out.
Seems like it's a pretty good lens.

[ProMushr00m]

I Love this Lens!! Very rare to get so cheap $1.4k and 400mm at F5.6!! RAWL!!

Buying this lens next month... I hope to get a 2nd hand from here!! If not get 1st hand lurhh

[Singer high]

I have this lens! Use it mainly for planespotting, esp. military jets.

Some of my shots taken with this lens.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=6751...0-400mm&m=text

[rotisiao]

anyone have both and can compare the 120-400 vs the 150-500? Will be using it for sports, birding, airshows and moon shooting. I kinda like the 120-400 using a 77mm filter so i dont have to buy another set of filters unlike the 150-500 using 86mm. But i am also afraid i might regret not having that extra 100mm. What a dilema.

[ProMushr00m]

Originally Posted by rotisiao anyone have both and can compare the 120-400 vs the 150-500? Will be using it for sports, birding, airshows and moon shooting. I kinda like the 120-400 using a 77mm filter so i dont have to buy another set of filters unlike the 150-500 using 86mm. But i am also afraid i might regret not having that extra 100mm. What a dilema.

Hey.. Which body are you using? Anyway, 150-500mm F5-6.3 Aperture is too Small, so it CANNOT CANNOT take indoor... somemore it don't have HSM, focusing is so slow..
If you dun use full frame camera and use APS-C, your 400mm = 640MM already.. No point getting 500mm(800mm). __MM x 1.6

The picture quality that comes out from 150-500mm is very bad.. Best to get 120-400mm. I am getting 120-400mm soon!! for my indoor shooting and outdoor sporting events =)
Remember one thing, 150-500mm is very heavy, need a tripod. 120-400mm can be handheld. Its also heavy, but Aperture is big enough.

Anyway if you wan try try 150-500mm, get a 2nd hand.. Peninsula Shopping Centre got sell.. The 2nd hand shop Ben Photo, outside the food court derh.. Canon Mount and Nikon Mount also have =)) $950 only.. hahax.. 150-500mm is mainly for outdoor sports like soccer, while 120-400mm is for both indoor and outdoor. =))

[calebk]

Originally Posted by ProMushr00m Hey.. Which body are you using? Anyway, 150-500mm F5-6.3 Aperture is too Small, so it CANNOT CANNOT take indoor... somemore it don't have HSM, focusing is so slow.. If you dun use full frame camera and use APS-C, your 400mm = 640MM already.. No point getting 500mm(800mm). __MM x 1.6 The picture quality that comes out from 150-500mm is very bad.. Best to get 120-400mm. I am getting 120-400mm soon!! for my indoor shooting and outdoor sporting events =) Remember one thing, 150-500mm is very heavy, need a tripod. 120-400mm can be handheld. Its also heavy, but Aperture is big enough. ...150-500mm is mainly for outdoor sports like soccer, while 120-400mm is for both indoor and outdoor. =))

I just tried the 150-500 today, handheld, and image quality is quite good...have you actually tried the lens?

It's very likely that you think the image quality is bad (or very bad, as you strongly put it) because of subject movement or camera shake.

I suggest you get your facts right before you write so strongly. First off, the 150-500 has HSM.

Secondly, the 120-400 is not much of a better lens indoors than the 150-500. I don't get why you say the 120-400 has a big enough aperture though it's only faster by 1/3 stop at best. Like that is going to make a huge difference.

Indoors, f/5.6 is also no go for sports, unless you are on a D3 or 1D MkIII and your ISO goes all the way up. Even so, that's kind of pushing it. You'd be looking elsewhere for an indoor lens, definitely NOT in the 120-400. For crying out loud, it's a f/4.5-5.6 lens! I have a constant f/4 lens in the Sigma 100-300, and that's not even enough in most indoor lighting. It's ridiculous to say the 120-400 will perform indoors where the 150-500 cannot.

[rotisiao]

chill guys..i am still considering between the 120-400mm and 150-500mm with HSM OS. Using a D40 body but prolly getting either a D300 or D90 with the 120-400 or 150-500mm together. Guess i will wait for more reviews and maybe have a feel of both lenses before making my decision.

[ExplorerZ]

slrgear have a review on the 120-400, sadly they didn't test the 150-500, i find their review pretty accurate (provided they didn't get a lemon copy), in this case the 120-400 weakness seems to be at the 300-400mm softness wide open.

[smallaperture]

Now, how about comparing these 3 lenses:
120-400 F4.5-5.6
100-300 F4
50-500 F4.5-6.3

300 F4 is pretty easy to hand hold and shoot and then crop to get to 400-500.

500 F6.3 is already less easy to shoot due to the smaller aperture, AF hunting. Also, need tripod and more difficult to hold steady, need one stop faster shutter speed.

Theoretically, comparing the 2 results, the PQ for the latter is better, but in practice, due to the difficulties, it is the 300 F4 that gets the shots.

I am using the Sg100-300 F4. And I have the 1.4xTC. I find that I am better off most of the time without the TC and crop to get to 400/420.

You may wish to read this User Report on the Sg100-300F4 :
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=200389

[tsjcsl]

Originally Posted by Singer high I have this lens! Use it mainly for planespotting, esp. military jets. Some of my shots taken with this lens. http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=6751...0-400mm&m=text

Nice shots!

[calebk]

Originally Posted by ProMushr00m And i am replying to rotisiao, he asked for the 100mm difference. for the 100mm difference to drop aperture to 6.3 isnt very worth. 5.6 and 6.3, 1/3 stop is also crucial. i am talking about APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG w/o OS HSM. The one in Peninsula SC got sell $950 2nd hand. i used that lens and said its bad.. maybe not your OS HSM "wonderful" Lens. my 120-400mm is just enough for my own indoor event. Lighting is always enough. Maybe we are just different people judging differently. =)

And we are comparing both new Sigma telezoom lenses, both of which have OS and HSM, so try to forget about the one you saw at Penin.

May you have the best photos shooting with your 120-400mm indoors. I am also a user of the 100-300 f/4 that smallaperture is using. Great lens, but indoors, barely usable. I sincerely wonder what kind of indoor events have such specialised light for f/5.6 to be enough but not f/6.3.

[smallaperture]

Originally Posted by calebk And we are comparing both new Sigma telezoom lenses, both of which have OS and HSM, so try to forget about the one you saw at Penin. May you have the best photos shooting with your 120-400mm indoors. I am also a user of the 100-300 f/4 that smallaperture is using. Great lens, but indoors, barely usable. I sincerely wonder what kind of indoor events have such specialised light for f/5.6 to be enough but not f/6.3.

For sports, minimum shutter speed is 1/250s. Better still 1/500. For the coming RSAF open house, to shoot supersonic jets, I use 1/1000s. IS/OS/VR not that useful leh.

BTW, calebk, going for the RSAF open house end of this month?

[calebk]

Originally Posted by smallaperture For sports, minimum shutter speed is 1/250s. Better still 1/500. For the coming RSAF open house, to shoot supersonic jets, I use 1/1000s. IS/OS/VR not that useful leh. BTW, calebk, going for the RSAF open house end of this month?

Haha. Don't know man...it's been awhile since I've taken the 100-300 for a run. I might. You gonna be there ah?

[genenemesis]

Originally Posted by ProMushr00m Hey.. Which body are you using? Anyway, 150-500mm F5-6.3 Aperture is too Small, so it CANNOT CANNOT take indoor... somemore it don't have HSM, focusing is so slow.. If you dun use full frame camera and use APS-C, your 400mm = 640MM already.. No point getting 500mm(800mm). __MM x 1.6 The picture quality that comes out from 150-500mm is very bad.. Best to get 120-400mm. I am getting 120-400mm soon!! for my indoor shooting and outdoor sporting events =) Remember one thing, 150-500mm is very heavy, need a tripod. 120-400mm can be handheld. Its also heavy, but Aperture is big enough. Anyway if you wan try try 150-500mm, get a 2nd hand.. Peninsula Shopping Centre got sell.. The 2nd hand shop Ben Photo, outside the food court derh.. Canon Mount and Nikon Mount also have =)) $950 only.. hahax.. 150-500mm is mainly for outdoor sports like soccer, while 120-400mm is for both indoor and outdoor. =))

Get your facts really right first before u write alot. First off, the 150 - 500 has much difference when u are shooting birds from 400mm. The little 100mm does alot of difference. Try it out first before u write down that it does not have much difference. I presume you have not tried shooting birds yet.

2ndly the 120-400mm is not even for indoor usage. Seem like u are just a beginner or something. Again u should try it out in indoors first and see if u can get freezing shots before you conclude that it can be used indoor.

3rdly the 1 at penin at 950 is 50-500, not 150-500mm. That 1 has no DG if i am not wrong. The 1 with DG equipped is 1k +. Do take note of minor difference again.

[La Fontaine]

Originally Posted by calebk Haha. Don't know man...it's been awhile since I've taken the 100-300 for a run. I might. You gonna be there ah?

Yeah, the RSAF open house is something that is a MuzGo for me, rain or shine la. I will be going both days, Sat + Sun, just like the Airshow early this year.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by La Fontaine Yeah, the RSAF open house is something that is a MuzGo for me, rain or shine la. I will be going both days, Sat + Sun, just like the Airshow early this year.

Is there an official website or something with more info?

[Zeddy]

Originally Posted by calebk Is there an official website or something with more info?

There is. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/oh08/

[Singer high]

From http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/oh08/info/security.html

Cameras are allowed, but please note that telephoto lenses that are 500mm and beyond are prohibited.

So the 120-400mm will be allowed, but the 150-500mm will not be?

[SnapJaX]

I think what they mean is those massive prime lenses?

Experienced ppl pls correct me if i'm wrong..

[calebk]

Originally Posted by Singer high From http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/oh08/info/security.html Cameras are allowed, but please note that telephoto lenses that are 500mm and beyond are prohibited. So the 120-400mm will be allowed, but the 150-500mm will not be?

Yup. It means exactly what it means. If your lens' focal length touches or encompasses 500mm, it's not allowed.

Originally Posted by SnapJaX I think what they mean is those massive prime lenses? Experienced ppl pls correct me if i'm wrong..