Product Description

After nearly 40 years of pioneering new and better ways to capture and portray the ordinary - and extraordinary - Sigma is still creating new avenues of expression with innovative designs and enhancements.

Product Details

• Brand: Sigma
• Model: B000CDA7VW
• Released on: 2005-11-17
• Dimensions: 3.60" h x 3.60" w x 9.10" l, 2.91 pounds

Features

• Optimized for digital SLR cameras
• Multi-layer lens coating and lens design reduces flare and ghosting
• Features one aspherical lens and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements
• Zoom hood is supplied
• Minimum Aperture F32

Amazon.com Product Description
The Sigma APO 170-500mm f5-6.3 DG Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras is an ultra-telephoto zoom that offers high performance with both digital or film SLR cameras. Optimized for digital SLR cameras, it features a new multi-layer lens coating and the lens design reduces flare and ghosting. This lens uses one aspherical lens and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements for excellent correction all types of aberration, resulting in better picture quality on both film and digital SLRs.

The new multi-layer lens coating and lens design also creates optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. Ideal for sports, nature, wildlife, and landscape photography, this lens features a five-group zoom and rear focus system that ensures high performance stability and ease of use. Since the front of the lens does not rotate, a circular polarizing filter can be easily attached and usedd. A zoom hood is supplied with the lens to prevent flare and ghosting as well as extraneous light that's harmful to image quality. A removable tripod collar is also included as a standard component.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Tele Zoom for the money
After reading many mixed reviews on the web, I wasn't too sure about the picture quality when I received it. But it turns out to be an excellent big zoom for the money. I have no other 500mm lenses for comparison. But the pictures I took in dark night outdoor (tripod) and some indoor shots (hand held with flash) on Canon Rebel XT turned out to be really sharp, comparing to shots I took with Canon 50mm/f1.4, Sigma 10-20mm, or Canon 70-200L/f4 under very similar conditions. Color is balanced and contrasty and details are superb! The weight is very reasonable. The collar is excellent. The AF works beautifully indoor in regular household light. Very fast and quiet, unlike anything I've read on the web ("noisy, slow, hunting"). In fact, my other two above mentioned Canon lenses seem to hunt more sometimes under the similar condition. This lens doesn't have zoom lock, so it does creep if not careful. But for about $500 less than the Bigma and tons less than similar Canon's, it's a very small price to pay indeed. The focus ring is kinda loose, but so is the Canon 50/f1.4. My Canon L and Sigma EX don't have this problem. You get what you paid for. The lens hood feels plastic, but reasonable. The collar is very solid and smooth. The carrying bag that comes with the lens is of reasonable quality but looks like it's not for serious outdoor abuse. As a amateur enthusiast, I am totally happy with it. 5 stars for the value/price ratio. I am waiting for my $80 Quantaray 2x Teleconverter to arrive to try it on this Sigma. Maybe this time I am really pushing my luck :) If you are on a budget and looking for a 500mm, This Sigma definitely worthes a closer look. Highly recommended.

Update: Nov 22, 2006:
I've been using this lens for little less than a year now. I still stand by my words above. Only the 2x converter is really pushing it - killed the AF and got a big drop in sharpness. Happy shooting!

Update: Dec 28, 2008:
The picture quality of this thing is just amazing. It is quite comparable to my beloved Canon 70-200/f4L. Only the latter is a hand-held and this Sigma must sits on solid tripod. Only thing is the AF speed. It's a big handicap shooting flying birds (with my Canon 40D). The Canon 70-200's USM is super but 200mm isn't long enough. The new Sigma 150-500 got HSM and quite a bit more expensive, hope the HSM works as advertised. This good old Sigma is still super for shooting still or slow moving subjects in day light. The other bad thing about this lens is the MF is nearly useless - the ring is so loose that it won't stay in place once your fingers release the ring or push against the ring! At 500mm, the subject is so magnified that such move is visible. AF on this lens on the other hand, is not that quick or reliable once it's getting dark. So to me, it's a day light, AF, still or semi still subject telephoto lens. This narrows it's usefulness down by quite a bit. But when I checked the prices and weight on those 'good' tele lenses, my jaw dropped. Also, according to some reviews, the new HSM 150-500 isn't that great either, especially the HSM AF. At the meantime, this good old 170-500 is quite a bit cheaper, especially the used ones... I am keeping mines.

Can't afford the Bigma? Buy this!
Much has been written praising the Sigma 50-500mm zoom lens, often called the "Bigma." This lens is clearly its equal in everything but zoom range. I was very surprised when I purchased mine, used, and discovered that its sharpness was much better than I expected, and its autofocus speed every bit fast enough for challenging subjects like sports. The price I paid for this under-rated lens was about a third the price of a new Bigma, so I am extremely pleased with the bargain I got.

My only beef with this lens is the "zoom creep" that results when you tilt the camera/lens downwards. The smooth zooming action apparently results in zooming even when you don't want it to.

If you need a 500mm top end, and can live with a 170mm minimum zoom, this lens may be what you need. In my case, the 50mm short end of the Bigma wasn't wide enough, so I am happier with my 170mm-500mm zoom and a companion 18mm-200mm lens that together cover the full range I need.

This lens is available in a variety of mounts, including the Canon mount listed here, as well as fittings for Minolta and Nikon (my own choice.)

A great lens for the price.
This is an extremely versatile lens capable of handling many different shooting situations. I have been using this lens for a couple years now and my only complaint is that there is no zoom lock so in between shots where the lens is pointed up at a fairly steep angle you will need to make sure that the zoom is still in it's intended position. I'ts not exactly a walk around lens because of it's size and weight. It is a good lens to have for shooting wild life or taking photos of the moon. I compared it to the Tokina 400mm lens. This lens was far superior to the Tokina. and as good as the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Super Telephoto Lens. The only advantage is that the Canon had zoom lock.

This lens takes amazing photos. I am very happy with the quality of photos that I get, great color, sharpness and contrast. It comes with a tripod coller, a great carrying case and a hood.

I am very happy with this lens.