Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens - Canon Fit

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-150-500mm-f5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-lens-canon-fit/p1025305

If I dont buy it now I never will.

Nice.

Are you using it on a crop body? If you are thats 800mm!!

Canon 40D, so it will be effectively a 240-800mm     . Will be sharing the use of it with my bro.

lock up your mothers & daughters.. or at least make sure the curtains are closed...

Nice, let us know how it works out, youve got a monopod already havent you? Think you are going to need it

Very nice, ill probably be getting one so will be interested to see what the images are like with it

its either that or this:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-Sigma-50-500mm-f5-6-3-DG-OS-HSM-Canon-Fit/p1519637?cm_mmc=GoogleBase-_-Camera-Lenses-_-Canon-Fit-_-Sigma-50-500mm-f4-5-6-3-DG-OS-HSM-Canon-Fit_1519637

Ive got a 28-135mm Canon lens so buying this makes more sense. Its also considerably cheaper.

Both are supposed to be very good.

Arrived this afternoon so first thoughts...

1 Its big, much bigger than the other lenses Ive owned. It makes the 75-300mm look titchy in comparison

2 Its HEAVY! When I got the D40 I fixed my brothers kit lens on it and that was so light the camera seemed back heavy. It sorted out when I put the 28-135 on instead. This... Well... The camera seems to vanish under the sheer weight of the lens! Im not saying its out of balance, just you dont notice the camera.

3 It seems fast and focuses well on the few shots Ive taken.

4 Did I say its big? Wont fit inside the normal bag I keep my camera and more normal sized zoom in. TBH they supply a custom padded box to carry it in.

Will hopefully be giving it a more thorough testing this Sunday.

Ive wondered about the lenses that are so big they need to be mounted to tripods directly...at what point do you mount the lens rather than the camera, whichever is heaviest?

The way you mount it depends on whether theres a mount provided on the lens. This one has a mount, and needs it. Two factors seem to be involved, weight of lens and length. A long light lens can stress the camera mount more than a short heavy one. Theres also the issue of balance when mounted on a tripod. A lens like this would spend its time pointed at the ground if you could fasten it on the camera mount. I wouldnt risk that, the lens weighs nearly 2KG, camera is much lighter.

I get that, but what about lenses where theres no mount on the lens, but theres a part of the lens shaped/designed for a lens mount should you want/need it? Does it add any real benefit? My 100mm macro is like this, but its not that heavy/long...

Simple way to judge, does the camera fit on the lens or the lens on the camera?

All my old lenses the Lens fits on the camera, so I use the cameras mount. This one the camera fits on the lens.

Quote from: zpyderIve wondered about the lenses that are so big they need to be mounted to tripods directly...at what point do you mount the lens rather than the camera, whichever is heaviest?

yup

sounds much like my sigma, very heavy, tripod mount on the lens, own carry case.

The larger lenses even have their own straps to take the weight off the camera when carrying them around.

This one does have its own strap, I wouldnt use the camera one and Im very reticent about putting the strap for this lens around my neck!