Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 DG ASPHERICAL RF

Overview

Telephoto Zoom Lens
170-500mm f/5-6.3 DG ASPHERICAL RF

High-performance, 500mm ultra-telephoto lens.

This compact aporchromatic ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a range up to 500mm and is ideal for photographing sport, nature and landcapes.

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Equipped with one Aspherical lens and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements
This lens uses one aspherical lens and three SLD elements for excellent correction of Chromatic aberration. Colour Aberration in the secondary spectrum is compensated by using three Special Low-Dispersion (SLD) glass elements, making high-quality images a reality throughout the entire zoom range.

The rear focus system
The five-group zoom and rear focus systems ensure high performance stability and ease of use.

Detachable tripod collar
A removable tripod collar and matched lens hood is included as standard.

Lens Construction		13 Elements in 11 Groups
Angle of view		14.5 - 5 degrees
Number of Diaphragm Blades		9 Blades
Minimum Aperture		F32
Minimum Focusing Distance		300-320cm
Maximum Magnification		1:6.6
Filter Size		86mm
Dimensions		Diameter 92.5mm X Length 232mm
Weight		1345g
SRP		£629.99

170-500mm f/4-6.3 DG ASPHERICAL RF		SIGMA
		CANON
		NIKON (D)
		SONY
		PENTAX

Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications

Lens Type: Zoom
IS / VR / OS: None
Min Focal length (mm): 170
Max Focal Length (mm): 500
Number of Elements: 13
Element Groups: 11
Max Aperture: 5
Minimum Aperture: 32
Diaphragm Blades: 9
Closest Focus Distance (m): 3
Maximum Magnification: 1.6
Filter Diameter (mm): 86
Diameter at widest (mm): 93
Lens Length (mm): 232
Weight (g): 1345

Details

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Editor review : Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 DG ASPHERICAL RF


Overall rating (weighted)		3.5
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		3.0
AF Speed		3.0
Value for Money		4.0

Users looking for a long range lens need not look any further than this impressive Sigma lens. The huge zoom range can give the 35mm quivalent range of 272-800mm when fitted to a crop sensor like that of the Canon 40D, so you will not be struggling for magnification. The long zoom does not however have a built-in image stabiliser so Canon and Nikon users may suffer from Camera shake where these brands bodies do not have built-in systems.

Why should you care what I think?

My relationship with this item: Editor review

Conclusions at a glance

Would you recommend this Item: Undecided
Pros: Large magnification
Cons: No image stabilisation

Last updated: Thursday, 26 June 2008

User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 6 user(s)


Overall rating (weighted)		4.9
Sharpness		4.8
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.8
Value for Money		4.8

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great lens, Thursday, 17 January 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		5.0

I can't hold the darn thing steady under 1/100 sec, so with a tripod, it's awesome, otherwise you'll need a steady hand in lower light.

March update - I've gotten better at hand-holding this lens using shutter-priority on my Canon 40D, especially in strong light, but with a tripod it really does do a fabulous job.

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Great for sports, Saturday, 03 November 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

I bought this lens to shoot pictures of my son's football games. It has been fantastic and very clear. Lens creep is an issue but not one that has really bothered me. The price on Amazon was great as I had priced it in NYC and most retailers wanted twice as much if not more.

A great lens for the price., Sunday, 08 July 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		4.0

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.

Great Performer, Sunday, 11 March 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

I own two lenses from Sigma, and I love them both. This ultra telephoto lens is possibly the best bang for your buck in the focal its focal range. If there is a better one in its class I've yet to see it. Manual Focus ring is well placed, easy access, we all like that, right? Sharpness has not been an issue for me at all; you will need a tripod in most situation, but you should be using one all the time, shame on you if you don't! jk, The only gripe I have with this lens is that it does not feature a "zoom lock" as this is a fairly heavy lens, creep can be an issue if you are carrying it around and not shoot. I highly recommend this lens. 5 stars no questions asked.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Can't afford the Bigma? Buy this!, Wednesday, 02 August 2006


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

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.)

Excellent Tele Zoom for the money, Thursday, 13 April 2006


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

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!