Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

My primary interest in this lens was long distance bird (and other wildlife) photography. I use it only mounted firmly on a heavy tripod, and was able to focus sharply on the eyes of cranes at quite a distance, for sharpness on subject and with blurred background.

At the extreme of 500mm at a long distance, it takes some getting used to, but a comparable Nikon lens was not in my budget. Using the 500mm on closer creatures was much easier to focus and more quickly.

The lens takes some getting used to, but is a good value for the money.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I have taken some great photos with it so far. Also some very bad photos. Tough getting sharp focus unless there is tons of light. At least with digital you can take a lot of shots at varying ranges. That's the secret. Only show off the two or three great clicks out of the five hundred.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I use the Sigma OS 150 - 500 mm lens with a Nikon D300. It focuses very quickly and permits me to photograph birds in flight with reasonable focus and panning techniques. I set the D300 to aperature mode to try keep the aperature between f8 - f16 and achieve at least a 200 or faster shutter speed with ISO 800. Although there is a slight buzz when the OS kicks in, it is not objectionable and actually is comforting to know the OS is engaged. Although it has great reach, I have learned not to expect great results if the subject does not fill most of the frame with the Sigma or any other lens; however, the image even at very great distances (subject smaller than the point focus box) provides good enough results to identify the bird. There is no lens creep in any position, but the lens is new. The lens is heavy but not unreasonable. For the price I could not find a comparable. I previously used a 400 mm variable without OS at comparable cost. The Sigma is many times better. Overall I am very enthusiastic about the lens.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I haven't gotten to try this lens out at night or for a fast moving sports event yet, but it worked great for sharp close-ups of flowers in my backyard. I even shot a picture of the quarter moon that turned out impressive, considering you could see the mountains and valleys on the moon!!
CAN'T WAIT TO USE THIS LENS MORE AND REALLY PUT IT TO THE TEST!!!

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I actually tried to use this on an assignment and found it too powerful. Having the option to zoom in close is a great tool. This is a long lens that will magnify any shake, so I recommend having a monopod to help steady the image, even though this has image stabilzation.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Performs well with my D300. I love this piece.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Works very well for distance compression when shooting landscape at 500mm, with all distances in sharp focus. Must stop down to f-11 for good results. On a bright day, the 86mm bell gathers enough light for shots at 1/30 to 1/60 sec f-11 at ISO 400. The OS helps reduce any shake. Can be used off hand at f6.3 ISO 400 with good results. Not unbearable to hold or carry. No cons as it isn't a $4000.00 lens and excells for the price.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Used this lens to photograph soccer. It give me an excellent reach throughout the field with very consistent high image quality. So far very happy with it

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

[...] Anyway I'm very happy with my purchase, I'm a beginner in Photography, I use my Sigma 150-500 lens primarily for sports events, air shows and wildlife photography. The focus is very fast and my pics are absolutely fantastic quality. I have taken several pics with the Image Stabilization (IS) and it works very well hand held. Everyone says its heavy, but I knew that before purchasing it, but it is not too heavy to use hand held for me anyway, I do have a monopod I use when I'm at one place for an extended time, or need a steady shot without using the IS. I did have a salesman call me at home and sold me a UV filter at a 50% discount, but I needed that as well. Overall I was very impressed by the service and the product and will not hesitate to purchase from Abes in the future

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

This lens does not focus well at all-and the resulting photo's are "muddy"-no crispness to them. I have a Nikon D60 with a 300mm Nikon lens that is "lightyears" beyond this Sigma Lens.I'm very disappointed.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I needed a 500mm tele and own Nikon lens. This is the first non Nikon lens that I have purchased and what a pleasant surprise. I read all the articles that said the lens scratched too easy, lens creep, too heavy and slow to focus. I use this lens on a Nikon D700 and have not experienced any lens creeping or slow focus. As far as being too heavy I answer with, it is a telephhoto lens. All 500mm tele's are a little heavy. It is what it is. The lens is sharp and has met all my needs. For under 1,000.00 compared to the Nikon at over 7,000.00 this was a no brainer. Sigma has impressed me with their attention to quality. I will consider other Sigma lens when I am in the market for new glass.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

I like to photograph birds and other wildlife, so when I got a new Nikon D90, I bought this telephoto lens. I can see already that if it's handled with skill it will take great photos, and if not, well ...
First, when wide open at f6.3 the pictures are soft, so it needs to be used at around f11. So be prepared to use the aperture-preferred mode on your camera.
Second, despite its built-in stabilizer, it needs fast exposure times to compensate for vibration or motion.
This poses a challenge. To use it without a monopod or tripod, I have been setting the ISO number to 400, 800, or 1600, which allows sunlight exposures of 1/1000 sec. or faster, even stopped down to f11 or thereabouts. Those combinations are pretty good.

Just yesterday I took some photos at the Edmund B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge near Atlantic City, just to run the lens through its paces. Two of the best ones are attached to this review. They show a yellowlegs (shorebird), and a peregrine falcon, the first one I ever saw or photographed. Both of them were taken at f13, 1/1600 sec., ISO 800, full 500mm focal length, with the camera perched on top of my car.

My next move will be to buy a monopod to use with this setup. I think that will make life a lot easier.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Actually more than I expected. Extremely fun to use. Especially with the teleconverter.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Auto Focus-very fast even in the dark, but a little bit noisy. I can use with kenko 1.4x by manual focus.
Picture sharp under the sunny day, and blur in cloudy day. Most pictures sharp at f/8. It's not too heavy for handheld. I mounted it with Nikon D80 and can put them together in kata-bag- 103, perfect. It comes with a huge bag, look like a big lunch box.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

Haven't put it through it's paces yet but the shots so far are quite sharp. It ain't a Nikkor but it's an excellent choice for the price.

Comments about SIGMA 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM FOR NIKON:

This lens is great, I use it mostly for marine photos, the reach is fantastic, the autofocus is quick and sharp, in bad weather, ie hazey or light fog it will hunt for focus, but no more then my nikon lenses, overall a great lens, a tripod, or monopod is a must for any lens of this size. [...]