Sigma 175-500mm. NO GOOD!

I recently purchased the Sigma 120mm-400mm and thus far I am pretty happy with it. I'm still not comfortable shooting at full focal length and I am getting used to the weight. While I'm not the photographer that a lot of folks here are, I can't complain.

http://i39.tinypic.com/13zcu9j.jpg
Can't cut and past EXIF data for some reason;
Lens: 120mm-400mm
Exposure Mode: Auto
F-stop number: f/7.1
ISO Speed: 200
Shutter Speed: 1/1579 sec.


http://i42.tinypic.com/2v9x740.jpg
Lens: 120mm-400mm
Exposure Mode: Auto
F-stop number: f/7.1
ISO Speed: 200
Shutter Speed: 1/2048th

Thanks for this, Kris. These are very nice images. I'm guessing shot at around 2-300mm? Nice color and light and maybe could be a little brighter - especially the second. Couple questions:

First - I don't get the name of the thread.
Second, are these cropped much? They seem a whisper soft but maybe that's my eye, so it would be helpful to know if you came in closer in post processing or not. Are the pretty sharp for you - for instance at 1:1 crop or higher?

I'm stuck at 200mm right now and contemplating getting a longer lens. So this is interesting to me as the Sigmas on my "maybe" list are much less expensive than the Nikon options and sorting through all the reviews, it's hard to come to clear conclusions as to whether the differences among the choices are really worth worrying about.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AB26

Thanks Guys,

Do we have consensus that a Sigma lens is a real budget lens and should be treated as such. Do not expect to get more than you have paid for! :(

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If consensus means everyone agrees, then definitively not. If you are basing this statement on one experience with an old model lens that has been out of production for many years, it seems like a bit hasty conclusion. The only Sigma lens that I currently own is a 105 macro and it is excellent. Early on my primary wildlife lens was a Sigma 100-300 HSM which is fairly highly regarded. It was built like a professional piece of gear, AF was blazing fast, and it produced excellent results. I sold it when I purchased a Nikkor 200-400. I love the 200-400 but regret having sold the Sigma for the versatility it offered and excellent IQ.

And for anyone who hasn't been paying attention, Sigma has been making a move to high end lenses. They are shifting their product line to more pro type equipment. And they have been receiving high marks for image quality with most of the new ones they are putting out. Many of their lenses outperform similar focal length Nikkors. Along with the quality, they are no longer what I would call "budget" at about 2/3 the cost of comparable Nikkor pro models.