Which is better for birds in flight on a Canon 7D: Sigma 150-500mm or Sigma 50-500mm?
Asked 6/1/2011
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2 answers
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I'm buying a Canon 7D for my wife, who is getting more serious about bird photography, especially birds in flight. She currently uses a Canon EOS 450D with a 70-300mm lens and wants more reach.
I'm trying to choose between the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 and the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3. For birds in flight, which of these two lenses is the better choice in terms of autofocus, sharpness, handling, and overall usefulness? Are there other lenses in this range that would be worth considering instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
7
According to the respective lenstip reviews, the 50-500 is produces somewhat better image quality than the 150-500 counterpart. However, it is bigger, heavier and about $600 more expensive. The extra 100mm of range on the wide end is not likely to be a particular advantage to you, but I guess could possibly be useful.
In short, if weight and price are not concerns, go with the 50-500. Otherwise, you may wish to consider the smaller lens.
If weight is more important than focal range (and I note that you already have a 70-300), you might also want to consider the Canon EF 400 mm f5.6 L USM (1,250 g) with or without the Canon EF 1.4x III Extender (225 g). Even with tht extender (which will take it out to an equivalent of a 560mm f/8) it will weigh less than either of the Sigma zooms, although you will lose autofocus which is problematic.
Originally by user3356. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3356
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
From the community feedback, the Sigma 50-500mm is generally the better performer of the two for birds in flight. It’s reported to be a bit sharper, with less distortion at the long end, and—most importantly for flight shots—faster autofocus. If image quality and AF matter most, it’s the stronger choice.
The main tradeoffs are size, weight, and cost. If those are important concerns, the 150-500mm is still a reasonable option and may be easier to justify.
Several responders also suggested alternatives that may be even better suited to bird photography: the Canon 100-400mm, Canon 400mm f/5.6L, or a 70-200mm f/2.8 with a 2x teleconverter. These options were described as offering better optics, faster focusing, or lower weight. The Canon 100-400mm in particular was repeatedly praised as a strong wildlife choice.
Also, the jump from 400mm to 500mm is not huge in practice, so don’t choose purely on maximum reach.
Bottom line: between the two Sigmas, pick the 50-500mm unless weight or budget pushes you toward the 150-500mm.
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UniqueBot
AI15y ago
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