After my review of the Tamron 150-600mm VC telephoto zoom lens appeared here at Photography Life, a number of readers had questions on how that lens compared to the long telephoto zooms from Sigma. As luck would have it, I was able to borrow a recently purchased Sigma 150-500mm OS from a friend and this article captures some initial thoughts about photographing birds, including those in flight, with this lens.
The first question many readers had was about the comparative sharpness of each lens at its longest focal length. Is the Sigma 150-500mm as sharp at 500mm as the Tamron 150-600mm VC is at 600mm? Based on my experience the short answer is … no. To my eye, the Tamron is noticeably sharper at its full focal length compared to the Sigma 150-500mm OS. To be fair, both lenses at their longest focal lengths require sharpening in post.
The fact that the Tamron is sharper should not come as any surprise since the Sigma was introduced back in 2008 and the Tamron has the benefit of over 5 years of improvements in lens design and manufacturing techniques. In addition, the rather unforgiving 36 MP sensor of my D800 wouldn’t have been any kind of a design consideration when the Sigma was launched back in 2008, but it is a reality with new generation lenses like the Tamron 150-600mm VC.
The first day that I went out with the Sigma I was shooting in very dull, overcast conditions. I was shooting primarily gulls, terns, and cormorants which made things even more challenging with a lot of ‘grey on grey’ or ‘black on grey’ images. The lens handled these difficult conditions very well in terms of focus speed with my D800 using single-point focus.
The size and weight of the Sigma are similar to the Tamron 150-600mm and I did not find it onerous to shoot hand-held. For mid-range subjects, the shorter zoom range of the Sigma actually helped me pick up birds in flight a little bit easier as the field-of-view was broader.
As with the Tamron, I rotated the tripod collar 180-degrees so it was on the top of the lens so I could use it as a carrying handle. It wasn’t quite as comfortable as the Tamron as the tripod collar foot is a bit shorter. This made for a three-finger rather than a four-finger grip on the tripod collar.
The Sigma 150-500mm has a lock to prevent lens creep. There is only one setting at the fully retracted position. I found the Tamron’s second setting at 400mm to be quite handy.
There is no focus limiter switch on the Sigma and from time to time the lens hunted quite a bit. I found it helpful to pre-focus it in anticipation of my next shot. The Sigma has two optical stabilization settings. Setting ‘1’ provides both vertical and horizontal corrections, whereas the ‘2’ setting only has vertical corrections. This allows optical stabilization to be used when panning with birds in flight.
The Sigma did not suffer from any focus lag when used with a Nikon D7000 or a D70. Readers may recall from my review of the Tamron 150-600mm VC that focus lag was an issue with older Nikon bodies, especially when using single-point focus. The difference between the two lenses is likely due to better firmware compatibility of the Sigma 150-500mm OS with older bodies.
Under overcast conditions, the Sigma 150-500mm OS produced somewhat flat-looking images that lacked in color rendition as well as contrast. I typically shoot in ‘RAW plus jpeg fine’ and I found that some of the jpegs shot with the Sigma had a muddy appearance. It took a fair amount of work in post to get the Sigma RAW images to where I wanted them.
I ran the RAW files through my typical DxOMark OpticsPro settings, then through CS6 and Nik. Overall, I found that I had to add quite a few more adjustments to the Sigma files than with the Tamron produced files. Typically this included more Gamma adjustment, vibrance, and contrast as well as a host of other ‘tweaks’ that were image specific. The Sigma files also needed more sharpening, especially when shot at the longer end of the focal range. I found that I had to spend quite a bit more time working with the Sigma files than with the Tamron-produced ones…easily double.
Even after post-processing, I liked the Tamron produced files better than those from the Sigma 150-500mm OS. They just seemed sharper, had richer colors, and just ‘popped’ more. That’s not to say that you can’t get some decent images using the Sigma. You certainly can. It just takes more time in post to get them to where they need to be.
In bright sunlight, the Sigma performed better and the jpegs looked cleaner, although the shadows areas on some images still had a bit of muddiness to them. In good lighting focusing with the Sigma was very fast and accurate. If any Photography Life readers have ever tried to capture a swallow in flight over water…you know exactly how challenging that can be.
I was using a Nikon D7000 for part of my hands-on test and I was able to get a number of usable images of swallows in flight with it when using the Sigma 150-500mm OS. This was something I didn’t even bother trying with the Tamron when shooting with a D7000 due to focus lag. I also tried a number of AF-C bursts with the D7000 and got good results with the Sigma, filling up the D7000’s buffer on numerous occasions with well-focused sequential shots.
There was no question that the Nikon D7000 performed much better with the Sigma 150-500mm OS than it did with the Tamron 150-600mm VC. The focus was much faster and I was able to grab a number of fast-breaking images with the Sigma that I’m certain I would have missed completely with the Tamron. Future firmware updates may improve things with the Tamron, but presently the Sigma 150-500mm OS performs far better on older Nikon bodies than the Tamron does.
So, what’s the bottom line? I think readers who own newer DSLR bodies will be better served to buy the Tamron 150-600mm VC in terms of overall lens performance and image quality. Of course, that is assuming that they are prepared to invest the additional money in the Tamron 150-600mm VC over the Sigma 150-500mm OS.
There is a caution around focus lag with the Tamron 150-600mm VC, even with fairly recent bodies like the Nikon D7000. Future Tamron firmware updates may be successful in addressing the focus lag issue. In the meantime, readers would be well advised to test out their older Nikon DSLR body on the Tamron 150-600mm VC before making a purchase. If you own an older Nikon body like a D70 through D7000, it doesn’t appear that you will have any issues with focus lag with the Sigma 150-500 OS.
The current pricing on the Sigma 150-500 OS is very attractive and for budget-conscious folks who are looking for a cost-affordable long telephoto zoom, the Sigma 150-500 OS could be an attractive option, especially if they own an older DSLR body. You’ll need to have realistic expectations around image quality if you choose this option, and be willing to spend more time in post.
For owners of Nikon 1 V2 camera bodies…my V2 did not recognize the Sigma 150-500mm OS at all. My V2 body has the latest firmware that supports 15 fps when using the FT-1 adapter. Another friend of mine has a V2 and it works fine with his Sigma 150-500mm OS. I suspect this has something to do with the differences between firmware versions. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to shoot my Nikon 1 V2 with the Sigma 150-500mm so I can’t comment on image quality or focus speed/accuracy.
As reviewers of camera bodies and lenses, we sometimes forget that for the vast majority of people photography is really about having fun and being creative. Whether a particular body/lens combination produces ‘pro-level’ image quality or not, isn’t the main concern for many photographers. They want a ‘no hassle’ experience that enables them to capture some new and different images and have a lot of fun along the way.
Even though the Sigma 150-500mm OS is an ‘older’ lens, a lot of folks will have a ton of fun shooting with it, especially if they own an older DSLR body. Plus, it is affordably priced compared to the other options available. The fact that it is available in Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Pentax mounts will also add to its appeal for a great many photographers.
Article and all images Copyright 2014, Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, reproduction, or duplication including electronic is allowed without written consent.
Mr. Thomas.
I have a Sigma 150-500mm lens with Nikon F bayonet.
I would like to know if there is any adapter so I can fit the lens on a Sony Mirrorless (A7, A7ii, A7iii and others)
Hi Yuri,
I haven’t used a Nikon DSLR since 2015 so I really have no idea. Sorry I could not be more helpful.
It appears like the newly released Tamron 150-500 for Sony is a real winner. Compact, sharp and excellent autofocus. We Nikon and Canon mirrorless photographers will have to wait our turn to have thisl ens available for us.
Just for reference as the There are currently some very good second hand bargains for this lens :
I have just tried 2 different Sigma 150-500mm Lenses on 2 different Nikon D5600 bodies, There was no autofocus on any combination, only an error. Looks like we’ll have to go to the Sigma 100-600, which does work, but sadly it’s too expensive for me at the moment.
Has this issue Ben sorted? My on is looking at buying the sigma 150-500 and has a d5600.
I have a older model Canon camera and thinking about getting me a longer lens which one would u recommend?
Hi Chaplain,
This is quite an old article that I wrote while I was still using DSLR cameras. I haven’t even held a DSLR in my hands since July 2015, so I do not believe that I have sufficient current knowledge and experience to provide a suggestion. Sorry I could not be of more assistance.
Tom
Hi Thomas,
I am fairly new to photography and am looking to purchase my first telephoto zoom lens for my Nikon D5600. Right now, I am leaning towards the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens.
However, since I am starting off and do not want to spend a ton of money right way (unless you think its worth the extra couple hundred dollars), I have been looking at a used Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 OS.
Other than these two Sigma lenses, there is the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3. I am looking to photograph wildlife (birds, foxes, deer, small game, etc).
I look forward to your response and any other ideas regarding used lenses worth purchasing for a photographer starting out.
Thank you,
-Peter
Hi Peter,
I’m not sure that I provide any valid perspectives to your question since I haven’t used a DSLR for almost 5 years and I’m not current with the latest lens technologies etc.
Of the three lenses you mentioned in your comment, from what I can remember the Sigma 150-500 is the weakest in terms of optical performance. The 150-600’s from Sigma and Tamron are both quite reasonable lenses for the money. Since you have a Nikon D5600 body you may want to have a look at a Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6 as well.
Before buying a super telephoto lens you may find it interesting to take your camera body in to a local camera shop and mount it on the various lenses you are considering to buy to see how it feels. It would also give you the chance to capture a few images.
Tom
Hi Thomas
I hope this finds you well.
My question is not necessarily about this article but a question concerning your cameras.
I know from your previous posts you use and like your Nikon 1 K and V cameras.
With Nikon’s announcement that they are discontinuing the V3 (speculation Nikon is going to produce a new mirrorless camera) will you make a camera switch if Nikon discontines the Nikon 1 format?
Regards,
Duane
Hi Duane,
Doing very well thanks….
I’ve been getting the same question that you posed from many readers. Not sure if you’ve seen my latest article on Photography Life: photographylife.com/why-i…th-nikon-1 . This provides some answers in a public article.
To answer your question directly – I have no intention to switch my Nikon 1 system for anything else for at least 5 years…and if the system is still around at that time I’ll be sticking with it. As you know there have rumours about the death of Nikon 1 for quite a few years. Since using a 1″ sensor interchangeable lens camera system is the best for my business needs, I’ve been adding some Nikon 1 gear to ‘future proof’ my system.
I currently shoot with 7 Nikon 1 bodies. I recently retired my three V2s from still photography so I could extend their serviceable life for my client video business. All of my still photography is done with a pair of J5s, as well as a pair of V3s which I added to my kit this year. One new one, and one used copy with a low shutter count. I have a total of 14 Nikon 1 lenses and may add some duplicate lenses if the system is discontinued.
There is no way that I can cost justify switching to another system, taking cash out of my business, and adding gear to our depreciation schedule for different format equipment that we don’t need. The Nikon 1 system is simply the best system for what I do with my business.
If I’m right that I can extend the shooting life of my current Nikon 1 gear for another 5 years, I may have to rethink my camera needs at that time, since I’ll be in my 70’s and I’ll need to decide if I will be continuing to do client video work.
Tom
Hi Thomas I have Nikon D500 and planing to buy sigma 150-500. You said sigma 150-500 is better for older dslr body’s and mine is new. Can you advice me which lence is better for my D500.
Hi Fasil,
Since you have a new generation DSLR I would suggest looking at the two new Sigma 150-600, the new generation Tamron 150-600 or the Nikkor 200-500….all would be better optically than the Sigma 150-500.
Tom
I’ve read this article a number of times since I use the Sigma 150-500 (circa 2010) on my D7100. I find that many of my photos suffer a bit from sharpness. I usually shoot in M, 11-point AF, matrix metering, with Auto ISO 100-3200, f/8.0 and 1/1250 – 1/2000. I also us in-camera sharpening on the D7100 Standard (SD) picture control set to 6.
More often than not, I’ve seen comments that f/8.0 is the lens’ “sweet spot”. Looking at your samples I see you are using f/6.3 most frequently @ 500mm and sharpness looks good to me. Do you set f/5.0 and let the “system” adjust to f/6.3 as focal length increases to 500mm? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any comments.
Hi Ed,
Most zoom lenses do perform better when stopped down a bit so I’m not surprised that you are getting better results shooting at f/8 than at f/6.3.
It has been quite a while since I wrote this article so it is difficult for me to remember specifically the settings etc. that I used. I would likely have set the lens to f/5.6, with the lens shifting the aperture to f/6.3 when I shot with it fully extended. Sorry that my old, porous brain is having trouble recalling the shooting experience specifically.
I think it is important to remember that lenses can perform quite differently depending on the camera body used with them. Many folks don’t realize this and they sometimes spend money on a new lens only to discover that there is little, if any, noticeable difference in image quality when used on their existing camera body.
I went on DxO this evening to check on the test scores on the Sigma 150-500mm when used with a D800 and a D7100. As I suspected there is a difference between the sharpness scores. When used on a D7100 the lens scored 6 P-Mpix in DxO testing and 11 P-Mpix when used with a D800. This is a pretty significant difference and that is likely what you are observing when comparing the images in this article with the ones you have captured. The good news is that you are doing absolutely nothing wrong with how you are shooting with the Sigma 150-500 on your D7100. The challenge is that that particular lens will always perform better on a D800 than it will on your D7100…at least according to DxO tests.
Tom
Dear i am doing some sports photography like Polo, Hockey, Rugby. I used DX body D5200 with Nikon 55-300 it is good but i want to shift on full frame like D750 with Tamron 150-600…plz suggest it is suitable for polo ….and images are sharp and good if use full 600 mm…thanks
Hi Fawad,
Unfortunately I’m not able to make a recommendation for you since I sold all of my Nikon full frame gear and Tamron 150-600 almost two years ago and I no longer use full frame equipment. I also don’t have any experience with the D5200 and the Nikkor 55-300mm lens with which to compare.
Whether the Nikon D750 coupled with the Tamron 150-600 is the best set-up for your sports photography needs is something only you can decide since only you know how comfortable you will be shooting with a much larger and heavier set-up than you are currently using, the AF-C frame rate you require, etc. Other bodies like the D500 may deserve some consideration.
Tom
So It mean that D500 with Tamron 150-600 is better then D750….what is now a days u using for photography if u left full frame
Hi Fawad,
My comment was not meant to infer that the D500 would be ‘better’ than the D750…just different.
It all comes down to your specific shooting requirements. Some folks who focus mainly on sports photography may find that a camera like the D500 is a better choice for their needs. For example, the AF-C frame rate on a D750 is 6.5 frames per second, while the D500 shoots at 10 frames per second. The buffer on a D750 is 48 images compared to 200 with the D500. So, if you plan on shooting in AF-C mode the D500 would outperform the D750 on that particular dimension. If you shoot in low light much of the time then a full frame camera is likely better for your needs. Shooting with a cropped sensor camera also would give you a 1.5X crop factor. These are only a few of the many considerations that could enter into your decision.
Every piece of camera gear comes with some kind of trade-off. Before buying any gear I would suggest that you take some time to clearly define your photographic needs. That is the best way to ensure that you will make the best decision for your specific requirements. This article on creating a camera buying matrix may be of some assistance: tomstirrphotography.com/creat…ion-matrix
Tom
Hi Tom, I loved the pictures and the article. I have a couple of questions. I am looking at buying a new camera the D7100 or D7200. I have a chance to buy the Sigma 150-500 it is practically new for 500. That is a far cry from the 900 dollar price of a 150 600 which I would love to have. Here is the thing I doubt I will have many opportunities to use a lens with this kind of reach. Maybe once a year on vacations. I will be in Alaska later this year and I am sure I could use this Sigma lens to shoot eagles, Do you think this older lens will have the speed for that? I am very frugal at spending money and so the price difference seems like a lot. But I am also looking for good advice. One last question lets say I was to spend the extra money and get the Sigma or Tamron 150 600 or the Nikon 200 500, Would you have a recommendation? Thanks for your time.
Hi Jerry,
It has been almost two years since I shot with a DSLR so I’m a bit hesitant to provide any advice as I am not really current on FX lenses like the new Tamron, Sigma and Nikon super telephoto zoom lenses. If you will not be using this type of lens very often then buying a cost affordable used lens like the Sigma 150-500 you mentioned in your comment does make a lot of sense.
Taking that route will enable you to try your hand at wildlife and bird photography without investing a ton of money in gear. The Sigma 150-500 should focus well with a D7100 or D7200. I did my review shooting with a D7000 and I didn’t have any issues with auto-focus performance from what my old, porous brain can remember.
Nasim and some of the other team members have done some excellent reviews on the lenses that you mentioned in your comment. You can find this review material with this link: photographylife.com/lens-index . I would feel much more comfortable with you looking at some of these additional reviews done by Nasim and the other team members rather than relying on work that I did with some of those lenses more than 2 years ago.
Tom