Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4-6.3 DG OS HSM

Unrivalled zoom range and long reach make this Sigma lens stand out in the crowd

Released: 2010 Price new: £1400/$1660 Price used: £550/$700

Nicknamed the ‘Bigma’, the original edition of this large, hefty lens was launched in 2006. The design was updated in 2010, the most major upgrade being the addition of an optical stabilizer. Sigma rates this as having a four-stop effectiveness and it comes complete with switchable static and panning modes.

Four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements maximize sharpness and contrast, while reducing colour fringing. Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer coatings are also applied to minimize ghosting and flare. Autofocus comes from an HSM (HyperSonic Motor) system: like Nikon’s ring-type ultrasonic systems, it’s fast, whisper-quiet and has a full-time manual override facility, so is well suited to wildlife photography.

Despite the broad zoom range, sharpness is good at all available focal lengths, and even when shooting at the long end with the widest available aperture.

Key points Hood adaptor

On a DX-format camera, the 1.5x crop factor gives the lens an effective zoom range of 75-750mm. The lens hood is supplied with a hood adaptor to optimize its shading effect.

Zoom lock

The lens can exhibit zoom creep, but a zoom lock switch keeps the lens fixed at its shortest length.

Tripod collar

A removable tripod collar that comes with the lens features a grooved surface you can use as a finger grip in handheld shooting.

Specs

Elements/groups: 22/16 Minimum focus distance: 0.5-1.8m Max magnification factor: 0.32x Weather-seals: No Filter size: 95mm Included accessories: Hood + DX adaptor, tripod collar, soft case Dimensions: 104x219mm Weight: 1970g