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I asked Sigma nicely if they would lend me their new 500mm F5.6 DG DN lens to try out. They have loaned me lenses before but it has been a few years since I've asked for a loaner. Luckily they had just received one back and sent it straight out to me for a week, they needed it back in time for the Photography Show.
I'd read the specs of this lens and knew that it was around 880g lighter than my 200-600 F5.6-6.3 and significantly smaller, but it wasn't until I took it out of the box that I really appreciated the weight savings and much smaller size. It almost felt like holding a feather compared to my 200-600.
Below you will find a short summary of my first impressions, a slightly more detailed comparison can be found over on the blog:
www.alphashooters.com
So the Sigma 500 is around 895g lighter than the Sony 200-600 with their hoods attached which is pretty significant.
The size difference is significant as well with the Sigma 500 measuring 107.6mm in diameter x 236.6mm in length vs 111.5mm in diameter x 318 mm in length for the 200-600.
Like the Sony the Sigma also features 3 customizable buttons, a focus limiter switch, AF/MF switch, OS switch with modes 1/2 and off. The Sigma also features a de-clickable and lockable aperture ring which you don't find on the 200-600, this will probably be appreciated more by videographers.
The Sigma also has a Custom switch with the options (OFF | C1 | C2). Unfortunately unlike L-mount shooters who can use the Sigma USB Dock to customize these functions, Sony shooters are stuck with the default settings. C1 is called "Dynamic View" and offers a recognizable OS effect in the viewfinder to help with composition. C2 is called “Moderate View” and focuses more on stabilizing the image at capture and less on stabilizing the viewfinder.
In Dustin Abbott's review he compares the sharpness of both lenses and concludes:
Other reviews also suggest that the Sigma has a slight advantage when it comes to sharpness but it's not a night and day difference and for most real world subjects you will probably struggle to see the difference.
Compared to my 200-600 on my A1 I felt it performed very closely. Of course kites are pretty big birds and they won't challenge a lenses focus motors as much as shooting something smaller and faster such as swifts, so it's hard to say how well the Sigma 500 will perform with faster more challenging subjects. The 200-600 definitely performs better on my A7RV than the Sigma 500, but we might see improvements here with future firmware updates.
If you own the 200-600 then you've already got an amazing lens. If you are happy with the size and weight of this lens then there's no reason to purchase the Sigma 500. Plus you get a little more focal length.
If you don't already own the 200-600 and would like to purchase a long telephoto lens then you have a little more to think about. Do you need a zoom lens? Would you make use of the teleconverters? Shoot over 15 fps? If yes, then stick with the 200-600. If not, it's definitely worth considering the Sigma 500 if it's in budget.
Before I tried the Sigma 500 I had no plans to purchase one, but after shooting with it for a week I was sold and decided to order one. For me personally I appreciated the weight and size savings the most, especially as I have a slightly dodgy shoulder. I rarely use the teleconverters so I can live without them and I'm not keen on shooting over 15 fps either as it takes far too long to sort through the images afterwards. I will hopefully get my 200-600 repaired but I can't see it getting a great deal of use after the Sigma arrives.
I will write a little more on the blog when I get time. I should hopefully receive the Sigma next week if Harrison Cameras delivers so I can continue to add to my first impressions.
If you do decide to purchase this lens please drop your own impressions below so that we can keep them all together.
I'd read the specs of this lens and knew that it was around 880g lighter than my 200-600 F5.6-6.3 and significantly smaller, but it wasn't until I took it out of the box that I really appreciated the weight savings and much smaller size. It almost felt like holding a feather compared to my 200-600.
Below you will find a short summary of my first impressions, a slightly more detailed comparison can be found over on the blog:
Sigma 500mm F5.6 DG DN VS Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G Lens - Alpha Shooters
A real world in-depth comparison between the Sigma 500mm F5.6 DG DN lens and the Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G lens. Which one is better?
www.alphashooters.com
Size & Handling
The Sigma 500 weighs just 1,365g (with foot but without hood and caps). The lens hood of the Sigma 500 weighs 150g which takes the total weight up to 1,515g. The Sony 200-600 weighs 2,245g (with foot but without hood and caps). The lens hood of the Sony 200-600 weighs 165g which takes the total weight up to 2,410g.So the Sigma 500 is around 895g lighter than the Sony 200-600 with their hoods attached which is pretty significant.
The size difference is significant as well with the Sigma 500 measuring 107.6mm in diameter x 236.6mm in length vs 111.5mm in diameter x 318 mm in length for the 200-600.
- ILCE-7RM5
- FE 24mm F1.4 GM
- 24.0 mm
- ƒ/6.3
- 1/200 sec
- ISO 1000
- ILCE-7RM5
- FE 24mm F1.4 GM
- 24.0 mm
- ƒ/7.1
- 1/200 sec
- ISO 640
The Sigma also has a Custom switch with the options (OFF | C1 | C2). Unfortunately unlike L-mount shooters who can use the Sigma USB Dock to customize these functions, Sony shooters are stuck with the default settings. C1 is called "Dynamic View" and offers a recognizable OS effect in the viewfinder to help with composition. C2 is called “Moderate View” and focuses more on stabilizing the image at capture and less on stabilizing the viewfinder.
Image Quality
As you would expect from a Sigma prime lens the image quality is very good. Unfortunately I wasn't able to do a direct image comparison with my 200-600 as it picked a great time to die on me. But to my eyes the images I shot looked as good as the images shot with my 200-600.
- ILCE-1
- 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports 024
- 500.0 mm
- ƒ/5.6
- 1/1250 sec
- ISO 500
- ILCE-1
- 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports 024
- 500.0 mm
- ƒ/5.6
- 1/2000 sec
- ISO 1250
In Dustin Abbott's review he compares the sharpness of both lenses and concludes:
Other reviews also suggest that the Sigma has a slight advantage when it comes to sharpness but it's not a night and day difference and for most real world subjects you will probably struggle to see the difference.
Autofocus Performance
Focus was pretty snappy on my A1 and it tracked really well, only a handful of shots were slightly soft and those could easily be put down to user error! I only tried it briefly on my A7RV and it seemed to struggle a little more at times to lock-on to the kites, for perched birds this wasn't an issue and Eye AF also worked very well. It did seem to struggle a little more with tracking against busy backgrounds on the A7RV, but when locked on only a handful of images were slightly soft.
- ILCE-1
- 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports 024
- 500.0 mm
- ƒ/5.6
- 1/2000 sec
- ISO 320
Compared to my 200-600 on my A1 I felt it performed very closely. Of course kites are pretty big birds and they won't challenge a lenses focus motors as much as shooting something smaller and faster such as swifts, so it's hard to say how well the Sigma 500 will perform with faster more challenging subjects. The 200-600 definitely performs better on my A7RV than the Sigma 500, but we might see improvements here with future firmware updates.
Sample Images
I've already posted quite a few sample images here. Registered members can also find the raw files to download here.Limitations
The main limitations of the Sigma 500 are no support for teleconverters (unless you are an L-mount shooter), and the maximum frame rate is limited to 15 fps. It would probably shoot a lot faster if Sony would allow it, but they don't. For those who don't shoot often with the teleconverters and have no need for shooting faster than 15 fps then these limitations won't matter in the slightest.To Buy One or Not
The Sigma 500 F5.6 costs $2,999.00 in the US or £2,779.00 here in the UK. The Sony 200-600 F5.6-6.3 costs $1,998.00 in the US or £1,559.00 in the UK. So you can save a chunk of cash if you are happy with what the Sony offers.If you own the 200-600 then you've already got an amazing lens. If you are happy with the size and weight of this lens then there's no reason to purchase the Sigma 500. Plus you get a little more focal length.
If you don't already own the 200-600 and would like to purchase a long telephoto lens then you have a little more to think about. Do you need a zoom lens? Would you make use of the teleconverters? Shoot over 15 fps? If yes, then stick with the 200-600. If not, it's definitely worth considering the Sigma 500 if it's in budget.
Before I tried the Sigma 500 I had no plans to purchase one, but after shooting with it for a week I was sold and decided to order one. For me personally I appreciated the weight and size savings the most, especially as I have a slightly dodgy shoulder. I rarely use the teleconverters so I can live without them and I'm not keen on shooting over 15 fps either as it takes far too long to sort through the images afterwards. I will hopefully get my 200-600 repaired but I can't see it getting a great deal of use after the Sigma arrives.
I will write a little more on the blog when I get time. I should hopefully receive the Sigma next week if Harrison Cameras delivers so I can continue to add to my first impressions.
If you do decide to purchase this lens please drop your own impressions below so that we can keep them all together.
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