Showcase Sigma 80-400mm

Andyc · Apr 17, 2008

Has anyone got any examples of shots taken using or opinions on the Sigma 80-400mm f4-5.6 EX APO DG OS lens?
I'm still trying to make a decision on which long lens to get on a budget for my D50.
I really like the Nikon 70-300 VR but would like a bit more reach for wildlife.
Thanks for any replys.
Andy.

johnmh · Apr 17, 2008

New Sigmas already announced - 120-400mm and 150-500mm Both OS and under $1000. Both due out in the next few months. OS/VR real useful in long lenses. The current Sigma 80-400 is OS, the 50-500 is not.

New Nikon version of the 80-400 rumored out as an AF-S version later in the year.

A cheap alternative is the Tokina 80-400. NO OS/VR but you can get it for under $400 used. Using this as a 'carry' 400 along with a 200-400 'car' lens at the moment, waiting to see what the new glass will be like.

weiran · Apr 17, 2008

As John says I'd wait to see how the new Sigma 120-400 and 150-500 turn out first.

DanielD · Apr 17, 2008

I have one and I think it's a bit soft wide open and moreover, at 400mm has some flare issues around bright objects or edges up to until f8-f9, at least if you're nitpicking.
Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to compare it with the Nikon 80-400, so I cannot actually say whether it would be better or worse.

My understanding of Sigma's move from 80-400 to 120-400 with mostly the same lens size and body is that they probably reduced the zoom range in favour for better image quality.
I did some fine pictures with mine though.

As a warning I can say that on the D300 the Sigma 80-400 has some incompatiblity with issuing OS if you AF with the AF-On button only.
On my last inquiry about that issue Sigma told me they have no clue and I would need to send in that lens....

On the D200 however it works with recent firmwares (but there was some AF-On story with Sigma lenses as well when the D200 came out), so I'll wait a bit until either Nikon updates the D300 firmware which maybe fixes that issue or Sigma eventually buys a D300 so that they hopefully can tell me whether they or Nikon will have to fix that problem.

On the D200 however I had repeatedly problems with the OS going haywire, having the image jump around with some "brrrr" noise (with brrrr indicating the speed the OS made the image jump around - mostly diagonally).
So the OS wasn't helpful all the time. Sigma replaced the OS but it stayed the same. (Maybe Sigma also didn't bought a D200, otherwise they should have noticed.)

Cannot remember any AF or OS problems with the D70 though.

I would recommend to wait for the 120-400 or have a look at the Nikkor 80-400 VR as an alternative. In case of Sigma I would recommend to try it first or be sure that you have the possibility to return it for refund. I'm pretty sure my 80-400 has some incompatiblity problems with newer bodies and I have no idea when Sigma will be able to solve these.

ianmac · Apr 17, 2008

Andy,

I have one and its not a bad lens, even wide open the OS works very well on my D70 D80 and D200 with no problems. The focus speed is not as fast as AFS os HSM but its not too bad. It is a little bit noisy and the OS whirrs when it first starts up.I have not tried the Nikon 80-400VR so cant compare it. Heres a few sample shots from the Sigma 80-400 DG OS.
I have left the exif data intact.

400mm f8