Sigma 500mm F5.6 Sony E mount coming!

[Doug Herr]

The aperture ring is kinda.. unnecessary on a lens of this sort, if you ask me. A 400 2.8 or super wide 1.4 lens, sure, but not on a lens that starts at 5.6 and is aimed at wildlife/birders who aren’t stopping down all that often.

Contrarian view here... I'd much rather have an aperture ring on the lens than a dial on the body for aperture. While I do use f/8 and smaller apertures on occasion, especially at close range, I'd find the f/5.6 max aperture more limiting than having an aperture ring on the lens. Using a dial on the body is more useful for variable-aperture zooms, not for primes.

 

[dabhand16]

I was not aware of any Sigma lenses for Z mount, so I checked just now and figured out why I was unaware. All three are for APS-C sensors only; they do not make any full frame Z mount lenses. Since I only shoot full frame I always click the paramaters in B&H to list full frame lenses only, which is why I have not seen these.

They do make Nikon fit lenses, so maybe more to come?

 

[BlackRockArt]

Nikon does NOT allow Sigma to make full frame Z mount lens yet.

Hopefully in two years this will change.

 

[RikWriter]

I'd buy this lens in a heartbeat if I could use a TC with it.

 

[ChrisM]

On fred miranda forums, Alex Phan posted a few image samples:

Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports Image Thread

Using Pre-Production lens. Not final release.

www.fredmiranda.com

Granted, these are only small size images, but they give a good impression of what to expect.

I had the Sigma 500mm f4S in Nikon mount for a year, along with the Nikon 500PF, and that is an older lens, but Sigma does know how to make a very good prime lens.
Reports are that auto focus is very fast and accurate in c-af. The body uses a modern composite material, hence the light weight.
I'll pre-order the lens, as I don't care for a TC on a f5.6 lens, cropping does the job on the high resolution A1, and I have no urgent need for faster fps than 15.

It had to be Sigma that brings a Nikonesque lens to Sony e-mount, although granted, the Sony 300GM is a truly innovative lens as well. But for birding and wildlife, I feel the Sigma is the better choice.
I can soon enjoy the "ridiculous low weight and small size" telephoto shooting again that the the 500PF offered on the D500.

 

[MatthewK]

Looks like Sigma just saved you $3.5k, Chris

(Saved by buying the Sigma for $3k, vs. the Sony 300 2.8 for $6k + another ~$500 for the 2x TC)

 

[ChrisM]

Looks like Sigma just saved you $3.5k, Chris

(Saving by buy the Sigma for $3k, vs. the Sony 300 2.8 for $6k + another ~$500 for the 2x TC)

Yes, and ultimately, for my uses the Sigma is the better option.
It will go along on my trip to Costa Rica, which is in part also a holiday vacation with my spouse, and for such a trip, this lens is what I was looking for. The 600GM was not an option.

Kudos to Sigma for pulling it off!

 

[Robjwilli]

Good choice I think Chris.
I haven't been to Costa Rica but from a birding perspective it seems to be a 'target rich environment'....looking forward to seeing what you capture with this new lens.

 

[Tiago C]

At some point I will likely get this lens to pair with a Full Frame Lumix.