Sigma 50-500 or Tamron 200-500
 

I have just rekindled my love for birdwatching and photography and want to combine both. I have just bought a Nikon D80 (just love it - was using a Panasonic FZ30 and the difference is staggering). It came with a 18-135 lens that is great for general stuff but I need a long lens for the wildlife. Would love to be able to afford a Nikon prime but way too expensive. I had thought about the new Nikon 80-400 VR but 400 is not long enough and from what Nikon tell me it will not take a teleconvertor.
It seems from what I read that for value for money the two lenses are the Sigma 50-500 and the Tamron 200-500. Which would you recommend.

Also what is the best teleconvertor to go with them

Thanks in advance

Michael

Michael,cannot speak from personal use(I use Canon),but on BF there are many users of the Sigma 50-500.I have seen some superb shots obtained from this lens.But if weight is a problem ,I do believe the Tamron could be lighter.I use a Tamron 28-300 for general use,and it is a great little lens.
also I have seen some superb images taken using the Tamron 200-500.If you have time to spare,why not pop over to www.birdforum.net the sister site to WPF,and go to the gallery,type the lens into the search bar,and you will see shots taken by the lenses.

I agree with Chrisitines comments about the 28-300. It is not my airshow lens and it has given me some great photos.

The Tamron 200-500 is a superb lens, I have seen many excellent photo's produced with this lens in both film and digital, in my opinion it knocks the spots off the Bigma!

Incidentally, it can be purchased from Essential Systems in Germany for 793 EURO (£535.60 at today's rate) including vat and carriage. Details at the following web address.

http://www.essential-systems.de/index.php

The Tamron 200-500 works well with a 1.4 Kenco Pro or a Tamron 1.4 teleconverter, I think they're both the same converter with different names! Can't vouch for the Bigma, but doubt it would be very good at the short end of the zoom range.

nirofo.

I've just received my Tamron 200-500 and all indications are that I will love it once I get used to the weight. Faster focusing than the Sigma but I know I will need a lot of practice with it.

Recommend the Kenko 1.4 Pro. Took some shots today with it on the Canon 70-300 DO IS and its given some really sharp shots. Don't think its the same as the Tamron, not the Pro anyway as has more elements in its construction.

I was led to believe converter's of 'ANY' kind are useless on the Tamron....
Even the company say not to use a converter with this lens.
But I stand to be corrected.

Works great on my Tamron 200-500.

nirofo.

Which converter do you have?.......(got me curious)
Which would you recommend for the D70s that my Tamron is on?

Many Thanks

See niriofo's post number #4 above.

Just testing you there to make sure you weren't sleeping as I clearly was !!!!!!!

I'm just testing a Tamron 200-500mm for a magazine, it is a very good lens that knocks the spots off the Sigma, I'd probably cut about 2 inches off the hood if it were mine as this causes some vignetting when the lens is used on a full frame (1Ds MkII) body, but with smaller sensors there is no such problem and the results are sharp, vibrant and have good contrast and colour accuracy.

As I started all this I thought I would add a bit more. In the end I bought a Tamron 200-500 and have used it quite a bit over the winter and brought it up to Lofoten in Norway for the summer (http://www.mejhogan.com/gallery2/mai...g2_itemId=301). It is a very good lens, especially if you keep it closed down. However, as it is quite a heavy beast I get the best results using a tripod. I have gotten good results on bright day using a monopod but hand held - not great. So I am thinking of selling it (see for sate items) and changing to this configuration - Sigma 500 f4.5 prime and probably a Nikon 70-300 VR f4.5. This will give me a good long lens for the tripod and a carryable lens with reasonable reach.

Madness or inspiration ;-) ?