Sigma 500mm f/4.5 APO EX DG
 

looking at one of these or the nikon 400mm 2.8
as anyone got one or used one of these lens
the price is a lot less then the nikon which helps a lot but would be using it for motorsports mainly so any comments would help :confused:

I don't have either but the Nikkor provides 2 1/3 extra stops over the Sigma. I do have Nikkor telephoto primes and their image quality is astounding. Those extra stops will help with motorsports but you may have to consider compromise with weight if you intend to hand hold. I am sure the Sigma is much lighter.

Errrm, isn't f2.8 to f4.5 just one and a third stop?

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-numbe...F-number_scale

Err-hum :o

I know its 1 1/3 - my little typo :D

The Sigma is a cracking lens for the money. You can pick up a non DG version second hand for around £1000. Believe me, it isnt worth paying extra for the DG version. The AF is as fast as a 500mm nikkor (near enough for you not too notice!) & is quite a bit lighter than 400 f2.8. You can hand hold this lens as i have in the past, but its much better on a tripod. If money is no object, then go for the Nikon, if it is, then the Sigma is a bloody good buy for the money.
Regards Rob.

may i ask what you have used this lens for ?????
i have a sigma 300mm 2.8 which is as good as 70/200 2.8 vr in the af dept would be using it for bikes mostly .
have you any sample shots with the 500mm

I use this lens for wildlife photography, including birds in flight.
Look here for some examples. (especially the skimming swallow, which was taken handheld.)
http://www.photoportfolios.net/portf...OBCHACE&u=2216
Regards Rob.

theres nowt wrong with them very good
m/f or a/f ?????

Af of course!

It is an excellent lens. I use the the none DG version bought on ebay for £1100 18 months ago. The attached was hand held.

The 500/4.5 is certainly one of my favourite lenses... although the new price isn't as attractive as in the last year or two of the non-DG version, which saw it at £1995 or even lower.
I may be wrong, but if you put a DG teleconverter between a camera and a non DG lens, then you effectively get the (debatable) benefits of 'DG'. The thing to avoid is non-EX models of the 500/4.5 (and 800/5.6.)... EX makes a big difference and is what raised Sigma's profile in serious photography.

There's a mint Nikon non DG for £1399 at Surreyphotography.

Ultimately, a Nikon 400/2.8 (has to be AFS, the older ones were very slow focusing) would seem the best bet for action sports... but they are only a fraction smaller and lighter than my 600/4 and the 500/4.5 is tiny in comparison
See photo below.

btw: my 600/4 is currently on ebay if anyone fancies it.