SIGMA 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX HSM
10x telephoto zoom lens
A review and photo examples of the SIGMA 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX HSM.
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Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken with the SIGMA SD10.
- The sample photos were taken with the KONICA MINOLTA α Sweet Digital.
Review
1．Overview
The SIGMA 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX RF HSM is a telephoto autofocus (AF) zoom lens for 35mm format made by Sigma and released in 2004.
It has a lens configuration of 20 elements in 16 groups, an ultrasonic motor (HSM), 9 aperture blades, an aperture value of F4-6.3, a minimum shooting distance of 1-3m, a weight of 1.85kg, and a removable tripod mount.
The RF notation in the lens name stands for rear focus, and since the focusing operation is performed by the rear group of lenses inside the lens barrel, the lens length does not change when focusing. The lens length becomes longer as the zoom becomes more telephoto.
The compatible lens mounts are Sigma SA, Canon EF, and NIKON-F with HSM for the RF version without DG, and Minolta α and Pentax K without HSM.
The DG version was a transitional product with updated lens coating, and a year later in 2005, Sigma SA, Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K without HSM, Minolta/Sony α, and Four Thirds with HSM were released.
Although not in the product name, this is an APO specification lens, and uses special low dispersion glass to correct chromatic aberration as much as possible. The lens also uses aspherical lenses.
The APO TELE CONVERTER 2x EX and APO TELE CONVERTER 1.4x EX can be attached, but the maximum aperture will be darker than 5.6, so AF will not be available.
Accessories include a case and a cylindrical hood (H935_01), and the list price is 162,000 yen (excluding tax).
2．Usage
I bought this lens as soon as it was released as a telephoto lens for the SD10. The 150-500, which was already on the market, was an old design, so I jumped on this lens as soon as it was released.
The 10x zoom is a bit unusual, but it was enough for someone who was just starting to take bird photos.
The 50-500mm shooting range is quite convenient, and it can be used for everything from landscapes to close-ups. If you capture a ship in the lower left corner with a 50mm lens at 500mm, it will be the same size as the ship on the right. The resolution of distant objects is not very high, but it depicts close objects reasonably well. The fact that the sensor is APS-C and the edges are cropped also contributes to the good image quality. I have never used it with a 35mm full-frame sensor, but I don’t know if it will produce good image quality across the entire 35mm sensor due to the design date of the lens.
After using the Sigma SA mount for a while, I wanted a telephoto prime lens, so I sold it and bought the APO 500mm HSM. This lens is one of those that taught me the lesson to buy the right lens from the beginning.
Later, I got fed up with Sigma’s delay in releasing a successor to the SD10, and when I started cheating on my Konica Minolta α, I found this useful lens used and found it cheap, so I bought the α mount DG version for the α Sweet Digital.
I took the α Sweet Digital with me on a trip to Australia, and it worked well under the abundant sunshine. It’s a useful lens when you want to reduce your luggage and bring a telephoto lens. On this occasion, I brought the 500mm to take pictures of kookaburras, but due to lack of research on their habitat, I ended up seeing them at the zoo, which is a rather unfunny memory.
3．Add info.
In the 2000s, Sigma was the only company making 10x telephoto zoom lenses, and both Sigma and Tamron made 3x zoom lenses that covered 500mm.
Perhaps because camera manufacturers had a policy of making telephoto lenses prime, such telephoto zoom lenses were the domain of lens manufacturers.
Since prime lenses from camera manufacturers were expensive, telephoto zoom lenses from lens manufacturers, which were cheaper than camera manufacturer lenses, were very useful for hobbyists who photograph airplanes and wild birds.
Currently, Sigma has expanded the focal length to 600mm on the telephoto side. For the 150-600, they have done the amazing job of releasing two lenses with the same focal length, the lightweight Contemporary and the performance-oriented Sports, almost at the same time.
It is truly amazing that Sigma is a manufacturer that can design and manufacture such complex lenses. The reason why Leica and Olympus commission Sigma for their telephoto lenses is probably because they are attracted to its design and manufacturing capabilities.
- 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports
- 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
- 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports(No longer available)
In the 2020s, companies have abandoned their commitment to prime lenses and are making telephoto lenses using zoom lenses. The main lenses are as follows. Although each company has a certain price tag, they are not unaffordable compared to prime lenses, so photographers in the 2020s are happy to have many options.
- SONY SEL200600G FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
- TAMRON SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD [IF] Model A08
- Fujinon lens XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR
- HD PENTAX-D FA150-450mmF4.5-5.6ED DC AW
- M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO
- RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Specification
| Items | EX RF | EX DG | DG OS |
| Focal length(mm) | 50-500 | 50-500 | 50-500 |
| Max aperture | 4-6.3 | 4-6.3 | 4.5-6.3 |
| Min aperture | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Lens Construction | 20 elements in 16 groups | 20 elements in 16 groups | 22 elements in 16 groups |
| Aperture blade | 9枚 | 9枚 | 9枚 |
| Min distance(m) | 1~3 | 1~3 | 0.5~1.8 |
| Lens length(mm) SIGMA-SA | 216 | 216 | 219 |
| Lens Max diameter(mm) | 95 | 95 | 104 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 86 | 86 | 95 |
| Lens Hood | H935_01 | H935_01 | LH1034-02 |
| Lens mount | Sigma SA mount Canon EF mount Nikon F mount Pentax-K(without HSM) SONY-α(without HSM) | SIGMA-SA CANON-EF Nikon-F Pentax-K(without HSM) SONY-α(without HSM) Olympus−FT | SIGMA-SA CANON-EF Nikon-F Pentax-K SONY-α |
| Weight(g) SIGMA-SA | 1850 | 1840 | 1970 |
| Release date | 2004 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥162,000- | ¥165,000- | ¥189,500円 |
Reference links
- SIGMA 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX RF HSM
- SIGMA 50-500mm F4-6.3 EX DG HSM
- SIGMA APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Update history
- 2024.12.21
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