You may not be a professional wildlife photographer, but your presentation was professional. Nice voice, no annoying introductions and you got right to the point! Nice job.
I totally agree with you when you mentioned; 'I can't justify paying 13k for a Lens made by Canon vs (of course!) the Sigma. Canon is WAYYYY over priced and WAYY over rated!! SIGMA is a serious professional grade lens and I've used them for years without a single glitch!! Good choice and hope you enjoy the lens!
I'm still using this lens constantly and LOVING my growing wildlife portfolio. Also, I know I pronounced bison wrong. No need to point it out. Sigma 150-600mm: amzn.to/3jPUJZF
Great video, the only question that I have is: How far were you physically from the Bison in the pen and the one in the water? also about how tall would you guess that tree was with the owl in the top of it?
Just wanted to say thank you for a really useful and thoroughly watchable assessment video. No infantile shouting, flashy graphics or awful musac - just really well presented valuable facts and experiences. Thank you again!
I was close to grabbing this lens, I opted for the Nikon 200-500 instead (mainly for AF performance). I think Sigma makes fantastic lenses at a really fair price. Their 70-200 2.8 Sports lens is absolutely amazing. Waiting for them to announce Nikon Z and Canon RF native mounts, hopefully soon!
Hi Nicole, I have had the Sigma 150-600 lens for my d500 for several years and I think that is an excellent wildlife combination. It is even better for aircraft in flight pictures. The d500 autofocus is very effective and complements it well. It is a massive improvement on the original Sigma 170-500. With new AI based techniques I find correction for excessive noise very good so the issue of high iso is not that much of a problem but lack of contrast can be. Unfortunately the weight issue gets worse and worse as you get older and now I am thinking of getting rid of my present set up for a much lighter option. Making rapid movements to follow fast moving objects in flight( dragonflies, kingfishers, RAF Typhoons, Spitfires, Vampires, and MIG- 15s etc) is awkward because of the inertia of the system as you swing it to and fro. I am finding it really difficult to find a lighter alternative with similar capabilities at a less than eye-watering cost.
I brought this lens last July (2020) and have used it constantly since, I've definitely been very satisfied. After a little while I got used to hand holding it steadily and for longer periods, and since then have had little problems. I use it primarily for photographing Birds, in particular Birds of prey. It definitely performs absolutely flawlessly when in good light. I take it with me on most of my walks in natural areas and go out with it specially to photograph too. After the first few time going out with it I became accustomed to the extra weight and it doesn't really influence my walking range or anything. So in my opinion it's a great bit of kit and definitely worth a buy.
Using a monopod on a lens of this helps with the mobility issue and really helps with the weight. I have used this combination on my Sigma 150 to 500 for years. Fast to use and with the monopod collapsed easy to carry. Lense over shoulder pod for handle. Plus it is easy to pack.
Hi Nicole, how are you? I just bought Canon R6 for my youtube channel. I am beginner in Shutterstock, i click photos of tech products. I have a question, can I click photos on white background or I can click them on any Woden table, on grass, on floor etc. Which will convert more ?
I’ve had both types of photos sell: there’s definitely a market for both. But personally I do more photos of objects being used - something to provide the object in its context. Since you do videos already, you might want to also upload video footage of those items
@@NicoleGlass Thank you very much, now I got the point. Yes, I am also wondering to upload video footage of those. Recently I make a sale of $3.90 for a electronic circuit image 🙂
For the entire length of the video I just stared in awe. How can the land be so pretty, full of mountains and wildlife? I live in The Netherlands, and here, everything is FLAT (except for a few parts of the country). I admire that location, it looks absolutely magical.. although a hoard of tourists does diminish some of its specialness.
aw thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you liked it! The Netherlands are beautiful in their own way, plus you're just a short trip away from the Alps :) No grizzly bears there though.. haha
@@NicoleGlass That is still a 10 hour drive from where I live ;) We aren't used to traveling such distances. Perhaps I can visit places like Switserland next year! Hopefully, corona has bitten the dust by then. The Netherlands sure some beauty, but every square meter is... planned. Cultivated. Mowed down and replaced with farmland. True nature is very hard to come by here. But hey, you let us enjoy the beautiful nature there as well, so thank you! And I am glad that you weren't harmed by the bears, especially the Mama Bear.
@@NicoleGlass Yes, Pocatello. Grew up in Idaho Falls and have spent tons of time in both locations. I'm About 2 hrs to Yellowstone or Grand Teton. You got to see the Idaho side which is the best IMHO, but I might be biased. If you have the time you might want to check out Craters of the Moon National Monument, one of my favorites in this area. Travel safe
Hello Nicole...glad to see you enjoying this lens, as they certainly do have a lot of reach indeed. I chose the Tampon version, the 150-600mm G2 lens, which I believe is a little lighter, but still my heaviest lens, and like you....I really enjoy using it! I try...to use my tripod as much as possible, where I bought a Gimbal head for the tripod, making panning to find birds/wildlife a little easier, where I can lock it quickly to get the shots I want. I do use a full frame Nikon camera, which does very well in low light, but generally where I live (western Canada) there are many days when I can't get out, because of precipitation/cold or just miserable days, but once Spring arrives, I'm out as much as possible looking for good compositions! I love my photography, and it's truly a constant learning process, but it's abilities to bring us 'joy' it makes it all worth it. I have the 70-200 F/2.8 as well, and I have a 2X lens teleconvertor, but it does take it out to F/4 still, so again your ISO will be a little higher, but it does give wonderful results. I bought my teleconverter 'preowned' which helped with pricing, and it's worked flawlessly any time I've used it...which, because of the 150-600mm, it doesn't get used as much any more. I haven't made it to the Teton's yet, but I did take the family to Yellowstone some years ago, as well as Alaska, Utah, Arizona and other locations....with many more to come in the years forward! Stay safe Nicole!
In my experience hand-holding a long lens isn’t ideal. Even with IS, if you are hand-holding, then at minimum you need a shutter speed at least the inverse of your focal distance to a get a sharp image e.g. if your focal length is 600mm then you need a shutter speed of 1/600 sec. At any speed though, supporting the lens is always going to give best results…tripod, monopod, bean bag - even as you mentioned, a fence post or your knee. Nice video. Beautiful location.
I bought this lens to take with me on a safari to Tanzania. Fortunately I was always in a Toyota Land Cruiser, so I could rest the lens on the side of the vehicle. Thus I got some amazing photos. Of course I also got some lousy ones because the vehicle was often moving. I had the same problem with video you have had. I did purchase a monopod and that is helpful some times. I also don't really enjoy taking it with me on hikes because of its weight. I also have an 18-200 Sigma as my standard lens, and was thinking of buying a 2x teleconverter for use with it, to use on hikes. But alas have not done that yet.
Great review! Shows a bit more about the actual use of the lens and the pictures you can achieve with it, instead of being overly technical about sharpness, chromatic aberration, distortion and so on, for which there are already really good reviewers, so good complement to those!
I have this lens and more recently the Sigma 60-600. I agree they are not light, but for wildlife photography (as you mentioned at the end) I train to use these lenses by making sure I have the muscular strength to control the unit. Using one of these lenses is like learning to shoot a rifle accurately: it takes muscular strength and breathing technique keep the lens still. So I do weights. I live in New Zealand now, where macro mammals are a bit in short supply! Still, I shoot birds (the dominant flora) and they can be a challenge as they are often in the bush and flit around very frequently and quickly. One of my favourite places to shoot is a gannet colony located just outside Auckland (our biggest city of about 1.6million). It is probably the most accessible colony on the planet and even boasts a great beach and cafe nearby. I found the 150-600 to be brilliant at really drilling in to get eye shots, and the 60-600 is a great go-to lens when I just want to carry it and nothing else. I was disappointed with the tracking performance when coupled with the EOS 5DMkIV - it just took too long to get lock when the birds were on the wing, but coupled with the EOS 7DMkII - which has a better tracking system, and offers a FoV equivalent to 96-960mm, I got the shots I wanted.
Greet video, juist bought the lens myself and I’m already a fan of it. Have you tried a camera strap to carry it? I use a black rapid strap, so I have my hands free when walking.
Considering the price, and the trade off of f:/5-6.3, it’s good value. It has good reach, and you have the images you want. Of course, a more expensive lens would give you f:/2.8 but it’s several thousand dollars for a few stops of light. I shoot minor hockey and I use a variable Nikon lens 70-300 f:/4.5-6.3 so it isn’t much different other than weight and size because I’m using a crop sensor. I constantly use ISO 3200 for those photos.
I am not a photographer but these images, along with your camera and lens manipulation, are first-rate. I project my assumptions to be that all photographers, wildlife or other, are critical of the work. Your video of your usage of the Sigma 150-600mm CONTEMPORARY telephoto lens for Canon is spot on to me, a non-user. Don't be so hard on yourself, your work (images/video) is impressive.
I bought a 70-200mm then a 400 prime but neither gave me the zoom I really yearned for, I did get a 1.4 convertor and whilst it is ok not perfect, so my Sigma is arriving today and was bought mostly for the 600mm but also the zoom capability, looking forward to trying the lens out. Great review, thanks for uploading it.
Between the Sigma 150-600mm contemporary and the Tamron SP 150-600 Di VC USD G2 lens, which would you recommend for wildlife and sports, using a Nikon D750? Great Job on the Wildlife shots.
What a beautiful place the Grand Teton National Park is. The light and the location looks amazing. I love the images, especially of your Horned Owl and bear. I hope we will see further videos from your trip. I must say the quality of your images with your new lens looks very impressive. I think you made the correct decision in your purchase of this lens.
Thank you Wendy! Have you been there? I have so much video footage from my trip, I definitely plan to edit something together :) It's a photographer's paradise out there. Highly recommend the Tetons!
Okay, a few things: 1) I love this lens (Nikon mount), and looking at your biceps, yes, you will get stronger with time. 2) I love your flow and I enjoyed your descriptions. I wish you could tell approximately how far you were in some of the "very far away owl" images. It helps in estimating the power of the lens and what to expect. 3) That bear at the end? No. I'll stay in the Arizona desert and hunt lightning and insane thunder-storms (not sure which way is more violent to die as a photographer, a bear, or a lightning strike).
Hello, I'm a newbie and thought your presentation was very helpful. I really want a quality lens for bird and nature photography and this lens is one I will purchase. However what camera body do you recommend that's relatively affordable? I priced the one you use and it's $2,500! Anything in the 800 to 1,500 range? I will consider something used. Anyways thanks again!
Thanks Nicole. Just bought the lens on sale. Tried it on my D-750 but hope to use it on a Z-7II. Hope to enjoy as much as you do. Yes, monopod is important. I also got a gimbal for my tripod.
Some photographers have complained about camera bodies weight, and here as a woman you are handling a 4.5lB zoom lens handheld, it should put those complaining the camera bodies to shame? You have done very well, I like what I see very sharp images. The DSLR in my opinion handles better the heavier lenses than mirrorless cameras 35mm size formats. Glad to have found your channel. Cheers.
A very informative and honest review. I've seen your video two years late 😄. I purchased this lens few months ago for occasional shots and (specially) moonshots. I'm sorry I didn't buy the 60-600 then. Maybe if Sigma produces it for Canon RF mount someday, I'll swap it. I've just discovered your TH-cam channel and love your videos.
Your animal photos are awesome. Thank you for the wonderful review of this lens from a woman’s point of view. I’m glad I found your channel and subscribed. I bought this lens a couple of months ago, It is heavy I’m still trying to get some good bird photos.
Thank you Leigh, and welcome!! 😊 Yeah it’s definitely heavy. Right now I’m shooting with a 60-600 and that’s even heavier... makes the 150-600 feel light in comparison
I have the lens and I think it’s great, I use it on my 5ds and it takes great shots I live 17 miles as the crow flies from London Heathrow I took a picture handheld the result is outstanding I can see the aircraft parked up and even see their markings , not the brightest day and 5ds is not the best low light camera but still a great shot with this lens
I too bought this lens a month back after contemplating a lot. Definitely worth the buy. Trying to get used to the weight. Like you mentioned, I get good shots with good light, otherwise, it's tough to be at a higher shutter speed to avoid any shake.
thank you for this video, it was peacefull and nice to watch. If any of you guys can answer some of my questions, i'm looking towards buying one of these, but i currentrly have a crop sensor (eos 90d) and i read that it's not that sharp if not used with Full Frame. Samples i've seen from crop sensor are not great and so i'm a bit lost. is it an issue from the photographer or the lens really should be used with a FF. i may buy this anyway and upgrade later on.
You made my heart jump watching this video. Very helpful! We are going to be not far from the Tetons filming a documentary in the Wind River Range for 45 days starting July 8. You made me feel better about bringing this lens. We will be setup on ridges at dawn and dusk, filming primarily in the areas lit first and last by the sun always at our back so lighting shouldn't be an issue as it's mostly sunny this time of year there. Bringing the sigma 18-35 1.8 with teleconverters for closer b roll shots at dusk and dawn. Still trying to figure what lens to take in between. 50-150 2.8? Your thoughts?
I bought it about 6 months ago and by and large I have been pretty happy with it. At first, even as a guy I also found it to be heavy, but you do get used to it after a while. Eventually, your body kind of gets recalibrated to the weight and I am totally fine with it now whereby I no longer touch the tripod if I can help it. Other than that, the images are actually sharper than expected. It is also true that it is not a lens for low light, but that is more of a factor of the body in controlling noise at higher ISO. I did not buy the Canon EF 100-400mm II because I found 400mm to be too short for birds. As for the Sigma, I think you can still use it if you upgrade and migrate to mirrorless say to the R5. All you will need is a Canon adapter and it doesn't affect the sharpness since there is no glass involved as it is only there to create a gap. The main issue I have with the lens is it is an external zoom design just like the EF 100-400mm II or the RF 100-500mm. That is a problem since so much of the lens is retracted which means it has an extremely long throw and is hard to change focusing distance as it takes me 4 twists of the zoom ring to move from 150mm to 600mm. In the birding world, that is eternity. In particular, it makes taking BIF shots that much more difficult. Going forward, my next upgrade will see me migrate to mirrorless which is a must in birding in my opinion as animal eye AF/tracking makes a massive difference in what you can do. But, the external zoom design of the RF 100-500mm is a deal breaker for me. As such, I will most likely migrate to Sony and shoot with the FE 200-600mm which is an internal zoom with only a 90 degrees turn to move from 200mm to 600mm plus is buttery smooth much like the Canon EF 70-200mm internal zoom design.
Look Into a Lumix G9 body and Lumix/Leica 100-400 (35 equivalent to 200-800). I've cut back using the Nikon D800 rig. Just be curious about the G9. I'm 69yr, and been shooting from the age of 13. Oklahoma has a Wild Prairie Refuge with Bison, maybe not so far away.
Great shots Nicole , I found your video very useful and informative , I use a Nikon D7200 with a Tamron 70/300 lens with VC , but saving up to get a 150/600 Tamron or Sigma perhaps ? I Enjoy your videos very much , you are a damn good photographer , so keep em' coming !
Nice job! I use one of these with a Canon R6 and really like it. I would like it more if it were a bit lighter and shorter but it’s certainly within my limits. I am a 100% handheld shot old guy with a bad shoulder and so far the weight hasn’t bothered me while shooting. Just while lugging it around between shots. Focus and IQ are both really good. Great bang for the buck. I originally intended to buy the Canon RF 100-500mm but couldn’t find one in stock anywhere. I rented the Sigma for a week and ended up buying it. Saved some money. Someday I will rent the Canon to compare the two. Who knows how that will turn out?
Great shots and video. You are correct, that lens is heavy but is so much fun to use. I picked up a gimbal head just for using this lens, makes a world of difference. Can’t wait to see what you do next and Thanks for sharing!
I have the Tamron 70-200 G2 f/2.8 and it's quite nice to use. I just used it on my recent trip to Nakhon Nayok in Thailand for some Waterfall images. Nice and sharp.
look into black rapid straps and slings. I have mine attached to a sling from them and it made a huge difference if you are lugging it around on a hike.
i had the original version of this lense and it got destroyed with 7 other lenses during the floods of Hurricane Harvey 2017. i consequently replaced that with this newer model on the Nikon mount and have been very happy with the results for video, even in low light despite its limits on f-stops. It is a heavyweight ! As an amature noob photographer, this with the Sigma Art lenses 18-55mm and 50-100mm f1.8 lenses is all i use now. Sigma make great lenses.
I just got the Canon EOS R5 and experimented with this lens that I have had a for a few years. Like you said my mussels in my left arm are getting bigger than my right. The R5 is very good at low light, so the higher ISO is no problem for this camera.
Thinking maybe I might get this lens now. Choice between tamron, nikon and sigma. But i like the way you presented this video in a pleasant to watch manner focussing on the weight and stabilisation issues with real life evidence and solutions. I might be getting this one now. Subscribed to see what other gems you've made!! Thank you👍
@@NicoleGlass No worries and I my plans changed due to a friend’s illness. I shot in Manhattan instead. DC is still on the short list. Love your national park pics.
Very nice photos! I've had the Sport version of this lens (6.3 lbs) for about 3 years. Love it. I have a Cotton Carrier to lug it while hiking as a chest mount. You lose your cool factor but it leaves your arms free. The Sport version has phenomenal weather/dust sealing. Been in terrible weather with it. But I do love getting some bucket list animals from a safe and respectful distance.
I have this lens and have to use a monopod as my arms will never be strong enough. Love your video and photos. You are so generous with tips. Thanks Nicole!
It's good to see you out and about. I will be doing a loop from Albuquerque, up to Yellowstone, through Idaho and back just after Thanksgiving. What has been your favorite stop so far?
Oh you'll love it! I personally loved Grand Teton the best. Driving up and down Moose-Wilson Road every day I always saw a lot of wildlife. Yellowstone was beautiful too though; I saw a bear guarding an elk that he had killed in Hayden Valley. I'm sure there will be very few people there in November, so hopefully you'll see a lot of wildlife :)
Thanks for the review. I went to check this lens out. Weight is definitely my concern. I’m a skinny guy and have never used a heavy lens before. I did tell the salesman I will buy it one day. It is a great lens.
Nice review. I bought one of these used on Craigslist and so far I'm really happy with it. Not too impressed with the IS, but it's OK. My experience with Sigma lenses, including this one, are they are very sharp, but the color and contrast ain't the greatest. Oh well. I have the Canon 400 5.6 and I like the image quality better, but I wanted more reach for birding, etc and this fills the gap nicely without breaking the bank. Nice that it becomes a 950mm on my 80D.
You may not be a professional wildlife photographer, but your presentation was professional. Nice voice, no annoying introductions and you got right to the point! Nice job.
i noticed that too. straight to the point. i thought she was going to start going on and on about other stuff and SHE DIDN'T.
I totally agree with you when you mentioned; 'I can't justify paying 13k for a Lens made by Canon vs (of course!) the Sigma. Canon is WAYYYY over priced and WAYY over rated!! SIGMA is a serious professional grade lens and I've used them for years without a single glitch!! Good choice and hope you enjoy the lens!
Indeed
Thank you for the review, Nicole, and wonderful photos! Glad to see you enjoyed the lens.
Thanks Sigma! I had a lot of fun searching for wildlife with this lens :)
I bought the same lens like a year ago and I remember the first shots i took were some birds bathing and the results blew me away. Worth the money
I'm still using this lens constantly and LOVING my growing wildlife portfolio. Also, I know I pronounced bison wrong. No need to point it out.
Sigma 150-600mm: amzn.to/3jPUJZF
Great video, the only question that I have is: How far were you physically from the Bison in the pen and the one in the water? also about how tall would you guess that tree was with the owl in the top of it?
555
You think that lens is heavy you should pick up the sport version of the same lens.
I’ve had that lens for about 3 years now. Fantastic lens!!
Just wanted to say thank you for a really useful and thoroughly watchable assessment video. No infantile shouting, flashy graphics or awful musac - just really well presented valuable facts and experiences. Thank you again!
I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
I was close to grabbing this lens, I opted for the Nikon 200-500 instead (mainly for AF performance). I think Sigma makes fantastic lenses at a really fair price. Their 70-200 2.8 Sports lens is absolutely amazing. Waiting for them to announce Nikon Z and Canon RF native mounts, hopefully soon!
What better last name than “Glass” for a lens reviewer? ;)
Hi Nicole, I have had the Sigma 150-600 lens for my d500 for several years and I think that is an excellent wildlife combination. It is even better for aircraft in flight pictures. The d500 autofocus is very effective and complements it well. It is a massive improvement on the original Sigma 170-500. With new AI based techniques I find correction for excessive noise very good so the issue of high iso is not that much of a problem but lack of contrast can be. Unfortunately the weight issue gets worse and worse as you get older and now I am thinking of getting rid of my present set up for a much lighter option. Making rapid movements to follow fast moving objects in flight( dragonflies, kingfishers, RAF Typhoons, Spitfires, Vampires, and MIG- 15s etc) is awkward because of the inertia of the system as you swing it to and fro. I am finding it really difficult to find a lighter alternative with similar capabilities at a less than eye-watering cost.
I brought this lens last July (2020) and have used it constantly since, I've definitely been very satisfied. After a little while I got used to hand holding it steadily and for longer periods, and since then have had little problems. I use it primarily for photographing Birds, in particular Birds of prey. It definitely performs absolutely flawlessly when in good light. I take it with me on most of my walks in natural areas and go out with it specially to photograph too. After the first few time going out with it I became accustomed to the extra weight and it doesn't really influence my walking range or anything. So in my opinion it's a great bit of kit and definitely worth a buy.
Using a monopod on a lens of this helps with the mobility issue and really helps with the weight. I have used this combination on my Sigma 150 to 500 for years. Fast to use and with the monopod collapsed easy to carry. Lense over shoulder pod for handle. Plus it is easy to pack.
I bought this lens last year, love it, shoot wildlife early am, just after sunrise. Great results.
Thanks! Yeah it’s wonderful for wildlife:)
Hi Nicole, how are you? I just bought Canon R6 for my youtube channel. I am beginner in Shutterstock, i click photos of tech products. I have a question, can I click photos on white background or I can click them on any Woden table, on grass, on floor etc. Which will convert more ?
I’ve had both types of photos sell: there’s definitely a market for both. But personally I do more photos of objects being used - something to provide the object in its context. Since you do videos already, you might want to also upload video footage of those items
@@NicoleGlass Thank you very much, now I got the point. Yes, I am also wondering to upload video footage of those. Recently I make a sale of $3.90 for a electronic circuit image 🙂
@@NicoleGlass your videos are very clear and inspiring, I love your videos.
For the entire length of the video I just stared in awe. How can the land be so pretty, full of mountains and wildlife? I live in The Netherlands, and here, everything is FLAT (except for a few parts of the country). I admire that location, it looks absolutely magical.. although a hoard of tourists does diminish some of its specialness.
aw thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you liked it! The Netherlands are beautiful in their own way, plus you're just a short trip away from the Alps :) No grizzly bears there though.. haha
@@NicoleGlass That is still a 10 hour drive from where I live ;) We aren't used to traveling such distances. Perhaps I can visit places like Switserland next year! Hopefully, corona has bitten the dust by then. The Netherlands sure some beauty, but every square meter is... planned. Cultivated. Mowed down and replaced with farmland. True nature is very hard to come by here.
But hey, you let us enjoy the beautiful nature there as well, so thank you! And I am glad that you weren't harmed by the bears, especially the Mama Bear.
My backyard! I have the Tamron 150-600 and it is exactly the same as you found. Low light challenged but in good light surprisingly crisp.
You live out here? I am so jealous! Haha. I LOVE that area so much.
@@NicoleGlass Yes, Pocatello. Grew up in Idaho Falls and have spent tons of time in both locations. I'm About 2 hrs to Yellowstone or Grand Teton. You got to see the Idaho side which is the best IMHO, but I might be biased. If you have the time you might want to check out Craters of the Moon National Monument, one of my favorites in this area. Travel safe
It is better than professional review, devoid of eccentricities, so always good.
Nicole thank you ...listening to you helped me decide to get the 150-600 !
Hello Nicole...glad to see you enjoying this lens, as they certainly do have a lot of reach indeed. I chose the Tampon version, the 150-600mm G2 lens, which I believe is a little lighter, but still my heaviest lens, and like you....I really enjoy using it! I try...to use my tripod as much as possible, where I bought a Gimbal head for the tripod, making panning to find birds/wildlife a little easier, where I can lock it quickly to get the shots I want. I do use a full frame Nikon camera, which does very well in low light, but generally where I live (western Canada) there are many days when I can't get out, because of precipitation/cold or just miserable days, but once Spring arrives, I'm out as much as possible looking for good compositions! I love my photography, and it's truly a constant learning process, but it's abilities to bring us 'joy' it makes it all worth it. I have the 70-200 F/2.8 as well, and I have a 2X lens teleconvertor, but it does take it out to F/4 still, so again your ISO will be a little higher, but it does give wonderful results. I bought my teleconverter 'preowned' which helped with pricing, and it's worked flawlessly any time I've used it...which, because of the 150-600mm, it doesn't get used as much any more. I haven't made it to the Teton's yet, but I did take the family to Yellowstone some years ago, as well as Alaska, Utah, Arizona and other locations....with many more to come in the years forward! Stay safe Nicole!
In my experience hand-holding a long lens isn’t ideal. Even with IS, if you are hand-holding, then at minimum you need a shutter speed at least the inverse of your focal distance to a get a sharp image e.g. if your focal length is 600mm then you need a shutter speed of 1/600 sec. At any speed though, supporting the lens is always going to give best results…tripod, monopod, bean bag - even as you mentioned, a fence post or your knee. Nice video. Beautiful location.
I bought this lens to take with me on a safari to Tanzania. Fortunately I was always in a Toyota Land Cruiser, so I could rest the lens on the side of the vehicle. Thus I got some amazing photos. Of course I also got some lousy ones because the vehicle was often moving. I had the same problem with video you have had. I did purchase a monopod and that is helpful some times. I also don't really enjoy taking it with me on hikes because of its weight. I also have an 18-200 Sigma as my standard lens, and was thinking of buying a 2x teleconverter for use with it, to use on hikes. But alas have not done that yet.
Great review Nichole! My 150-600 should be here tomorrow and I'm stoked. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great review! Shows a bit more about the actual use of the lens and the pictures you can achieve with it, instead of being overly technical about sharpness, chromatic aberration, distortion and so on, for which there are already really good reviewers, so good complement to those!
I have this lens and more recently the Sigma 60-600. I agree they are not light, but for wildlife photography (as you mentioned at the end) I train to use these lenses by making sure I have the muscular strength to control the unit. Using one of these lenses is like learning to shoot a rifle accurately: it takes muscular strength and breathing technique keep the lens still. So I do weights.
I live in New Zealand now, where macro mammals are a bit in short supply! Still, I shoot birds (the dominant flora) and they can be a challenge as they are often in the bush and flit around very frequently and quickly. One of my favourite places to shoot is a gannet colony located just outside Auckland (our biggest city of about 1.6million). It is probably the most accessible colony on the planet and even boasts a great beach and cafe nearby. I found the 150-600 to be brilliant at really drilling in to get eye shots, and the 60-600 is a great go-to lens when I just want to carry it and nothing else.
I was disappointed with the tracking performance when coupled with the EOS 5DMkIV - it just took too long to get lock when the birds were on the wing, but coupled with the EOS 7DMkII - which has a better tracking system, and offers a FoV equivalent to 96-960mm, I got the shots I wanted.
I bought the same lens and agree with you about the great quality, given the low price. One of my best photographic purchases.
Greet video, juist bought the lens myself and I’m already a fan of it. Have you tried a camera strap to carry it? I use a black rapid strap, so I have my hands free when walking.
Considering the price, and the trade off of f:/5-6.3, it’s good value. It has good reach, and you have the images you want. Of course, a more expensive lens would give you f:/2.8 but it’s several thousand dollars for a few stops of light.
I shoot minor hockey and I use a variable Nikon lens 70-300 f:/4.5-6.3 so it isn’t much different other than weight and size because I’m using a crop sensor. I constantly use ISO 3200 for those photos.
I am not a photographer but these images, along with your camera and lens manipulation, are first-rate. I project my assumptions to be that all photographers, wildlife or other, are critical of the work. Your video of your usage of the Sigma 150-600mm CONTEMPORARY telephoto lens for Canon is spot on to me, a non-user. Don't be so hard on yourself, your work (images/video) is impressive.
Great video! Thanks for keeping it simple!
It’s a great lens if you’re on a tight budget, I bought topaz denoise and it works really well on the noise. Thanks for the video.
Best and most honest 1st impression! Fantastic review.
Much appreciated!
I am considering buying this lens. You answered a lot of questions for me. Thank you.
Love the pictures of the BUYYSUUN
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you.
Well done. I have just bought this lense and your summary is spot on.
I bought a 70-200mm then a 400 prime but neither gave me the zoom I really yearned for, I did get a 1.4 convertor and whilst it is ok not perfect, so my Sigma is arriving today and was bought mostly for the 600mm but also the zoom capability, looking forward to trying the lens out. Great review, thanks for uploading it.
Between the Sigma 150-600mm contemporary and the Tamron SP 150-600 Di VC USD G2 lens, which would you recommend for wildlife and sports, using a Nikon D750? Great Job on the Wildlife shots.
Thanks! I haven’t used the Tamron so I can’t give an opinion on it unfortunately
Just got mine last week and can't wait to use it more often. Thanks for a great review.
Enjoy it!!
I recently bought the lens. Your review is spot on. I'll be visiting GTNP later this month, and can't wait to use the Sigma there.
Aww thanks! Enjoy the trip!! Love that place so much.
What a beautiful place the Grand Teton National Park is. The light and the location looks amazing. I love the images, especially of your Horned Owl and bear. I hope we will see further videos from your trip. I must say the quality of your images with your new lens looks very impressive. I think you made the correct decision in your purchase of this lens.
Thank you Wendy! Have you been there? I have so much video footage from my trip, I definitely plan to edit something together :) It's a photographer's paradise out there. Highly recommend the Tetons!
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing your impressions
Okay, a few things: 1) I love this lens (Nikon mount), and looking at your biceps, yes, you will get stronger with time. 2) I love your flow and I enjoyed your descriptions. I wish you could tell approximately how far you were in some of the "very far away owl" images. It helps in estimating the power of the lens and what to expect. 3) That bear at the end? No. I'll stay in the Arizona desert and hunt lightning and insane thunder-storms (not sure which way is more violent to die as a photographer, a bear, or a lightning strike).
Bought this lens when it first came out and absolutely love it.
What’s better 200-500mm or this?
@@greyfox2349 200-500mm is better. However the 150-600mm is way cheaper. Only pixel peeping can really tell them apart.
Will it give good results with Canon 1500d?
Was yours contemporary or sport? I have the contemporary.
Contemporary
Me too. Thank you so very much!
Hello, I'm a newbie and thought your presentation was very helpful. I really want a quality lens for bird and nature photography and this lens is one I will purchase. However what camera body do you recommend that's relatively affordable? I priced the one you use and it's $2,500! Anything in the 800 to 1,500 range? I will consider something used. Anyways thanks again!
Fantastic and honest review, thanks. Ed
Glad it was helpful! :)
Thanks Nicole. Just bought the lens on sale. Tried it on my D-750 but hope to use it on a Z-7II. Hope to enjoy as much as you do. Yes, monopod is important. I also got a gimbal for my tripod.
Nice! I hope you got a good deal. Sounds like you’re well equipped
Excellent Nicole great photos
Well presented !! I enjoy your video, thanks thumbs up to you
I own that lens. Yes it is heavy. I have shot planes, trains and automobiles. Birds and pets. It is really sharp but that weight.
Great job.
Thanks! I’m using it for the upcoming eclipse (with a solar filter)
Some photographers have complained about camera bodies weight, and here as a woman you are handling a 4.5lB zoom lens handheld, it should put those complaining the camera bodies to shame? You have done very well, I like what I see very sharp images. The DSLR in my opinion handles better the heavier lenses than mirrorless cameras 35mm size formats. Glad to have found your channel. Cheers.
This lens is deffo on my to buy list! Thanks for a great review!
Sure thing! I’m still loving it :)
This lens is not heavy at all in comparison to the Sports. Now that is what we call a beast
I LOVE my sigma telephoto. Such a phenomenal lense.. I actually use it for landscapes as well
Is it good for landscapes?
It definitely can be, if you want a closer shot :)
Very good real-world lighting and ISO examples.
Great video. I only use 2 lenses. A 50-250mm and a 200-500mm lens. That works for me. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. ❤❤❤
A very informative and honest review. I've seen your video two years late 😄. I purchased this lens few months ago for occasional shots and (specially) moonshots. I'm sorry I didn't buy the 60-600 then. Maybe if Sigma produces it for Canon RF mount someday, I'll swap it. I've just discovered your TH-cam channel and love your videos.
Your animal photos are awesome. Thank you for the wonderful review of this lens from a woman’s point of view. I’m glad I found your channel and subscribed. I bought this lens a couple of months ago, It is heavy I’m still trying to get some good bird photos.
Thank you Leigh, and welcome!! 😊 Yeah it’s definitely heavy. Right now I’m shooting with a 60-600 and that’s even heavier... makes the 150-600 feel light in comparison
I have the lens and I think it’s great, I use it on my 5ds and it takes great shots
I live 17 miles as the crow flies from London Heathrow I took a picture handheld the result is outstanding I can see the aircraft parked up and even see their markings , not the brightest day and 5ds is not the best low light camera but still a great shot with this lens
I too bought this lens a month back after contemplating a lot. Definitely worth the buy. Trying to get used to the weight. Like you mentioned, I get good shots with good light, otherwise, it's tough to be at a higher shutter speed to avoid any shake.
Do they make pentax adapters for these lenses? Or are they specifically made just for Canon?
thank you for this video, it was peacefull and nice to watch.
If any of you guys can answer some of my questions, i'm looking towards buying one of these, but i currentrly have a crop sensor (eos 90d) and i read that it's not that sharp if not used with Full Frame. Samples i've seen from crop sensor are not great and so i'm a bit lost. is it an issue from the photographer or the lens really should be used with a FF. i may buy this anyway and upgrade later on.
You made my heart jump watching this video. Very helpful! We are going to be not far from the Tetons filming a documentary in the Wind River Range for 45 days starting July 8. You made me feel better about bringing this lens. We will be setup on ridges at dawn and dusk, filming primarily in the areas lit first and last by the sun always at our back so lighting shouldn't be an issue as it's mostly sunny this time of year there. Bringing the sigma 18-35 1.8 with teleconverters for closer b roll shots at dusk and dawn. Still trying to figure what lens to take in between. 50-150 2.8? Your thoughts?
I bought it about 6 months ago and by and large I have been pretty happy with it. At first, even as a guy I also found it to be heavy, but you do get used to it after a while. Eventually, your body kind of gets recalibrated to the weight and I am totally fine with it now whereby I no longer touch the tripod if I can help it. Other than that, the images are actually sharper than expected. It is also true that it is not a lens for low light, but that is more of a factor of the body in controlling noise at higher ISO. I did not buy the Canon EF 100-400mm II because I found 400mm to be too short for birds. As for the Sigma, I think you can still use it if you upgrade and migrate to mirrorless say to the R5. All you will need is a Canon adapter and it doesn't affect the sharpness since there is no glass involved as it is only there to create a gap.
The main issue I have with the lens is it is an external zoom design just like the EF 100-400mm II or the RF 100-500mm. That is a problem since so much of the lens is retracted which means it has an extremely long throw and is hard to change focusing distance as it takes me 4 twists of the zoom ring to move from 150mm to 600mm. In the birding world, that is eternity. In particular, it makes taking BIF shots that much more difficult. Going forward, my next upgrade will see me migrate to mirrorless which is a must in birding in my opinion as animal eye AF/tracking makes a massive difference in what you can do. But, the external zoom design of the RF 100-500mm is a deal breaker for me. As such, I will most likely migrate to Sony and shoot with the FE 200-600mm which is an internal zoom with only a 90 degrees turn to move from 200mm to 600mm plus is buttery smooth much like the Canon EF 70-200mm internal zoom design.
Look Into a Lumix G9 body and Lumix/Leica 100-400 (35 equivalent to 200-800).
I've cut back using the Nikon D800 rig.
Just be curious about the G9.
I'm 69yr, and been shooting from the age of 13.
Oklahoma has a Wild Prairie Refuge with Bison, maybe not so far away.
Great review and very helpful - thank you !
Great shots Nicole , I found your video very useful and informative , I use a Nikon D7200 with a Tamron 70/300 lens with VC , but saving up to get a 150/600 Tamron or Sigma perhaps ? I Enjoy your videos very much , you are a damn good photographer , so keep em' coming !
Nice job! I use one of these with a Canon R6 and really like it. I would like it more if it were a bit lighter and shorter but it’s certainly within my limits. I am a 100% handheld shot old guy with a bad shoulder and so far the weight hasn’t bothered me while shooting. Just while lugging it around between shots. Focus and IQ are both really good. Great bang for the buck. I originally intended to buy the Canon RF 100-500mm but couldn’t find one in stock anywhere. I rented the Sigma for a week and ended up buying it. Saved some money. Someday I will rent the Canon to compare the two. Who knows how that will turn out?
Nice review. I'm new to photography. What shutter speeds are you getting with those settings?
I actually just made a new video with the 60-600 and I listed all of my settings under the photos. You may want to check that one out :)
Great shots and video. You are correct, that lens is heavy but is so much fun to use. I picked up a gimbal head just for using this lens, makes a world of difference. Can’t wait to see what you do next and Thanks for sharing!
Do you think it will be useful in the city as well ?
I'll probably use it for events. Airplane flyovers, daytime speaker events. And of course, going to the zoo! Haha
hello if you could can you share those photos that you took somewhere so i can see them in full quality also the body was a 5d mark iv right?
Thank you. Lovely real world review ! Merci.
Sure thing! Glad you enjoyed it :)
What would a "safe distance" from the bison be ? Great pics, BTW 👍
Thanks! According to the National Park Service... 25 yards.
I appreciate your perspective. I’ve used this lens on a Nikon D500 for outdoor sports. It does well for that, too. But, yeah, it’s a hefty beast.
I have the Tamron 70-200 G2 f/2.8 and it's quite nice to use. I just used it on my recent trip to Nakhon Nayok in Thailand for some Waterfall images. Nice and sharp.
Nice pics I’m thinking about this lens for wildlife photography also also shoot a lot of birds do you like it for that also
Oh yes! It’s really great for bird photography. I’ll be doing a lot more of that this winter 🐦
look into black rapid straps and slings. I have mine attached to a sling from them and it made a huge difference if you are lugging it around on a hike.
i had the original version of this lense and it got destroyed with 7 other lenses during the floods of Hurricane Harvey 2017. i consequently replaced that with this newer model on the Nikon mount and have been very happy with the results for video, even in low light despite its limits on f-stops. It is a heavyweight ! As an amature noob photographer, this with the Sigma Art lenses 18-55mm and 50-100mm f1.8 lenses is all i use now. Sigma make great lenses.
What canon camera body are you using with this 150-600? Any trouble focusing in low light ?
Canon 5D Mark IV. I had no trouble focusing with it. I was thinking of making another video testing this lens out on an older APSC camera.
I just got the Canon EOS R5 and experimented with this lens that I have had a for a few years. Like you said my mussels in my left arm are getting bigger than my right. The R5 is very good at low light, so the higher ISO is no problem for this camera.
Thinking maybe I might get this lens now.
Choice between tamron, nikon and sigma.
But i like the way you presented this video in a pleasant to watch manner focussing on the weight and stabilisation issues with real life evidence and solutions.
I might be getting this one now.
Subscribed to see what other gems you've made!!
Thank you👍
Great work! Thanks for your insight and review. Im a big fan of Sigma lens.
PS I’m going to be in DC on Thursday.
Sorry I missed this (I was out of town myself) but I hope you enjoyed your visit!!
@@NicoleGlass No worries and I my plans changed due to a friend’s illness. I shot in Manhattan instead. DC is still on the short list. Love your national park pics.
I am in Great Britain where the light is not as good as you get but I use this Lens mostly at ISO 1250 and never use a Tri-pod.
Very nice photos! I've had the Sport version of this lens (6.3 lbs) for about 3 years. Love it. I have a Cotton Carrier to lug it while hiking as a chest mount. You lose your cool factor but it leaves your arms free. The Sport version has phenomenal weather/dust sealing. Been in terrible weather with it. But I do love getting some bucket list animals from a safe and respectful distance.
Can I use this with Nikon D5200 for wildlife photography? Is it compatible?
There should be a version of this lens designed for Nikon
nice Nicole. thanks for the video.
Fantastic video - very clear and super informative with great shots as well. Well done!
Thanks so much!
So jealous of your adventure!!
Very nice and helpful video very simply presented ! thanks a lot Nicole Glass (y) you have taken wonderful photos too...
Recently purchased the Tamron 150-600 G2 and do enjoy it. These two are very similair from reviews. We did pretty much the same research. Nice work
Great video and review. I really like the clarity in which you explain your experiences and reviews. Thank you!
Thanks so much Hernan!
Love this review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos 🙂
I have this lens and have to use a monopod as my arms will never be strong enough. Love your video and photos. You are so generous with tips. Thanks Nicole!
Thanks so much! Yeah it's hard to hold up for a while... I definitely get exhausted
I like your candor. Keep it honest and real. Thank you.
It's good to see you out and about. I will be doing a loop from Albuquerque, up to Yellowstone, through Idaho and back just after Thanksgiving. What has been your favorite stop so far?
Oh you'll love it! I personally loved Grand Teton the best. Driving up and down Moose-Wilson Road every day I always saw a lot of wildlife. Yellowstone was beautiful too though; I saw a bear guarding an elk that he had killed in Hayden Valley. I'm sure there will be very few people there in November, so hopefully you'll see a lot of wildlife :)
really great video. lots of information
Thanks for the review. I went to check this lens out. Weight is definitely my concern. I’m a skinny guy and have never used a heavy lens before. I did tell the salesman I will buy it one day. It is a great lens.
Yes it’s a terrific lens... unless you’re doing a lot of strenuous hiking with it 😅
Nice review. I bought one of these used on Craigslist and so far I'm really happy with it. Not too impressed with the IS, but it's OK. My experience with Sigma lenses, including this one, are they are very sharp, but the color and contrast ain't the greatest. Oh well. I have the Canon 400 5.6 and I like the image quality better, but I wanted more reach for birding, etc and this fills the gap nicely without breaking the bank. Nice that it becomes a 950mm on my 80D.
the owl photo is awesome
thanks!