Long Telephoto zoom for Bird Photography- Tamron 200-500 or Sigma 150-500 OS (BigmOS?

Alokchitri

New member
Hello friends


I use Nikon D90 with Nikkor 70-300G VR lens. I have been looking for some options for a longer reach and internet seems to be filled with Sigma 150-500 OS and Sigma 50-500 OS versions as recommended budget tele-zooms. Now there is one more from Nikkor, 80-400 f4.5/5.6. I almost settled my mind on 150-500OS version as it complements my 70-300VR better.
Now one of my Facebook photographer friend, who swears by Photozone, strongly recommended Tamron 200-500 Di version. I read the photozone review of this lens and it seems to be alright, more so if I stop down the lens to f8. I tried to find whether there is any comparative test between Siggy 150-500OS and Tammy 200-500 SP Di version, but there is none from reputed sites.
So may I ask the opinion of the members here about which lens would give me better IQ (150-500OS or 200-500 SP Di)? Is there any comparative test between these two lenses?

Please understand that I shall not be able to afford higher primes which are simply out of my reach.

Please help.
Thank you
 

BooBoos

Senior Member
I did the same research you did with the 3 lenses. I like the Sigma 50mm -500mm better then the 150-500mm and the tamron does not have IS.
 

Alokchitri

New member
I did the same research you did with the 3 lenses. I like the Sigma 50mm -500mm better then the 150-500mm and the tamron does not have IS.

Yes I agree with you. Sigma 50-500OS is better than 150-500OS. But the difference vanishes if 150-500 is stopped down to f8. Imho, there is not much justification in paying $600 extra for a zoom range which I am not going to use. The most useable zoom range is 400-500 at least for wild life. For this price, I think Nikkor AF-S 300 f4+Nikkon 1.4x TC (or Kenko Pro 300 Series 1.4x TC) will be better, though about 80mm shorter in reach. Still this combination is about a stop faster and produces far better result than either of the Sigmas wide open at 500mm length. Though surprisingly, I found that Tamron 200-500 produces very sharp result wide open at 500mm range, though it does not have IS (sadly)!
 

Alokchitri

New member
Hi folks

Thanks a lot for your help, and after waiting for some months for a second hand one to surface (in proper condition and good price), I ultimately bit the bullet and bought the Nikkor AF-S 300mm D f4 IF ED, which seems to be the unanimous choice in terms of IQ. I have put on hold of my plan to buy a TC till I can save enough to buy a original Nikon 1.4x (14EII) one which seems to be nearly of the same price as the Kenko Pro 300 1.4x DGx TC.

Thanks again...
 
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