Extreme gear

[Skoropada]

I'm reasearching because I want to buy a new lens (Sigma 18-250 DC HSM OS) and while doing that I came across this lens:



I believe it's quite an extreme piece of glass!

Do you know any other extreme gear?
Has anyone had any hands-on experience with this type of equipment?

[NicoleScraps]

Good god! Look at the price tag on that thing!! Under what circumstances would a photographer need a lens such as this? And how on earth would they go about holding it upright? A tripod, I assume.

[Jonbar18]

holy $h!t thats an expensive lens!!

[tinton14]

That sure looks big, would it be useful for wildlife photography? It does seem a little too big for it to be use easily for that. I wonder how the image quality from that will compare to the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM, I've always thought that was extreme gear.

[Skoropada]

Originally Posted by tinton14

That sure looks big, would it be useful for wildlife photography? It does seem a little too big for it to be use easily for that. I wonder how the image quality from that will compare to the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM, I've always thought that was extreme gear.

If you get to read a review of that lens you'll find out that it comes together with a 2x teleconverter.

It's also worth noting that's f/2.8 over the entire zoom range.

[Exiztence]

I guess you'd have to operate that thing with two people. Like firing a WWII bazooka!

@ Skoropada, I wouldn't go for that Sigma 18-250mm lens. an aperture of 6.3 at the far end won't do you much good unless you only want to shoot outside at broad daylight only.
Such a zoom is always a compromise.
Better would be something like the Sigma 17-70mm HSM OS which has an aperture of f/2.4-f/4 which is far better. The lens would perform better overall too. (sharpness, barrel-distortion). Add a 70-200mm or a 70-300mm with similar apertures to that and you'll have a nice set, ready to produce great shots in about any situation.
An 18-250mm won't last you long I think.

[Skoropada]

Originally Posted by Exiztence

I guess you'd have to operate that thing with two people. Like firing a WWII bazooka!

@ Skoropada, I wouldn't go for that Sigma 18-250mm lens. an aperture of 6.3 at the far end won't do you much good unless you only want to shoot outside at broad daylight only.
Such a zoom is always a compromise.
Better would be something like the Sigma 17-70mm HSM OS which has an aperture of f/2.4-f/4 which is far better. The lens would perform better overall too. (sharpness, barrel-distortion). Add a 70-200mm or a 70-300mm with similar apertures to that and you'll have a nice set, ready to produce great shots in about any situation.
An 18-250mm won't last you long I think.

I'm considering the 18-250 mm because I want to replace my two Sony kit lenses (18-70 mm & 75-300 mm). I know that it sacrifices some image quality in exchange for versatility, that's what I'm looking for. The reviews I read mention that is a great lense for its price.

[tinton14]

Originally Posted by Skoropada

If you get to read a review of that lens you'll find out that it comes together with a 2x teleconverter.

It's also worth noting that's f/2.8 over the entire zoom range.

It is interesting that it comes with a 2x teleconverter, but I would imagine getting teleconverters isn't a problem if one could afford such a lens. It is quite impressive that it is f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, that did catch my attention when I first looked at it. I always seem to find my lens too short, but then again I have the Canon 18-200mm, so the 1200mm definite caught my eye when I found out about it, I'm still trying to figure out when one would need this though. Would it be like wildlife or indoor/night sports or something else entirely?

[Skoropada]

Originally Posted by tinton14

It is interesting that it comes with a 2x teleconverter, but I would imagine getting teleconverters isn't a problem if one could afford such a lens. It is quite impressive that it is f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, that did catch my attention when I first looked at it. I always seem to find my lens too short, but then again I have the Canon 18-200mm, so the 1200mm definite caught my eye when I found out about it, I'm still trying to figure out when one would need this though. Would it be like wildlife or indoor/night sports or something else entirely?

I guess that the main use of this lens is for showing-off

[Exiztence]

That's alright. I'm not familiar with that Sigma lens, but general advise is to avoid those kind of zooms. On the other hand I heard the Nikon 18-200mm performs pretty good too, so maybe this one is not bad either and not having to change lenses is quite an advantage as well.

Originally Posted by tinton14

I'm still trying to figure out when one would need this though. Would it be like wildlife or indoor/night sports or something else entirely?

Well, I guess if you buy two of those you'll have a fancy set of binoculars...