Help with Lens Choice

[pjnr56]

Hello all.

I am in the market (want to pull the plug today or tomorrow) for a longer lens than what I currently own (Which is my older Sigma 70-300 F4.5-5.6) I simply do not wish to spend Thousands ($$$) for a long "birding" lens as I am not a professional. I enjoy taking photos of birds, wildlife, and landscapes and just need something with more reach than what I have. I seriously considered the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 along with a 1.4 or 2.0 TC but then I am back in the same situation with a "slower" lens.

Right now my short list is:

Sigma 70-200 F2.8 (along with a 1.4 or 2.0 TC)
Sigma 120-400 F4.5 - 5.6
Sigma 150-500 F5 - 6.3

I would like as much input as I can get so please feel free to comment, suggest, criticize, and recommend. Ideally I'd like your feedback on the choices I have listed but I know some of you will have other alternatives which I might also consider.

I have been reading reviews, and reviews, and reviews so now it's time to make a decision.

Thanks for your help!

[inkista]

Here. Take a look at this test that side-by-sides the Sigma 120-400 OS, 150-500 OS, and 50-500 with the Canon 100-400L. If it were me and I couldn't afford the 100-400L, the Bigma (50-500) would likely be my choice. I have small weak hands, so with a 500mm, I'd probably be using a monopod anyway, and stabilization would then be moot. And it being sharper than the Bigmos (150-500 OS) @500mm would close the deal for me.

The other piece of information you may want to have is that lensrentals.com puts the 120-400 and the 150-500 in their "Hall of Shame" in their Lens Repair Data report 3.5. Now, granted, a rental lens is going to be abused far more than your average lens, but they were saying they were getting 45% failure rate. The 50-500 still remains on their rentals list.

[sk66]

Buy a used 50-500 Bigma...

I have one and I prefer it over my 500mm f/4.5 whenever light is decent. It's not the fastest, but not that slow either.

[pjnr56]

Thank you for the information and suggestions Inkista and SK66.