TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Lens Construction
Angle of View (35mm)
Number of Diaphragm Blades
Minimum Aperture
Minimum Focusing Distance
Filter Size (mm)
Maximum Magnification
Dimensions (Diameter x Length)
Weight
MSRP
Available for
SPECIFICATIONS
16 elements in 11 groups
5°
9 (Rounded diaphragm)
F32
350cm/137.8 inches
Φ46mm (Rear)
1 : 6.5
Φ144.8mm × 380.3mm/5.7in. x 15in.
3,310g (7.30 pounds)
$5,999
Canon, Nikon and Sigma DSLRs
32
APJ REVIEW:
SIGMA 500MM F/4 DG OS HSM SPORTS LENS
At Aviation Photojournal, we are constantly evaluating new lenses and equipment in the never ending quest to bring you as close to the action as possible with as much riveting detail as technology will allow. It's always a balance of zoom, image quality and practicality to capture the best images. That's why we jumped at the chance to try out Sigma's behemoth 500mm F/4 DG OS HSM Sports Lens. Obviously targeted at sports photographers, we find that the same parameters generally exist for aviation photographers as well: fast moving objects and lots of action to focus on at (sometimes) less than ideal distances. The good folks at Sigma of America were generous enough to provide us with one of these lenses to try out. Luckily, our Chief Correspondent, Ricardo von Puttkammer, was about to head to Sun ‘n Fun for a week of aviation fun and we seized the opportunity to put this lens through its paces. Sigma also provided their TC-1401 1.4X teleconverter for extra reach. Used on the the Canon 5D MkIV, this combination provided an astounding 700mm!
Almost any air show or aviation project can present a challenging environment. There are many miles to be walked, multiple cameras and lenses to be carried and often, hot temperatures to contend with. The Sigma 500mm f/4 fits well with any set up and even at 7.3 lbs (not including camera, grip and extender), it was not a chore to carry around. Shooting handheld was not an issue even with this big lens. While doing so, one really appreciates the 4-stop rated Optical Stabilization (OS) system Sigma included on this lens. Regardless of whether shooting on
the ground or from the control tower, a high percentage of in-focus and sharp photographs was achieved handheld. Check out the images in this issue’s Sun 'n Fun article to see the reach and quality of the Sigma 500mm f/4 for yourself.
After a week of intensive use, we can highly recommend this lens to aviation photographers, as it allows you to get very close to the action in a package that it is not prohibitively heavy or expensive. This lens is part of Sigma’s Global Vision lineup and is compatible with the Sigma Dock which allows for easily updating the lens' firmware. Whether you shoot with a full-frame camera or a cropped sensor, this lens is a welcome addition to any aviation photography kit.