Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM

Canon EF

Review

The Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM is a super telephoto lens designed for Canon EF mounts, making it an excellent choice for wildlife, sports, and landscape photography. With its impressive focal length and fast maximum aperture, this lens provides the reach and speed needed for capturing distant subjects with precision and clarity.

Build Quality and Design

The lens boasts a solid build quality typical of Sigma's EX (Excellence) line. It features a robust magnesium alloy body, which ensures durability while keeping the weight at a manageable level for a lens of this class. The lens comes equipped with a removable tripod collar, which enhances stability during shooting and allows for easy adjustments between horizontal and vertical orientations. The thoughtful design also includes a petal-shaped lens hood that provides good flare protection while also enhancing the overall aesthetics of the lens.

Optical Performance

When it comes to optics, the Sigma 500mm F4.5 delivers exceptional sharpness across the frame, even at its widest aperture. The use of low dispersion and special optical elements helps mitigate chromatic aberrations, resulting in images with vibrant colors and accurate detailing. The lens exhibits great contrast, especially in well-lit conditions, though pushing the boundaries of its focal length in low light may lead to some loss of detail. The bokeh produced by the lens is smooth and pleasing, enhancing the overall quality of portraits and isolated subjects.

Autofocus and Handling

The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) provides fast and near-silent autofocus, making this lens a suitable choice for wildlife photography where the slightest noise can scare away subjects. The autofocus is generally reliable, but in challenging lighting scenarios or with fast-moving subjects, it might struggle occasionally, which is something to keep in mind. The lens also features a focus limiter switch that helps improve autofocus speed by restricting the focus range. In terms of handling, while the lens is relatively heavy, its well-balanced design and smooth zoom action help to minimize fatigue during extended shooting sessions.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional sharpness and optical performance.
• Durable build quality with a magnesium alloy body.
• Fast and quiet autofocus with Hyper Sonic Motor.
• Smooth bokeh enhances portrait and subject isolation.
• Removable tripod collar for added stability.

Cons

• Some autofocus struggles in low light or with fast-moving subjects.
• Heavy, which may cause fatigue during long shoots without support.
• Limited versatility compared to zoom lenses.

Verdict

The Sigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM for Canon EF is a formidable choice for photographers seeking a high-performance super telephoto lens. Its excellent optical quality and build strength make it well-suited for outdoor and wildlife photography conditions. Despite its few drawbacks, particularly in low-light situations and weight, the lens more than compensates with its capabilities, making it a worthwhile investment for serious photographers looking to enhance their telephoto lens arsenal.