Sigma 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS - Review and Test

[@JoshChristiane]

Be my friend on X at: x.com/Josh_Christiane

[@WillyNiland692]

It’s cool to have seen lens and camera technology improve so much over the past 20 years

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah I've seen it come a long way since I started as well.

[@JoshChristiane]

For those that will inevitably ask when I’m doing more traditional “tech talk” style videos, I assure you I have multiple in the works as I write this. I love cameras, lenses, microphones and a plethora of other gear, so for me videos like this are passion projects to share the things that interest me. As always there is more content coming soon, thanks for watching! :)

[@phillipallaway7306]

Thanks for the informative video Josh. Lens looks to be a gem. I owned the Sigma 500 f4 when I was shooting Canon and it is not only heavy but was very slow focusing, even on the 1DXii which at the time was Canon's flagship DSLR. Now I'm shooting mirrorless in L mount this lens has a lot to offer in terms of reduced weight and a better f stop compared to the array of slower tele zooms. Just need a faster and better focussing Lumix body (S1ii?) to realise the potential of this lens for sport and wildlife.

[@JoshChristiane]

I was using this on a Sony body, but I had the L mount S5iiX before that and all of the newer Sigma lenses are super fast focusing on that body. Sigma said that the L version is as fast as the E mount, so this should be super fast if you're looking for that speed.

[@AndrewEleston]

Great video as always Josh. Loved all of the samples you showed at the end

[@JoshChristiane]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching

[@DewittBownessg]

awesome video as always joshua, really impressed by the presentation

[@JoshChristiane]

Thank you for watching and leaving a comment, much appreciated!

[@CERAC...]

A compelling lens for sure there. One can appreciate the weight factor when out and about in the wild. Great photos by the way. Probably would also do well in exterior photojournalistic environments too, due to its compact profile. Thank you for another great review. Already looking forward to the next one.

[@JoshChristiane]

All true, thanks for the comment. I do think this lens would be particularly excellent in a photojournalistic capacity. Shooting warzones or something where you can't get too close would be especially useful as well.

[@ErnestineJorgen]

I loved your video this is my first time seeing your channel. New sub

[@JoshChristiane]

Thank you! :D

[@PapageAtherton]

Cool video bro, lookin’ good as always

[@JoshChristiane]

Appreciate it, thanks :)

[@IsaacGarvan]

Great images you got with it i was really impressed by them

[@JoshChristiane]

Thank you! Appreciate the view and comment.

[@PatriciaB.Miller]

Thanks for the helpful review, I’m not in the market yet but I will look into it later. Loved the photos!

[@JoshChristiane]

Sounds good, still appreciate the comment and viewership.

[@JerenyRoger]

Your color on this video looks so much better than in the past so what changed?

[@JoshChristiane]

The only difference is the newer camera, which would be the Sony A7IV that I switched to.

[@StaciJensen]

Great work showing us such a variety of photos

[@JoshChristiane]

Thank you :)

[@PintoCosote]

Great audio quality which mic is it??

[@JoshChristiane]

Oktava MK-012. Thanks!

[@christineross9528]

Sigma really are the best totally knocking it out with every release

[@JoshChristiane]

Yup. Love everything they release.

[@killermila9260]

Thanks for the video!! Much love from around the world!

[@JoshChristiane]

Thank you for watching! 🤠

[@KrayYakunikov]

Can you also test the new Fujifilm 500mm? I’m torn between the two.

[@JoshChristiane]

They'd have to send it to me. Hopefully they do, that'd be appreciated.

[@EmilyW.Ellzey]

This makes me want to get into photography, but luckily im taking classes in my schooling for it

[@JoshChristiane]

Keep up with your classes, it's a fun hobby. Even if you don't do it as a job it's still worth it.

[@SabinaMcDirmi]

Is Sigma making this lens in multiple factories or only in Japan? You didn’t say where it’s made

[@JoshChristiane]

Sigma only makes this particular lens in Japan, so you know it'll be made well and tested thoroughly.

[@KizzieDruces]

How bad was it working with F5.6? I’ve only shot with f2.8 and I’m thinking about a 70-200

[@JoshChristiane]

I thought 5.6 was fine when it was bright daylight. It did become a slight problem for sports after it got darker, and when the sky was totally occluding the sun during the rainstorm. As long as your lighting is good and it's daylight you won't have any issues at all.

[@ShawnJordan547]

Which photo editing software are you using?

[@JoshChristiane]

Affinity Photo for this shoot.

[@IbbieRulton-iu9vp]

you got some great baseball shots. im a huge baseball fan so i loved seeing them

[@JoshChristiane]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks for the love!

[@BerkeTasseler-pb8pe]

What about if I’m shooting portraits? I’m looking for a long lens for portrait and wedding work.

[@JoshChristiane]

This is definitely not a portrait lens. I wouldn't recommend it for general weddings and portrait work. Some people like that separation you get between planes, but you don't want to use something this long for the human face because it compressed the features too much. A person with a skinny face will look like they have a wide face. As you compress features the face becomes flatter and the ears get bigger. Generally somewhere from 50mm to 135mm is good for portraits depending on your subjects face. A person with longer features like me will look better towards the latter end of that at 135, but a person with a wider face and small nose will look better at 50mm.

[@annives]

The previous video he released is on the Sigma 50mm: Finest 50 - Sigma 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art Review Perfect for portraits and weddings in my opinion.

[@DeborahLong77]

were you ever a photographer in the past? The photos look great

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah I was years ago, semi-professional. Something I did on the side for money.

[@JayeTrapper]

How does it compare to the old Nikon 500, and the new Fujifilm 500 5.6?

[@JoshChristiane]

I don't know. I haven't used the Fujifilm yet. They're on different mounts though, so even if they were to lend it to me I'd have to figure out the best camera to use with it. Hopefully in the future!

[@annives]

Beautiful shots from the zoo! I especially love the lion photo. He looks like he is posing for you. And so relaxed. No one relaxes like a lion. I'm surprised you were able to get such good shots of the Tennis players - that's not easy! Great to see this lens in action and see the sharpness of the subjects, even in motion and from far away. Would love to see a video about the accessories you use with your gear - when traveling and getting outdoor shots I don't want to have to carry a lot of heavy stuff, but still want a way to protect my camera/lens, take stable shots, and take some of the load off my arms.

[@JoshChristiane]

Thanks! Alright in the next camera video I make I'll talk about accessories.

[@chantalmcdonald7008]

Does the OIS on this lens add 2 stops or more on the 2 setting?

[@JoshChristiane]

They claim it can give more than 2 stops, I've read mixed messages on that so not entirely sure how much, but I read up to 3 from one source, and 4 from another. So I'm unsure.

[@RoxiAckson]

OMG that lion was so beautifulll!! his pretty little eyes

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah I thought he was a really pretty cat as well.

[@Fernanda99113]

I can’t afford this lens but if I could id 100% buy it.

[@JoshChristiane]

Same here. It's definitely on my list of lenses I want in the future.

[@AdrianM.Guthrie]

You didn’t mention vignetting at all, is that an issue on this lens?

[@JoshChristiane]

Not going to be any problem at all on a 5.6. If it vignettes at all it'll be such a small amount it won't matter. Thanks for the question!

[@FleuretteIanson720]

Ok but did the lens feel cheap? you said it feels light and like plastic, but is it good like Sony?

[@JoshChristiane]

It does feel light, but it doesn't necessarily feel cheap. I'd say the quality feels on par with most products made from Sony. Though it's not all metal like many other Sigma lenses. For a lens this large it's probably a good thing it's not all metal, it'd just be too heavy and unwieldy.

[@KizzeeI.vashov]

when a lens gets this long does it start to barrel distort the other way?

[@JoshChristiane]

They can depending on which glass elements are used. Some really long telescopes have that issue, same thing with stopping down until you hit refraction. Things can only get so good before they start to get worse again, ironically. But with a general lens like this you don't get any distortion at all. In fact with a 500mm you'd get absolutely zero noticeable distortion. Only in the Bokeh basically.

[@FloretteWrack2006]

Im not even into photography but i still watched the full thing lol

[@JoshChristiane]

Haha, well thanks for sticking around to the end. I hope you liked the review and the lens itself.

[@EmmaWhite18]

Is the color on this Sigma also orange just like their other lenses?

[@JoshChristiane]

No I wouldn't say it's orange. I've not found it to be too cold or warm, I think its colors were really nice.

[@JohnAlliams]

What is the weight in grams of this lens because I don’t understand pounds

[@JoshChristiane]

1370 grams.

[@DorothyStoller]

Good video, I do like the lens but I don't like the plastic build

[@JoshChristiane]

Well for a lens like this plastic is probably the best. Otherwise it'd be 5 or 6 pounds and dramatically add to the weight.

[@fromia1]

Were these images taken on a sony camera? Or an L mount camera.

[@JoshChristiane]

Great question. These were taken on the Sony A7IV. My previous video with the 50mm Sigma was on a Panasonic Lumix S5IIX. The L mount is a larger mount, but otherwise they're quite similar.

[@MaraBaile]

are these your photos or stock?

[@JoshChristiane]

They are all my photos, I wouldn't use stock photos for a video like this.

[@DeclanKnatchbull]

i can’t afford this so what can i get for telephoto that’s still good and cheaper?

[@JoshChristiane]

There are plenty of Sony and Sigma lenses that offer this range and beyond but with smaller apertures. I'd recommend you look into some of those. Go to Sigma's site to see options, it'll depend on the mount you have.

[@RosaKerridge-sf3]

why did some of the shots have so much motion blur?

[@JoshChristiane]

Because the lighting was super dark. You can't tell from the photos but I was dealing with thunderstorms and heavy rain for like 3 days while shooting these photos. The motion blur would be the natural result of the subject moving quickly when there just isn't enough light for 1/2000'th of a second or whatever.

[@Dacia-Maccrea]

i hope this lens is cheap because I am looking for something long for birding

[@JoshChristiane]

Wellllllllll... It's $3,000. One could argue that's cheap for what it is, most other fixed prime 500's are a lot more expensive. But it's not really cheap compared to other lenses in general.

[@GomesFereira]

looks like a really inanely sharp lens for animals, how much does it cost?

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah it was a great lens on animals in general. It's $3,000 USD.

[@TerriMHansen]

how old are you? just curious, good video though

[@JoshChristiane]

30 years old. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@cameraprepper7938]

I got the Sigma 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS Sports Lens in March 2024, I like how compact and light weight it is, I can go hiking in the nature with this Lens carrying it for several hours in my hands with no problems. The handling and operation of this Lens is easy and the optical image quality are excellent, I can highly recommend the Sigma 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS Sports Lens.

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah it really was a great lens to have around and test. I especially loved it for anything related to wildlife.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@JoshChristiane It is also fine for Landscape Photography.

[@alissafitzcampbell3335]

not sure how I feel about 5.6 for sports. the images aren't clear

[@JoshChristiane]

I thought the images were very clear, minutes a few with motion blur, but motion blur isn't a bad thing. And remember the lighting was extremely dark by sports standards. Thunder storm above me.

[@jvsonyt]

13:51 Accidental Renaissance

[@jillglover3158]

Are you a professional photographer?

[@JoshChristiane]

No. But I was years ago. I mostly did side jobs for cash.

[@manuelgonzales6483]

🎉❤

[@JoshChristiane]

❤️ Thanks for watching, Manuel!

[@JessicaJ.Barnes]

It’s $3000 though? I know it’s a 500 but that’s still really steep.

[@JoshChristiane]

Yeah it's not a cheap lens for sure, but I think for a lot of people it'll be well worth it in the long run. You could see it as an investment product for sure.