Ask any group of professional sports or wildlife photographers to name their favorite lens, and most will mention a "fast" 500mm f/4 model with internal focusing and low dispersion glass elements. Ideal in many respects, such lenses offer several advantages.

I purchased this lens used as an inexpensive way to enter the super telephoto arena.

Good build; fast auto-focus; sharp results; cool filter drawer design

Case could be a little beefier; otherwise; get one

Although hardly what you could call a budget price, this lens is the most affordable of the 500mm prime lenses that are available. Primes at this sort of focal length are well into the realms of ‘specialist' lenses, so we take a look at what you are getting for your hard earned cash.

Good build and finish; Fast quiet autofocus; Very usable wide open; Manageable for its type; Close focus distance is good

Lacks a little contrast; Hood a little short for the focal length

Although hardly what you could call a budget price, this lens is the most affordable of the 500mm prime lenses that are available. Primes at this sort of focal length are well into the realms of ‘specialist' lenses, so we take a look at what you are getting for your hard earned cash.

Good build and finish; Fast quiet autofocus; Very usable wide open; Manageable for its type; Close focus distance is good

Lacks a little contrast; Hood a little short for the focal length

I am an amateur photographer owning this lens for last 3 months, spending every weekend for bird and wild life photography. This is a very good,solid lens. It produces good image in f4.5, and step down to f5.6 very good, f.6 -f8 tack sharp image. I got some excellent shots.

Brilliant sharp lens for wildlife and sports photography

managable size; sharp; good build; great HSM; value

shortish hood; fractionally less contrast than nikon/canon competition

I was torn being a Canon user for years and buying a non-Canon lens. The price was $1300.00 less than the Canon 500mm. Weight and size were an issue also, the lens head is smaller and fits better in traveling cases. Carrying this lens (6.9 lbs) on a monopod you will notice the difference.

I've purchased this lens for handheld using, and it work perfectly for birdwatching. This 500mm is relatively lightweight, few weight more than Nikkor 300/2.8. The AF is quick and precise with both the D2x and D700.

Lightweight; sharp; good AF both in DX and FF

no water sealed; TC 1.4X without AF on Nikon cameras

I have used the Nikon 500mm f4 and the Sigma is just as sharp as the Nikon. The color is probably just a tiny bit more accurate with the Nikon, but without seeing the pictures side by side and of the same subject I don't think you would every notice anything.

An impressive 10x zoom range for just over ￡1100, but has Sigma been a little over-ambitious with this superzoom optic?

A very versatile lens

Poor performance at 500mm