Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 ii ex dc hsm apo review

Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM APO User Reviews

6.5/10
average of 4 review(s)

Build Quality
7.3/10

Image Quality
7.5/10

9 out of 10 points
and recommended

Very good build quality Manual focus over ride
Just a little corner softness

Bought my copy new in 2010 from B&H just before they went out of stock.
Would have liked the Pentax 50 -135mm but that was just too expensive in New Zealand.
Also worried about the reported SDM failure rate with the Pentax.
Unlike the tested copy here, mine is almost perfect at 50mm straight from F2.8 (as good as my Pentax A50 F1.7mm prime).
Progressively softens off towards the top right hand corner as it is zoomed out.
Worst at 150mm but still correctable by stopping down to F8.
From 70mm to 100mm, F5.6 — F6.7 is needed to sharpen up the corner.
However centre sharpness at F2.8 at all zoom lengths is very good, very useable.
CA is minor at all zoom settings and correctable in raw software. (I always shoot raw)
Distortion is also minor and correctable.
Used on 4 different bodies but now lives permanently on a K30 — no focusing issues at all on that body.
Fast, silent, reliable and almost 100% accurate.
I have been very satisfied with this lens. It’s a great street lens.
I agree with Andrews caveat — make sure you have a good copy before you buy.

reviewed January 4th, 2015
3 out of 10 points
and not recommended

sharp lens, good contrast
Poor quality control — lens keeps breaking down

My copy of this lens (in Canon fit) was let down by a consistent failure of the autofocus motor in the lens. I had to send it back to Sigma twice to be fixed. And I do not use the lens much. They did fix the lens quickly, but I do not expect 2 failures in such an expensive product.
Buyer beware!

reviewed May 10th, 2009
(purchased for $700)
5 out of 10 points
and not recommended

Great range, easy handling, nice looking build, quick focus.
Very soft from f2.8-f4, never gets tack sharp, lots of CA, not consistant in focus accuracy.

I had the highest hopes for this new version of the Sigma 50-150mm HSM II, I really needed the range and a fast f2.8 ability. I guessed i would need to stop the Sigma down at 150mm to get sharpness, put you really have to stop this lens down a lot, at every focal length to get results you can be proud of. Sadly, my Nikon 55-200mm VR starter zoom is sharper at every focal length and every aperture..YES, the Nikon 55-200mm is sharper, focuses about the same speed ( the Nikon, hits the target more often), the Nikon has better contrast and color too…yes, I sent the Sigma back. I was told by 47th street photo on the phone, that they thought the lens was defective. Once the Sigma arrived at 47th street photo they told me their tech tested it and it was «fine without issues». Of course I am still fighting to get me refund from 47th street (I should have purchased from Adorama or B&H!!). Maybe the 50-150mm III will get it right.
I picked up a used Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 ED today, the Nikon looks great stopped down to f3.5 and is built like a tank! Save your time/hassle and just pick up a Nikon zoom in this range…I only wish the Nikon was as light as the Sigma, nothing more.

reviewed February 5th, 2009
(purchased for $600)
9 out of 10 points
and recommended

Convenient size/range/aperture, sharp, nice bokeh, great HSM and build
Uncorrectable color fringing in OOF areas, wish it could focus closer

The lens produces very satisfying sharp images throughout the zoom range. Not quite as bitingly sharp as the 50 1.8, 85 1.8 , and 180 2.8 primes it replaced, but close enough for the convenience of a zoom to win out. I also feel this lens produces nicer bokeh than any of those three (rounded 9-blade aperture anybody?)
My only real issue with the image quality is a type of CA which occurs most noticeably around OOF areas when stopped down, as it is not correctable via normal means. The lens exhibits very little CA in areas which are in focus. There is a bit of vignetting at the long end, but that is easily correctable. Distortion is usually not a significant issue.
The HSM is true ring-type, super quick and quiet. The lens is built very nicely, like a solid block, and both control rings are wide and nicely damped. This is the best manual-focus AF lens I’ve owned.

reviewed October 7th, 2008
(purchased for $650)

Reasons to Buy Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM Lens

Here we’ve included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.

PROs

Optical Image Stabilization

Autofocus

Distance Scale

DoF(Depth of Field) Scale

Hood supplied

Tripod Collar

Full-time Manual Focusing

Internal Focusing

Fast Aperture at Wide end

Fast Aperture at Tele end

Constant f2.8 aperture throughout the range

9 Diaphragm Blades for Smooth Bokeh

Report a correction

Buy Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Weather Sealing

Heavy

Lens Mount

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM is compatible with cameras that have a Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (DX) lenses are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600.

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM is also available in Canon EF and Sigma SA mounts.

Size, Weight and Filter Thread

Size and weight is a very important decision factor when searching for your next lens. Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM has a maximum diameter of 86mm and total length of 198mm. It weighs 1350g / 47.6 oz.

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM has a filter thread of 77mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM:

Optical Image Stabilization

The Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM features an optical image stabilization system which helps to reduce the blur that occurs due to shaking during hand-held shooting.

Zoom Method

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM features Rotary (internal) zoom method where the length of the lens doesn’t change while you are zooming in or out. Even though this design has a size disadvantage in general compared to extending designs, it has the benefits of better sealing against dust and moisture, no zoom creep and no weight balance shift while zooming.

Maximum Magnification Ratio

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.16x and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.8m. 0.16x means that the max magnification ratio is very low and not suitable even for modest close-up shots.

Below are the 3 Telephoto Zoom type Nikon F mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:

Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG: 0.5x — (Compare)
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG: 0.5x — (Compare)
Tamron 70-210mm F4 Di VC USD: 0.32x — (Compare)

Aperture

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a fixed aperture lens with a constant max aperture of f2.8 from 50mm all the way to the 150mm .

Focal Length	Max Aperture	Min Aperture
50mm	F2.8	F22
150mm	F2.8	F22

Optical Formula

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM’s optical formula consists of 21 elements in 15 groups . Special elements used in this design is 4 SLD glass elements.

Lens Hood

Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos.

Popular Comparisons of Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM

Top Alternatives of Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing
Tokina AT-X Pro 50-135mm f2.8 DX Compare	APS-C / DX	845 g / 1.86 lb	AF
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR II Compare	APS-C / DX	335 g / 0.74 lb	AF
Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art Compare	APS-C / DX	1,490 g / 3.28 lb	AF
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Compare	35mm FF	1,160 g / 2.55 lb	AF
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Compare	35mm FF	1,951 g / 4.29 lb	AF
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED Compare	APS-C / DX	255 g / 0.56 lb	AF
Tamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro Compare	APS-C / DX	540 g / 1.19 lb	AF
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR Compare	APS-C / DX	530 g / 1.17 lb	AF

Reasons to Buy Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM Lens

Here we’ve included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.

PROs

Optical Image Stabilization

Autofocus

Distance Scale

DoF(Depth of Field) Scale

Hood supplied

Tripod Collar

Full-time Manual Focusing

Internal Focusing

Fast Aperture at Wide end

Fast Aperture at Tele end

Constant f2.8 aperture throughout the range

9 Diaphragm Blades for Smooth Bokeh

Report a correction

Buy Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Weather Sealing

Heavy