Sigma 500mm F4.5 APO A-mount lens review by photomind

photomind#5325 date: May-1-2009
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Minotla 500mm AF reflex Tokina 400mm AF f5.6 Sigma APO 400mm Sigma APO 500mm F7.2 Sigma 170-500mm
price paid:	missing
positive:	Decent Sharp Inexpensive
negative:	slow AF motor Zen finish becomes sticky and wet.
comment:	It comes with two sets of hoods. One is detachable and one embedded. I never noticed the embedded one until reading a review somewhere because it was tightly attached. It took me a while to pull it out and never touched the external hood again. This lens is sharp and it becomes even sharper if stepped down to f5.6 and up. Optimum is at f8. IMO, it is just above the leagues of regular 400mm or 500mm prime/zoom glasses. It works perfectly with Sigma's own APO 1.4x TC. It AF nicely. IQ reduction is not too noticeable too. AF is a little slow if it takes the motor to turn. However, it focus quickly and correctly if it is in the close range. The only thing annoyed me is its "Zen finish". It is just a rubber like coating on the original metal but it oozes. It makes the lens sticky and wet after sometime. Fortunately, it can be cleaned with 90% alcohol. I had to wipe out the zen finish until reaching the black painted metal underneath it.