Sigma 500mm F4.0 DG OS HSM Sports Lens for Sigma SA

Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Sports: Superior Optics for Professional Photography

Overview:

The Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Sports lens stands out as a top-tier choice for professional photographers specializing in wildlife, sports, and nature photography. This super-telephoto lens, a flagship in Sigma's Sports series, is renowned for its exceptional optical quality, featuring one SLD and two FLD elements to drastically reduce chromatic aberrations and ensure sharp, high-resolution images. Its robust construction, comprising a magnesium-alloy barrel and brass mount, offers weather resistance and durability in challenging environments. The lens also boasts Sigma's Optical Stabilization system, providing effective image stabilization for handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds. Additionally, the Hyper Sonic Motor ensures rapid and precise autofocus, essential in fast-paced shooting scenarios. With a focal length of 500mm, a maximum aperture of f/4, and compatibility with Sigma teleconverters for extended reach, this lens is an indispensable tool for serious photographers seeking top-notch performance and versatility.

More Details:

• Unmatched Image Quality: Incorporates one SLD and two FLD elements, ensuring minimal chromatic aberrations and delivering sharp, high-resolution images.
• Durable Construction: Features a robust magnesium-alloy barrel and brass mount, providing weather resistance for reliability in harsh conditions.
• Advanced Image Stabilization: Equipped with Sigma's Optical Stabilization system, it allows for effective handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds.
• Rapid Autofocus: The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) ensures quick, accurate focusing, crucial in dynamic and low-light situations.
• Versatile Functionality: Offers a focus mode switch, rotatable tripod collar with click stops, and is compatible with Sigma teleconverters for extended reach.
• Professional Specifications: With a focal length of 500mm, maximum aperture of f/4, and a construction of 18 elements in 14 groups, it's tailored for demanding shoots.
• Extended Compatibility: Compatible with Sigma teleconverters, this lens can achieve focal lengths of 700mm and 1000mm, enhancing its versatility.

• Water- and oil-repellent coating and available Exclusive Protector - The front of the lens features a water- and oil-repellent coating that allows water to be wiped away easily and helps prevent oil from sticking to the surface. This feature is particularly useful when shooting in a drizzle or near ocean spray. The lens is compatible with the exclusive SIGMA Protector LPT-11 (sold separately), which effectively helps prevent damage to the lens during shooting and maintenance.
• Magnesium alloy barrel - To help minimize the weight associated with a hyper telephoto lens, the lens barrel is made with a magnesium alloy. Both lightweight and tough, this alloy contributes to the outstanding maneuverability of this lens.
• Dust and Splash Resistant Structure - This lens features a highly effective dust and splash-resistant structure with special sealing at the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring, and cover connection, allowing photographers to work in all types of weather.
• Carbon fiber hood - The lens hood is made of carbon fiber, which is both lightweight and strong. In fact, the entire lens is designed to be lightweight for outstanding performance in tough shooting conditions.
• High-precision, rugged brass bayonet mount - The brass mount combines high precision with rugged construction. Its treated surfaces and enhanced strength contribute to the exceptional durability of the lens.
• Tripod socket with 90° click stops - Since photographers often prefer to use a hyper-telephoto lens with a monopod or tripod, the lens features a large and extremely stable tripod socket. Antistatic nickel plating on the socket parts help enhance the quality and durability of the 90° click stops, which makes it easy to switch between vertical and horizontal shooting positions. The click position may be fine-tuned by “de-clicking” with the press of a button and manually adjusting the lens. 
• Flare and ghosting reduction - SIGMA’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting to help photographers produce sharp and high-contrast images even in backlit conditions. The included lens hood can be attached to block out extraneous light, which can have a negative effect on rendering performance.
• Rounded diaphragm - The 9-blade rounded diaphragm creates an attractive blur in the out-of-focus areas of the image.
• Exclusive low-dispersion glass - Most chromatic aberration can be removed by combining a high-refractivity convex lens element with a low-refractivity concave element. Yet residual chromatic aberration known as “secondary spectrum” may still remain. To minimize this secondary spectrum, which can be a serious issue with conventional lenses, SIGMA lenses feature up to three types of exclusive low-dispersion glass offering superior performance: ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion), SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and FLD (“F” Low Dispersion). In particular, FLD glass offers ultra-low dispersion in combination with high transmittance and the anomalous dispersion characteristics of fluorite.
• AF function switch with preset AF modes - The AF function switch allows you to set your own autofocus specification. The lens can remember the focus position of your choice or turn off AF until it is needed.
• Intelligent OS featuring updated algorithm - The Optical Stabilizer (OS) function features an acceleration sensor to ensure even higher precision. Two OS modes are available: Mode 1 for general photography and Mode 2 for motor sports and other applications requiring panning. In Mode 2, the acceleration sensor teams up with the Intelligent OS and its updated stabilization algorithm to deliver effective stabilization while you move the camera horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—regardless of the position of the lens. This feature helps ensure effective panning and outstanding capture of moving subjects.
• Quieter and Faster “Optimized AF” - The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures high speed and quiet AF. With the further enhanced AF algorithm compared to previous models, continuous AF (AF-C) improves the focusing efficiency.

• Sigma 500mm F4.0 DG OS HSM Sports Lens for Sigma SA
• WR Protector
• LH1388-01 Lens Hood
• Lens Case
• Limited Warranty

FAQs about Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Sports Lens

Is the Sigma 500mm f/4 lens compatible with all camera bodies?

The Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Sports lens is available in different mounts, including Sigma SA. Compatibility with other camera bodies depends on the mount version purchased.

How effective is the image stabilization in this lens?

The Optical Stabilization (OS) system in this lens significantly reduces camera shake, enabling handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds with improved clarity.

Can this lens be used for handheld shooting?

While the Sigma 500mm f/4 is a heavy lens, its advanced image stabilization makes handheld shooting possible, though a tripod is recommended for optimal stability.

Is this lens suitable for low-light photography?

Yes, the Sigma 500mm f/4 lens, with its maximum aperture of f/4, is suitable for low-light conditions, and its Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) aids in focusing in such environments.

What type of photography is this lens best suited for?

This lens is ideal for wildlife, sports, and nature photography, where its long focal length and high image quality can capture distant subjects in great detail.

Does the lens come with a warranty?

Yes, the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Sports lens is backed by Sigma's 4-year warranty, ensuring reliability and customer satisfaction.

Are teleconverters included with the lens?

Teleconverters are not included with the lens but can be purchased separately. The lens is compatible with Sigma teleconverters, extending its focal length up to 1000mm.