Sigma Sports 185955 500mm
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
What Buyers Say
Sigma Sports 185955 500mm
The Sigma 500mm f/4 Sports lens wins strong praise for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and solid build. Users note it pairs well with Nikon Z-series cameras via the FTZ adapter and delivers excellent image quality for wildlife and bird photography, especially in low light. A few caution that it's heavy for prolonged handheld use, but most find it well-balanced. The lens is seen as a cost-effective alternative to pricier OEM primes, with the added benefit of customization via the Sigma Lens Dock.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Solid build quality
- Excellent low-light performance
- Well-balanced design
Cons
- Heavy for handheld use
- Expensive initial cost
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens is widely praised for its sharpness, versatile zoom range, constant aperture, and effective stabilization, making it an excellent all-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users appreciate its solid build quality and value for money, though many note it is noticeably heavier and larger than typical kit lenses, which can feel unbalanced on smaller camera bodies. A few reviewers mention minor issues like chromatic aberration at the longer end and noise from the aperture blades at certain settings, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- sharp image quality across zoom range
- constant f/2.8 aperture
- effective image stabilization
- fast and quiet autofocus
- versatile 17-70mm focal range
Cons
- heavy and large for APS-C body
- chromatic aberration at 50-70mm
- aperture blade noise above f/5.6
- short zoom throw initially stiff
- no aperture ring on Fuji version
Scores
Specifications
| Sigma Sports 185955 500mm | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | super-telephoto | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 500 mm | 17 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 500 mm | 70 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 16 |
| Groups | 11 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | 0 | 3★ |
| ED Elements | 3★ | 2 |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 3.17 kg | 0.54 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 46 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | HSM | RXD |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 3.50 m | 190 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 0.15x | 1:4.8★ |
Pros & Cons
Sigma Sports 185955 500mm
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong optical (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong user sentiment (75th percentile)
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average build (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average bokeh (8th percentile)8th %ile
- Below average macro (27th percentile)
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
- Strong optical (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong versatility (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Pricing
Sigma Sports 185955 500mm
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.