First up is that horrible word money. List price is currently 750 quid [around 1500 US bucks] which is tough enough to save up for. However. many stores are saying Sigma UK is going to increase prices between 30-60% next month, seems Sigma can't bear the costs of the poor exchange rates anymore, hence some dealers are buying stock and sitting on it. So finding one like is like trying to find powdered unicorn in Sainsburys.

If you can find a dealer that hasn't sold them all to the cops - who love the sigma lens so much they fit them to their mobile speed-camera vans! - the dealers will quote you around £690-£700. Which is where making friends with a local suppiler really helps:)

In return for making your family starve for the next 6 months, you get ...one very big and heavy large piece of glass and metal, grab handle, a strong strap, hood, end/lens caps and a quality carry bag. Filter isn't included. The offical sigma one is £170 - cheapest one is by Hoya at £70, thats because of the non-standard thread.

Nor do they include a slave :) which you'll need because this is one heavy piece of kit. Even with the solid and effective 'anti-droop' lock combined with the lens strap, and the camera body strap, you are very conscious of the weight. When the camera and lens moves as you walk, it can feel like it's dropping. But turning the grab handle upside down and using that helps. Though overall this isn't something you'd want to carry around all day. 

But as this is a very long item the weight does seem to help when using it.
On a sony a200 body - with the lens hood on - it measures around 48cm.

The zoom ring isn't as loose as on the sigma 300 it does require a little bit of grip. Which can be be tricky to do if you are braced against something like a tree, and at times I did find myself leaning more forward than usual.   

Bracing and support is important. Just over 1/2 way zoomed it does pick up the shakes clearly. If you suffer from any form of tremor [as I do] this isn't good, throw in a freezing day and you do risk lots of bad pictures. But that's not a fault of the lens, stick it on a tripod, wait a second and all is fine. 

Not tried a monpod yet. Plus there was some disagreement about wether or not a BushHawk shoulder mount would give enough support due to the length. But until I can try those I can't say for sure.

My big fear though was the speed of the AF. But unlike the old version, theres no problems here at all. It's miles faster than both the 18-70 kit lens, and the sigma 300. In fact I'd say this thing is faster than a cheetah riding a jet powered skateboard while out of his nut on the finest Coloumbian nasal powder:)

Anyway - enough words here's two comparision images (resampled for forum). Post two is the standard kit lens at 18. Post 3 is the 500.

Looks OK Cost nearly as much as I paid for my Canon EF 100-400mm L Lens, second hand!
 

The zoom is impressive..

thanks for taking the time to share this info with the rest of us..

Cool example showing the range at both ends of the lens.  Good luck with it and hope to see some other captures from you soon!
Je

*Cost nearly as much as I paid for my Canon EF 100-400mm L Lens, second hand!

• I'd belive it - been looking at the prices some camera/lens makers and it's enough to give you a coronary!

If if wasn't for months of savings and some financial help from some UK disability business start up schemes -Ready To start, Capitalise and Enham - theres no way I could have afforded this chunk of ironwork. 

These schemes are much more affable towards disabled people who which to start their own image based businesses than any banks and high street lenders. Also they actually understand the nature of photgraphy, most bank mangers seem to think a mobile phone camera will do the job.

*The zoom is impressive..

• See last paragaph

*thanks for taking the time to share this info with the rest of us..

• Anytime the forum here is always a great source of honest information  - and it's nice to give something back.

Cool example showing the range at both ends of the lens.
Apologies if not clear - photo 1 is the standard 18-70 sony kit lens. The 2nd picture is mid to end range on the 500.

I'll post some acurate pictures shortly.

That really is an impressive bit of kit!

Excellent review - thanks very much for posting this .

Thx for the additional examples!  Looks like you definitely have good range coverage now with this lens  add to your photo kit.

Btw, I just re-read your original post and realize now your using a Sony A200.    I have the Sony A700.  Got the Sony11-18 Wide Angle a few weeks ago!  

Joe