Sigma 60-600mm lens versatility

[Tintype_18]

Received an email which included a review of a Sigma 60-600mm. I didn't look at the details as I'm up to my eyebrows in alligators today. Far from an expert but wouldn't the low end give more versatility for this lens?

[kvbarkley]

To some degree, yes, though quality might suffer at the low end, too. Do you really want to be lugging around  a 600 mm lens that is barely hand-holdable when you want a 60mm lens?

[Tintype_18]

Good point- game, set and match. Would it be worth having one lens or having two lenses: one for the lower end and higher quality and one for the distant subjects? I have the 150-600mm and it has been a big help. Many muscles have developed, carrying it and the tripod. I opt for two lenses myself. FWIW, wife and I were in Bass Pro Shops; she found a nice vest that will double as my photo vest...and it was on sale! KV, thanks for your thoughts.

[wq9nsc]

In general, the wider the "zoom" range, the more difficult (and expensive) it is to maintain image quality across the range.  A very wide focal range zoom is generally biased towards the convenience side and away from image quality so take a very close look at how it performs across the range and make sure those images were taken with the aperture wide open.

Focus acquisition speed is another compromise typical to very wide range zooms.

The best primes are still better than the best zooms and narrower range zooms have an advantage over the ultra wide range zooms and every one of those I have seen give up too much image quality.  Even narrower range zooms are something of a compromise, I love the versatility and image quality of my Canon EF 200-400 f4 with its built in 1.4X extender but even with the extender not engaged it doesn't quite match the image quality of my 200 f2 or 300 and 400mm f2.8 primes.

Rodger