Used Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO for Sale — From £150

£149.99 Low price

£565.99 High price

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2 New this week

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Great for: wildlife sport landscape

Sigma's early budget super-telephoto — the 170-500mm APO for Nikon with 500mm reach.

The Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO is an early budget super-telephoto zoom for Nikon F mount. Covering an enormous 170-500mm range with APO elements for chromatic correction, it provided affordable 500mm reach at a time when super-telephoto options were very limited and expensive. The zoom range is extraordinary for a single lens.

Optical performance is basic but functional. Centre sharpness is acceptable at shorter focal lengths and weakens towards 500mm. The APO elements help control chromatic aberration — noticeably better than non-APO alternatives. The slow f/6.3 at 500mm demands bright conditions. No stabilisation — handheld use at 500mm is extremely challenging without VR.

Nikon F mount. Filter thread is 86mm — very large. Weight is approximately 1,620 grams — heavy but expected for 500mm reach. Build quality is adequate. No image stabilisation — the main practical limitation. A tripod collar is included. HSM motor on later versions provides quiet AF. The enormous zoom range was unique at this price point.

Very affordable on the used market. Check zoom mechanism, AF, and optics. The 500mm reach at budget pricing was the unique selling point. Thoroughly superseded by the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary which offers more reach, stabilisation, and better optics. Only of interest at very low prices for casual super-telephoto experimentation.