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Lens review

Sigma S 500 mm f/4 DG OS HSM

5 September 2017
Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test (resolution meaning MTF50 function values) of the Sigma S 500 mm f/4 DG OS HSM was based on RAW files from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. In the case of that reflex camera the decency level is situated near 30-32 lpmm and the best fixed focal length lenses can get to 45-49 lpmm at the most. It's also worth adding that the record on this sensor not so long ago belonged to the Zeiss Otus 1.4/28 (49.2 lpmm), but was beaten by the Sigma A 85 mm f/1.4 DG HSM and then by the Sigma A 135 mm f/1.8 DG HSM, currently amounting to 51.6 lpmm.

Let’s check how the Sigma S 4/500 compares – its results in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor and on the edge of full frame presents a graph below.

Sigma S 500 mm f/4 DG OS HSM - Image resolution


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The frame centre is simply excellent. Already at the maximum relative aperture the lens reaches a sensational value of over 45 lpmm and by f/5.6 you can observe the peak of its performance amounting to 46.6 lpmm. It is by 1 lpmm more than in the case of the Canon EF 400 mm f/4L DO IS USM II, tested by us not so long ago.

It’s also worth emphasizing that the results on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor are barely lower (1-2 lpmm) than those in the centre of the photo. The Sigma’s highest result in that part of the frame amounts to 45.2 lpmm, and it’s higher than the results of many older fixed-focal lenses in the centre. What’s more, it makes the Sigma’s advantage over the Canon 4/400 DO II even more pronounced as the Canon’s maximum result was 41.3 lpmm.

The edge of full frame is also very good because in the wider area near the maximum relative aperture the lens can exceed a very high level of 40 lpmm. It means that even on the very edge of the frame you still might count on images of proper quality. In this part of the frame the Sigma prevails over the Canon 4/400 DO II by 4-5 lpmm.

When Sigma announced the launch of their 500 mm device they also showed MTF graphs which were simply sensational. As you see our measurements prove they were actually not so far from reality – a round of applause!

At the end of this part of our test traditionally we present crops from photos of our resolution testing chart saved as JPEG files.

Canon 5D MkIII, JPEG, 500 mm, f/4.0
Sigma S 500 mm f/4 DG OS HSM - Image resolution
Canon 5D MkIII, JPEG, 500 mm, f/5.6
Sigma S 500 mm f/4 DG OS HSM - Image resolution