nikon mount budget sigma super telephoto zoom lenses

There are two questions:

1) What is your purpose of buying a super telephoto zoom?
2) What is your budget?

If you want to shoot professionally birds or F1 racing cars, a zoom lens will not serves you appropiately. If you are shooting at hand, you need a lot of light and a fast aperture. Please check my comments for budget sigma lenses found in the market..


Sigma 50-500 mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG HSM
1160 US$ > 1840 gr > 20 optics> optical quality 6,5
Pros:
Wide range covering from 50mm to 500mm
Cheap
Recommended for general purpose and tripod use

Cons:
Heavy
Very Slow
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting
Not good for handheld usage

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Sigma 100-300 mm f/4 EX DG HSM APO
1200 US$ > 1440 gr > 16 optics> optical quality 9,5

Pros:
Very fast aperture
Excellent quality of optics
Could be used at handheld
Recommended for sports and wildlife shooting
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LENS

Cons:
Telephoto finishes at 300mm (could be used with 1.4x teleconverter > 420mm)

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Sigma 150-500 mm f/5.0-6.3 OS HSM
979 US$ > 1910 gr > 21 optics> optical quality 6,5

Pros:
Telephoto upto 500mm
OS (Optical Stabilisation) - Sigma's VR
Not so expensive for a 500mm telephoto zoom with OS

Cons:
Very heavy (Because of OS)
Very Slow Aperture
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting like race cars and birds
Not so good for handheld although OS gives 2 stops advantage
Not so sharp optics

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Sigma 170-500 mm f/5.0-6.3 APO HSM

769 US$ > 1345 gr > 13 optics > optical quality 7,5

Pros:
Only for ultra long telephoto purposes
Very cheap
Lighter than its rivals
Reasonable optics

Cons:
Very Slow Aperture
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting , only tripod usage recommended
Not good for handheld usage

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Sigma 120-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG OS HSM
849 US$ > 1750 gr > 21 optics> optical quality 7

Pros:
OS (Optical Stabilisation) - Sigma's VR
Not so expensive for a 400mm telephoto zoom with OS

Cons:
Only upto 400mm
Quite heavy (Because of OS)
Very Slow Aperture
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting like race cars and birds
Not so good for handheld although OS gives 2 stops advantage

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Sigma 135-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG
NA as brand new > 1245 gr > 13 optics> optical quality 7

Pros:
Not so expensive for a 400mm telephoto zoom with OS
Light, can be used handheld under strong light

Cons:
Only upto 400mm
Quite loudy because of old style focus motor
Very Slow Aperture
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting like race cars and birds
Will be replaced with a new model soon


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Sigma 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 EX APO DG OS
999US$ > 1750 gr > 20 optics> optical quality 7,5

Pros:
OS (Optical Stabilisation)
Not so expensive for a 400mm telephoto zoom with OS
Wide covering range

Cons:
Only upto 400mm
Very heavy (Because of OS)
Very Slow Aperture
Not recommended for fast moving object shooting like race cars and birds
Not so good for handheld although OS gives 2 stops advantage
Loud focusing motor