I decided to create this thread to make a contribution to DPP aside from my usual sarcastic comments...

It was a choice between the 120-400mm and the 150-500mm, and I decided to get the former for the following reasons:
- the price was around GBP599 (at that time with the exchange rate it would be around Php49k) and the 150-500 was at around GBP150+ more
- filter size, the 120-400 uses 77mm while the 150-500 uses 86mm which is sometimes hard to find and when you do find one it's damn expensive as well
- FOV was around 5% @ 500mm and 6.5% @ 400mm; not so sure if there will be any substantial difference whether you use a FF or cropped sensor body, so unless you're standing on the edge of a cliff, i would think the difference in focal length can be compensated with a few steps forward
- dpreview also has a detailed comparison with regards to length and weight of each lens

The lens is soft at 5.6, but it was to be expected. Decent sharpness at 8.0.

Here are some sample shots, with some tweaks in post processing and resized for the web.

profile of a member of the philippine congress/senate
http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/98164578.jpg
1/200s f/8.0 at 400.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/98164573.jpg
1/800s f/8.0 at 400.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/98164587.jpg
1/500s f/8.0 at 251.0mm

evolution
http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/98164572.jpg
1/400s f/5.6 at 400.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/99062072.jpg
1/1000s f/7.1 at 352.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/99062056.jpg
1/800s f/7.1 at 273.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/99062062.jpg
1/160s f/7.1 at 120.0mm

the lens came particularly useful for the air show but this time i didn't use the OS since i was trying to track the planes...i did however do some adjustments in levels, contrast, etc for these shots

AF was pretty decent for this as it was sometimes tricky to keep focused on the plane and it would be difficult to ask the pilot to stop for a second....

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/100429020.jpg
1/4000s f/7.1 at 232.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/100429032.jpg
1/3200s f/6.3 at 232.0mm

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/100429038.jpg
1/2000s f/7.1 at 400.0mm

there are other useful uses for this lens but will just leave that to your imagination....

Hi Hochi, thank you for sharing your experience with this lens. I'm on the lookout for a decent and affordable telephoto beyond my 300mm... Initially, the Nikkor 80-400 got my fancy, but Thom Hogan described it as a slow one (in AF speed). Based on my experience with Tamron AF speed, I will skip this brand for a telephoto until such time they get to improve the built-in motor.

It's time to visit JT Photo once more.

I have the 150-500mm and I can say that the AF is fast on my D70 body. CA and flare is very well controlled.

I love this one, Hochi. TFS.

http://www.pbase.com/hochiabaya/image/100429020.jpg

... interesting.... do you have full-size images / center 100% crops ? some reports say at 400mm, images are a tad soft wide open.

very good lens indeed with OS. great share bro

I'm also interested in this lens. Unfortunately JT still doesn't have it.

40D; 400mm @f/9; 100% crop with minor adjustments (contrast, sharpening) with DPP
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7792/img7850100ec7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/img7850100ec7.jpg/1/w1172.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img72/img7850100ec7.jpg/1/)