I wasn’t planning to upgrade my gear as published in my 2025 year-end report. For once in a long time, I was satisfied with my gear.

2025 Year-End Review: Good, Bad and Ugly

Here’s exactly what I wrote:

“I believe my improved mood was that I finally realised that for the first in a long time I have all the necessary gear I need to do what I need to do. This may change in a few months or year, who knows as new stuff comes out but for now I’m happy.

You may ask what is my gear, well:

• Laptop with powerful graphics card
• New full-frame Nikon Z8 mirrorless and an adapter to use my existing lenses
• DJI Air 3
• DJI Osmo gimbal to use with the iPhone

Of course, I could add Z-mount lenses or upgrade to a Mavic. But at this point, I’m no longer convinced that additional gear would materially improve my results. Removing that constant sense of “missing something” has freed up mental space to focus on execution rather than upgrades.”

For once, I felt I had everything I needed to make a dent in the microstock/book cover world.

The “New” Lens: An Offer I Couldn’t Refuse

Fast forward a few months. A friend of a friend was offloading a Nikon bundle. Among the items was a barely used Sigma 150-600mm (F5-6.3) super-telephoto for Nikon.

If I were to invest this lens as brand new it would set me back around $1,300+.

For the record and in full brutally honest transparency, I picked it up used for $700. The reason, the photographer, just like drone pilots looking to pick up newer DJI drone models, was looking to upgrade to mirrorless lenses for his Z7. As for me, I don’t mind older lenses as they work just fine on a mirrorless camera using the special adaptor.

Yes, it’s a beast of a lens – full specs

Here are the full specs, if you’re into that sort of thing:

Here’s a detailed review:

Eager to take some shots, here are some examples

Now some burning questions…

What Will I Actually Use It For?

As you can tell by its size and weight it’s not a travel lens.

Locally, though I’ll be happy to use for the following:

• Poker tournaments
• News events
• Sports
• Candid compression shots in street photography
• Editorial-style storytelling

The Lens I Used to Dream About

A few years ago, there was one lens I desperately wanted:

The legendary 70–200mm f/2.8 either by Sigma or Nikon.

Here’s a detailed review by Jared Polin.

How much can I pick up a used 70-200 F/2.8 now?

Back then, it was financially irresponsible for my business model, even if average earnings were considerably higher and everything in the real world didn’t go up 30%.

That premium lens was going for something like $2,500 new. But now I can probably pick it up for $600 on Amazon. Of course, buyer beware and I need to check it functions adequately. But overall, unlike drones the lens technology apparently hasn’t progressed immensely in 5-7 years.

Will I do it? Maybe. I’ll be shopping around for bargain prices…

Until next time…will post more examples using this lens in my month-end report.

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About Alex

I’m Alex, eccentric, based in Lisbon, and on a mission to explore every corner of the globe while capturing stock images and footage along the way.

For the past 12 years, I’ve been grinding as a travel photographer/videographer and freelance writer. Along the way I’ve also written The Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography, a book packed with war stories and practical tips for anyone crazy enough to enter this business and more recently, The Brutally Honest Guide to Drone Laws in Europe.