Sigma AF 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM
Nikon F
Sony L-mount
Length: 260 mm
Sigma AF 150-600mm f5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM (Contemporary) is a super-telephoto lens manufactured by Sigma for Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras, featuring Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony L-mounts, respectively.
The lens is available in two variants: the standard version with the "Contemporary" prefix and the sports version with the "Sports" prefix, with significant differences in their characteristics. Since 2021, Sigma has also produced a similar lens with a focal length of 60-600mm (60-600mm AF F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports).
Usage
Thanks to its wide focal range, even the most distant objects can be captured, making this lens highly suitable for bird photography, wildlife, and sports events.
Advantages
- Ability to photograph significantly distant objects;
- Excellent price-to-quality ratio for a super-telephoto lens. Competing lenses from Canon and Nikon with a 600mm focal length are significantly more expensive, starting from $8,000 USD. Therefore, the Sigma 150-600mm is considered a budget-friendly option in this segment.
Disadvantages
- The weight of the lens combined with a full-frame camera makes it challenging to use during long walks or travels. The total weight of the lens and a full-frame camera can exceed 5-6 kg.
- The size of the lens is quite large, making transportation difficult as it occupies a lot of space.
- The lens hood lacks a separate attachment mechanism, making it less secure.
Lens Specifications
Image Sharpness
Image sharpness, along with contrast and resolution, are the most significant characteristics of the lens's image quality.
Starting at 150mm with a wide-open aperture, this lens delivers sharpness across the entire frame. The results remain consistent up to 400mm, where a slight decrease in sharpness begins to appear. The sharpness continues to decline at 500mm and further deteriorates at 600mm, where the sharpness can be rated as "good." The lack of sharpness can be compensated by stopping down the aperture, which improves image quality at the longest focal length.
Autofocus
Thanks to the built-in Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) in the Sigma 150-600mm C, the autofocus speed is impressive, especially at the 600mm focal length. However, at 600mm, the aperture is limited to f/6.3, which puts a strain on the autofocus system, particularly in low-light conditions. If you are using newer DSLR cameras like the Nikon D750/D800/D810 or Canon 5D Mark IV, where the autofocus system can work with apertures as small as f/8, you will be pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness of the autofocus.
It is worth noting that focusing on fast-moving objects at the maximum focal length can be challenging, even if the objects are at a significant distance, as the autofocus may struggle to lock onto the subject.
Bokeh
The bokeh produced by this lens will impress both professionals and enthusiasts, as it allows for photographing subjects (such as people or animals) with a softly blurred background. Lenses with shorter focal lengths cannot achieve this effect. However, due to the long focal lengths, you need to maintain a significant distance from the subject, making it suitable mostly for outdoor photography or portraits in indoor settings.
Sample Images
- Photos taken with the Sigma AF 150-600mm f5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM
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Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/320; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 1000 -
Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/400; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 1600 -
Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/800; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 1600 -
Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/200; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 200 -
Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/1600; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 3200 -
Focal length: 150mm; Shutter speed: 1/320; Aperture: f8; ISO: 100 -
Focal length: 300mm; Shutter speed: 1/500; Aperture: f8; ISO: 320 -
Focal length: 600mm; Shutter speed: 1/1000; Aperture: f6.3; ISO: 200
- The above images were taken with a Canon 5D Mark IV full-frame camera.
- Moscow City was photographed at the maximum focal length of 600mm from a distance of 18 km.
- The Moon image was cropped from the full frame to a size of 1680 x 1074 pixels.
- The rock image was also taken from a significant distance.
Author's Note
I have been an owner of this lens for a long time and am very satisfied with it in all respects. I purchased it three years ago at half the current price, which I am very happy about. The only inconveniences are its weight and size, which is why I don't always take it on trips or hikes. In all other aspects, the lens is competitive with high-end counterparts from Canon and Nikon. It falls short in image quality under very challenging shooting conditions (low light, high-contrast scenes, etc.). Overall, the lens deserves praise and delivers excellent value for its price.
It is worth noting that Sigma has released an additional model in this lens lineup: Sigma AF 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports, which offers a wider focal range and slightly better aperture, but at twice the price.
If you have experience with this lens or any questions, please leave your comments on the discussion page.