Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 Contemporary DG DN OS for Sony E Mount

It’s hard to fault the excellent Sony 100-400 but as a longtime pro I’m at times reluctant to take a 3 lb. lens on the road or hike long back country treks with it. I’ve been seeking a lighter long tele zoom option and have compared four alternatives in depth. Let’s discuss in detail starting with the best in class Sony 100-400 f 4.5-5.6 that costs $2,500, out of the price range of most. Can others compete? (See photo comparing lens sizes) Read on: SONY 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM I specialize in tech reviews and am well known in the photo world. I have regularly used the finest glass from Canon, Nikon and Sony including 300mm f2.8, 400mm f2.8 and 500mm f4 lenses. I’ve had this Sony for a year and think it’s a great lens. So why look elsewhere? Simply said, weight! At 3+ pounds, it can be fatiguing although optically it is the best lens in this group. I’m not selling the Sony but went on the hunt for a lighter long zoom to carry in the outback, or to pack for shooting trips. SIGMA 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN OS At 38% the cost of the Sony, this is a marvelous lens! After testing four alternatives to the heavy Sony, I am enthusiastically keeping this one, too. Let’s talk its strengths and a few weaknesses you may have read about: Optically, it gives s 95% of the quality, again at 38% of the cost. I use Sony’s most demanding body to compare optical quality, the 61 MP A7rIV. Although I don’t bother with pixel peeping when getting down to the joy of seeking great shooting situations, when buying a lens it’s wise. The Sigma goes head to head with the Sony in focusing speed and tracking. You may have read some reviews of pre-release lenses that slightly trailed the Sony. The firmware has been updated. This lens tracks well. As a pro whose reputation rests on getting THE shot, I’m confident in it. In terms of “speed” the Sony is 1/3 of an f-stop faster. That’s only the difference between choosing an ISO of 1000 vs 800. Today’s mirrorless cameras are superb with higher ISO shooting and for the first time you should feel confident shooting at 3200 ISO and even higher. I recommend the superb DeepPRIME software from DxO for noise reduction. It’s the best but Topaz Denoise is also quite good. Both Sony and Sigma has excellent image stabilization. I have learned that in body stabilization (IBIS) is much better for wider lenses. For long telephotos like these, you’ll need it for a higher hit rate at shutter speeds under 1/250. Now for the biggest Sigma selling point. It weights 2.5 pounds versus 3.4 for the Sony. Yes, you will realize this after only five minutes carrying it. For a lens with 400mm reach this is excellent. It's also thinner and easier to stow in a camera bag without a separate sling bag, depending on your shooting style. Thus, I’m happily keeping this razor sharp and comfortable to carry Sigma. Let’s explore other good options, too: TAMRON 70-300mm f5-6.3 RXD In short an absolutely great lens at a fantastic price, if you can live with the shortcomings. I’ll include a link below to my review: The Tamron weighs mere 19 ounces at 20% the cost of the Sony. It’s reach is only 300mm but that’s enough for many. On the downside, it’s a lens only for bright light. With no image stabilization built into the lens, it does not compete for highest image quality when you must use a lower shutter speed. In good light, it exhibits terrific and sharp optics, indeed. Here’s a link to my review of the not quite as well-built Tamron but still recommended Tamron: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2SD7APT0NVX1G/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B08K3MXZCZ SONY 70-350mm f4.5-6.3 G OSS The Sony 70-350 is 22 ounces and with the higher weight comes has longer reach although it is slightly shorter than the Tamron. In APS-C mode this Sony gives truly impressive 105-525mm reach. Yet, I don’t recommend it for non APS-C cameras. I’ve tested two and sharpness does not compete with any of the lenses above on full frame cameras. However, for APS-C cameras, it delivers reliable images with the advantages that come with image stabilization, too, However, my keeper rate with this lens incorporating Sony OSS was not a great deal higher than the Tamron without it. Here’s my review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R15P98AHU5QXKF/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07X72DMLC SONY 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G OSS Simply said, this lens has an older tech focusing motor and is not as sharp as any of the lenses above. There is nothing wrong with this lens but it is overmatched and way overpriced in today’s market. Not worth considering although I am in general a huge fan of Sony’s awesome optics. Look for a future redesign of this lens to again make it competitive. Hope this too long review has been of some small help. Keep shootin’ strong!

I debated with myself for a long time about which telephoto lens to get for my Sony a7iii. I initially was leaning towards the Sony GM 100-400. However the cost was a concern, plus I felt it would be nice to get more reach for birding photos. This led me to consider the Sony 200-600 lens. It is less expensive and has a longer reach and is a fixed barrel instead of a pumper zoom, but it is big (12.5") and quite heavy (4.65 lbs). I might have gone with the 200-600 despite the size and weight, but then I noticed its closest focus was 8 feet compared to 3 feet for the 100-400. I considered my potential photo subjects and decided I wanted more versatility, because not all nature shots are far away, so that shifted my attention back to the 100-400 range. I then discovered this Sigma 100-400 lens. It is significantly less expensive than the Sony (40%!), had good reviews regarding image quality, and weighs 2.5 lbs compared to 3.1 for the Sony 100-400 (or 4.65 lbs for the 200-600). A fairly common complaint I read about the Sony 100-400 was that the zoom would extend when carrying the camera with the lens down while hiking. The Sigma has a switch on the lens to lock it closed at 100mm so it can't move. Some people felt that the Sony zoom moved too easily so tended to creep. I have found the Sigma lens zoom to move easily, but also firmly so it stays put. An advantage of the Sony is the f4.5-5.6 vs Sigma f5.6-6.3. However for the price, it was worth it to me to sacrifice a bit of ISO or shutter speed to compensate for the f-stop. Sony had a teleconverter for their lens to get more reach (but also more weight, more money, and loss of f-stop). Sigma has teleconverters, but not yet one for this lens. The Sigma lens did not come with a tripod removable ring and foot, which I ended up buying. Even though I get good handheld shots, I figured with the somewhat darker f-stop and because the lens does have some substantial weight I would probably want to use a tripod at times. You will not want to use the mount on the camera body because that will put substantial strain on the lens mount and it will be unstable. I also decided that when using this lens that it would be safer and more comfortable to use a shoulder strap tied to the lens ring rather than use the neck strap connected to the camera body rings. The Sigma lens ring comes with a arca-swiss foot for the tripod mount. The Sony lens comes with a tripod ring and removable foot, I think you had to buy a replacement foot to get the arca-swiss mount. In summary, I am loving this Sigma 100-400 lens. It is versatile, gets very clear shots, is easy to handle, and the price made it a clear choice for me.

Picked this lens up to go with my outdated Sony A7 ii for some bird photography. I wanted to enjoy the hobby without emptying my wallet to do so. I really don’t have anything to compare this lens to, but can tell you as a complete rookie to this hobby, I am extremely happy with the results I was able to achieve. The lens is sharp, but does require decent light to get crisp photos. It is pretty heavy to lug around all day. I am 5’11 200 lbs with a muscular build and my hands and neck do get pretty sore gripping and holding the lens throughout the day (1-4 hours) so keep that in mind. A tripod or monopod would probably be better suited for this lens. The auto focus is pretty good and can’t really complain about the image stabilization as I haven’t had the lens long enough to evaluate its function. You really can’t beat the price point for this much reach. Other considerations were the Sigma 150-600mm and the Tamaron 150-600mm. I found that 400mm was all that I needed to get close enough to the birds without disturbing them. Sure I would have to crop a bit but that doesn’t bother me. Overall I am very satisfied with the lens and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an affordable telephoto lens.

Update: sold this and switced to Sony 200-600 G. Internal zoom is superior to external zoom which is what this lens has. I generally get Sony G/GM lenses, but I decided to save some money - and more importantly, weight - and go with the Sigma here. Very happy with my decision. Have taken this on a number of hiking, birding, and concert outings and loved the results, esp. at 400mm. The lens is very sharp, and good (though not perfect) on contrast. Only ding is the auto focus quality. With less light than a larger aperture lens, it does miss Bird Eye AF more often.

Just received this lens and I’m absolutely in love with it, purchased it for wildlife and some aviation photography. This lens is well made, a nice weight, auto focus is accurate and tracking speed is good. I’m using this paired with my Sony A7iii and they are a great pair. As I use this lens more, I will update my review if my opinion changes any!

Full frame lens, F6.3 at 400 mm ( not a very fast lens in low light situations). Quick autofocus, sharp images, excellent range on my APSC Sony A6700. I leave this lens on all the time on this camera and have got outstanding images and lovely bokeh. The lens has a AF/MF toggle, which can occasionally be get switched while taking the lens outs of a tight bag- can take some time to figure out since Sony only gives a general error message and an important shot can be missed

The lens advantages : - Very sharp images when there is enough light - Very good stabilization - Good enough autofocus (on the average) - Feels premium : build quality and weather sealed - All of that for the price !! The only things to consider if you are a professional (what may bothers you) : - does the aperture capabilities bothers you ? (it's pretty dark in the long end, not really good for getting details after the golden hour and it will produce noises) : if it does, I'd recommend the Sigma 150-600mm instead - do you need a more neutral color to minimize your editing ? (sigma lenses are producing a bit warm color cast and I can't get too much of the other colors details) : see the uploaded photos - do you need a faster autofocus for bird photography to never miss a shot ? I'd recommend the Tamron 150-500 or Sony GM / G

look... you can always spend a ton of money to buy the highest rated lenses but if you have limitations on funds... this is a great lens. make no mistake about it, it is not light and pushing out to the greatest mm (out to 400) you will either need a tripod or monopod to hold a sharp shot. lighting is key to how happy you will be with this lens if you shoot far away. make no mistake about it that shooting a long way off isnt the only good part of this lens. taking close up shots can be done from a few feet away and allows the shooter to get some tack sharp shots close up as well. i use this lens with a small sony a6000 body and losing the extra weight of a full size camera body helps to reduce the stress due to the lens weight.

I have been using the Sigma with a7iii for three months now, and I have some thoughts. Firstly the optical quality. It is very sharp, provided you know the limitations of the 6.3 aperture at 400mm (that is you need to keep a fast shutter speed handheld). No complaints here. Number two is the image stabilization. It is well above average, and can stabilize general hand shake while zoomed out. Number three is the autofocus. AF on this is quite snappy. At 400mm it may lose focus on a far away tiny bird for a few seconds (as all telephoto lenses do) but once you get it to focus, it stays locked on. Number four is the frame rate. You can expect to get a good 8fps on electronic shutter on the a7iii. Only negative that I can say here is the weight, which would not be a problem if the tripod collar had been provided. But no seller on Amazon, or anywhere for that matter can get you that collar in India. It (Sigma ts-111 collar) is the rarest and rarest of them all. It is however available everywhere outside India. I am still on the hunt for one, and will update if Amazon decides to put one up for sale. All in all, quite satisfied with this lens, but aching shoulders and forearm yearns for the tripod collar. It is a must if you want to use this on a tripod.

Il mio primo tele "spinto" per Full Frame Mirrorless, dopo aver posseduto in passato varie ottiche lunghe per Nikon FF. Le dimensioni non sono ovviamente piccole, ma comunque in rapporto alla focale accettabili, così come il peso. il 100-400 si presenta ben fatto e solido e su questo non posso che confermare la bontà del progetto SIGMA, di cui possiedo anche il 24-70 2.8 Art (che rimane comunque un gradino superiore come costruzione). Davvero gradita la presenza del tasto personalizzabile (settabile dal menù della Sony) oltre che del selettore di modalità di stabilizzazione e di quello della distanza minima (o massima) di messa a fuoco (per velocizzare l'af). Autofocus che si presenta rapido e reattivo, anche se ovviamente perde qualcosa al calar della luce. Immagini nitide già a F5, ovviamente chiudendo la situazione non fa che migliorare sino a f11, ma dipende sempre dall'uso che farete di questa lente. Io sinceramente non faccia sport\avifauna e l'ho preso più che altro per paesaggistica dove non posso che parlarne benissimo, risolve egregiamentei 42mpx della A7R2. Un DIFETTO davvero importante per me: - la mancanza della staffa, che con un'ottica di questo tipo diventa quantomeno utile per non dire indispensabile. L'originale SIGMA è difficile da trovare e costa uno sproposito, vi consiglio una compatibile ad un terzo del prezzo. Infine un vezzo estetico, a molti non piacerà la forma conica dell'a parte che si aggancia al corpo macchina, ma tenete a mente che è indispensabile per poter avere un punto dove inserire la mano quando si scatta. In conclusione un'ottica davvero buona, non troverete di meglio a questo prezzo per Sony. Consigliata!

Lens bijzonder geschikt voor de Sony alpha 7 III. De scherpte van de foto's is uitstekend. Zeer geschikt voor natuuropnamen. Ik ben zeer in mijn nopjes met deze lens.

Uygun fiyatlı ve yüksek yakınlaştırma olmasına rağmen 150-500 ya da 150-600'lerden daha rahat taşınıyor elde.

初めての望遠レンズにこのレンズを選びました。 主に動物園で動物を撮影していました（実際に撮影した写真添付）。 野鳥撮影などの際はAFが追い付かないこともありましたが楽しく使うことができました。 野鳥撮影では600㎜などさらに望遠のレンズが欲しくなるので野鳥撮影が目的の方は初めから600㎜を購入したほうがいいです。