150-600mm F5/-6.3 DG DN for Sony E

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Use with teleconverters: Yes, Sigma offers two teleconverters TC-1411 and TC-2011 which multiply focal length and maximum magnification by 1.4x resp. 2x – but only for L-mount. The lens probably does not work with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters – only the Sony 200-600 certifiably works on Sony’s teleconverters. [+] Focus accuracy and repeatability is critical to consistently produce sharp shots. Repeatability (the accuracy of focus on the same subject after repeated focus-acquisition) of the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG DN OS under well-lit test conditions is good (measured 96.4% in Reikan FoCal) but shows some focus variation especially when focusing from further away. And there was one clearly misfocused shot over a series of 40 shots. At 200mm focal length the lens focuses in around 0.7 sec from infinity to 2.08m (1:10 magnification). In darker conditions (+5EV) I encountered a lot of hunting at focal lengths of 300mm and beyond. The S (Smooth) setting puts the zoom ring resistance at its smoothest setting for general purpose photography. The Sony 3x zoom was until recently the only long telephoto zoom lens originally designed for mirrorless cameras (with E-mount) reaching beyond 400mm focal length. Now there is the Tamron reaching 500mm and the new Sigma reaching up to 600mm as well. The major differences between the Sony and the new Sigma? The Sony lens can use Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters to result in a 280-880mm f8-9 or even 400-1200mm f11-13 lens. The Sigma on the other hand is more flexible with it’s 4x zoom giving a wider view at the short end (16.4 degrees vs. 12.5 degrees) which might be a boon if the action gets closer than anticipated. And from the MTF charts I assume that the Sigma is sharper at the long end. Regarding size and weight both lenses are similar with the Sony being a non-extending design: So the Sony is longer than the Sigma at 150mm focal length but shorter than the Sigma at 600mm. In my opinion, the choice between the Sony and Sigma are pretty simple: If you value the flexibility on the short end go for the Sigma. If you need more reach than 600mm on your Sony E-mount camera go for the Sony lens (plus teleconverter). There is pincushion distortion on the three lenses but that is minimised when the lens profile is applied. Curiously, the Tamron is the one that needs less correction than the other two models.

For the focal reach which this zoom can achieve it remains extremely compact measuring 109.4mm×263.6mm and weighing 2.1kg. The filter thread is 95mm for those who add lens filters into their shooting style. IQ wise, I've been happy with all. Wasn't thrilled by the Sigma 150-600 and 100-400 on the MC-11, but it's probably improved in the last few years. The Sigma 150-600mm for Sony lens features an optical construction comprising of 25 elements in 15 groups, including 4 FLD and 2 ELD elements.

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My tests turned out to be a bit less conclusive than I’m used to seeing. But it looks like I was able to get almost 50% shots with usable central sharpness even at 1/40 sec. This would be a 3-4 stop advantage from the image stabilization of the lens at 600mm focal length. I also came across test shots where the OS led to images with less sharp outer image areas. Best keep in mind that holding/shooting a combo that weighs almost 2.9kg over an extended period of time is always stressful and leads to increased shake. So it’s better to shoot from a tripod, monopod or any support you can get for the lens when using focal lengths beyond 200mm. But with it mounted, you'll at least increase your chances of shielding the front of the lens from the sun in the first place. For E-mount owners, however, there are a couple of direct rivals and also some caveats to bear in mind. The rearmost lens element is deeply inset, allowing use of Sigma's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters for L-mount shooters. Sadly, E-mount equivalents aren't available.

Image quality is exceptional, with ultra-high-performance glass capable of delivering ultra-sharp results even on the highest resolution cameras. The lens displays beautiful bokeh throughout its zoom range, and optical aberrations are kept well under control. It can be used with SIGMA’s 1.4× and 2× L-Mount teleconverters, with AF effective up to 1200mm. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports inherits most of its signature features from its DSLR counterpart, though the optical path does differ slightly from the DSLR version, as it is comprised of 25 elements arranged in 15 groups, including four FLD Elements and two SLD elements to reduce aberrations. Sigma's Super Multi-Layer Coating is employed to reduce flare and ghosting, and a water and oil-repellent coating is applied to the front element to bead away rain droplets and minimize fingerprints. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports ships with standard 95mm front lens and rear lens caps, a shoulder strap, a good quality soft case, a very large circular polycarbonate lens hood (LH1034-01) which screws into place, and a Cover Lens Cap which slides over the lens and hood when reversed to protect the end of the lens during transportation. Focal Range Park Cameras Limited is a credit broker, not a lender and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 720279). We do not charge you for credit broking services. We will introduce you exclusively to finance products provided by Duologi.Sigma’s service can change the mount of the lens between Sony’s E-mount and L-mount (at a cost). This is a unique feature that no other manufacturer offers. [++] A dust and splash resistant structure *1 that stops water drops or dust from getting

The Sigma offers excellent close-up capabilities at 150mm, outperforming the Tamron by a small margin. The execution is a bit disappointing unfortunately, because if you hold the lens with your hand on the zoom ring, which is the most natural position, you end up moving the ring up and down all the time while taking pictures. In other words, it could have done with a stronger mechanism. To make it work, you need to hold the lens with your hand touching another part of its surface, which is not always comfortable.Put another way, the mirrorless lens and a fully-loaded Panasonic S5 or Sony a1 body would tip the scales at just a little less than the unmounted DSLR lens alone! But be that as it may, it still weighs 2.1kg (4.62lb) without the camera. So while you can certainly shoot with it handheld if needed, for extended shooting sessions you'll likely find yourself wanting some support. With static subjects, all three lenses deliver fast and accurate focus, and I didn’t encounter any unwelcome behaviour or particular problem during my two weeks testing them. The Sony 100-400GM is nice, but has the extending barrel, and heavier focus ring. The reproduction ratio is nice though; with the 1.4x TC, it gets down to 0.5x; macro range. It can handle 1/60s at 150mm without issues, but it’s better to stay at 1/125s or above when working at 500mm. Lenses – Should have no marks on the elements andoptically clear. There may be light dust present that will not effect theimagery.