Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon

This is a fantastic lens. Superb build and optical quality. Canon and Nikon could learn a few things from Sigmas new lens range. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, but I'm pretty impressed so far. It replaces a Canon 100-400mm L series zoom, which was a fantastic lens, but I wanted that extra reach without the need for an extender. The Sigma is a heavy lens, which a number of people have criticized, but how heavy and more to the point, more costly would a 600mm Canon or Nikon lens be?I've taken successful hand-held shots of birds at 600mm and 1/250th, so the optical stabilisation works well.I've attached a few shots below.The running Sanderling was hand held at 1/500th at 600mm. The Goldfinch was hand held at 1/250th at 600mm and the Goldeneye was 1/1000th at 600mm using a bean bag. The main image is how it looked through the viewfinder and the larger image is the central section blown up to show the image quality. all the images were ISO 400 and f6.3

After using this combo for some time now often in borderline/critical light situations ( Birds and Nature, autumn low light, low cloud, grey in grey, rainy etc) I am impressed by all elements involved. The Nikon D7500 really is a powerful and affordable low light cam and delivers an outstanding overall performance in combination with the Sigma package ( and also the Nikkor 80-200mm 2.8 and the TC 1.4II!). The Sigma lens has no issues with the D7500, focus without the TC-1401 is very fast and reliable ( Result of full speed 7FS with adjustments to Nikon D7500 overall to max. performance for high speed is really surprising: 5-6 Pics are always perfectly focussed and balanced – for me a superb result compared to my previous ‘’quotas’’). With the TC 1401 it still all works perfectly with the Nikon D7500, focus works on all levels ( yes, also around f9 and higher - and at very high ISO’s) and you do get a ‘’reach’’ like that of an a 1250mm lens!! – just a little bit slower but still allowing for up to 3 FPS with similarly good results.Why 1250mm? Sigma is max 600mm & TC1401 =840mm f6, plus Nikon D7500 (APS-C= Sensor Size hands you an angle of view of 1.5x that of an FX camera resulting in the picture seeming to be larger/closer)= comparable to view through an 1275mm f9 (at full resolution of 20.5 mp and not cropped to a lower resolution coming from a 24mp body without a TC)Overall Sharpness of the Lens itself is excellent. Sharpness with the TC is a tiny little bit softer, but not as much as I had expected. Of course ,this all depends on the available light. In comparison to the D7200 (has 24mp but less responsiveness to low light) a picture under comparable circumstances without enlarging or cropping has no visible difference in resolution, ‘’blowing up ‘’ the picture to A3 still does not show a visible loss of resolution with the Nikon D7500 compared to the D7200.I also did a good few tests with a METZ AF-1 52 Flash over the distance of up to 35-40m ( 70-80 yards). Yes, even for birds (and a fox which probably had the shock of his life!) ! – they hardly ever seem to be bothered by a flash. The Nikon D7500 and the Sigma Lens combo work brilliantly for this ( even though this distance seems to be impossible for a Flash) – but for a single pic only. No series ( recharging time of flash) = Works, excellent results and of course enhances the lighting and sharpness of the picture a good bit – even over such large distances.All in all this is probably one of the best, just about affordable ‘’reach out’’ combo’s for Amateurs / ‘’Enthusiasts’’around . Highly recommended.

First I'd like to say this lens is good value for money and very well made.It is also impressively big if you haven't had a large lens before.However I compared it side by side with my Canon 100-400 mk2 with and without the Canon 1.4x mk3 extender.And the Canon was clearly sharper, faster to focus, had way better Image Stabilizer and is much smaller and lighter.I tried adjusting the Sigma with its docking station and nothing really improved it.Forget using an extender with this Sigma, the quality was unusable in my opinion.It's not a bad lens and people are clearly getting nice photos with it and the cheaper Contemporary lens, but the Canon 100-400 was better.I really wanted to like this lens but I ended up sending it back.We always want more reach but that comes at a cost. The Canon 100-400 mk2 was good with the Canon 1.4x mk3 extender in good light.If you are going to buy this lens anyway, be prepared for the front heavy weight, you're going to need at least a decent monopod.I gave it 4 stars because its good value.

This lens is a first class piece of equipment, it is heavy but not as heavy as people say. Make sure you have the USB docking station as the lens does require some micro adjustment for front and back focusing, you can do this on your own camera but the docking station gives a far better accuracy. I cannot fault this lens, the zoom ring is a little tight but I would rather have it like this as being too slack. The focus speed is as good as any 2.8 prime lens however, please remember that this not a 7-10 thousand pound/dollar lens but it does match many aspects that you would expect of such lenses. Would I recommend this zoom lens? - Yes I would and furthermore, Sigma currently have upped their game and are now setting design quality to match and better their main two big counterparts of Nikon and Canon. I now have to rate Sigma Art, Contemporary and Sports lenses as being as good as and in many ways better than the two main companies named. (Images provided by me are on a Canon 7D Mark 2 plus Sigma 150 - 600 mm Sports (after USB docking adjustments) and on a tripod with gimbal)