Best Long Zoom for the $$ | Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN Contemporary | 1 Year Review

[@Davidmccombs]

Great review. I'm glad someone finally posted a long term review. Seems like no one talks about this lens anymore with the new Tamron 150-500.

[@shimmeringreflection]

Great review and just as importantly, great images! You walk the talk, so I've subscribed to your channel

[@JosephelLeon]

Exellent review! Thanks. I recently got my Sigma 100-400mm and I love it.

[@SebastianWorldwide]

I have had the lens for a few days. Unfortunately, the front lens barrel extends automatically when the lens is held down. Is that the same with your specimen? It's quite annoying, unfortunately. Many thanks in advance!

[@lewiswnellingerjr9433]

Perfect review for my needs. Thanks for keeping it short and on subject.

[@TomsJurjaks]

Really great review Tony. Clear and down to the point. I’m about to order one today so this video helps a lot in the decision making. Keep up the good work buddy ✌️

[@TonyDae]

Feel free to come to the discord channel and let us know how it goes!

[@watkinsonstudio5347]

Fantastic review, clear concise and non-biased. For both photo and video. Earned a new sub.

[@JohannesDalenMC]

Really wanted the Tamron 50-400, but it's 1100$ or so here in Norway. Found this Sigma used for less than half!

[@victorrivera6375]

Great video and images! I just purchased this lens for zoo trips among other things.

[@ShBenEd]

nice video quality you gained my subscription

[@2BeLikeChrist]

Great review... really beautiful images.

[@Will-Field]

Great video thank you 👍😀

[@bruceclasing929]

Thanks for this. It was very helpful in picking a telephoto lens for my Sony A6400.

[@SebastianWorldwide]

I have had the lens for a few days. Unfortunately, the front lens barrel extends automatically when the lens is held down. Is that the same with your example? It's quite annoying, unfortunately. Many thanks in advance!

[@d53101]

I have this lens with my Canon 90D. Since the 90D has an APSC sensor the effective FL is 150-600. I will still be getting a Sigma 1.4 teleconverter for it. I shoot birds and wildlife so the more reach the better. There is an after market tripod collar for the Sigma 100-400 from Amazon. The brand is iShoot, the cost is about 60 CAD if I remember correctly. I’ve had the 100-400 for over a year and a half now and really like it. It’s sharp, quick to focus and the stabilization is very effective. The weight and size is perfect for me.

[@SakisPallas]

Very helpful review. thx

[@NateReimers]

Great review! Can’t beat that price tag too.

[@rymdskrotet]

So...would this lens work well when shooting at airshows etc? Is it too short? Primes around 400-600 are so heavy and bulky. Is this the lens to choose in a normal, enthusiast budget for my a7 III ? Its 24mp so...Im not about to crop much. What do you think? =)

[@TonyDae]

I do not shoot air shows so I have no idea if it is too short or not. I now have an a7r5 and use DXO Photo lab and its long enough for pretty much anything I shoot due to being able to crop heavily. www.flickr.com/photos/147071481@N02

[@josemanuelnovo725]

Hola tony, estoy en dudas entre este sigma 100/400 o el tamron 150/500, cual me recomiendas para mi sony a 6700?, seria para fauna y paisaje. Gracias mil

[@Mjgot2010]

Yo, what's up Tony? Just looked at the video you made on crop factors and I am wondering, did you ever get that module for the crop factors? Cheers!

[@TonyDae]

We abandoned that project but I may pick it up again if there is interest.

[@Mjgot2010]

@@TonyDae Oh, that's sad, I hope you resume the module soon. It would be a great learning tool for me and others

[@Rfalzo]

Great photos! What camera are you using for your photography work?

[@TonyDae]

Thank you! Sony a7riii.

[@Rfalzo]

Good to know! That’s what I currently own and was very impressed by the samples you showed. I’m conflicted between going with a native lens or saving some money.

[@TonyDae]

@@Rfalzo The way I see this is... it just depends on where your priorities are at. If the best 100-400 on market is THE focal length you need/want and will use all the time, the Sony will probably be worth it. The Sony has better IQ and better AF, even if marginally so, and sometimes that can be worth it. If you are shooting sports for example and need the most reliable AF, the Sony is definitely the lens to get in order to ensure you're getting the best possible performance. If you want multiple lenses for a variety of photography though, you could get both a Sigma 100-400 (which is a very good lens of course) and a Sony 35mm f1.4 GM for the price of the 1 Sony 100-400 GM. Or... you could buy the Sigma for general super telephoto photography and then rent a G Master telephoto (either the 100-400 or 200-600 or a prime) for certain events/outings that need that extra little bit. This is what I tend to do.

[@andyli929]

I see a lot of people bashing on the push pull zoom mechanism because of easier dust accumulation. Is this a ‘valid’ long term concern?

[@TonyDae]

I think by push pull you are talking about the zoom telescoping. No it's not really an issue at all assuming you are not using it in terrible weather (sandstorms, beaches with ocean spray hitting lens, rain) without cover. What's nice about a telescoping zoom for photography is that it packs down smaller than an internal zooming lens, making it easier to pack or carry. If you are worried about dust, send the lens in occasionally for a cleaning when needed and don't abuse it. Even if this lens did get dusty once in a while, the focal length will make it very hard to see any dust at all in most cases. Hold a toothpick up to a 300mm lens right in front of the front element and it can be hard to see it at all, and that's thicker than any dust you'll see in a lens. To my knowledge, every 24-70mm photography lens ever made telescopes when it zooms, so the same complaints would have to be made about those lenses in regards to dust. In my opinion the most fair criticism of telescoping lenses have to do with professional film making due to matte boxes and rigging, where internal zooms keep their weight distribution and size constant. Other than that it's more of a matter of preference.

[@Roscoestudio]

Damn you can shoot much better than most people with this lens

[@LovingJesus1]

what camera body did you take the samples photos with

[@TonyDae]

Sony a7r3

[@ICyfish]

This vs the Tamron 100-400?

[@sumitshanker2829]

What is autofocus range limiter. And what settings to keep ?

[@TonyDae]

it does what it says on the tin. It limits the range of the auto focus. You can go either full range, short range, long range. The limiter helps to tell the lens you want to focus on certain things within a certain distance from you, so if a thing is far away but the lens keeps focusing on something very close to you, you set the limiter to the long range and it won't do that anymore as it will only focus on objects farther away.

[@sumitshanker2829]

@TonyDae thank you for getting my understanding clear now. Also, what if I use the APS-C mode in my full frame camera to capture more dynamic range upto 600mm using this lens. Would it impact the image quality ?

[@TonyDae]

@@sumitshanker2829 I think you mean focal range, dynamic range is a different thing. Any time you crop in to a lens, which is what using APSC would do, it will magnify the flaws. Technically the IQ will be worse when you crop in, however, if you use DXO photolab 6, this is a complete non issue. I highly recommend it. I use huge crops on my a7r5 all the time and even 2K - 4k crops look great.

[@TonyDae]

@@sumitshanker2829 www.flickr.com/photos/147071481@N02/with/52935960132/

[@sumitshanker2829]

@TonyDae thank you. Sorry i misunderstood dynamic range with focal length as I am new to photography and learning its terminologiea. I will give it a try using DXO photolab for editing. Thank you

[@SebastianWorldwide]

I have had the lens for a few days. Unfortunately, the front lens barrel extends automatically when the lens is held down. Is that the same with your specimen? It's quite annoying, unfortunately. Many thanks in advance!

[@TonyDae]

Use the zoom lock. It will extend without the lock engaged as would most/all longer lenses like this without a lock. Believe it or not, the Sony 100-400 is worse since it doesn't have a lock and only has a tension ring that, in my experience, does absolutely nothing.

[@cristinacoltro4517]

How well does it work with the A7RIV?

[@TonyDae]

I dunno. I don't have one :D

[@corbinmiller7627]

Little mad that a shoe mount can be added to everyone except the canon mount.

[@greasyflight6609]

How much $

[@TonyDae]

About 2 dollars.

[@greasyflight6609]

@@TonyDae Cant afford

[@makemystronger..freemegapi6800]

Sigma or tamron for Best image and image stabilizer