Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN Sports Review

The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN 'Sports' is an impressively sharp optic. We review it and compare it to the Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7.
See full resolution samples in our Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 sample gallery: www.dpreview.com/sample-galle...
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Design and features
3:30 - Autofocus
5:07 - Closeup performance
5:42 - Focus breathing
6:13 - Flare
6:30 - Bokeh
7:21 - Sharpness
8:52 - E-Mount competition
9:55 - L-Mount competition
Music provided by BeatSuite.com
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Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
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[@DHShields]

I'm not currently I'm the market for new camera gear yet I watch every episode from you guys! You sure know how to make videos 😁

[@Nico-bc4ir]

Another very informative yet very easily digestable review. Thanks!

[@vinyalonde]

Thanks for this review. I bought the Sigma 100-400 for my Leica cameras based on your recommendation and it is good to know that should I need it, a longer option is available. For what it is worth, I like the breaking up of the video into chapters. It makes searching for a topic easier. Good work as always.

[@dibaduheyproductions4969]

Thank you so much for always briefly touching on the Focus Breathing of lenses you review. So few channels do this! :D

[@DanielChauLifeThroughLens]

Thank you Chris and crews for doing this review, it is a bless if get some shots head to head with Sony 200-600mm. 🙏

[@onyertod]

Thanks for another great review. A ton of information and informed opinion with no waffle. I just bought this , my first real long Tele and so far I love it.😊

[@dunnadidit]

Great video guys. Audio is sounding extra crispy (in a good way) in this one!

[@BraulioMontelongo]

I just bought it today on Amazon. I can't wait to get it in a few days!

[@thomastuorto9929]

A very thorough review. Besides the humor sometimes found in DP’s vids, it is why I watch this channel.

[@bburchellphotos]

I see Chris likes to live dangerously by wearing sandals! haha

[@niccollsvideo]

It's what's keeping me feeling young these days. Living in the danger zone!

[@bburchellphotos]

@@niccollsvideo I'm imagining you now looking like Austin Powers saying all of this. YEAH BABY!

[@overflowyouknow]

@@niccollsvideo why don't you guys ever comment from the DPReview channel?

[@davidbailey1689]

Thanks for the review and the comparison. I have my money ready for when it becomes available in the UK. I’ll be using it on my a7r3.

[@IanPhillipsWildlife]

Thanks for this review, very helpful.

[@user-bp8yg3ko1r]

Fantastic review!

[@TheRoyPrasad]

Hi Chris, a crisp and useful review as usual. One thing you forgot to mention about the Sony 200-600: the zoom and focusing are completely internal in this lens. That is really huge, especially if you travel to dusty environments like Tanzania or Kenya. That, and the superior optics, autofocus acquisition and focus tracking, justify the extra cost for the Sony for people to whom these issues are important.

[@stephanmantler]

Thank you. Came here to mention the same thing. Fully internal construction is a major advantage for the inclement environment I live and work in.

[@nothingtoseeheremovealong...]

Optics are not superior though? Look at the charts, sigma is consistently cleaner.

[@ElectricDreams10]

@@nothingtoseeheremovealong... Yes I saw that too. Autofocus yes, image quality no.

[@ziginox]

One bonus note for the Sony 200-600mm, the zoom is all internal. While that's less good for compactness, it's better for durability and weather sealing. It is almost a pound heavier, though. It also has two more (rounded) aperture blades and an even shorter minimum focusing distance. I'd been planning to get the Sony lens, but this Sigma is making it a rather difficult decision.

[@turbo_bikini]

Good points! But from my research the Sigma 150-600 had a short MFD than the Sony 200-600. Anyway, I'm very happy with my New Sigma for Sony A7RIV. Great purchase worth every dime!

[@touchedbynature5445]

Good review, very helpful and informative , many thanks for sharing.

[@JjackVideo]

Video idea: When I was growing up as a photographer it was conventional wisdom that lens hoods were required. And truth be told, lens flare is still a major issue on a lot of older glass. But with modern lens coatings it seems that the average photographer has to work fairly hard to get lens flair anymore. Could be a great video to test out if we're all wasting place and grams in our kits

[@sanfordlavine1760]

Thanks, great review.

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

beautiful lens, once the R and Z mount is out, i will for sure get one.

[@bearbearingston7696]

Maybe i'm used to old stuff but those beeping focus speeds sounded were pretty fast to me, and the sharpness is a razor. At this point i feel the big selling points are the build quality and this one has pretty cool features in it. Shame it's $1399 above my budget.

[@reinhardbecker284]

You tested the l-mount version: is dual-is working on Lumix bodies with this lens?

[@KyleClements]

I'm a huge fan of cat's eye bokeh, it does a nice job of framing the central subject and holding the eye inside the frame. I find the bokeh in this lens very busy and distracting looking.

[@NEILAMALONE]

This lens is certainly cheaper than what I thought it would be! It will be a couple of months before I have the money but certainly will be considering this lens as my super telephoto option. This Sigma is actually cheaper in the UK than the Tamron 150-500mm being priced at £1,199 compared to £1,379 so I may go for this in and see how I fare.

[@ZPOLLAK]

I LOVE my contemporary version of this on my Canon.

[@Avg_Vet]

3 mins in and I already want it.

[@gautammukherjee5972]

Hi Chris .. superb & indepth review..i loved your honest opinion..I have been hearing some users facing some focusing issues with Sigma...since I am planning to buy one of these Zoom lens for mainly Landscape photography with some Bird & Wildlife photography which would be your final recommendation...currently there is a discount scheme on Sigma 150-600 so its infact slightly cheaper than Tamron 150-500 but that doesn't matter since i consider lens as long-term investment. I use a Sony A7RIII currently with Sony 24-105 G & Sigma14-24mm... looking at the build quality & performance of Sigma 14-24mm i was actually tilting towards Sigma but I am little confused now frankly between Sigma 150-600 DG DN OS SPORT & Tamron 150-500 Di III VXD...Thanks in advance!!

[@WestVirginiaWildlife]

I have the canon version of the sigma 150-600 C and sigma 18-300 C. Both lenses tend to "pulse" when in servo AF, so I tend to shoot in one shot AF for semi-stationary subjects.

[@davewarren7693]

Simple. I want the Z mount version of this lens. Plus I want to see the Nikon offerings for this focal length. Come on Nikon!

[@Rascallucci]

Don't hold your breath. I want to see the RF version of this lens too since I already have the EF version. But, if it took them this long to come out with an E mount lens, I wouldn't expect to see the Z or RF mount versions for at least another couple of years especially considering the current supply chain issues and global chip shortage. I have decided, I am going to trade in my R5 and migrate over to Sony to grab the A1 and FE 200-600mm.

[@richrollin4867]

No chance. Third party manufacturers are not welcome to the Z mount.

[@youknowwho9247]

Canon and Nikon are going after Samyang for making glass for Z and RF. At this point it seems unlikely that those systems are going to get third party lens support. Good reason to buy into Sony.

[@cmduran]

I’m looking forward to when Nikon announce the development of the 200-600mm lens on the roadmap.

[@GabrielGGabGattringer]

Very interesting lense. Would be great for planespotting! How´s the AF performing when tracking very fast moving aircraft?

[@alchemist_x79]

I've got the Sony 200-600 on loan and testing on my a7RIV and RIII to see if I want to buy it, and so far I've been meh about it and thinking I won't end up buying it. It just hasn't blown me away like the 100-400 GM did out of the box. This lens for $500-ish cheaper, however, may be more compelling option for me.

[@michap.2045]

Thanks for the review guys! What do you think about this lens for a6300? I've got the Sony 70-350, but I could use some extra reach for wild animals...

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

That push-pull zoom option is actually pretty good for wildlife shooters, IMO. How is the IS for video? The Tamron 150-600 for DSLRs has too jerky IS for video from my experience, and their 150-500 for Sony is just as bad from Jan Wegener's review.

[@robbie154]

Would've liked to see the AF head to head on a Sony to compare with the Tamron. As that is the deciding factor for most.

[@HendrikMorkel]

I agree, also please throw in the Sony 200 - 600 mm in that comparison!

[@marsdenphoto]

Watch the Dustin abbott review of the lens. He uses it on an A1 and A9 and the autofocus is very quick on e mount

[@TechReflex]

Is 'Noct' a real unit for measuring weight? Is it related to that Nikon lens?

[@StephanWahlen]

It absolutely is! 1 Noct ~ 2000g ~ 2kg ~ 4.41 pounds Which by coincidence is the weight of one "NIKKOR Z 58 mm 1:0,95 S Noct"

[@romainprovost7164]

Silly question, can it be used with a free hand (without putting it on the tripod collar)? Or will it ruin the handle with a very tiring imbalance towards the front? (for a sony A7IV)

[@007silverwings]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this lens. Please can you report how the AF is with Panasonic S5 in real life, sports or birds etc? Thanks

[@eastwind3550]

Thank you very much.

[@EdwardKilner]

Did you by any chance gain any insight into how this lens performs on an FTZ adapter for a Z6ii? Know of any articles that reviewed this combo?

[@RoamPanda08]

I can't decide between this and the Tammy 150-500. My concern with Sigma is that the direction of the zoomring is opposite the ones from sony and tammy. any experience??

[@AlchemMedia]

What size filter thread does this lens run? I’m seeing 105 and 95 on different sites

[@markharwood]

I note in these last few long lens reviews that you don't mention the Sony 100-400 GM - is that due to it's price?

[@bertwilbrink2679]

You can find Chris also on the Teva channel, doing a sandal review

[@marsdenphoto]

The reviews of the e mount version babe all commented on the blindingly fast auto focus

[@HuFilms]

3:30 ha ha, Chris has his tongue firmly in his cheek in this position! 😂

[@tonyzhu403]

New Intro. Pretty Cool.

[@thatjordandrake]

Just trying to shave a few seconds off this overlong episode.

[@tonyzhu403]

@@thatjordandrake Nah. Always the perfect length.

[@markchen5710]

are you able to hit off high framerates with this lens? considering this vs 200-600mm G OSS

[@uglyigor3055]

when I now finally would get my sigma 70-200 f2.8 for e-mount I would be so happy.

[@Andrewmusic100]

Gran video, pero alguna razón creo que lo mejor es comparar los lentes en el mismo cuerpo. Creo que el autofoco iría mejor en una cámara sony que en otra mirrorless. De todos modos gracias por el análisis.

[@deekaneable]

I love that the 'Noct' is a unit of measurement now.

[@donaldjones2106]

While hunting for big zoom lens. At least up to 600 mm. I found at B&H Photo the Sigma 150-600 mm for my Nikon Z7 Works fine with the FTZ adapter. I bought the Sigma contemporary 150-600 mm lens. It is so sharp . And one of the best things is the price. $899.00

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Speed of the AF is one thing, but how are the reliability and accuracy of the AF? I have the Sigma 100-400mm for EF mount and AF that hunts a lot, misses the target completely, or frequently back focuses are my biggest issues. (Using a Canon M5 mirrorless so micro-AF adjustments shouldn't be required?)

[@rachelintherockies]

Have y’all had the chance to test the contemporary 150-600 on one of the newer canon bodies?

[@AllThingsFilm1]

My first camera was an Olympus OM-1, a stills camera. Not long after, I got into filmmaking and eventually ended up in the mirrorless camera world. But, for the life of me, I don't get this obsession with "corner sharpness". I'm 61 and I've looked at 10's of 1,000's of photographs, in books, showings, museums, etc. Mostly in person. Not once did I look or care about how sharp the photo was in the corners. Rarely if ever was the subject matter that far from the center. Nor did I ever walk up to a picture and look in the corners to see how "sharp" it was. Why? I'm an artist. I understand visuals. But, corner sharpness? It seems insanely bizarre to focus on such a feature. It literally has nothing to do with the subject matter you're shooting. So, can someone tell my WHY corner sharpness is so important? I'm honestly curious.

[@brucewayne5590]

Can you do a comparison on how this Sigma and Tamron stacks up to the Sony 200 - 600? The 200 - 600 is internal zoom so that's one advantage. Also, are these Sigma and Tamron lenses available for Canon's RF mount?

[@Diamondranchfarmstead]

Do you know if sigma makes a teleconverter for the Sony mount to pair with their sigma lens?

[@wouteryoutube4476]

Do you always need to use the lens hood? Even with cloudy days and the sun in your back?

[@barneylaurance1865]

Do you think this release will increase the second hand supply of the Sigma 100-400? It doesn't seem to show up very much.

[@younesrashidpour118]

Is this lens suitable for photographing sports competitions inside sports halls? Sports like basketball, weightlifting, etc.

[@SovietLensReviews]

Bokeh transition to out-of-focus on this one looks a bit meh, but aside from that love the push-pull zoom, looks like a fun lens!

[@michaelgray8128]

I'm wondering if I should get this or upgrade from the S5 to something like the S1R instead of putting some hard cash down on this lens first :(

[@bn8ws]

Would be nice if they made one for Fuji X mount

[@slowtheplanedown]

I just got the clap. I mean I just got this lens. Friggin heavy w/o tripod. Also shaky at full extension even with OS on. I am still very happy considering the alternatives.

[@myworldntl]

Would you recommend this for the EOS R range of cameras with an EF/RF adapter over the RF 100-500 (which is over £1000 more expensive)…??

[@KenCheng]

Too bad you didn't also review the e-mount version because I'm quite certain (newer) Sony bodies autofocus faster than the Lumix (aren't Lumix still using Contrast Detection Autofocus?) And unless I missed it if you mentioned, but it should be noted that you'll most likely won't get 20fps/30fps on the α9/α9II/α1 bodies with this lens

[@johnd5244]

I just wish Nikon would let 3rd party make lenses for the Z mount. This would be a nice choice lens here for wildlife

[@bennypranata5719]

Hi can I use Sony Tele converter using this lens on my Sony A9?

[@yumphallangthaphal1598]

What happens when you step on an iron spike with your sandals, since last time it took a boot to kick on it .

[@haak737]

Can you please review the Sigma 100-400mm for e mount?

[@jimrobinson-bohnslav2870]

really want to see a head-to-head with the Sony 200-600 and Tamron 150-500mm on Sony!

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Christopher Frost says he's going to make a comparison video

[@juanjohntramos7196]

Hello I have a canon eos 4000 D . I want to buy sigma 150m-600mm lens . What types of EF mount do I need to have the lens and camera to work

[@robertlawrence7958]

Will Sigma be bringing this out in a Canon RF mount?

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I find autofocus performance tested with fast paced action more informative. Tree logs really isn't the subjects for these tests.

[@TheJapaneseWhiskyReview]

If you wish to speed up focus of this lens you need to get the Sigma Dock. I have 2 Sigma lenses and the default AF speed is Standard AF. I think most of us that shoot wildlife change this with the dock to Fast AF which prioritizes autofocus speed to reach the focus point as quickly as possible. You can also adjust the things like Focus Limiter and Optical Stabilization settings.

[@chrislyons8615]

@@ANewDayyy Same here pretty annoyed why no E mount dock when it has the switch on the lens. My last Sigma 150-600C was useless at AF until I changed settings with the dock, this lens the E mount has useless AF!

[@DipanjanPradhan]

Which is better sony a6100 or canon m50 mark ii? I am looking for portrait photography along with occasional landscape while travelling. Following are my concerns. Sigma 16mm or 30mm 1.4 on a6100 or m50 mark ii is better? 1) Is m50 mk2 's dynamic range too bad for landscape. How much it differs from a6100. 2) How much is m50 mk2's images less sharper than a6100? 3) A6100 has how resolution viewfinder compared to m50 mk2. How much is that in real time use from a beginner's pov.

[@mjsvitek]

I love how Noct is a new unit of mass...

[@maxvain]

@1:50 mentions space for teleconverter, what teleconverter works with this on E Mount?

[@MarcelVolker]

My guess is that that will only be for the L-mount, not to encourage the E-mount too much.

[@fellowcitizen]

I feel like people don't realize that the L-mount has far more lens options than Canon RF and Nikon Z, and is already catching up to E-mount for premium options.

[@koolkutz7]

@@AIP404 Yes I have the same issue with my Sigma 150-600mm C on my Nikon D7500. You sometimes get that viewfinder 'judder' too which is really distracting & I am not convinced Sigma's image stabilisation is as effective as Nikon's native glass either.

[@safemode8598]

What water and no fishing Chris?

[@rasecroel2366]

What exactly I need to mount this sigma in a D850 body?.. Thanks

[@godsinbox]

tamron and sony 200-600 are the same street price in most territories. the tamron were lucky they had some market share before the sigma comes out. regardless of whether this sigma is better (or internally identical) than the widely panned 150-600 G2 lens, they have the publicity team to market it harder over tamron.

[@algeriefootballvideos]

Hello, what are the best solutions for sports photos at night with correct lighting - Sony a) A7 III + Sony 200-600 lens b) Sony A7 III with Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN or c) panasonic S1R with Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN L-mount Thank you

[@Speak_Out_and_Remove_All_Doubt]

Did they stop making the 50-500mm? I have that lens for my A99ii, incredibly versatile going all the way to 50mm just not that fast or sharp. I normally choose to use my RX10iv as it's faster, sharper and massively lighter.

[@donkeyholmes4581]

They stopped making it many years ago it’s replacement is the 60-600 sport

[@Junior_souza232]

I have a Canon T7 this lens is it compatible?

[@3dtrip870]

Does anyone know the minimum focusing distance at 600mm?

[@madtoffelpremium8324]

I really wish, that this lens gets a RF and Z mount version at some point. I am still using the old EF Sport version, which is really big and heavy with only mediocre image quality on the long end.

[@richrollin4867]

It's unlikely that you'll ever see RF lenses from Tamron or Sigma - Samyang just stopped production of all RF lenses, which smells of a threat of legal action from Canon. This may explain why Tamron and Sigma haven't touched the RF mount.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I have the old Sports version, and it is very sharp on my D750. However, it doesn't work correctly with the FTZ in AF-C mode, you'll get lots of pulsing in bright daylight and stationary subjects. I felt sorry for my investment.

[@madtoffelpremium8324]

@@richrollin4867 That's sadly one of the possible reasons and I hope it's not true, because I have now bought into the RF system.

[@richrollin4867]

@@madtoffelpremium8324 It's very likely to be the case. Samyang's RF lenses work well with the latest R5 and R6 firmware and were selling well. I read that Canon has started to do the same thing with third party ink cartridges. Trademark infringement.

[@jeffrydemeyer5433]

@@richrollin4867 I think that's more of a production capacity issue and not a legal issue. There are a boat load of (x) to RF mount adapters

[@smithmillion101]

Can i use this Sigma 150-600mm with fujifilm xt5?

[@jlwilliams]

It must be No Fun Week in Canada… this is the most mainstream, straight-faced, normcore, cheugy DPRTV video I've seen in a long time.

[@frankfeng2701]

Value-wise, Sigma 100-400 DN is still the telephoto to beat: much cheaper than any other OEM mirrorless telephoto but performs very well for any less demanding task.

[@theluminaryinc]

so I was wondering, is the Noct unit of weight just a running joke, or is that a real unit?

[@johnabatto1088]

I was wondering if this lens would be compatible with the Sony a6400. Thanks in advance.

[@dfusselman]

Yes. It is listed as compatible with the A6400 on the b&h order site under the specs tab. Good question!

[@danieldougan269]

This is another reason why relying exclusively on DFD sucks. It's not great with Panasonic's own lenses, but when you put third-party glass on there, it can really struggle with C-AF + tracking, right? I bet this thing is killer on E mount.

[@cesarm8811]

Great review, but as Nikon user, this lens doesn't work for me. Nikon needs to share it's z mount specification with Sigma and Tamron, so us Nikon user can have more lens options.

[@pmc7105]

How was the stabilizer? I don't recall it being mentioned. I have the Sigma 100-400 and the stabilizer isn't great.

[@daniellefernandes8423]

There’s 4 stops in the lens

[@pmc7105]

​@@daniellefernandes8423 As long as it's better than the 100-400mm.

[@albusai]

Can it only go on a Canon camera? I have a Nikon

[@leoyan4847]

1:24 beautiful home! Who's is it?

[@Aman_Mondal]

Thanks for making this video using the L mount cameras that system needs more recognition

[@youknowwho9247]

Testing the focusing capabilities of a lens while it's put on a Panasonic camera is like testing the sprinting capabilities of a human while he's wearing gum boots...

[@fellowcitizen]

9:56 Don't forget that both Panasonic Leica-collab 70-200s work with the TCs to reach 400mm, and the smaller non-collab is 70-300mm. This one probably beats them at long range without TCs, but they are L-mount options (and there are reports that the S Pro lenses work with the Sigma TCs as well - without EXIF.) Plus the MC-21 options for Sigma and Canon EF.

[@janwedek]

Sigma lenses also work with the Panasonic TCs on L mount, also without EXIF. So works both ways.

[@fellowcitizen]

@@janwedek Good to know, thanks

[@simonwilliams2109]

Thanks guys, do you think they will make an X mount version for my X-E3? 😂👍

[@gschweiger]

Back to the flip flops, I see. Watch out!