It took long enough for me to get my hands on one, but I have finally had a chance to play around with Sigma’s new 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Sport series lens, and man, is it something special.
The ‘Sports’ model of the 150-600mm is Sigma’s higher end, all-in-one telephoto lens, offering advanced weather sealing, and a more robust build quality over the smaller, more budget friendly, ‘contemporary’ version. Priced at just under $2000, the Sports model is an interesting conundrum for those also considering fast telephoto primes.
[REWIND: Sigma Announces Two 150-600mm Lenses]
I am blessed to live within a short driving distance of two great national wildlife reserves, and I figured there was no better way to put this lens through the paces than out in the bush with some wildlife. I tested the Canon mount version of this lens on a Canon 7D, and I did use it stabilized with a monopod.
That is one aspect of this lens where the contemporary version has the advantage, it is much smaller and easier to handle. This Sports version is big, heavy, and while you can pop off a shot or two handheld, for extended shooting, a tripod or monopod is virtually required.
The Imagery
You can view full sized JPGs of these shots by clicking on the image.
Conclusions
Overall, I am very happy with how the Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens has performed for me. But I wonder how many photographers will opt for this model given its heft and the inconvenience of needing a tripod/monopod for extended use. The lens is sharp, focuses quickly and accurately, and the included image stabilization is top notch.
Pros
- Fast & Accurate Focusing
- Top Notch Build Quality
- Weather Sealed
- Great Image Stabilization
Cons
- Size & Weight Make It Unwieldy Hand Held
I am hoping to compare this model to its cheaper contemporary sibling as well as the Tamron 150-600mm, so stay tuned for those in the future along with a full, and more extensive review of this lens on it own.
So what do you want to know about this lens? What lenses are you most interested in seeing this compared to? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
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