Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports

[alfie]

Sigma announced the new 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM weather sealed Sport zoom! For now it’s available for Canon/Nikon/Sigma only but Sony A-mount version is expected to be announced in six months.

Highlights
The lens is larger and heavier than the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 due to bigger glass elements.
It features weather sealing.
AF and OS have been optimized (see below).

Specs
The specs of the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 are included between brackets for comparison.
Construction: 24 elements, 16 groups (20 elements, 13 groups)
Filter diameter: 105 mm (95mm)
Minimum focusing distance: 260 cm (270 cm)
Dimensions: 121 x 290.2 mm (105.6 x 257.8 mm)
Aperture blades: 9, rounded (9, rounded)
Maximum magnification: 1:5 (1:5)
Weight: 2860 g / 100.88 oz. (1951 g / 68.8 oz.)
Available mounts (at launch): Canon, Nikon, Sigma (Canon, Nikon, Sony)
Expected price: around $2,000 − seems high to me even considering the advanced optics, but we’ll see (the Tamron costs $1,069)

Press Release (Polish) : http://www.kconsult.pl/o-firmie/akt.../09/nowość-sigma-150-600-mm-f5-63-dg-os-hsm!/
More Info : http://sigma-rumors.com/2014/09/sigma-150-600mm-f5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-sports-additional-details/

 

[raydio]

It should become a very popular lens for birders. Any talk of price and availability yet?

 

[alfie]

It should become a very popular lens for birders. Any talk of price and availability yet?

So far the only press release is in Polish. My gut feel is that its going to be close to the Tamron pricing. (Sigma has always been competitive)

I've been shooting the Tamron 150-600mm, and i find it a tad heavy to handhold for long as it is. The sigma will be at the level where its too heavy to handhold, but not that heavy for a full tripod. Hopefuly we'll have better optics then Tamron, then the Sigma 150-600mm will have a good place in the range of birding lens available.

Stay tuned

 

[ricleo]

quite interesting that sigma decided to upgrade the 150-500 to a 150-600 that comes close to the weight of the 120-300 F2.8 sports. Even the filter thread is 105mm, same crazy expensive size as the 120-300 F2.8 sports. suspect that both lenses share the same hood and tripod ring as well.

would you pay 2k plus for a 150-600 with F6.3 as max aperture for 600mm, vs 3k plus for a 120-300 F2.8 that can be extended to a constant at 168 - 420 F4 and 240 - 600 F5.6 with exenders?

 

[alfie]

quite interesting that sigma decided to upgrade the 150-500 to a 150-600 that comes close to the weight of the 120-300 F2.8 sports. Even the filter thread is 105mm, same crazy expensive size as the 120-300 F2.8 sports. suspect that both lenses share the same hood and tripod ring as well.

would you pay 2k plus for a 150-600 with F6.3 as max aperture for 600mm, vs 3k plus for a 120-300 F2.8 that can be extended to a constant at 168 - 420 F4 and 240 - 600 F5.6 with exenders?

the sigma 50-500mm is also a 105mm filter.. and these filters are sooo expensive (and rare)

The 120-300 f/2.8 is $3k ? Hmm.. i should look into it.. hahaa..

The problem is not only price, its weight. Its 1kg heavier then my tamron 150-600mm, its also longer.

 

[jumpz]

quite interesting that sigma decided to upgrade the 150-500 to a 150-600 that comes close to the weight of the 120-300 F2.8 sports. Even the filter thread is 105mm, same crazy expensive size as the 120-300 F2.8 sports. suspect that both lenses share the same hood and tripod ring as well.

would you pay 2k plus for a 150-600 with F6.3 as max aperture for 600mm, vs 3k plus for a 120-300 F2.8 that can be extended to a constant at 168 - 420 F4 and 240 - 600 F5.6 with exenders?

Interesting info. Kindly advise if the 3K+ is for the Sigma 120-300f2.8 sports version? Where did you purchase at that price. Thanks

 

[ricleo]

i got my sports version grey set for about 3.5k when it was first launched.

 

[richiemccaw1]

Someone is selling it for $3k in BnS. Interesting..

 

[Turbonetics]

quite interesting that sigma decided to upgrade the 150-500 to a 150-600 that comes close to the weight of the 120-300 F2.8 sports. Even the filter thread is 105mm, same crazy expensive size as the 120-300 F2.8 sports. suspect that both lenses share the same hood and tripod ring as well.

would you pay 2k plus for a 150-600 with F6.3 as max aperture for 600mm, vs 3k plus for a 120-300 F2.8 that can be extended to a constant at 168 - 420 F4 and 240 - 600 F5.6 with exenders?

different lens altogether.
F5.6 and F6.3 is not a big difference.
150-600mm is more for birding lens compare to 120-300mm is more for sports.

 

[alfie]

different lens altogether.
F5.6 and F6.3 is not a big difference.
150-600mm is more for birding lens compare to 120-300mm is more for sports.

Actually, F5.6 and F6.3 has one big difference, at F5.6 you can still use a 1.4x TC. You can't use any more TC after F5.6

(Most cameras PDAF can only AF up to F8.. so f5.6+1.4tc => f8)

Of course you have to be quite crazy to stack multiple TC.. hahaa

The advantage of the 120-300/2.8 will hust be flexibility, you can do sports (f2.8) or birding (f5.6).. of course the weight is a major factor too.

 

[ricleo]

yahehe of course understand a 600mm lens vs a 300mm lens is meant for diff purposes, but this 150-600 f6.3 is built a little too heavy and big for such a slow aperture lens, and at a much higher price vs the tamron which approaches the price of the F2.8 lens

different lens altogether.
F5.6 and F6.3 is not a big difference.
150-600mm is more for birding lens compare to 120-300mm is more for sports.

 

[alfie]

http://sigma-rumors.com/2014/09/sigma-150-600mm-f5-6-3-contemporary-sports-differences/

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports - US$1999
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary - US$1099

 

[daredevil123]

2.8kg... omg that is the weight of a 300/2.8

 

[Turbonetics]

Actually, F5.6 and F6.3 has one big difference, at F5.6 you can still use a 1.4x TC. You can't use any more TC after F5.6

(Most cameras PDAF can only AF up to F8.. so f5.6+1.4tc => f8)

Of course you have to be quite crazy to stack multiple TC.. hahaa

The advantage of the 120-300/2.8 will hust be flexibility, you can do sports (f2.8) or birding (f5.6).. of course the weight is a major factor too.

120-300mm with 2x TC gives F5.6,I won't want to stack another 1.4x on it and i guess not many serious photographer would do that.
and no doubt 120-300mm with 2x TC is good for birding reach,but iam not sure if the IQ is comparable to the 150-600mm Zoom without TC.
My guess leans towards the latter.

yahehe of course understand a 600mm lens vs a 300mm lens is meant for diff purposes, but this 150-600 f6.3 is built a little too heavy and big for such a slow aperture lens, and at a much higher price vs the tamron which approaches the price of the F2.8 lens

I would say both lens has different focal length so it is pretty hard to compare the prices.
and iam curious to find out how Sigma is going to justify its much higher price against the Tamron,probably something up in their sleeves.

http://sigma-rumors.com/2014/09/sigma-150-600mm-f5-6-3-contemporary-sports-differences/

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports - US$1999
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary - US$1099

Let's wait for the differences between these 2 and see what they have to offer for that extra dough.
maybe the Sports comes with focus calibration dock like the 120-300mm Sports model.

 

[Alaric Aw]

Any idea when will it launch in singapore?

 

[alfie]

Anyone here got the 150-600mm sports ? Any comparison with the Tamron or comments ?

 

[Dizzyd]

http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600.html

I am sure you have read this. Not an apple to apple comparison as they use different bodies but nonetheless something to ponder on.

I am swaying towards Sigma C as I want the option to slap on a 1.4TC. I hope the C version is priced competitively versus Tamron.

 

[alfie]

http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/tamron-vs-sigma-150-600.html

I am sure you have read this. Not an apple to apple comparison as they use different bodies but nonetheless something to ponder on.

I am swaying towards Sigma C as I want the option to slap on a 1.4TC. I hope the C version is priced competitively versus Tamron.

Thanks for the link, didnt see that one when i googled. Guess I was looking too much for video reviews..

The US pricing for SigmaC and Tamron is the same, so there's hope. I sold my Tamron 150-600 due to dust issues (lens sealing is quite bad). (Tamron SG fixed it, but it took awhile as it had to go motherland to clean out the dust issues) The ability to slap on the weather resistant 1.4TC is a nice option for the Sigma.

 

[daredevil123]

The chinese birding forum birdnet.cn has direct comparisons using same cam body and same subject. sigma S is a lot sharper at 600mm. The tamron is not as sharp at 600mm which is evident in my own experience as well but sharp up to 500mm.

Here is the comparison url.
http://birdnet.cn/thread-867901-1-2.html

Note that the sigma S is significantly a lot more expensive and heavier. In china, the sigma S is at least 65% more expensive than the tamron. I expect it to be around the same region of difference locally. With that pricing nikon shooters should also consider the new 300/4 which yields very impressive iq and the ability to use TCs on top of the amazing small size and weight.

 

[alfie]

The chinese birding forum birdnet.cn has direct comparisons using same cam body and same subject. sigma S is a lot sharper at 600mm. The tamron is not as sharp at 600mm which is evident in my own experience as well but sharp up to 500mm.

Here is the comparison url.
http://birdnet.cn/thread-867901-1-2.html

Note that the sigma S is significantly a lot more expensive and heavier. In china, the sigma S is at least 65% more expensive than the tamron. I expect it to be around the same region of difference locally. With that pricing nikon shooters should also consider the new 300/4 which yields very impressive iq and the ability to use TCs on top of the amazing small size and weight.

I had a go at the Sigma S (Nikon) yesterday at a local shop. Man its heavy ! It crosses the weight boundary of the 'you *can* hand hold, and you *want* a monopod' Tamron150-600, to the region of 'you *need* a monopod, and you *want* a tripod'.