Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sport

[fcotterill]

It is an interesting new development, going beyond the focal lengths of the Nikon 120–300 constant aperture f 2.8 and Nikon 180–400 with built-in TC constant aperture f4.

I appreciate some Nikon users object to leaving an FTZ permanently attached to one of the Nikon options, though either lens is more recent optical design than Nikon Z mount introduction.
With the FTZ attached to the 180–400 the weight increases is minimal, and it still fits in the Nikon shoulder bag with a Z8 or Z9 attached.

Whether the new lens stabilisation system is fully compatible with Nikon is something that has not been disclosed.

E and L mount only - read the details in linked Sigma documentation. Above
The full scope of its features is restricted to L Mount only, notably compatibility and performance with the Sigma Teleconverters.

I am not keen on the thumb screw lens hood securing method – the new click and twist method with Nikon Z lenses like the 800mm f6.3 I consider far superior.

The plastic sprung hook system on the hood of my 800 PF wore out some months after purchase in 2022, rapid obsolescence to put it mildly. The hooked tip is too blunt to lock securely. It is easy to lose the hood when hiking.

The 400 f4.5S hood clip mechanism uses the same flimsy fragile system of plastic parts, and key part in mine snapped hitting a branch. Stupid of Nikon to abandon the steel clip mechanism in the hoods of the 70-200 f2.8E and 500 PF. These are safe and they most importantly do not wear out nor disintegrate.

Nikon could do much better than cutting corners in the quality of its S line telephotos.

The well established screw locking hood of the big exotics (E FL primes and 180-400 TC) is much safer and easily replaced with a new part in remote case of its repair.

The launch price of the new lens seems approximately half the UK street price of the two Nikon shorter focal length lens options.

Whether we will see a Nikon 300–600 f4 with built in TC is for the future. I speculate some would buy this possible future combination

Addendum - Nikon are maybe being pipped at the post with this new lens for video.
The reference to a variable neutral identity drop in filter can be important for video.

Often 60 fps is fast for video - and the shutter speed should not normally be more than twice the fps - limiting shutter speed to 1/125 in bright sunlight.

 

[TurtleCat]

Sigma is not avoiding Z mount options. Nikon, Canon and others are avoiding third party lenses.

Nikon has quite a few third party lenses for Z mount at this point.

 

[Doug Herr]

The plastic sprung hook system on the hood of my 800 PF wore out some months after purchase in 2022, rapid obsolescence to put it mildly. The hooked tip is too blunt to lock securely. It is easy to lose the hood when hiking.

The 400 f4.5S hood clip mechanism uses the same flimsy fragile system of plastic parts, and key part in mine snapped hitting a branch. Stupid of Nikon to abandon yhe steel clip mechanism in the hoods of the 70-200 f2.8E and 500 PF. These are safe and they most importantly do not wear out nor disintegrate.

They may be intentional weak links to reduce the risk of damage to more costly parts of the lens.

 

[ajrmd]

They may be intentional weak links to reduce the risk of damage to more costly parts of the lens.

I'm grateful for these "weak links" after dropping my Z8 attached to a 186 on a gravel path. The hood cracked a bit near the spring assembly (the "weak link") and while it was still "functional", the hood would no longer latch. This came at the price of not a single bit of damage elsewhere to the lens and $80 for a replacement hood. I'll take that every time.

BTW, the "screw method" is not necessarily better and when my hood on my Canon 600 f/4 was "bumped" and fell off, it cracked precisely alongthe screw mounting rendering it useless. Those fiberglass hoods were pricey to replace.

 

[fcotterill]

These polycarbonate hoods probably protect the lens body quite well and are cheaper.

However, it's still relatively cheaper to sacrifice the carbon fiber hood on impact than the internal elements etc in an expensive exotic telephoto. This triage is especially important out there on a trip.

I stand by the superiority of the steel clip mechanism in hoods of the 70-200 f2.8E and 500 PF. Not only do these do the job better, they do not wear out nor disintegrate. The design is now tested beyond doubt. And the polycarbonate hood is still there as first layer of protection.

 

[arbitrage]

Well I guess my earlier comment saying this lens may be best on the new Panny S1RII is not going to be true. Non-stacked sensor with bad rolling shutter in ES and therefore limited to some really slow FPS if you want continuous AF.

This lens may actually be best adapted to a Nikon camera if that doesn't restrict the FPS (which I doubt it would). Is there a good L-mount to Z-mount adapter? That would allow one to use Sigma TCs on the lens.

 

[Nimi]

Well I guess my earlier comment saying this lens may be best on the new Panny S1RII is not going to be true. Non-stacked sensor with bad rolling shutter in ES and therefore limited to some really slow FPS if you want continuous AF.

This lens may actually be best adapted to a Nikon camera if that doesn't restrict the FPS (which I doubt it would). Is there a good L-mount to Z-mount adapter? That would allow one to use Sigma TCs on the lens.

Just watched Gerald Undone's review. I think his conclusion is "meh" and is very critical of the video capabilities, specifically the readout speed and rolling shutter. Too bad.

Lumix is more of a video-centric than photo-centric manufacturers, but they hit a wall trying to make a full-frame 8k camera. There is still no substitute to Sony/Nikon/Canon in this realm.

 

[JAJohnson]

Sigma is not avoiding Z mount options. Nikon, Canon and others are avoiding third party lenses.

There is an extensive collection of third party glass available for Nikon Z cameras. Thom Hogan notes that autofocus lenses are available under eleven brands, and manual focus lenses under twenty-nine brands.

Third-Party Lenses | Thom Hogan

Information about third-party lenses for the Nikon Z mirrorless cameras

www.zsystemuser.com

Also, as noted earlier in this thread, the cooperation between Nikon & Sigma is quite limited.

 

[Harmonicat]

I think a big distinction between this lens and Nikon's currently approved third party lenses is that it is a big hitter that directly competes with lenses in their S lens line-up. Correct me if I'm wrong but there aren't any third-party Z mount lenses (other than those which were jointly developed with Nikon) that are directly competing with flagship Nikon professional lenses.

 

[Nimi]

I think a big distinction between this lens and Nikon's currently approved third party lenses is that it is a big hitter that directly competes with lenses in their S lens line-up. Correct me if I'm wrong but there aren't any third-party Z mount lenses (other than those which were jointly developed with Nikon) that are directly competing with flagship Nikon professional lenses.

The Viltrox 135/1.8 LAB will be one that goes against the Plena for 1/3 the price. The Sony version compares favorably to the GM in all tests I've seen and they said that a Z is on the way.

 

[TurtleCat]

Not of the exotics but there are Tamron ones and Viltrox ones that are near or match Nikon’s and are autofocus.

 

[mjais]

I guess that Nikon might be thinking about making such a lens themselves and therefore maybe the Sigma is never coming to the the Z-mount. The margins of such a lens might be quite big. I guess a Nikon 4/300-600TC or maybe even a 4/200-600TC would be around 20K euros/dollars and each lens would make Nikon a few thousand euros/dollars when sold. They won't be keen to reduce potential sales with the competition of a lens from another manufacturer. Some for Canon, I guess.

 

[TonyF]

Looks like a great lens for a great price but after living with the weight, fps restriction and Tc (say 6 months of hand held use) I think my view on price point would regress to 'just about right'. That's not to say that this won't be a clear winner (hence bargain) for others. Could be a cracking choice for video, for example.

I think you just have to be really careful about what will work best for your needs.
Don't ask me how I know that

 

[Rene]

Looks like a great lens for a great price but after living with the weight, fps restriction and Tc (say 6 months of hand held use) I think my view on price point would regress to 'just about right'. That's not to say that this won't be a clear winner (hence bargain) for others. Could be a cracking choice for video, for example.

I think you just have to be really careful about what will work best for your needs.
Don't ask me how I know that

It depends how you use your long lenses. I have said this before on this forum with mainly US based photographers…over here in Europe we photograph a lot from hides. A fixed focal 600mm is totally useless in general for that kind of photography.

Yes it’s frustrating that Sony has decided to limit the fps in 3 party lenses like this Sigma but you can work with it for sure. No converter? Not much of an issue when you photograph from hides and if you are out and about you just use your stalking skills a bit more

My main issue with this lens is weight ……not a lens to walk around with I guess but working statically from a hide it could be very useful and in my opinion optical performance of these top tier lenses nowadays is so good that differences have become more and more academical.

Rene de Heer

 

[Drbobcameraguy]

I was wondering what was going to be announced. I like the concept of a zoom like that. Although it is a bit heavier than I’d want to handle. I’m happy with Nikon so even adapted I am not in the market for it unless they make a native version for Nikon. The price is phenomenal, though. hopefully it’s a winner.

I have the Sigma 300-800mm f5.6 it weighs almost 13 pounds. I have the equipment to use it and it takes very sharp photos. A gitzo tripod and gimbal head makes it a dream. Carrying it a couple miles of trails makes it hell. Lol. I do love it though. Lol

 

[Whiskeyman]

Ideal lens for hide work in my opinion.

That's it, in a nutshell.

 

[RikWriter]

Yes it’s frustrating that Sony has decided to limit the fps in 3 party lenses like this Sigma but you can work with it for sure. No converter? Not much of an issue when you photograph from hides and if you are out and about you just use your stalking skills a bit more

Except there are a lot of instances where you CAN'T get that close, either for safety or legal reasons.

 

[macwalter]

If you can handhold this puppy you must be from another race of humans. A mere mortal like me would pick this thing up and put it back down. I don’t care how excellent it is. It just too heavy for me. I am curious about the new Sony zoom though which is lighter and longer

 

[Rene]

Except there are a lot of instances where you CAN'T get that close, either for safety or legal reasons.

Yes maybe in the States but not so much in Europe

 

[RikWriter]

Yes maybe in the States but not so much in Europe

Unless you're photographing bears, wolves and wolverines over a pond from a blind in Finland.

 

[Luskentyre]

Yes maybe in the States but not so much in Europe

Not sure where in Europe you are referring to, but 600mm is often not enough FL in the UK in my experience (if that counts as Europe!). I’m a regular visitor to the local RSPB & other wild life trust reserves/hides (mainly Suffolk & Scotland), and the birds simply don’t come near enough to fill the frame with a FF 800mm most of the time, let alone 600mm (slightly different story when it comes to the likes of red deer - and even some of the larger birds such as herons, cormorants etc-where I can easily use my 400mm).

 

[fcotterill]

fyi

Sigma's new 300-600mm f/4 is a mythological BEAST of a lens, and here's why

The Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports puts fast 600mm lenses firmly in the ballpark of the enthusiast photographer. We truly are in a golden age of long lenses for mirrorless cameras

www.digitalcameraworld.com

 

[Rene]

Not sure where in Europe you are referring to, but 600mm is often not enough FL in the UK in my experience (if that counts as Europe!). I’m a regular visitor to the local RSPB & other wild life trust reserves/hides (mainly Suffolk & Scotland), and the birds simply don’t come near enough to fill the frame with a FF 800mm most of the time, let alone 600mm (slightly different story when it comes to the likes of red deer - and even some of the larger birds such as herons, cormorants etc-where I can easily use my 400mm).

The hides you are referring to are not meant for serious bird photography but are for observing wildlife and an occasional image of whatever. I photograph a lot in Spain from hides purposely built for bird / wildlife photography. If you go there with your 600mm attached to your camera you will get mainly head shots as the 600mm is simply too large a lens.
Rene de Heer
www.naturepics.co.uk

 

[Len Shepherd]

The hides you are referring to are not meant for serious bird photography but are for observing wildlife and an occasional image of whatever.

Most of the UK hides I visit (not all are RSPB) are used by reasonably serious photographers with a long lens - though few have a £/$10,000 + lens

I photograph a lot in Spain from hides purposely built for bird / wildlife photography.

I would like to learn more
One plus in a few hides I use is a 3/8 screw to take your own tripod head.
The majority by number Iareoperated by Wildlife Trusts.
I find getting small birds or even red squirrel to come consistently within about 10 feet of a hide requires someone putting food out to attract them. This does occur in a few privately run UK locations but does not come for free.

If you go there with your 600mm attached to your camera you will get mainly head shots as the 600mm is simply too large a lens.
Rene de Heer
www.naturepics.co.uk

 

[Rene]

Most of the UK hides I visit (not all are RSPB) are used by reasonably serious photographers with a long lens - though few have a £/$10,000 + lens

I would like to learn more
One plus in a few hides I use is a 3/8 screw to take your own tripod head.
The majority by number Iareoperated by Wildlife Trusts.
I find getting small birds or even red squirrel to come consistently within about 10 feet of a hide requires someone putting food out to attract them. This does occur in a few privately run UK locations but does not come for free.

Not sure what you mean with I would like to learn more but if you refer to Spanish hides and its possibilities you will find ample info on my website. Check out locations under affordable photo tours for individual non profit trips. (I don’t organise trips nor do I make any money out of them)
You can also check out the diaries I have written about these and other locations or you can send me a direct message.
Rene de Heer
www.naturepics.co.uk