Sigma has announced the launch of a revolutionary large-aperture ultra-telephoto zoom lens as part of its Sports line. The Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports lens is going to be available for L-Mount and Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. The company says that the new zoom lens delivers the optical performance and brightness of a prime lens.
Constant aperture
The Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom lens has a constant maximum aperture of F4. This means that your exposure won’t alter as you change focal length. Maintaining an aperture as wide as F4 across such long focal lengths is an impressive feat. The aperture also has 13 blades which should give a smooth rounded bokeh in out of focus parts of your image.
Optical construction
The Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom lens is constructed with 28 lens elements in 21 groups. These include 6 FLD (F Low Dispersion) lens elements and one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) lens element. F Low Dispersion lenses offer a performance equivalent to fluorite glass, but at a more affordable price.
Autofocus
The Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom lens features a High-response Linear Actuator (HLA) autofocus mechanism. Sigma says that this delivers high speed autofocus so you won’t miss important shots. In addition, the minimum focusing distances are 110.3 inches (280 cm) at 300 mm and 177.2 inches (450 cm) at 600 mm.
Optical stabilization
The Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom lens has optical image stabilization, which delivers up to 5.5 stops of stabilization at 600 mm. This features an internal drive unit with a specially designed actuator and high-precision sensor, controlled by Sigma’s intelligent OS2 algorithm. Additionally, there are two stabilization modes. One is for general use and the other is optimized for panning shots.
Design
With such long focal lengths and a constant F4 aperture, it’s no surprise that the Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom lens is big. The Sony E-mount lens measures 18.5 inches (469.9 mm) in length, and the L-Mount version is a little shorter at 18.4 inches (467.9 mm). Both lenses are 6.6 inches (167 mm) in diameter. The lens is also heavy, weighing up to 140.6 ounces (3,985 g) for the L mount option.
Other features
The Sigma 300-600mm Sports zoom has a rear drop-in filter holder which takes 40.5 mm filters. It also features a new function ring, which you can customize with focus preset modes. As part of Sigma’s Sports range, the 300-600 mm lens is dust and splash resistant. Also, the lens is coated with thermal insulation paint, which Sigma says helps to deliver perfect lens performance.
What we think
Sigma’s new 300-600mm ultra-telephoto zoom lens is an impressive lens. To have such a wide maximum aperture across the full zoom range is no mean feat. The image stabilization and promise of near prime lens image quality also make the lens a very exciting prospect. The downside is that this all makes the lens big and heavy. You might need to spend some time in the gym if you plan to shoot handheld for any length of time. Such a premier quality lens also demands a premium price. However, if you are a professional capturing sports, action or wildlife video, the Sigma 300-600mm Sports lens will soon pay its way.
Pricing and availability
The Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports zoom lens will be released in April and will retail at $5,999. It comes with front and rear lens caps, a case, a lens hood, a shoulder strap and a tripod socket.
