Amitabh Sharma
Businessmen & an avid traveler, Amitabh Sharma, used to get fascinated by the magnificent Architecture, Landscapes around the world, while on the move.It all started as a hobby by clicking some pictures with his mobile phone and then sharing with his friends on social media ......
Review SIGMA 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS for Sony E Mount
The SIGMA, Japan introduced Sony E mount version very affordable 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Lens for Sony E Mounts. Actually, 100-400mm range is one of the most popular range for Wildlife, sports & Bird photography. The best part is, it’s almost half of the price of Sony native G master lens of the same focal length having most of the features & performance of high-end lenses of the same range.
Technical Specs & Features
SPECIFICATIONS -
- Focal Length: 100 to 400mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/5 to f/6.3
- Minimum Aperture: f/22 to f/29
- Lens Mount: Sony E, Leica L
- Format Compatibility: Full-Frame
- Angle of View: 24.4° to 6.2°
- Minimum Focus Distance: 3.61′ / 1.1m & Maximum Magnification: 0.24x
- Optical Design: 22 Elements in 16 groups & 9 rounded Blades
- Focus Type: Autofocus
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Tripod Collar: Removable and rotating (Optional)
- Filter Size: 67 mm (Front)
- Dimensions (ø x L): 3.39 x 7.76″ / 86 x 197.2 mm
- Weight: 2.5 lbs. / 1,135 gram
Features -
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- One FLD Element, Four SLD Elements
- Stepping Motor AF System
- OS Image Stabilization
- AFL Button and Zoom Limiter Switch
- Dust- and Splash-Resistant Construction
BUILD QUALITY & HANDLING -
The SIGMA 100-400mm DN is a nicely crafted lens, having a mixture of good and premium materials, including a brass lens mount, magnesium alloy in the first section of the lens, and then good, engineered plastics over a metal frame. A good-looking lens that feels very sturdy and well made & light weight too. The build, the size is very compact, and handling is very easily weighing only 1135 grams approx. (Without tripod collar as its optional). The SIGMA 100-400mm DN come with a full set of features. There are four switches and buttons on the side, including an AF/MF switch, a 3 position focus limiter (FULL | 6M to Infinity | Minimum to 5M), a Focus Hold button that can be programmed with a variety of functions (Same like Sony’s native lens), and a three position switch for the OS (Mode 1 [Standard] | Mode 2 [Panning] | OFF). The only difference from the SONY GM lens is that the Sony has the focus hold button in three cardinal positions so that one falls easily to hand in different orientations.
THE AUTO FOCUS PERFORMANCE –
The Focus speed in AF-C mode is nice and fast, with focus changes being near instant. One can get even better speed by utilizing the focus limiter where appropriate. I have tracked and clicked many flying birds and I must say it has never disappointed me.
THE IMAGE QUALITY –
As I have explained above, the specs & features along with the build quality and handling, the images must come out outstandingly well and without explaining much about it, I would like you to check images by yourself and decide on the quality, sharpness, and colors (edited in Lightroom). Pls note all the images are taken HANDHELD and with tripod and without any kind of support whatsoever and this is the beauty of this lens as it excellent OS and side button focusing same like the native SONY GM lenses.
CONCLUSION
In my opinion, this LENS is one of the best in its class for SONY E-MOUNT Camera’s at this moment having all the features of Sony’s native lenses with better build quality and handling (Light Weight) so carrying it for long time is not at all an issue. Feels like perfect example of price performance and people who can’t afford the native lenses, this brings the smile on their face once they will start using it.
Pros: -
Light weight and slim design make better than the same class lenses of other brands.
Premium build quality having some weather sealing and good materials.
Perfect autofocus system is fast, silent and on DOT.
Nice tracking for birds & fast action which is very useful in wildlife photography.
Outstanding image quality…thru out the range from 100-400mm.
Bokeh is also good in various zooms.
Very good OS.
Very affordable price especially for 100-400mm range lens.
Cons:
Tripod collar is optional & available on additional purchase.
One must buy bigger carrying bag as it becomes bulky with your other lenses.
Review SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art Lens
SIGMA, Japan introduced 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E mount Full frame, Leica & Panasonic Camera bodies in late 2019 last quarter.
Actually, it’s a long-awaited general-purpose lens which I think all the full frame users are waiting eagerly and that is why it is in demand from the date it has been announced.
I have also used Sigma’s 14-24mm f2.8 DG DN ART and was very much satisfied with the performance and it changed my perspective and angle of photography totally.
24-70mm is ideal focal length on full frame bodies for Street, Architecture, Interiors and general-purpose lens which you can keep 100% on the body all the time even during travel.
Technical Specs & Features
Size (diameter x length): 88 x 125mm (3.5 x 4.9in.) 36mm for the lens hood (106mm in diameter)
Weight: 827g (29.2 oz.) & 55g for the lens hood. Constant f2.8 focal ratio.
Inside : 19 elements, including 8 special dispersion elements and 3 aspherical elements in 15 groups. Nano coating to reduce reflections.
Closest focus distance is 0.34m (13in.) with a magnification of 1:3.8 at 70mm focal length plus manual focus.
Image Stabilization – NO as all the Sony etc. Camera bodies comes with IBIS so not required actually.
Auto focus: Yes with built-in AF drive. There’s a focus lock button on the lens which can also be assigned a different function depending on the camera body. That’s similar to what the Sony and Nikon native offer. The Sigma also has a zoom lock switch arresting the lens at 24mm just like the Sony
Lens profile: The lens comes with a lens profile for vignette-, CA- and distortion-compensation which can be controlled from the camera. The lens comes with a padded lens case plus strap.
The best part, Sigma’s service can change the mount of the lens between Sony E-mount and L-mount (with some cost). This is an excellent feature that no other brand offers.
Weather Sealing: A rubber insulated at the lens-mount with further special weather-sealing throughout the lens construction.
Angle of View with some samples
Handheld low light Shots -
The below is night shot with Tripod -
CONCLUSION
There is one term “Price Performance”, & this fits to this Sigma’s latest ART creation.
The positioning of the product is also very well placed, the photographers having affordable alternatives with same quality & features of Sony native Lenses
The lens performed very well in low light conditions and pictures came out very crisp and clear.
My overall experience is superb in terms of focus accuracy, responsiveness, sharpness & focus
motor is also very quiet, and results are amazing.
The 24-70mm focal length is ideal for full frame bodies for Street, Architecture, Interiors and
general-purpose photography and this lens can be kept 100% on the body all the time even during travel as overall
its very fast and sharp lens with proper weather sealing and f2.8 constant aperture for low light photography.