Tips & How-Tos

Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary: Team Field Reports

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary lens has quickly founds its way into the hearts—and camera bags—of photographers everywhere. The combination of long telephoto reach, and zoom versatility in a truly portable, hand-holdable lens is a winning combination. Add in Sigma’s exclusive lens customization with the USB Dock to tune the lens’s autofocus performance, and to set custom focus limiters, and it is simply a whole lot of lens in a two and half pound, foot-long economical package. Here’s a rundown of what our team of bloggers have to say about this outstanding super telephoto zoom lens.

Aviation and Air Show Photography with the Sigma 100-400mm

Two of the Navy Blue Angels perform a breakaway before the crowd at the Duluth Air Show. Sigma 100-400 Contemporary lens on a Canon 1DX. IO 500; f6.3 @ 1/2500th second. © Jim Koepnick | 2017

The light weight, reach, range, and optical stabilizer, along with the economical cost, make the 100-400mm F5-6.3 a great choice for air show photography.

The Sigma 100-400mm is a great Hiking and Backpacking Lens

Shot at 400 to keep a big working distance between us. 1/1600 sec. f/6.3 ISO 1000. Hand held using the Optical Stabilizer on the lens. © Liam Doran | 2017

At just two and a half pounds, and just about 12 inches long in the camera pack, it pairs reach, range, in a light package, perfect for traveling light, while also keeping your distance from large wildlife!

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary is a Great Photo Safari Lens

Sigma 100-400 contemporary lens @ 400mm Nikon D500 1/2000 sec f/7.1, ISO 1800 manual mode with auto-ISO EV -0.7 handheld. © Robert O’Toole | 2017

In this kind of situation where there is non-stop shooting for long periods, you need to have either a good tripod, or a light compact lens, like the 100-400 C. Otherwise be prepared for fatigue and sore arms the next day! The lens is so light and quick that is makes this kind of image easy.

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 is Great for Auto Racing

© Steve Chesler | 2017 1965 Mustang 290mm 1/125sec, f11 ISO 100

The new Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary lens is a lightweight yet formidable companion for auto racing photography for pros and amateurs alike. And thanks to the Panning Optical Stabilizer mode, it excels at tracking fast-moving action!

The Sigma 100-400mm is Perfect for Mountain Biking

© Liam Doran 2017 | Mountain biker Kaitlyn Archambault navigating the rock at Hartman Rocks. 1/1000sec. f/6.3 ISO 800 at 260mm. Canon 7DMKII

Sigma Pro Liam Doran keeps the 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C in his bag for bike-based and ski-based photo assignments in his home territory of the Colorado Rockies, and at outdoor adventure locations around the globe. Whether it is an elite winter or summer athlete, a mountain goat, or long-reach landscapes, the small size, and total sharpness make it perfect on assignment.

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 C for Sailing and Watersports

This shot was taken while chasing Naema at full speed. What it doesn’t show is the splash from our boat plowing through the waves also. Having the ability of not having the lens try to refocus on our bow wave as it got between us and Naema gave me the opportunity to get shots like this. The other thing that’s significant about this pic is that I had to shoot this image 1 handed because the other hand was holding onto the boat so I didn’t fall overboard. There’s only one reason I could do that: this lens is compact and very light. This shot is taken at 100mm. © John Lincourt

When you’re on a chase boat in waves, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary lens is a great go-to because of its versatility and light weight!

Is the Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary of 150-600mm Contemporary Right For You?

An American Oyster Catcher strolls along water’s edge at the tip of Sandy Hook, NJ as seen at 400mm through the the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C lens at 1/1000 F6.3 ISO 400 paired with a Canon 6D.

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C and 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C share Sigma’s exclusive feature set including lens performance customization with the USB Dock. Both offer great reach, range and value. Let us help you decide which of these amazing supertele zoom lenses is the perfect fit for you by comparing key features of each!

Take a Deep Dive into the Tech Specs and Real-World Photos

Zooming and focusing are fast on the Sigma 100-400mm, catching this little butterfly mid-air while hay bale jumping at Malabar Farm State Park, Richland County, Ohio. Nikon D800E, Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG HSM OS Contemporary Lens at 200mm. f/8, 1/640 second, ISO 400. Hand-held. Photo © 2017 David FitzSimmons. All rights reserved.

Spend some time getting to know the Sigma 100-400mm zoom lens in this in-depth review covering family adventures and more. See why this great telephoto zoom lens is perfect for youth sport, family travel and beyond!

View the Full Technical Specifications and Learn Where to Buy the Sigma 100-400mm C lens!

EXPLORE MORE

Feature Length Wildlife Conservation Documentary Filmed with SIGMA Lenses

Escape from Extinction: Rewilding is a powerful nature documentary narrated by Meryl Streep, which was partially filmed on location in Africa with a variety of SIGMA zoom lenses. In the film, global wildlife experts fight to save Earth's most beloved animals from mass extinction and environmental collapse – armed with a radical new approach to conservation called "rewilding" that aims to restore entire ecosystems.

Wild Things Within Reach: SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS Sports Lens for Nature Photography

Photographer Martina Abreu loves all things wild and free, and of course, photographing them in their natural habitats. And thanks to the SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports lens, getting ultra-sharp images of wildlife is within reach (and surprisingly portable) for the nature photography enthusiast. Join Martina at the beaches and swamps near Tampa, Florida as she seeks out birds and alligators with the amazingly lightweight SIGMA 500mm by her side.