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!

 

 

 

Comments (4)
  1. Leonid says:

    Definitely right, every photographer must have…the features and performance is awesome…

  2. Mike Stoker says:

    I own this lens and absolutely love it! Great for baseball, birds, flowers and everything else I like to shoot.

  3. Tord S. Eriksson says:

    Dear Sirs,

    I have had my 100-400C a while now, and I must say, I totally love it! I use it mostly with the TC-1401 on, a marriage made in heaven, shooting birds.

    I love my more rugged 150-600S, but at 550mm, the 100-400C, with the TC on, is about as sharp, which to me is amazing, considering its smallness, compared to its bigger cousin.

    In low light, the 150-600S wins, no question, as I normally use it at f/7.1, which the 100-400C never reaches, with the TC on!

    The 150-600S’ focusing speed is always better, and even more so in low light, where the 100-400C occasionally hesitates.

    I have made my own mount for the lens, as it doesn’t have one of its own, and almost exclusively use it mounted on a monopod, while the heftier 150-600S usually ends up on a hefty tripod, with a Wimberley head.

    I shoot with a D7500 attached to the 100-400C, most of the time, but also use a Nikon 1 J5 (with a loupe, as that camera has no viewfinder). The 150-600S I use with my D600, D3300, or Nikon 1 V2.

  4. I shoot with a D7500 attached to the 100-400C, most of the time, but also use a Nikon 1 J5 (with a lou

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