Astrophotography with the SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS Sports Lens
When we typically think of astrophotography, we usually think first of fast, wide-angle primes lenses and specialty telescopes, so it may seem unconventional to use a long focal length variable-aperture zoom lens… but hear me out. I’ve spent the last four years trying to find an “ultra” zoom lens for astrophotography and low-light landscape time-lapses, I can safely say my search has finally arrived at the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports lens. This lens is SIGMA’s first Sports line lens designed exclusively for full-frame mirrorless cameras, and is currently available for Sony E-mount, as well as L-Mount cameras from SIGMA, Leica and Panasonic. For my review, I have been working with the E-mount version paired with a Sony A7 III.
The SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports lens plus the Sony A7 III is a fast, lightweight, full-frame combination with incredible range.
Reviewing the 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports
When trying to achieve pinpoint stars, there is no greater issue than Earth’s rotation. Depending on the focal length of your lens, you must accurately calculate proper exposure time / shutter speed to ensure you don’t get blurry stars (of course, remember that using a tracking mount can help you increase exposure times). The SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports strikes a perfect balance between versatility and aperture – this lens is one of the fastest ultra zooms you can find that is still quite affordable.
Most astrophotographers when looking for a dedicated “astrograph” (a photographic telescope) must compromise in the versatility department, but with this SIGMA lens I’m not just stuck with a single focal length. I often like to explore a variety of compositions, and with this lens, I can photograph wider star fields or the rising moon at 150mm, and then punch in to 600mm for deep-sky targets like the Andromeda Galaxy or Orion Nebula. It’s truly a one-stop shop!
Captured here is the Andromeda Galaxy, taken with the SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports paired with a Sony A7 III. This cosmic giant of 1 trillion stars is the closest large galaxy to our own Milky Way. It’s easy to find even with the unaided eye, located just below the constellation Cassiopeia. For this up-close capture of our galactic neighbor, the camera and lens were mounted to a large research grade telescope to utilize its tracking capabilities to eliminate star blur. Much smaller and less expensive mounts with payload limits between 5-20 pounds would achieve the same results, making this kind of shot attainable even with basic tracking equipment. Shot at 600mm, F6.3, ISO 6400 for 149 seconds.This is the Orion Nebula, shot with the SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports. It is one of the most spectacular objects in the winter sky, making it a favorite for astrophotographers! It’s also one of the closest regions of star formation to our solar system, which leads itself to an amazingly bright and detailed view for visual astronomy or astro imaging. This capture was aided by the use of a tracking mount, but even relatively short exposures yield wonderful results especially with the aid of SIGMA optics. Contrast and color corrections in Lightroom. Shot at 600mm, F6.3, ISO 3200 for 134 seconds.
Both the physical build and the image quality is top-notch. I was surprised to find that it rivals dedicated astrographs I’ve shot with – very sharp corner to corner, and there is little to no chromatic aberration.
Other thoughts: prior to this, I hadn’t seen a tapered zoom ring before and I found it quite comfortable when hand-holding. I also like that you can change zoom tightness and lock the zoom ring for travel. Autofocus and image stabilization are spot-on whether you’re into terrestrial sports photography, or handholding shots of the crescent moon or a even a magnificent lunar eclipse.
The November 19, 2021 Lunar Eclipse was the talk of night sky observers and photographers everywhere. I was lucky to have my SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN | OS Sports close at hand to capture this up-close view of the Moon near totality, when he Earth’s shadow enveloped 96% of the lunar surface. Cloudy and windy conditions made it particularly difficult to shoot. Between the passing clouds, I was able to snap a couple of sharp frames of this event. Shot at 600mm, F6.3, ISO 1600 for 0.5-seconds (untracked).A unique, wider field of view of the eclipse is shown here, as captured through the SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports lens at 150mm. Here we see the lunar eclipse paired with the Pleiades open star cluster, a very familiar winter object. The light cloud cover added some nice contrast and framed the scene perfectly. Shot at 150mm, F5, ISO 6400 for 5 seconds (untracked).
One of my other favorite features is the built-in tripod collar. It’s nice that when changing image orientation, the tripod collar clicks into place at 90-degree increments, indicating when you’re level in the vertical and horizontal positions, no more fumbling with the tripod head for micro adjustments. It really takes away the guesswork and improves my workflow with composition, especially with the weight of the lens considered! (although at under five pounds, it is relatively light for the focal range and maximum apertures).
In this capture we see the nearly full Moon setting over one of Oregon’s most iconic peaks, Mt. Washington. Using the SIGMA 150-600mm DG DN OS | Sports lens at both 150mm and 600mm we zoom into the landscape to reveal detail of the landscape as the Moon disappears below the horizon. If you look very closely near the bottom left you can see a big snag with a bald eagle resting on it. The eagle was perched there during all 1400 frames of this time-lapse… and right in line with the Moon! Shot at 150mm F5 / 600mm F6.3, edited in Lightroom and compiled in Adobe Premiere. (untracked)
Overall, the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports is a great lens for every experience level, whether you’re looking for a wildlife or sports lens, landscape zoom, or even an astrograph, you will be confident in the results you can achieve.
Grant Tandy has been an amateur astronomer for years, serving both as an Astronomical Interpreter and Observatory Manager. A lifelong resident of Central Oregon, neighbor to some of the darkest skies in the country, Tandy has been interested in astronomy and the cosmos for most of his life. His passions for astronomy and knowledge of the night sky are only accentuated by his years of experience as an astrophotographer. Currently, Grant Tandy divides his time between his professional endeavors as an Observatory Manager, photography, and his weekly exploration trips into the Oregon wilderness, where he strives to find a connection between nature, both below and above.
Nice shots. Just picked this lens up. What tracker were you using for the star shots?
Hi Kyle,
Thank you! Some of these shots were taken while mounted to observatory grade tracking robotics, I am typically using an Ioptron Skyguider pro though.