This photography and film project took (see the short film at the end of this post) us deep into the Maasai Mara Conservancy in Kenya, one of the most inspiring places we’ve worked. We based ourselves at Emboo, a camp focused on sustainability and conservation. They are paving the way for a new generation of safaris as a completely electric, self-sustaining camp.
Every morning we started before sunrise, when the plains were quiet and we could find compositions with the first light. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports was our main tool out there. The range gave us the freedom to move between wide scenes of the landscape and tight moments with wildlife, which is exactly what the Mara demands. You never know what you’re about to come across, and having that flexibility made all the difference in how we approached each day.
Sony A7R V
310mm, F6.3, 1/30s, ISO 5000
Overview of the Sigma 150-600mm
From the moment we packed for the trip, we trusted the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports to be our long-range workhorse. For a telephoto zoom, it fit into our kit exceptionally well. We were constantly on the move, switching between stills and video, so having something with this range made all the difference. We relied on it for everything, from quick close-ups of animals moving through the plains to slower, more intentional shots where we wanted to compose a scene from a distance.
Out in the Mara, we were dealing with dust, heat, long drives, and fleeting moments. The build quality of the 150-600mm handled all of it without slowing us down. It packed easily and felt ready for whatever the day threw at us.
Powerful zoom range
Out in the Mara, everything changes fast. Some moments happen right out in front of the truck, and others take place far away, like across a river, somewhere you simply cannot reach. We needed a focal range that could keep up, and the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports gave us that flexibility. At 150mm we were able to frame wider scenes and show how the wildlife interacted with the landscape, while 600mm let us isolate small details without disturbing anything.
Sony A1
182mm, F5.6, 1/320s, ISO 250
Sony A7R V
600mm, F6.3, 1/500s, ISO 2000
We leaned on it for strong video compression and storytelling shots that needed distance. Throughout the entire zoom range, the image quality of the 150-600mm stayed consistent, which gave us the confidence to react to whatever was happening without second guessing.
Stabilization and autofocus performance
We shot almost everything handheld in a moving vehicle. The stabilization of the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports saved entire shots. It made long-range scenes usable and kept things steady when the roads were rough. We were able to push 600mm handheld for video in situations where we normally would have needed extra support. The stability gave us a lot more creative freedom and let us react to moments without worrying about setup time.
Sony A1
436mm, F6.3, 1/800s, ISO 200
Sony A7R V
600mm, F6.3, 1/125s, ISO 100
Wildlife doesn’t wait. The autofocus on the Sigma 150-600mm kept up with the fast, unpredictable movement of the animals, which was huge for both of us. I relied on it for tracking subjects while filming, especially during fast sequences where slower autofocus would have made us miss the moment. Daniel depended on it for capturing quick bursts of movement for photos, and when it came to birds, the AF made it possible to catch them lifting off and flying away while staying locked in.
Sony A1
600mm, F6.3, 1/125s, ISO 400
Sony A1
514mm, F6.3, 1/125s, ISO 640
Sony A1
600mm, F6.3, 1/100s, ISO 100
Build quality and weather sealing
The Mara tested our gear every day. The weather changes unpredictably. It can be sunrise when you head out, and then a thunderstorm rolls in before you know it. The 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports held up without a single issue. The sealing kept out both rain and dust while we were shooting. We worked in multiple unpredictable conditions, always confident that this lens would hold up.
The Sigma 150-600mm for video
For filmmaking, the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports opened up compositions we could not get any other way. Being able to zoom in far enough to film animals we could not get close to was essential for capturing tight, intimate details, like a lion cub’s expression, the way a cheetah moved through the grass, or birds taking off into the sky. Those moments happen fast, and having the reach and control of the 150-600mm let us tell the story from a safe distance without disturbing the wildlife.
Watch the short film
Paired with our other Sigma lenses, this telephoto zoom rounded out the kit in a way that made the film feel complete. It allowed us to move seamlessly between wide environmental shots and extreme close-ups. Being in an environment like the Mara, having the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports as part of your video kit is not just useful, it is crucial. It gave us the flexibility to capture the story as it happened, preserving the natural behavior of the animals while still getting the cinematic detail we wanted.
Get the range you need
Film & Photo Credits
Bryce Way – Photography & videography (@bryce.way)
Daniel McMullin – Photography & videography (@daniel.mcmullin)
