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Sigma 729955 100-400 mm F5-6.3 DG OS C Nikon Fitting HSM Lens - Black

£349.5£699.00Clearance
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Despite its small focal ratio the new Sigma has some longitudinal color aberrations (loCA, a.k.a. “axial color” or “bokeh CA”) showing mainly up at the short end as magenta coloration in the foreground. But I did not experience focus shift. At the front of the lens is a non-rotating 67mm filter thread, surrounded by a bayonet mount for the Sigma LH70-04 Lens Hood supplied with the lens. The hood is made of rigid plastic and provides ample protection to the front lens element. Price: around 900 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 800 USD. That’s pretty cheap in comparison: The Nikon goes for 2400 EUR and the Canon is around 2000 EUR. [++] An extension tube mounted behind this lens should provide a modest decrease and increase, respectively. In the past, third-party lens manufacturers have played an important role of providing cheaper third-party telephoto zoom lens alternatives, and Sigma has always been at the forefront of this. The company first introduced the Sigma AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX APO OS in 2006, then its successor, the Sigma AF 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG HSM OS in 2008 – and later the Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG HSM OS in 2010. All these lenses offered an adequate performance regarding their focusing and optical qualities at a price point that massively undercut the Canon and Nikon equivalents.

If I am not using it as my primary lens, a lens covering the 100-400mm range is usually handling much of the balance of my needs, such as complementing a 600mm lens when photographing wildlife or a 24-70mm lens when photographing landscapes. I use all of the focal lengths in this lens for landscape photography and usually carry a lens covering the 100-400mm range for such use. As a "DG" lens, it is compatible with all Sony E-mount mirrorless ("DN") cameras, including both full-frame ("DG") and APS-C sensor format models, Leica L-mount, and Fujifilm X mount.

In general, lenses are not as sharp at their wide-open apertures as they are when stopped down one or two stops. Axial CA remains somewhat persistent when stopping down, with the color misalignment effect increasing with defocusing. We’re used to seeing robust kit from Pentax with impressive build quality, and this lens is no exception. It feels particularly solid and has a durable, weather-sealed construction. The flipside is that it’s physically larger and noticeably heavier than competing lenses, weighing in at 2kg. That’s nearly twice the weight of the Sigma and Tamron 100-400mm lenses, although they’re only available in Canon and Nikon mount options.

As discussed throughout this review, the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Lens is very similar to the DN version lens. In comparison to the Nikon the new Sigma produces a softer FF/FX-corner but otherwise looks very similar.Above: For another comparison, here’s Sony’s FE 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 G Master, a higher-end model costing around two and a half times more – I’ll show you how the quality compares later. In terms of size, the Sony’s a little wider and longer, but side-by-side they’re roughly similar. The Sigma has a smaller 67mm filter thread compared to 77mm on the Sony and both are supplied with lens hoods. In terms of where the aperture reduces throughout the range, the Sigma 100-400mm only offers its maximum f5 between 100 and 113mm, closing to f5.6 between 113 and 235mm, after which it’s f6.3 between 235 and 400mm. Above: Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G VR at 100mm; FF/FX-corner at f5.0 (left), f8.0 (middle), f11 (right) Allowing more light to reach the sensor permits freezing action and handholding the camera in lower light levels and can also permit use of a lower (less noisy) ISO setting.

Astigmatism is seen as points of light spreading into a line, either sagittal (radiating from the center of the image) or meridional (tangential, perpendicular to sagittal).

When using a monopod, a monopod head or L-plate is needed to use the camera in vertical orientation, and the additional time required to change orientation will not go unnoticed when photographing action, including sports. The interior of the lens is ribbed to avoid light reflecting into the lens, and the front of the exterior is ribbed in the other direction to aid in grip during installation and removal. This lens features a focus distance range limit switch that, in addition to making the full focus range available, enables distance selection to be limited to 5.3-19.7' (1.6-6.0m) and 19.7' (6.0m) - ∞, with the narrower ranges improving AF speed in some situations. At the wide end of the range, large or very close wildlife can be captured in its entirety and environmental portraits are often a potential. While selecting a telephoto lens is a good choice from a safety concern perspective (safety both from and for the subject), it also is a good choice because there is typically a physical or designated barrier, such as a fence or the perimeter lines on a sports field, preventing a closer shooting location.

Image quality and overall performance are excellent in all respects. Autofocus speed is very rapid, based on a system that includes both linear motors and a ring-type ultrasonic actuator to drive different groups of elements. The effectiveness of the optical stabilizer is enhanced when used in conjunction with sensor-shift stabilization, featured in later Sony bodies. Good control over ghosting and flare is aided by a nano-structure coating. Sigma is not promoting any special lens element coatings used to combat flaring, but certain is that quality coating has been used, as this lens performs well in that regard. It is extremely sharp wide open, and little improvement is realized by selecting a narrower aperture. MANUAL FOCUS: Yes, electronically controlled, no focus/hyperfocal markings (only on digital display) At longer focal length you should make sure that strong light-sources are well outside the image circle as they can considerably lower the overall contrast.Next here’s the Sigma at 400mm f6.3, refocusing between the clothes line and the plant in the distance using the central AF area and single AF. In my video review, you can see the Sony body employing contrast detect autofocus to help it nail the distance which it does fairly swiftly. In comparison, the Sony lens at 400mm f5.6 looked a little faster and more confident to me, with less of the contrast-detect hunting that you could see from the Sigma. This may be a pre-production or firmware issue with the Sigma, but from my initial tests, the Sony 100-400mm focused a little faster and more confidently at longer focal lengths which made it preferable when photographing birds in flight or other fast subjects.

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