sigma 150-600mm contemporary - too old or immortal powerhouse?

Whether you’re a total newcomer to the world of telephotos or an experienced shooter looking to step up on a budget, Sigma’s renowned 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens has likely already crossed your mind and even appears on my pick of the best wildlife photography lenses.

A popular choice among bird, wildlife, sports, and nature photographers who require a versatile and affordable superzoom, Sigma’s 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens is in more kitbags than I can count despite first being announced in 2014. And while it may be the budget price tag that brings you in, it packs a surprisingly competent feature set that is more than capable of creating belting shots for a legacy lens.

While Sigma themselves have a wide range of superzooms - including those in the more premium Sports range, and ones designed for newer mirrorless bodies - that will fit a wide range of mounts, the contemporary is designed for Canon and Nikon’s DSLRs, like the D850, though is known to work with many of the newer range of mirrorless bodies via the correct lens adapter, so remains a viable budget option for many. 

SIGMA 150-600MM F5-6.3 DG OS HSM CONTEMPORARY SPECS

Focal Length - 150-600mm

Max aperture - F5.6-6.3

Min aperture - 22

Aperture blades - 9

Filter diameter - 95mm 

Weight - 1830g

BUILD AND HANDLING

The Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary sports a solid construction, featuring a mix of metal and high-quality TCS (Thermally Stable Composite), a tough plastic, that also helps to keep the weight down in comparison to other popular superzooms. It feels robust and well-built and features a dust and splash-resistant mount making it a reliable choice for braving the odd drizzle, as well as being at home in a hide. The zoom and focus rings operate smoothly, and a lock switch on the side of the body allows you to dial in your preferred focal length anywhere in the range. 

There is a removable tripod mount if you’re looking to generate additional stability, though at 1830g it’s considered light in the world of superzooms, and many people will find it comfortable when in-hand for prolonged periods of time. You also benefit from the OS (Optical Stabilisation) that helps when shooting in low-light or to negate a degree of camera shake from handheld working. You can also control the OS modes, as well as focus range limits and focus type via a series of handy switches on the side of the barrel.

PERFORMANCE

The Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary delivers fantastic value for money in the image and performance stakes. With a versatile focal range of 150-600mm it finds itself at home in the world of photographing wildlife where your subjects are at a distance. The lens features a relatively standard aperture of F5-6.3 which allows for decent low-light performance, especially when coupled with the lens' OS system, and creates pleasingly out-of-focus backgrounds. 

The lens delivers competitive image quality throughout its zoom range, which is sure to please, and easily creates showcase-worthy imagery. It fares slightly better at wider focal lengths, with a dip in sharpness at 600mm, but in real world terms it still produces commendable results and a spot of sharpening in post-processing can do wonders. Chromatic aberrations are also well-controlled, thanks to the inclusion of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements, which effectively minimise colour fringing.

The lens incorporates a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for autofocus, which operates silently and swiftly. Despite being a mainstay for bird and wildlife photographers since 2015, the autofocus performance is generally accurate and more than capable of capturing birds-in-flight, though it may take a bit of practice to hone your technique. When tracking erratic subjects the autofocus can start to struggle, but when you look at the price and general versatility, it’s more than acceptable.

VERDICT

The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary remains a versatile and affordable superzoom lens that offers solid image quality and a reliable build. It proves to be a capable tool for bird and wildlife photography, allowing photographers to capture distant subjects with ease. While it may not match the absolute top-tier modern lenses in terms of autofocus speed or build ruggedness, the Sigma provides exceptional value for money, making it a worthwhile investment for any budding wildlife or bird photographers who are still invested in DSLRs and want to take their first steps into the world of superzooms.

IMAGES: AN IDIOT REVIEWS