Sigma 150-600mm HSM DG OS & 1.4x TC Kit - First Impressions

Sigma 150-600mm first Impressions


Having used the Canon 400mm F5.6L, a very underrated and razor sharp lens for bird and wildlife work - I was tempted into replacing my Sigma 50-500mm with the newer 150-600mm Contemporary lens, complete with TC-1401 1.4x teleconverter kit.

Look out on the DGPix Facebook page for Sigma 50-500mm being listed for sale, this will be a bargain lens for anyone starting out with nature photography, or anyone looking to step up from the 70-300 range of lenses.

So on to the mega zoom Sigma lens. It's heavy, but not as heavy as other reviews online were making out - for me its a lens I can hand hold without any issues (built in optical stabilisation helps!) Tripod mounted use is a joy, but I reckon I'll be using it more without one.
Image quality is surprisingly sharp given the focal length and price range of the lens.  At f6.3 at 600mm results are very nice indeed, even after cropping:

Lesser Black Backed Gull - Lough Neagh


The above image was taken using the Sigma 150-600mm lens mounted on a Canon 7Dmk2 - rested on hide window ledge handheld.
1/1000s - f/6.3 - iso200 - OS set to 1 - 600mm.  Cropped slightly for composition and zoom.
Central focus point was used for accuracy, and aimed at the bird's chest (f/6.3 would mean the eye would be well in focus) - and One Shot Autofocus mode as the bird was calling it would be static for a good few frames.
The whites were held nicely with good detail and a slight tweak to the shadows on the wing brought the rest of the detail forward on the bird. 




Female House Sparrow


The above image was created using the Sigma 150-600mm lens on the Canon 7Dmk2 body, and the TC1401 Sigma 1.4x teleconverter.  Tripod mounted on the Giottos Silkroad tripod and Manfrotto 393 Long Lens Gimbal head.
1/200s - f/9 - iso500 - 840mm - OS off. Minimal crop for composition.
 Using the teleconverter lessened the IQ as any converter does, but in low light (7pm, no sun and overcast) the IQ is still very good given the slow speeds and higher iso setting.

Overall - first impressions are very good, and this lens has great potential for bird and wildlife photography.  I'll post a more in depth review when I have spent more time with the lens :)






Comments

  1. Love these pics, Danny! Perfectly sharp and can see you’re going to have lots of fun and many happy hours with your new lens. Congratulations and enjoy. RosieM

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