I'm looking at this lens for my Sony a6400 camera to use for general zoom, an upcoming cruise to Alaska, some nighttime lights, and for photographing the moon. I use a smaller Sigma lens now that works great.
Sigma seems to always be a pretty good bet, well priced and performs well! I think you’ll enjoy this lens if you get it and it’s typically pretty cheap on the used market!
I actually have exactly the same setup as you. Started with the Sigma 100-400 and upgraded to the Sony 220-600 for more focal range. While I love the Sony, I returned to the Sigma because it better suits my way of photographing. I usually go on longer hikes with a heavy backpack. While moving a lot, the Sony lens simply is too heavy and cumbersome for me. The Sigma is really lightweight and easy to handle while walking or crawling. I do miss the additional focal length, but the positive side effect is that I have to be more creative when taking photos. It is a shame that you cannot use the teleconverter on the e-mount version of this lens. Maybe I will look into the Sony 100-400 one day, or just wait until they bring out one with incorporated teleconverter (provided that it does not cost 10.000 euro...). Anyway, thank you as always for the video!
I completely understand the weight thing, I tried some more photos of the hummingbirds, but with the 200 to 600 + 1.4x TC and got some slightly tighter photos. However the weight difference was significant, trying to swing my camera around quickly to track the hummingbirds was much more difficult. The sigma is an amazing little lens! Thanks for watching and commenting! Have a great day! 😁
You have to be aware that if the lens has firmware Ver.01 it has some OS anomalies and you can NOT update it yourself because Ver.01 has that flaw too. You need to take lens to your local Sigma distributor to update into Ver.02. After that you can update normally via camera. Takeout from the Sigma website: "Ver.02 2021.07.15 It has improved the phenomenon whereby the lens’s optical stabilizer effect differs depending on the shutter type and drive mode used. It has corrected the phenomenon whereby the lens firmware cannot be updated via the camera. * Customers cannot update to lens firmware Ver.02 by themselves. After the lens has been updated to Ver.02 by SIGMA, the user can then update all future lens firmware via the camera." Otherwise the lens is good. Sharp, compact and i liked the push-pull zoom. But it didn't have the reach i need and i had to sell mine. Now i own Sony 200-600 G.
I think I may have experienced some strange effects with the OS, specifically when I was photographing a few mushrooms. Thanks for the info and commenting!
@@CurtisSnapshot Basically the flaw was that if you used continuous shooting AND the physical shutter curtain, the first picture came out sharp, but the next pictures showed the camera shake effect because the OS of the lens couldn't stay in sync with the camera. Probably the same could have happened if bracketing was used, i'm not sure about that. Before software Ver.02, the only way to avoid this was to use the electronic shutter or turn off the OS.
If I ever have the opportunity to get my hands on the 100 - 400 GM, I would absolutely love to make a review on it! Maybe I can rent it sometime in the future.
If you aren't too worried about spending the extra money, the Sony 200 600 is a phenomenal lens. Just keep the weight and size of it in mind. Also, sigma offers a 150 - 600mm e mount lens now and that could potentially be a better alternative in terms of pricing, while still getting a high quality telephoto lens. (Sigma hasn't disappointed me yet with other lenses I have previously purchased).
From what I’ve read, if the lens is ver.01 it has to been sent to sigma to be updated, or you must have the dock. Anything after ver.01 should update via the camera body. Which is why I haven’t updated mine, it still works fine and captures great images! However, recording video with the lens has resulted in footage that appears jittery.
Unfortunately if we’re talking about the Sony E mount variant of this lens, there is not a tele converter that’s compatible. I read online that Sony doesn’t allow third party teleconverters. This is speculation as there’s no official statement. And of course the official Sony teleconverters only work with select Sony lenses. Hopefully this changes and sigma can release a teleconverter in the future.
Yup, it’ll work with any Sony e mount camera. If you get a used one, it may not have the latest update, which means you may experience some glitches with the optical stabilization when shooting in video mode with the latest Sony cameras.
This review is a prime example of how bad round lights that seem to be the rage these days are. Wearing glasses with this light is horrid. It gives the presenter alien eyes and is very distracting. The problem is more than just RUclips presenters; all the cable news channels have interviews (mostly done via laptops) with these lights. When my crew and I shot for national broadcasters, corporations and live shots everything had to be perfect and these lights would not cut it. Now it seems any crap(bad lighting, bad background, bad audio) is OK because it's free. A sign of the times.
I can see how these lights don’t look great, I’m currently working with a budget setup and limited space. I'm hoping to slowly increase my production quality overtime. It's definitely interesting that even high-production environments are using these ring lights now!
I'm looking at this lens for my Sony a6400 camera to use for general zoom, an upcoming cruise to Alaska, some nighttime lights, and for photographing the moon. I use a smaller Sigma lens now that works great.
Sigma seems to always be a pretty good bet, well priced and performs well! I think you’ll enjoy this lens if you get it and it’s typically pretty cheap on the used market!
I actually have exactly the same setup as you. Started with the Sigma 100-400 and upgraded to the Sony 220-600 for more focal range. While I love the Sony, I returned to the Sigma because it better suits my way of photographing. I usually go on longer hikes with a heavy backpack. While moving a lot, the Sony lens simply is too heavy and cumbersome for me. The Sigma is really lightweight and easy to handle while walking or crawling. I do miss the additional focal length, but the positive side effect is that I have to be more creative when taking photos. It is a shame that you cannot use the teleconverter on the e-mount version of this lens. Maybe I will look into the Sony 100-400 one day, or just wait until they bring out one with incorporated teleconverter (provided that it does not cost 10.000 euro...). Anyway, thank you as always for the video!
I completely understand the weight thing, I tried some more photos of the hummingbirds, but with the 200 to 600 + 1.4x TC and got some slightly tighter photos. However the weight difference was significant, trying to swing my camera around quickly to track the hummingbirds was much more difficult.
The sigma is an amazing little lens! Thanks for watching and commenting! Have a great day! 😁
You have to be aware that if the lens has firmware Ver.01 it has some OS anomalies and you can NOT update it yourself because Ver.01 has that flaw too. You need to take lens to your local Sigma distributor to update into Ver.02. After that you can update normally via camera. Takeout from the Sigma website:
"Ver.02
2021.07.15
It has improved the phenomenon whereby the lens’s optical stabilizer effect differs depending on the shutter type and drive mode used.
It has corrected the phenomenon whereby the lens firmware cannot be updated via the camera.
* Customers cannot update to lens firmware Ver.02 by themselves. After the lens has been updated to Ver.02 by SIGMA, the user can then update all future lens firmware via the camera."
Otherwise the lens is good. Sharp, compact and i liked the push-pull zoom. But it didn't have the reach i need and i had to sell mine. Now i own Sony 200-600 G.
I think I may have experienced some strange effects with the OS, specifically when I was photographing a few mushrooms. Thanks for the info and commenting!
@@CurtisSnapshot Basically the flaw was that if you used continuous shooting AND the physical shutter curtain, the first picture came out sharp, but the next pictures showed the camera shake effect because the OS of the lens couldn't stay in sync with the camera. Probably the same could have happened if bracketing was used, i'm not sure about that. Before software Ver.02, the only way to avoid this was to use the electronic shutter or turn off the OS.
V3 update for this lens looks like a good thig for video.
Can you make a comparison with the Sony 100-400GM lens? For the rest, nice review.
If I ever have the opportunity to get my hands on the 100 - 400 GM, I would absolutely love to make a review on it! Maybe I can rent it sometime in the future.
@@CurtisSnapshot thanks, it should be nice
Great review! Would you recommend me to buy this lens or to expend extra money and get the Sony 200-600 G ?
If you aren't too worried about spending the extra money, the Sony 200 600 is a phenomenal lens. Just keep the weight and size of it in mind.
Also, sigma offers a 150 - 600mm e mount lens now and that could potentially be a better alternative in terms of pricing, while still getting a high quality telephoto lens.
(Sigma hasn't disappointed me yet with other lenses I have previously purchased).
I am wondering if the dock is necessary for updating FireWire or OS performance. Or when should I start to consider of having one? Thanks.
As I just bought a used one.Exterior looks great though, definitely not heavily used.
From what I’ve read, if the lens is ver.01 it has to been sent to sigma to be updated, or you must have the dock. Anything after ver.01 should update via the camera body.
Which is why I haven’t updated mine, it still works fine and captures great images! However, recording video with the lens has resulted in footage that appears jittery.
hi mate, do you know what teleconverter would work with this lens?? thanks.
Unfortunately if we’re talking about the Sony E mount variant of this lens, there is not a tele converter that’s compatible.
I read online that Sony doesn’t allow third party teleconverters. This is speculation as there’s no official statement. And of course the official Sony teleconverters only work with select Sony lenses.
Hopefully this changes and sigma can release a teleconverter in the future.
@@CurtisSnapshot ohh wow, that sucks, thanks for the reply!
I have a sony zv e 10
Is it supported ?
Yup, it’ll work with any Sony e mount camera. If you get a used one, it may not have the latest update, which means you may experience some glitches with the optical stabilization when shooting in video mode with the latest Sony cameras.
@@CurtisSnapshot ok thank you bro 👍
This review is a prime example of how bad round lights that seem to be the rage these days are. Wearing glasses with this light is horrid. It gives the presenter alien eyes and is very distracting. The problem is more than just RUclips presenters; all the cable news channels have interviews (mostly done via laptops) with these lights.
When my crew and I shot for national broadcasters, corporations and live shots everything had to be perfect and these lights would not cut it. Now it seems any crap(bad lighting, bad background, bad audio) is OK because it's free. A sign of the times.
I can see how these lights don’t look great, I’m currently working with a budget setup and limited space. I'm hoping to slowly increase my production quality overtime.
It's definitely interesting that even high-production environments are using these ring lights now!