I can't speak about the Sigma 150-600 but I have the 100-400 DG DN. Auto focus is good unless I try to catch a flying bird against the sky. I usually have the focus area set to center and if I don't catch the bird in the square the focus goes to crap. That is more of a failing on my part however. I know I could go with AFC Wide but then I have the problem of the focus landing on the closest object when taking photos on the ground.
I have the same lens, and the same experience. For birds I use centre AF and just try to manually keep the bird at the focus point, because any wider the lens (or camera) get distracted.
I use the F-mount version of this with the FTZ adapter for my Z5. And it... works. Like you, I also bought mine second hand, though I paid about 100 USD less than retail for it. And bought it coming up on 3 years ago. Autofocus was the main reason I jumped on the Z5. (That and I got an FTZ adapter free when I bought mine.) But the autofocus performance with this lens on my Z5 is... interesting, to say the least. I keep telling myself I need to go back to using this with my D7200 instead of my Z5 - sensor size being one of the reasons. And with OS, you're supposed to hold the shutter button half-way for 1 second, then press full to take the shot according to the manual. With a moving subject... that's not really possible.
Interesting experience. Regarding holding the shutter button half-pressed; does that perhaps allow for continuous-AF tracking? Then the OS can engage while you're tracking your moving subject. Not sure if that would work on your Nikon camera!
@@TimvanderLeeuw The manual for the lens seems to indicate that the lens can't be used on continuous-AF since the manual says "Press the shutter button halfway down, confirm the image in the viewfinder is stable then take the picture. (It takes approximately 1 second to produce a stable image, after pressing the shutter button halfway)." Obviously a 1-second delay doesn't work with continuous-AF, and I don't recall ever really getting any clean shots with this lens using continuous-AF. And if I did, it was likely due to the shutter speed being high enough to freeze movement so the OS wasn't needed. I'm planning to rent the Tamron G2 150-600mm lens to see if I get better results before committing to another major lens purchase. I have the Tamron G2 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 and have no issues getting sharp shots with both on my Z5 whether using AF-S or AF-C. That and I wonder if I needed to look at what customizations can do with the Sigma lens.
Since I upgraded to full frame in January I also wanted a new telezoom to replace my 70-350 crop lens. I ended up with the 100-400 GM because of the size and weight. Of course I use the 1.4x teleconverter a lot. F8 is not much worse than 6.3 on a 200-600. AF on a7iv and 100-400 GM is much better than a6500 and 70-350.
If you ever want to do a direct comparison with it against the old DSLR sport version I'd be happy to lend, I had a very brief play with the Sony 200-600 that is very close to comparing apples with apples. But it is a good bit lighter than the sigma and it's advantage is being a internal zoom,
I had the Sigma 150-600mm and found it all but useless for moving animals. I then purchased the sigma 100-400 which is a considerable better but is no match for the Sony 200-400mm GM!
Sounds really unfortunate using the Sigma lens on a Sony Mirrorless Body plus Adapter. You would be correct saying it probably works better on a DSLR. I use the same lens on my Canon 1Dx MK II and the lens performs incredible and the images are as good a native Canon lenses for less than half the money. This Contemporary lens shocked me once I reviewed my images. The images really are amazing. I use this lens strictly for Sports photography in daylight, and is an absolute killer lens. If people are considering using this lens on a DSLR, you will be thrilled with the results. I have not tried out the "Sport" lens, but from all the reviews I read and RUclips videos I have watched, the Contemporary is the way to go.
I'm interested in your opinion about this lenses zoom ring friction. My friend has one of these and its zoom ring is horribly hard to turn, I can't imagine myself shooting anything moving with this much friction. In comparison, my canon 100-400 II is a dream with the tension ring.
I've had no issue with it It seems to have a similar level of friction as my Tamron 28-75 The only thing I have noticed is the weight of the glass when zooming, it's quite a difference if you're zooming in with the lens angled upwards Vs downwards (and the opposite when zooming out)
@@DaveMcKeegan seems reasonable, maybe the friction wears down with use. About the weight, both of the DSLR Sigma 150-600 have poor weight distribution, especially the Sport with the huge metal lens hood. I rented it for one day, had a terrible experience both with back and shoulder pain and image quality and focus performance.
I used to have the 120-300 sport and that was a lump, especially as you say with a metal lens hood This 150-600 at least has a plastic hood and the weight distribution isn't too bad
"When the focus lands right", you say... Argh This has been my frustration with its smaller sister, the Sigma 100-400mm, since almost forever. Both on a Canon EOS-M5 camera (with EF-to-EF-M adapter) and on Fuji (with Fringer EF-to-X adapter), lots of mis focuses with the Sigma 100-400mm lens. I've found the focus of the Tamron 150-600mm lens quite fast and more reliable when adapted to my Fuji, except it's somehow not very sharp. At least not the copy which I tested, on my APS-C body. Perhaps if you can try out a copy of that lens your experience will be better!
The digital picture website, nice shout out there my dude! Been using Bryan's image comparison tools for years now. Very handy.
I can't speak about the Sigma 150-600 but I have the 100-400 DG DN. Auto focus is good unless I try to catch a flying bird against the sky. I usually have the focus area set to center and if I don't catch the bird in the square the focus goes to crap. That is more of a failing on my part however. I know I could go with AFC Wide but then I have the problem of the focus landing on the closest object when taking photos on the ground.
And what camera do you use? That plays a very important part as well, of course.
I have the same lens, and the same experience. For birds I use centre AF and just try to manually keep the bird at the focus point, because any wider the lens (or camera) get distracted.
I use the F-mount version of this with the FTZ adapter for my Z5. And it... works. Like you, I also bought mine second hand, though I paid about 100 USD less than retail for it. And bought it coming up on 3 years ago. Autofocus was the main reason I jumped on the Z5. (That and I got an FTZ adapter free when I bought mine.) But the autofocus performance with this lens on my Z5 is... interesting, to say the least. I keep telling myself I need to go back to using this with my D7200 instead of my Z5 - sensor size being one of the reasons. And with OS, you're supposed to hold the shutter button half-way for 1 second, then press full to take the shot according to the manual. With a moving subject... that's not really possible.
Interesting experience.
Regarding holding the shutter button half-pressed; does that perhaps allow for continuous-AF tracking? Then the OS can engage while you're tracking your moving subject.
Not sure if that would work on your Nikon camera!
@@TimvanderLeeuw The manual for the lens seems to indicate that the lens can't be used on continuous-AF since the manual says
"Press the shutter button halfway down, confirm the image in the viewfinder is stable then take the picture. (It takes approximately 1 second to produce a stable image, after pressing the shutter button halfway)."
Obviously a 1-second delay doesn't work with continuous-AF, and I don't recall ever really getting any clean shots with this lens using continuous-AF. And if I did, it was likely due to the shutter speed being high enough to freeze movement so the OS wasn't needed.
I'm planning to rent the Tamron G2 150-600mm lens to see if I get better results before committing to another major lens purchase. I have the Tamron G2 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 and have no issues getting sharp shots with both on my Z5 whether using AF-S or AF-C. That and I wonder if I needed to look at what customizations can do with the Sigma lens.
I have the F-mount version of this lens and as you say, it works pretty well in outdoors and when the subject isn't moving too fast.
I do check for updates on the mc-11 and lens every few months as well.
Since I upgraded to full frame in January I also wanted a new telezoom to replace my 70-350 crop lens.
I ended up with the 100-400 GM because of the size and weight.
Of course I use the 1.4x teleconverter a lot. F8 is not much worse than 6.3 on a 200-600.
AF on a7iv and 100-400 GM is much better than a6500 and 70-350.
And the Sony 200-600mm are better than the 100-400 at the long range.
If you ever want to do a direct comparison with it against the old DSLR sport version I'd be happy to lend, I had a very brief play with the Sony 200-600 that is very close to comparing apples with apples. But it is a good bit lighter than the sigma and it's advantage is being a internal zoom,
Thanks for the offer although I'm actually contemplating changing it for something shorter and faster 😳
Thank you Mr McKeegan and hi Rusty. Good boy. :)
You're welcome Mr Bailey ☺️
I had the Sigma 150-600mm and found it all but useless for moving animals. I then purchased the sigma 100-400 which is a considerable better but is no match for the Sony 200-400mm GM!
Sony have no 200-400mm GM, it is a 100-400mm GM and the Sony 200-600mm G are the best.
Sounds really unfortunate using the Sigma lens on a Sony Mirrorless Body plus Adapter. You would be correct saying it probably works better on a DSLR. I use the same lens on my Canon 1Dx MK II and the lens performs incredible and the images are as good a native Canon lenses for less than half the money. This Contemporary lens shocked me once I reviewed my images. The images really are amazing. I use this lens strictly for Sports photography in daylight, and is an absolute killer lens. If people are considering using this lens on a DSLR, you will be thrilled with the results. I have not tried out the "Sport" lens, but from all the reviews I read and RUclips videos I have watched, the Contemporary is the way to go.
It seems to work fine on Lumix mirrorless cameras, but maybe thats because the full frame sensor on the S series of cameras.
I'm interested in your opinion about this lenses zoom ring friction. My friend has one of these and its zoom ring is horribly hard to turn, I can't imagine myself shooting anything moving with this much friction.
In comparison, my canon 100-400 II is a dream with the tension ring.
I've had no issue with it
It seems to have a similar level of friction as my Tamron 28-75
The only thing I have noticed is the weight of the glass when zooming, it's quite a difference if you're zooming in with the lens angled upwards Vs downwards (and the opposite when zooming out)
@@DaveMcKeegan seems reasonable, maybe the friction wears down with use.
About the weight, both of the DSLR Sigma 150-600 have poor weight distribution, especially the Sport with the huge metal lens hood. I rented it for one day, had a terrible experience both with back and shoulder pain and image quality and focus performance.
I used to have the 120-300 sport and that was a lump, especially as you say with a metal lens hood
This 150-600 at least has a plastic hood and the weight distribution isn't too bad
Very useful.
"When the focus lands right", you say...
Argh
This has been my frustration with its smaller sister, the Sigma 100-400mm, since almost forever.
Both on a Canon EOS-M5 camera (with EF-to-EF-M adapter) and on Fuji (with Fringer EF-to-X adapter), lots of mis focuses with the Sigma 100-400mm lens.
I've found the focus of the Tamron 150-600mm lens quite fast and more reliable when adapted to my Fuji, except it's somehow not very sharp. At least not the copy which I tested, on my APS-C body.
Perhaps if you can try out a copy of that lens your experience will be better!
Waiting for new 100-400 or 100-600 GM 2 8 ))
Or contemporary crap ! I wish there will be made more long prime tele Lenses like 300mm 4.0, 400mm 4.5 and 500mm 5.6
Nice!