Last Updated on 09/03/2024 by Nilofer Khan
The year was 2020 when Sigma announced its 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary for E and L mounts. In our review, we particularly noted how wildlife and sports photographers will love this budget superzoom. “The results are sharp with accurate colors. Performance is also comparable to Sony’s excellent 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 G Master,” we wrote. So, it wasn’t entirely surprising to learn the same model being available in 2023 for X mount users. However, it now seems that the newest offering has been removed from Sigma’s website.
An Important Note First
Before we get into the story, we would like to take this moment to highlight that this is pure reportage. We stopped getting Non-Disclosure Agreement announcements from Sigma after our reviews critiqued the company’s lenses and compared them to the rest of the industry as usual. Instead, a few YouTubers informed us that the company paid them instead for these news announcements. The company chose to discuss this on a call, but when suggested email communication, they never got back to us. In conclusion, with the most real-world lens reviews, our website was cut off from Sigma.
Sigma And Its Lens Saga
Now our side of the story is out of the way, let’s head back to the news. The report was first announced on Fujifilm Rumors, who heard this change from their trusted readers. As per Sigma’s website, the lens, which was available a few weeks ago, has now been removed. The article notes that Sigma 100- 400 mmF5-6.3 continues to have a dedicated page for the product; however, if you look at the screenshot provided below, you will see that the lens seems out of stock. A quick search also shows that this is also the case for Sony’s E mount, whereas the item is low in stock for the L mount.
While Fujifilm Rumors is unsure whether Sima is “phasing out” or planning to release its replacement, we think this has to be more of a supply issue. For instance, when Sigma accepted pre-orders for the 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II in May, they issued a statement apologizing for the shipment delay. “We received orders that exceeded our expectations, and production has been delayed. We are unable to keep up with demand,” said the announcement.
This is not the first time lenses have gone out of stock. If a device is great, the chances of high demand are always there. In Sigma’s case, the lenses are near perfect. In one of our previous articles, we mentioned how Sigma creates a lens with love. For instance, the workers hand-paint the text onto the lens button. “The level of craftsmanship and artistry going into such a simple part of the lens production line is just about the perfect example of Sigma’s commitment to excellent products,” as we had mentioned before. Moreover, a quick glance at their website will also give you an in-depth look at their intricate process, a feat to perseverance.
Tamron Has A Variant
If you want to purchase a similar focal length, then Tamron has something to offer: the 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD. A great alternative, the lens fared well in our reviews. As per our Editor-in-Chief’s article, Tamron offers several things through this lens. For instance, it “does a good job of managing distortion and aberration. The center is sharp, and the colors are great. The long focal length and close focusing capabilities can still produce some good background separation.”
If you are still keen on purchasing Sigma instead, waiting a few days to hear back from the company would be best. Viewing the effort Sigma takes to craft its lenses, you do not want to rush perfection.