Sigma’s evolution has been quite exciting to see. There was a point when third-party lenses were looked down upon by many photographers, but over the years, the quality, price, and performance have put third-party, particularly Sigma lenses, back on the map. With the company offering a wide portfolio to various genres of photographers, today, we take a look at some exceptional telephoto lenses, which many wildlife, bird, and macro photographers will appreciate.
Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
The 100-400mm is a versatile telephoto lens that features 22 elements in 16 groups and 9 rounded aperture blades. It has a minimum focusing distance of 112cm on the wide side and 160cm at the telephoto end. Some other features also include a 67mm filter size, a 1:4.2 magnification ratio, and a weight of 1,140g. While the lens is not entirely weather sealed, it has a great build quality, produces good color and images, and also has built-in stabilization. Plus, the price tag makes it an ideal choice for anyone who wants good performance.
Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro Art
If you like to photograph the unseen world, then the Sigma 105mm is the perfect partner for you. The lens has a 1:1 macro ratio, a minimum 5.5-inch focusing distance, 9 aperture blades, and is fully weather-sealed. It weighs 1.6 lbs, making it incredibly lightweight to hold and use. Some of its great qualities are sharpness, compactness, and affordability. The only challenge is the lack of image stabilisation, which can make it difficult to work in the dark.
Sigma 135mm f1.8 DG HSM Art
Sigma 135mm is the perfect lens for portrait photographers. It features an 18.2° angle of view, 9 round aperture blades, and a close focusing distance of 87.5cm. It has an 82mm filter thread, 1:4.3 maximum magnification ratio, and 1,130g of weightAs we said in our review about it’s performance, “It has great bokeh, is sharp, focuses quickly, has color that will appeal to one segment of the photography population more than the other, and has no real ‘problems’ per see.” It is also affordable, which makes it even more likable.
Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG DN
Another versatile option from Sigma, the lens offers a wide focal range, which is needed for wildlife and bird photography. With four low-dispersion elements, the 150-600mm features 9 rounded aperture blades and a 1:2.9 magnification ratio. The lens also has a 0.34x magnification, a 1.9-inch minimum focusing distance, and a 10.4-inch length. The lens offers multiple options for controls, stabilization, sharpness, and weather sealing. However, for close focusing distance, you need to rely on the focus limiter switch.
Sigma 500mm f4 DG OS HSM Sports
The longest focal length on the list, the Sigma 500mm, is one of the best options for bird photographers. It is designed with 16 elements in 11 groups, and includes 9 rounded aperture blades. It has a 350cm minimum focusing distance, a 46mm filter size, a 1:6.5 maximum magnification ratio, and 3,310g of weight. The lens is lightweight, has weather sealing, effective autofocus, and great image quality on the whole. “If you can’t afford Canon’s own version, then this is a solid alternative,” as we said in our review.