Sigma 150 500mm F5 6 3 APO DG OS HSM Review | 54 Data compared

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM is an impressive, budget-friendly ultra-telephoto zoom lens featuring effective Optical Stabilisation (OS) and a quick Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM). It delivers excellent sharpness, particularly at the 150mm end with peak performance around f/11, offering high value for wildlife and sports photographers. However, the lens is heavy and bulky, making extended handheld shooting tiring, and the large tripod mount awkwardly obstructs the zoom and manual-focus rings. While the OS helps stabilize the viewfinder, it may not significantly improve recorded sharpness in all conditions.

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM is a full-frame super-telephoto zoom lens designed for sports and wildlife photography, offering an highly affordable way to reach a 500mm focal length with image stabilization. In terms of pros, the lens features an effective Optical Stabilizer (OS) that provides an additional two stops of hand-holding power and assists on lighter tripods, alongside a fast Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) for autofocus with full manual override. It delivers very sharp, high-contrast results on the wider end up to 300mm even when shot wide open, and offers a highly capable maximum magnification of 1:5.2 for close-up shots. Additionally, it includes useful accessories such as a soft padded case, a lens strap, and a reversible lens hood to protect its large front element. However, the lens comes with several notable cons, particularly regarding its optical performance at longer focal lengths where it requires stopping down to f/8 or f/11 to achieve sharp images. While not overly heavy for its size at 1780 grams, it is physically large, extending up to 406mm when fully zoomed out with...

The What Digital Camera review concludes that the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM is a functional superzoom lens whose strongest asset is its internal Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) autofocus system, which performs quickly and quietly while leaving the manual focusing ring stationary during operation. Additional praised features include a high-quality, heavy-duty padded case and a dual-mode Optical Stabiliser (OS) designed to assist with both static shots and panning scenarios. However, the tester noted that the OS is primarily helpful for settling the viewfinder image during composition rather than measurably boosting the raw resolution or MTF data of the captured photos. On the downside, the lens suffers from notable handling and ergonomic limitations due to its bulky build. While the large, integrated tripod platform provides an excellent handle for carrying, it severely obstructs the manual-focusing and zoom rings. Photographers are forced to use an awkward, high-elbow grip to manually override focus, and removing the platform requires completely detaching the lens from the camera body, which ruins the balanced setup. Overall, the reviewer rates its value and features highly at 90...

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is a highly popular, budget-friendly super-telephoto zoom lens favored by wildlife photographers for its extensive focal reach. Tested on full-frame cameras like the Sony SLT A-99, it offers competitive image quality at the shorter end of the zoom range, good center sharpness up to 300mm, and relatively low vignetting and lateral chromatic aberration. Key performance strengths include its fast, quiet ultrasonic autofocus, four-stop optical image stabilization, and a useful 86.6-inch minimum focus distance across all focal lengths. However, the lens suffers from notable drawbacks, particularly regarding sharpness at its maximum 500mm focal length, where image quality drops significantly and requires stopping down to f/11 to achieve acceptable center clarity. This loss of sharpness and overall performance is especially pronounced on APS-C format crop-sensor bodies, such as the Sony A-77 and Pentax K-3. Additional cons include pincushion distortion that creeps in from 200mm onwards, increased corner chromatic aberration when wide-open at 500mm, and a heavy, bulky build weighing 62.8 ounces.

The Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is an affordable telephoto zoom designed for nature and sports photographers seeking a versatile all-in-one solution. Despite its long reach, the lens is relatively compact at 25.2 cm when retracted and weighs approximately 1.9 kg, making it portable enough for most gear bags. The build quality is sturdy, featuring a HSM focus motor for quiet operation and a manual focus override, though the focus ring can feel slightly too smooth. Optically, the lens performs very well at 150mm at f/5, but sharpness tends to drop at the 500mm end unless stopped down to f/8. The review highlights several functional pros, such as the inclusion of Optical Stabilization (OS) with two distinct modes for both general and vertical stabilization, and a 150mm lock to prevent lens creeping. Additionally, it offers significantly faster autofocus than similarly priced competitors like the Tamron 200-500mm. However, cons include a tight zoom ring that is difficult to operate when pointing the lens upward, a tripod mount that can flex if not tightened excessively, and a slight lack of...

This review evaluates the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS HSM lens during a real-world assignment at a high-intensity Alabama-Arkansas college football game. The reviewer, a self-proclaimed "lens snob" accustomed to $5,000 professional prime lenses, was highly impressed by the lens's overall performance given its retail price of $999. Key positive takeaways include a fast, quiet, and highly accurate Hypersonic Motor (HSM) autofocus system that efficiently tracked fast-moving athletes even under overcast, rainy conditions. Furthermore, the lens delivered excellent color fidelity, vivid saturation, and exceptional sharpness when used within its optimal parameters, preventing the need for heavy post-production work. The Optical Stabilization (OS) technology also proved highly effective, allowing crisp, detailed images when shooting handheld at shutter speeds as slow as 1/30th of a second at 500mm. Despite the high praise, the reviewer highlighted distinct optical and physical limitations that require manual workarounds. Optically, the lens exhibits an objectionable softness when shooting completely wide open at the maximum 500mm focal length, though this is easily mitigated by stopping down to f/8, which was identified as the lens's "sweet spot" alongside...

The KSQPhotography review describes the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM as a high-value, entry-level telephoto lens offering impressive 500mm reach, effective Optical Stabilisation (OS), and a quiet HSM motor. Pros include its solid build quality, tripod collar inclusion, and relatively compact weight for its range. Conversely, the review notes significant image softening at 500mm, requiring smaller apertures for acceptable sharpness, alongside a slow f/6.3 max aperture for low-light scenarios. Handling drawbacks include a stiff zoom ring, "lens creep," and a potentially obstructed manual focus ring.

The Photography Life review of the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 OS lens highlights its capability for bird photography, particularly praising the fast, accurate HSM autofocus and effective Optical Stabilizer for tracking subjects like swallows in flight. While offering respectable sharpness when stopped down, the lens performs best in bright conditions and struggles with image quality in lower light. Notable drawbacks include reduced sharpness at 500mm f/6.3, a bulky design requiring stamina for handheld use, and a lack of a focus-limit switch.

The LensVid review of the Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM lenshighlights it as an affordable, Japanese-made super-telephoto zoom lens popular among amateur bird and nature photographers. The reviewer praises its fantastic build quality, noting that both the focus and zoom rings are highly comfortable, and the extended barrel remains structurally tight without feeling loose. Included with a sturdy metal tripod collar, a lock switch at 150mm, and a long plastic hood that efficiently stops flare, the lens delivers decent macro performance (1:5.2 magnification ratio) for mid-range close-ups. In testing on a crop-sensor Nikon D7100, the lens proved to be noticeably sharper in the middle of its zoom range (300mm) than the Nikon 70-300mm, while showing zero vignetting at 500mm. However, the lens presents several functional drawbacks that limit its professional viability. Its maximum sharpness is restricted, requiring photographers to stop down the aperture significantly to f/10 or f/11. This requirement, combined with a narrow f/6.3 maximum aperture at 500mm, heavily impacts its utility in low-light environments. Furthermore, the autofocusing speed is merely adequate—falling visibly behind pro telephoto lenses...

The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is an affordable telephoto zoom lens priced around $870 that provides great value for wildlife and sports photographers looking for long reach without the high cost of premium primes. Weighing 4.19 lbs, the lens features full-frame coverage, quiet HyperSonic Motor (HSM) autofocusing, and optical stabilization providing 2 to 3 stops of handheld assistance on Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts (though Pentax and Sony mounts lack stabilization). In terms of performance, its major pros include excellent sharpness from center to edge at 150mm and 200mm even wide open, low distortion across all focal lengths, and highly manageable chromatic aberration. However, the review highlights several distinct cons, particularly as the lens reaches its maximum focal length. At 500mm wide open (f/6.3), image sharpness and contrast drop due to uncorrected spherical aberration, requiring the user to stop down 2/3 of a stop to f/8 to restore optimal quality. Furthermore, full-frame camera users will experience noticeable vignetting (corner darkening) at 500mm, and the actual focal length drops from 480mm at infinity down to roughly 300mm at...

The Sigma 150-500 mm f/5.0-6.3 APO DG OS HSM review by LensTip highlights this ultra-telephoto zoom lens as a highly competitive and budget-friendly option for amateur wildlife and sports photographers. A major advantage is its solid build quality and workmanship, paired with a generous selection of inbox accessories, including a hard case, a large lens hood, and a tripod adapter. Optically, the lens delivers good to very good picture quality in the 150-370 mm focal range and maintains exceptional control over geometric distortion, showing almost imperceptible pincushion distortion across all focal lengths. It also features reliable control over chromatic aberration, low vignetting, and well-managed coma and astigmatism. Furthermore, its Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) autofocus mechanism is silent and highly accurate, exhibiting an 8% miss rate in studio tests with no persistent front- or back-focusing tendencies. However, the lens presents several notable downsides, particularly regarding its low-light performance and long-end sharpness. A primary drawback is that the lens is optically slow, stepping down quickly to f/6.3 at just 290 mm. Consequently, picture quality noticeably drops at the 500 mm maximum focal...

The Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is a budget-friendly telephoto zoom lens tailored for wildlife and sports photography, offering an attractive price point of $1,069. Tested on full-frame bodies like the Nikon D610 and Canon EOS 6D, the lens delivers strong benefits including a highly effective four-stop image stabilization system, a fast sonic-type autofocus motor, and well-controlled distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration. It also boasts a highly practical minimum focusing distance of 86.6 inches across its entire zoom range, making it highly versatile for tracking distant subjects in the field. However, the lens suffers from notable performance trade-offs, particularly a significant drop-off in sharpness at longer focal lengths that is especially pronounced when paired with smaller APS-C format cameras. Physically, it is quite heavy at 62.8 ounces (1,780g) and utilizes a large 86mm filter thread, making it a cumbersome addition to a camera gear bag. Testing also reveals that while the Canon-mount version holds its own at the telephoto end, the Nikon-mount version underperforms compared to premium alternatives like the $2,700 Nikkor 80-400mm and even Sigma's own 50-500mm...

The Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens, reviewed on Photo Review, is identified as a versatile, budget-friendly super-telephoto option for wildlife and sports photography, praised for its robust build, effective Optical Stabilizer (OS), and quick Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM). It delivers sharp images, particularly up to 300mm, and comes with a durable carrying case and tripod collar, offering high value. Conversely, the lens shows reduced sharpness at the maximum 500mm zoom, requiring smaller apertures for optimal results, and its significant 1.91-kilogram weight can cause fatigue during handheld use. Additionally, users may encounter a stiff zoom mechanism and expensive 86mm filters, as detailed on Photo Review.