Sigma APO 50 150mm F2 8 EX DC OS HSM Review | 54 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review of the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM highlights a robust, APS-C optimized lens featuring outstanding central sharpness at 50mm and 100mm, alongside effective Optical Stabilization (OS) and fast, silent Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) autofocus. While offering high-quality build and performance, the lens exhibits a slight drop in central sharpness at 150mm f/2.8, with noticeable distortion, color fringing, and a heavy, bulky 1.3kg design.

The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO is a fully re-imagined telephoto zoom lens designed specifically for crop-sensor (APS-C) cameras, offering a unique focal length that transitions smoothly from a normal view to a three-times zoom at a constant f/2.8 aperture. The lens delivers a highly sturdy build, featuring a rugged matte black aluminum exterior and an internal zoom mechanism that ensures the physical length and balance of the body never shift during operation. Its performance highlights include exceptionally fast, reliable, and silent autofocus—even in low-light environments—alongside a highly effective optical stabilization system and excellent control over chromatic aberration. In terms of image quality, sharpness is highly consistent and peaks to a tack-sharp level between f/5.6 and f/14, while wide-open shooting at f/2.8 remains clean, sharp, and entirely free of fogginess. However, the lens comes with notable drawbacks, primarily concerning its massive physical footprint. It inherits the substantial weight and large size of a much longer telephoto lens, making its 150mm maximum reach feel somewhat restrictive for disciplines like wildlife photography and heavy compared to other dedicated portrait...

The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM lens serves as a high-performance, 70-200mm focal range equivalent tailored specifically for APS-C cameras. Retailing at a reasonable $1,000 USD, it delivers exceptional value by earning an overall DxOMark score of 19 on both Canon and Nikon bodies. In comparative testing against more expensive alternatives—like the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II and Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR—the Sigma consistently outperformed them in overall ranking. The lens excels in practical use thanks to its four-stop optical stabilizer, fast and quiet Ultrasonic Motor (HSM) autofocus, and an internal focusing design that maintains excellent balance in the hand. The review highlights several optical pros, most notably its superior sharpness—reaching up to 13 P-Mpix on Canon—with homogenous resolution that extends cleanly right out to the corners of the frame. It also boasts high light transmission, minimal distortion (0.1%), low chromatic aberration (7μm), and a welcome close-focusing distance of 80cm. Conversely, the primary con identified across tests is its vignetting performance; the lens scored -0.7Ev on Canon and -0.8Ev on Nikon, which falls short when compared...

The Sigma AF 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a highly capable zoom lens designed exclusively for SLR cameras with APS-C sensors. In terms of optical performance, it delivers exceptional image quality that rivals much more expensive professional lenses like the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II L, making it an excellent companion to the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art. The lens boasts a robust, professional-level metal construction and includes internal focusing alongside an optical image stabilizer that offers a verified benefit of two to three stops. Furthermore, its combination of a fast f/2.8 aperture and longer focal lengths yields a beautiful, smooth background bokeh that effectively isolates subjects, which is ideal for portrait and nature photography. The review highlights several distinct strengths and weaknesses for potential buyers to consider. On the positive side, the lens features standout pros including remarkably high and even edge-to-edge sharpness, exceptionally low vignetting, well-corrected chromatic aberration, and a solidly built chassis that comes packaged with a tripod collar, hood, and pouch. However, it does come with notable cons; it is a relatively large and heavy lens...

The Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a fast, fixed-aperture telephoto zoom lens engineered specifically for APS-C format DSLRs, yielding a 35mm focal length equivalent of 75-225mm. It features an internal focusing and zooming mechanism that prevents the lens barrel from extending or rotating, and it includes a robust, removable tripod collar designed to optimize balance during handheld or tripod use. While its build quality feels durable, the lens is notably larger and heavier than its predecessor, matching the physical size of a full-frame 70-200mm lens, which can make it burdensome during extended field use. Additionally, the physical layout presents minor handling quirks, as the manual-focusing ring is positioned a bit too close for an easy reach when the tripod collar is attached. In terms of performance, the optical system delivers very good sharpness at 50mm and excellent results at 85mm, though sharpness drops slightly at 150mm when shooting at wide apertures. Key advantages of this lens include its effective Optical Stabilisation system, feature-packed design, and the inclusion of a high-quality padded carrying case. However, users should look...

The LensTip review of the Sigma 50-150 mm f/2.8 APO EX DC OS HSM highlights it as a highly capable, specialized journalistic and portrait zoom lens built exclusively for APS-C/DX format sensors. On the positive side, the lens delivers sensational optical resolution in the frame centre and maintains very good sharpness along the frame edges. Its robust, solid casing houses a highly efficient optical stabilization (OS) system, alongside a silent, fast, and remarkably accurate hyper-sonic autofocus motor (HSM) that requires zero micro-regulation adjustments. Optically, it excels with minimal distortion, moderate vignetting that clears up entirely at f/4.0, slight chromatic aberration, and exemplary coma correction. Furthermore, it includes a generous standard accessory bundle featuring a lens hood, tripod adapter, and a hard carrying case, backed by a competitive multi-year warranty. Conversely, the review identifies critical drawbacks regarding the lens's physical footprint and flare handling. Due to the inclusion of the large optical stabilization mechanism and complex 21-element glass configuration, the lens suffers from unusually large physical dimensions and heavy weight for a dedicated APS-C format lens. Optically, its most severe weakness...

The Radojuva review highlights the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 APO DC HSM EX OS as a high-performance, fast telephoto zoom for APS-C cameras, offering excellent center-to-corner sharpness wide open, smooth bokeh, and effective stabilization. Its robust construction includes internal focusing and a quiet HSM motor, providing a versatile 75-225mm equivalent field of view for crop sensors. However, the lens is notably bulky and heavy, comparable to full-frame 70-200mm lenses, and it is strictly limited to APS-C cameras, causing severe vignetting on full-frame bodies. The review also notes potential for lens flare, geometric distortion at 50mm, and significant sample variation regarding focusing accuracy in used copies.