Allowing more light to reach the sensor permits freezing action and handholding the camera in lower light levels and can also permit use of a lower (less noisy) ISO setting.

Choosing the right focal length or focal length range is of utmost importance for lens selection as the focal length determines the perspective and framing combination.

Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary - Product Overview

The substantially-sized, crisply-ribbed rubber zoom ring is very smooth with an ideal rotational resistance. Spherical aberration along with spherochromatism, or a change in the amount of spherical aberration with respect to color (looks quite similar to axial chromatic aberration but is hazier) are other common lens aberrations to observe. Above: Now here’s the Sony from the same distance, staying focused even up to 400mm where the difference is dramatic.

The new Sigma has no coma to speak of, just like the Nikon. There’s only a tad more color-fringing with the Sigma than with the Nikon. At 400mm both lenses lose a bit of their punch with a loss in overall contrast and fine details. The new Sigma holds up a tad better in the center but is almost indistinguishable from the Nikon at the APS-C/DX- and the FF/FX-corner. Sigma provides a limited 1-year warranty, and Sigma USA provides a limited 3-year warranty extension. I always recommend having a filter wrench on hand, but I especially recommend having one readily available with this lens if using a circular polarizer filter or other slim filters. With a lot to love, and only a few relatively obscure complaints, you can’t go wrong investing in the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary. Still, there are alternatives out there, so we should compare them.

Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C Chromatic Aberration Charts

The Sigma 100-400mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM C is a well-made lens, with an optical design of 21 elements in 15 groups. Four of those are SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements to help increase contrast and sharpness while minimizing color fringing. The lens relies on Sigma’s ring-type HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which has been a mainstay on the company’s lenses for many years. You’ll also find an autofocus range limiter to help speed up focus acquisition, as well as Optical Image Stabilization with roughly four stops of compensation (Sigma doesn’t specify, but that’s what I found in my tests). At 100mm, a full extent focus distance change requires 150° of rotation when turning the focus ring slowly. While selecting a telephoto lens is a good choice from a safety concern perspective (safety both from and for the subject), it also is a good choice because there is typically a physical or designated barrier, such as a fence or the perimeter lines on a sports field, preventing a closer shooting location.