The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary is a telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. It covers a long range of focal lengths from 100mm to 400mm, making it suitable for wildlife, sports, and action photography.
This lens is also compatible with Sony E-mount APS-C cameras, where it provides a 150-600mm equivalent focal length.
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary features a variable f/5-6.3 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range, which enables decent light transmission and depth of field control.
It also features an optical design that incorporates one FLD element and four SLD elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions and enhance sharpness and contrast.
Additionally, it has a Super Multi-Layer Coating that minimizes flare and ghosting and improves color accuracy.
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary has a stepping motor autofocus system that provides fast, smooth, and quiet focusing performance. It also supports full-time manual focus override for fine-tuning the focus.
Moreover, it has an optical image stabilization system that compensates for camera shake up to four stops, enabling handheld shooting in low-light conditions.
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary has a dust- and splash-resistant construction that protects the lens from harsh environmental conditions. It also has a 67mm filter thread and comes with a lens hood.
It has an AFL button and a zoom limiter switch on the lens barrel for easy access and control. It is also compatible with an optional tripod socket for better balance and stability.
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary is an ideal lens for photographers who want a long telephoto zoom lens that can capture distant subjects with good image quality and performance. It is especially useful for wildlife, sports, and action photography, where getting closer to the subject is not always possible or desirable.
However, the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. Here are some pros and cons of the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary:
| Pros | Cons |
| Long telephoto zoom range | Variable aperture |
| Good image quality | Not very bright at f/5-6.3 |
| Fast and quiet autofocus | Soft edges at 400mm |
| Optical image stabilization | No focus hold button |
| Dust- and splash-resistant | Heavy and bulky |
| AFL button and zoom limiter switch | Expensive |
As you can see from the table, using the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary comes with some trade-offs that you should consider before deciding whether it is worth it for your needs.
In general, you should use the lens when you need a long telephoto zoom lens that can deliver good image quality and performance in most situations. However, you should also be aware of its limitations in terms of brightness, sharpness, size, and price.
Some tips for using the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary are:
- Use a tripod or a monopod to stabilize your camera and lens
- Use a faster shutter speed or a higher ISO to avoid motion blur or camera shake
- Use manual focus or pre-focus on your subject to avoid hunting or missing focus
- Use a smaller aperture (higher f-number) to increase depth of field and sharpness
- Use a lower ISO or a noise reduction software to reduce noise and grain
- Use a lens hood or a filter to prevent flare and ghosting
- Use a raw format or a post-processing software to adjust exposure, contrast, color, etc.
Conclusion
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary is a telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras that covers a long range of focal lengths from 100mm to 400mm. It offers good image quality and performance with a variable f/5-6.3 aperture, fast and quiet autofocus, optical image stabilization, dust- and splash-resistant construction, AFL button and zoom limiter switch.
However, using the lens also comes with some drawbacks in terms of brightness, sharpness, size, and price. It is not very bright at f/5-6.3, it has soft edges at 400mm, it is heavy and bulky, and it is expensive compared to other similar lenses.
Therefore, you should use the lens when you need a long telephoto zoom lens that can capture distant subjects with good image quality and performance. But you should also be aware of its limitations and use other settings or techniques to compensate for them.
We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. Happy shooting! 😊
Further Reading:
(1) Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Review
(2) SIGMA 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary
(3) Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Lens 750965 B&H