Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM 'C' lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

Note (19/3/19): some firmware updates may affect this lens's OS performance - a couple of people have mentioned the image looks less steady now, but that Sigma tell them performance has actually improved.

Find it here (Amazon affiliate link - I earn a commission on purchases. Be sure to buy the right lens for your system):

Here's a famous lens from Sigma (although Tamron pipped them to the post by launching an almost identical lens just months earlier) - an extreme telephoto zoom, lens, which can be found for a very reasonable price. Here, I test it pretty extensively, on a 20mp full-frame camera, a 42mp one, and a 24mp APS-C camera - feel free to skip over any sections that don't apply for you.

All pictures taken by me on Canon 6D, EOS M3, and Sony a7R II cameras.

...or on YouTube Memberships:

Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate link - I earn a commission on purchases):

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Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

[adamyoung]

It's so nice to have an English video without the 'Yo, wud up guys! We're going to be super cool today voice!' Easy soft voice, content is great and no unnecessary drama. Call me old school, but I can actually concentrate.

[sunvachana]

This guy is a best Lens review on youtube

[HuFilms]

I've been using this lens for 2 years. Initially, the weight will be an issue for some when using hand-held (which is the best way to use it IMO). But after some use, you'll get used to using it. The sport version is simply too heavy for a lot of people. The lens is great fun and brilliant for birding, both for photography and actually using to identify birds. It's also a great lens for composition in dare I say, 'street photography' and creating these 'compressed' images. Great review Chris.

[jesse-dgyx]

8:18 I would have never thought of putting vents in a lens hood but it completely makes sense. Without it it's just a big parachute to catch all the wind and shake you camera around

[Grogz]

I bought mine last September new. I certainly do not regret my purchase. I use it regularly on my Nikon D7200 and I believe it be a very good and sharp lens. I use it primarily for bird photography.

[Groucherino]

Thanks for what I believe to be the best review of this lens on YouTube. I purchased one and have struggled to get nice, consistently sharp images, married to a Nikon D7200, even on a mono-pod. I have the usb dock so will now use your recommended OS settings for C1, along with stopping down to f8. Thanks for all your time on this, look forward to improved results.

[pitmaster]

Thank you for another great review. I'm using this lens with Canon 80D and it is razor sharp. Great lens for the money.

[ACMommy]

My hubby surprised me with this lens today, it was at the very top of my want-to-buy list! I am a wedding photographer by trade but I want to do a lot more nature photography and I also shoot our big airshow every year, so I am beyond excited to have this baby in my collection! Thanks for the great video, I really appreciate it!

[TheDearRecorded]

I've seen a lot of reviews of this lens and honestly, this one was the most comprehensive, all encompassing, clearly explained review (and on a side note, the BG music was pleasant, subtle and not obnoxious in it's levels)
Thanks! I'm mostly looking for lenses compatible with my Sony A6600 camera and not sure if I really would need the other reviews on your channel (to be fair, I haven't gone through the list of video reviews you have and only skimmed through it) but I'm so happy with your video, I decided to subscribe to your channel anyway :)
Thanks for your time, presentation and attention to details

[Genesis.-]

Love your videos. Very informative. I also watched your "Letters" series and was very pleased. You are a true blessing not only to photographers, but to the world in general.

[Lazarasz]

Been waiting for this review for a long long time.

[jordanmcconnell]

I have been using this lens for the past 2 years at super bike events and have had brilliant results. Handheld at 600 on fast moving subjects and have the results I was looking for from behind the spectator fences

[doctorlovera]

4:15 That was the photography equivalent to a fork scraping against a plate :-)
As always great review.
I got a canon 40mm and 55-250mm stm based on your reviews and I'm so glad i did. Thanks.

[DragonDDT]

Seeing Chris' garden is the most wholesome thing I'll see all day.

[samsen]

4:26 This is the main difference between Sigma and Tamron for anyone in doubt, other than these really not much difference between these two great lenses. I have had two Tamron 150- 600mm, Original and II Gen, and in no time both had a broken outer ring so no more lens sunshade can be attached as the ring is HIGHLY and notoriously fragile and breaks on slights hit, the last time a hi to the wall, as I was turning
I am still a Tamron fanboy but a fair one in that. So have to give this to Bigma!

[JoaoSilva-jhkv]

Great Review 👍 i've been using this lens for about 2 years in a Canon 750d, with surprising results in wildlife, specially birds and always handheld. I think it's (still is) the best value for money in the market.

[stevenmassey]

Thank you for such a great review! I just purchased this lens and have yet to use it in the field. This review is the best on the web. You do us a wonderful service!

[CaminoDidjeridu]

"Don't spy on people" 😆 Chris your reviews are both informative and entertaining!!

[vanellusx]

Great review! I love my 150-600 and I nearly always use it on a monopod. I find this a huge help in dealing with the weight for long periods and it's surprisingly easy to lug around all together, I just hook the lens over my shoulder and head off into the unknown....

[Vincent_Vrsn]

I got this lens one month ago (without the dock), for me it's the best ratio price / sharpness / weight for the 600mm range, built quality feel great, focusing is good, sometime difficult but my 6D play a role in that too. I managed to shoot a wild roe, hand-held at 516mm and at 1/160s, the result was surprisingly sharp, I can't wait to shoot more and more with it, the 600mm range opens up a lot of possibilities!