This Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Lens is an ultra telephoto zoom lens ideal for nature/outdoor or sports photography. It has a minimum focusing distance of 59.1" (150cm) throughout the entire zoom range and has a maximum magnification of 1:4.2 making it useful for close-up photography.
The OS (Optical Stabilizer) system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed 3-4 stops faster. This allows handheld telephoto zoom shooting even in poorly lit conditions.
The use of the OS (Optical Stabilizer) system, HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), APO apochromatic design, three elements of SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, and multicoated optics all enable this lens to provide a high level of performance throughout its entire zoom range, as well as versatility. A rear focus system insures quick, convenient manual focus and a non-rotating front barrel.
The improved DG lens design corrects for various aberrations. This lens is specially coated to get the best color balance, while cutting down on ghosting caused by reflections from the digital image sensor. The lens provides the utmost correction against lateral chromatic aberration, which is a serious problem for digital SLR cameras.
By adding the optional Sigma APO teleconverter, you can use this lens as a 168-560mm f/6.3-8 manual focus ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 1.4X EX teleconverter, or as a 240-800mm f/9-11 manual focus ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a 2X teleconverter.
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 120 - 400 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/4.5 - 5.6 Minimum: f/22 |
| Camera Mount Type | Canon EF |
| Format Compatibility |
35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Canon (APS-C) |
| Angle of View | 20.4° - 6.2° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 4.92' (1.50 m) |
| Magnification | 0.23x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:4.2 |
| Groups/Elements | 15/21 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | Yes |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 77 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 3.8 x 8.0" (9.65 x 20.32 cm) |
| Weight | 3.86 lb (1.75 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Wow! Go Sigma!!!
I'm an "L" glass fancier and somewhat of a pixel peeper. Since it is hard for me to justify a new 100-400L with the current economic woes many of us have exp...Read complete review
I'm an "L" glass fancier and somewhat of a pixel peeper. Since it is hard for me to justify a new 100-400L with the current economic woes many of us have experienced, I ordered a Sigma 120-400OS for use with my 40D with a bit of trepidation. My fears were unfounded, this is an AWESOME lens at a GREAT price!
I find the sharpness produced to be entirely up to par. Images seem to require a bit more tweaks in post processing compared to my various L glass, but the final product is certainly of the same caliber. The Sigma OS is sometimes a bit jumpy when it locks on, but that is an easy quirk to work with and the OS seems to be very solid once the gyros are up to speed. I'm getting sharp results off a monopod in good light using the OS and could probably hand shoot with the same basic results, though I haven't done so yet.
Keep in mind when evaluating super telephoto optics (especially on and APS-C camera body) that mirage and environmental haze can influence your results. When those factors are present, any super telephoto lens will pick them up.
Though not an EX lens, the 120-400OS build quality is excellant. I'm not disapointed in the least in this regard.
The HSM focus motor provides very fast, accurate autofocus performance. I was concerned about that, being a fan of Canon's USM, but Sigma's HSM seems to be just as good on this lens.
At 60+ oz, this lens isn't a lightweight. I'd recommend a good monopod to make extended shooting sessions a pleasure.
BRAVO SIGMA!
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
No, No, No!
I bought this to photograph wildlife and while I have no complaints with the focus speed I find the lens very soft with poor contrast when compared to a friends 100-400L. I cannot point...Read complete review
I bought this to photograph wildlife and while I have no complaints with the focus speed I find the lens very soft with poor contrast when compared to a friends 100-400L. I cannot point to one sharp image from over 500 test shots[...]Yes it is cheap when compared to Canon's 100-400 but is it money saved or money wasted? Personally I feel I've wasted[$] rather than saved $800.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 49 customers
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
Using this lens for shooting my kids socccer games, as well as shooting around the zoo. Plan on traveling out West to the mountains next year. Great photos. Focus is fast enough, sharp pictures, and impressed with optic stabilizer feature. Really, really happy with the lens choice.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
i got this lens to replace my canon 100-400 and it is very simple to operate.you can't go wrong with only 3 buttons to set and your camera does the rest of the work.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
My use is for 99% of aircraft for photography. and in my tests so far the lens behaved very well this really happy with it. already used many lenses. to the pattern of her sturdy frame and your price is great ...
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I use that lens to take animals pictures and wildlife in general. It is very sharpness with a fast auto focus.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I use it for wildlife photography. Everything works great but the controls are a bit industrial.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
Bought this lens to possibly replace my Canon 100-400mm.The fact that it has twist zoom for this range inspired me to try it.I wanted to compare the image quality of this lens to Canon's.Well there is no comparison.Took both lenses and tried them shot for shot, side by side.I really wanted to like this lens,but couldn't have returned it any faster.Images are very soft and colors are off.Auto focusing drove me nuts as it wouldn't stay put.I'll keep the push pull zoom as I love the quality of images the Canon lens produces.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I bought this lens in NY Store two weeks ago for work in Copa América Soccer Tournament and it is having very good results.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I bought this lens rather than the more expensive Canon 100-400. This lens is heavier, but I'm pleased with the job it does. Focusing is remarkably fast and accurate. The zoom ring is smooth. Stabilization is helpful, but handholding at 400 mm is still not going to produce crystal clear images. There are lots of nice touches: lock mechanism, padded case and straps, tripod ring. I've been using the lens on a monopod and ballhead, which works well enough for field shots of birds or wildlife when quick setup and mobility are necessary.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I am an avid amateur bird/wildlife photographer. I needed a long telephoto lens, and decided to try the Sigma 120-400 f/4.5-5.6 lens. I use it on a Canon Rebel T2i. I have had the lens only three days now, but have put it through a pretty good test of shots. the lens has exceeded my expectations. The clarity and sharpness are awesome, even throughout the range of focal distances. The OS feature is nice, but I feel a lens this size may require a tripod. I had no trouble getting it to focus on fast moving birds. I can't think of any negatives about this lens, and I highly endorse it.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
So happy with the choice I made.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I'v had this lens for about 6 monts now and it is great and sharp if you use it af F8 or above wich is alwayse in my case. I shoot with a friend that has the canon 100-400 and I totaly dislike the push-pull on canon. horible idea, pushes dust inside the camera and sensor. My pics comme out just as sharp as his for what i can see, exept wide open....never hapens. I shoot motly wild life and landscape. Sigma could have done a betther job on their tripod colar. I would like to be able to take the colar off with out taking the lens off the body. Shoot 90% on tripod with ot OS,
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
For the money, you can't do better than this lens (I wish I could afford a monster prime lens but I can't!). I bought it to shoot wildlife (birds mainly) and based on some quick testing at the feeders, this lens is outstanding. The focus is fast with my camera locking on targets quickly (not hunting).
A word of caution, it is very heavy weighing in at four pounds. I plan to use a tripod whenever I use this lens.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
After reading reviews online about this lens, I was pretty sure that this lens would be a good one to add to my collection. The reviewers compared this to the out-of-date Canon 100-400mm lens and most of them had to force themselves to make a decision about which one was better (which is pretty good when comparing the price of the canon to that of the sigma). However, the pictures that I took with this lens were not nearly as clear as the ones that I took with my Canon 28-135mm. This was disappointing so I got a 100-400mm into my hands, took a few pictures and compared the two lenses. That is when I came to my conclusion - the lens is unpredictable. There are a few pictures that I have with my sigma that are far sharper than the Canon and others that are far softer than the Canon. This is probably a problem with the auto-focus system of the Sigma (Sigma is well known for their auto-focus problem). Also, I could have just gotten a lemon of a lens (those can make a huge difference and they very much exist, the favorite lens of a famous wildlife photographer is used as a paperweight for somebody else). Overall, good image quality, bad auto-focus system.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I use it with DSLR cameras.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I bought this lens because i wanted a 400mm zoom and could not afford a comparable Canon product. After using it for about 6 months now on a Canon 7D i am reasonably satisfied with it. While its sharpness is very disappointing at f/4.5-5.6 it improves at f/8 and is very good at f/11 and smaller. Don,t plan to use it wide open unless you want a soft focus. The optical stablization works well.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
It's well made
Slightly heavy
Its ok in low lighting not the best .
Low noise
Semi fast
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
Fast,Make Sharp Beautiful pristine pictures, clear, Little beat on the heavy side but you quickly forget about it because of those beautiful result. Great tool that increase my confidence! With a monopod it's even better
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
After weighing through the canon offerings in the store they were just too pricey for my wallet. The gentleman behind the counter recommended this lens to me. I wanted to shoot the F1 in Canada this year and considering it zooms to 400 coupled with a 40D this was the lens for me. During the weekend I found the weight took a day to get used to, but attaching to a mono-pod helped greatly. The shoots I took were very clear and sharp at the higher f numbers (8 and above), however, thats not to say that at the lower f stops it was not sharp just that it was better higher up. Fast zoom and good tracking (following an F1 car at 170mph is by no means easy). Love this lens and I have many excellent shots from that weekend. Now I just need to get out and use it more! The case that comes with it is very sturdy and a nice extra.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
I use it to photograph birds of prey any kind of bird or any other life form in flight. I also used it to photograph my grandkids in sports. I just like to see things up close and in detail and this lens lets me.
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Comments about Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM APO Autofocus Lens:
This lens is a replacement for the one that was stolen in Ecuador recently. I had used it for 3 months on my Canon 40D in Peru, the Amazon and the Galapagos and was more than thrilled. At half the price of the Canon 100-400 buying the Sigma glass is a no-brainer. Pan-zooming makes it easy to focus on flying birds and the OS feature means I didn't need a tripod although I did use a monopod in extreme low light situations. It is a great compliment to my Sigma 18-250. I am looking forward to many years of use on my new (insurance replacement) 50D.
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