We’ve seen the 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Modern earlier than as a result of it’s the present full-frame super-telephoto choice from Sigma for mirrorless cameras. What we haven’t seen earlier than is a full-frame Sigma that has been particularly tailored for the APS-C-sized Fujifilm lens mount — till now.
At first look, you is perhaps pondering {that a} full-frame lens goes to be excessively massive and hulking in entrance of an APS-C-sized sensor. What about all that additional mild designed to cowl a a lot bigger sensor being wasted on Fujifilm our bodies? Is the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS a possible choice or a ridiculous mash-up?
The 100-400mm proved to be a wonderful and transportable wildlife lens.
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Modern: Dealing with
Fujifilm already makes a 100-400mm with a barely sooner f/4.5-5.6 most aperture. It’s a reasonably heavy lens regardless of being made particularly for APS-C at 48.5 ounces (1,375 grams). It’s additionally pretty cumbersome within the hand and has the same intention to the Sigma, with its built-in optical stabilization and similar focal vary.
Regardless of the Sigma 100-400mm being designed for full-frame, it really is available in considerably lighter at slightly below 39 ounces (1,100 grams). Though the same dimension, I discovered the Sigma to be well-balanced and agile in hand.
Bodily, the Sigma 100-400mm has a clean zoom ring that may be locked to stop barrel creep. It’s a weather-sealed design and like all Sigma Modern lenses, feels well-built and stable. There may be the standard telephoto lens setup with an AF selector swap, focus limiter, customizable management button, and picture stabilizer controls. The hood clicks on with a optimistic locking motion and there’s a lens collar accessible to steadiness the load on a tripod. Nevertheless, Sigma doesn’t present the lens collar out of the field and also you’re going to need it, so think about that additional value.
The 100-400mm offers the attain however not a lot the sunshine.
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Modern: In The Area
With the 100-400mm, the very first thing I attempted was close-up pictures. It’s a difficult affair with the massive working distance of roughly 1.5 meters away, however you positively gained’t spook the bugs. I acquired some nice pictures of butterflies and bugs with the 1:4 macro copy and the optical stabilization helped my success price.
I used to be impressed with the macro efficiency with out having to get proper up onto your topics.
When capturing towards the solar or vivid mild sources I discovered the flare resistance of this lens to be fairly common. Some lack of distinction was current and the lens shows some obtrusive inexperienced ghosting when stopped down. However, usually talking, lengthy telephotos don’t usually contain the solar or mild sources straight within the body and the equipped lens hood does a very good job of reducing out flare in most conditions.
With regards to bokeh and the rendering of out-of-focus areas I discovered the Sigma 100-400mm to have some very minor cat’s eye impact capturing large open. Stopped down, the highlights are good and spherical though they do exhibit important soap-bubble results and onion rings, too. Thankfully, the look of out-of-focus backgrounds was fairly good. You will see a variety of gentle backgrounds when capturing wildlife and it’s necessary that the lens renders them to your liking. The Sigma backgrounds don’t look overly harsh and transitions from sharp areas look pleasing.
The transition from in focus to out-of-focus areas is clean and nice. Getting eaten by a dinosaur is feasible although. 
Specular highlights are a bit of messy however total bokeh continues to be good.
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Modern: Sharpness is Key
The very first thing I need to get throughout is that detail-robbing diffraction is at all times current with any digicam system and that the extra you cease your lens down the softer issues get. After all, stopping down does enhance the looks of some optical aberrations and brings extra of your picture into focus. Finally, you will see that that the softness from diffraction outweighs any advantages to stopping down, and thus — in extremely simplified phrases — we don’t need to go a lot previous f/8 or f/11 if we don’t should. Lengthy story quick, you don’t have a lot aperture vary to play with on a slower lens like this.
The lens is able to sharp outcomes wide-open no matter the place within the focal vary you utilize it.
At 100mm I discovered the Sigma to be very sharp capturing at f/5 each on the heart and nook of the picture. Stopping all the way down to f/8 gave a noticeable enchancment in each distinction and element. At 400mm it was an similar story, with f/6.3 giving nice outcomes and f/8 bettering issues even additional. I’d fortunately shoot wide-open all through the focal vary however stopping down does assist a bit of. In case you completely want the depth-of-field you possibly can cease down additional however you’ll be dropping some total element fairly rapidly.
You may need to crank your ISO up in darker conditions. The built-in optical stabilizer is an enormous assist, although.
Regardless, I used to be impressed with how good the corners have been on this lens as a result of the APS-C Fujifilm sensor solely makes use of the sunshine from the extra central “candy spot” of the full-frame picture circle projected into the digicam. This definitely isn’t a vivid lens although, and I usually had to make use of the next ISO than I might usually need to. I might think about how a lot low-light capturing you’ll do, and the way prepared you’re to compromise some picture high quality in these conditions in comparison with a sooner, however costlier lens.
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Modern: A Full-Body Compromise
At first, I assumed {that a} full-frame lens on a smaller Fujifilm physique can be a poor stop-gap measure for Sigma till it may make a novel lens purpose-built for the X-Mount. In fact, the options are sparse which makes it quite a bit simpler to advocate. The Fujifilm XF 100-400mm is a superb lens nevertheless it’s bigger, heavier, and solely marginally brighter. It’s additionally dramatically costlier.
The Sigma 100-400mm just isn’t a vivid lens by any stretch and there may be some compromise there, but it supplies some wonderful sharpness and good total optical efficiency with out breaking the financial institution, or the arms. It could be a stop-gap in spite of everything nevertheless it’s a worthy one for the potential wildlife or motion shooter on a finances because it prices simply $949.
Are There Alternate options?
The aforementioned Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is a stable selection, with a hefty $1,899 worth. Its linear autofocus motors are positively sooner and is perhaps price it in demanding conditions.
You could possibly additionally go along with the much more inexpensive Fujifilm XF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 however you’ll hand over important attain on the lengthy finish.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Sure. The Fujifilm X system lacks a spread of telephoto zooms. Any extra choices are welcome and the Sigma delivers good photos.
