Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens

This lens is now available at £699 for WEX and I`m seriously considering it to use on my Nikon D750. The question I would ask for comments please is can the lens be used straight out of the box or do you really need to use the optional sigma "dock" to tune it with the camera? I have a Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro lens (old version) and it really is good and have never had to tune it with any Nikon DSLR that I have used. Thanks

This lens is now available at £699 for WEX and I`m seriously considering it to use on my Nikon D750.
The question I would ask for comments please is can the lens be used straight out of the box or do you really need to use the optional sigma "dock" to tune it with the camera?
I have a Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro lens (old version) and it really is good and have never had to tune it with any Nikon DSLR that I have used.
Thanks

It can be used straight out of the box, I have the sport version of this lens. I have only used the dock the once and that was for a firmware update. I think some people start messing around with the dock and focusing, and end up making things a whole lot worse.

It can be used straight out of the box, I have the sport version of this lens. I have only used the dock the once and that was for a firmware update. I think some people start messing around with the dock and focusing, and end up making things a whole lot worse.

Like Mike, I have the 150-600 C and used it initially 'straight out of the box', with no issues. I did purchase the USB dock but have only used it to upgrade firmware. I am not aware of my lens suffering from front or back focus, so the dock is of little use. It’s a great lens, sharp and with fast autofocus.

Like Mike, I have the 150-600 C and used it initially 'straight out of the box', with no issues. I did purchase the USB dock but have only used it to upgrade firmware. I am not aware of my lens suffering from front or back focus, so the dock is of little use.

It’s a great lens, sharp and with fast autofocus.

I had the same lens for a while and it’s great. Only ever did the firmware and set the custom modes. My only two issues were the weight and it’s minimum focus distance for what I used it for I ended up selling it and getting the sigma 100-400. Couldn’t afford to keep both and I share lenses with my 13 year old son and he couldn’t use it.

I had the same lens for a while and it’s great. Only ever did the firmware and set the custom modes. My only two issues were the weight and it’s minimum focus distance for what I used it for I ended up selling it and getting the sigma 100-400. Couldn’t afford to keep both and I share lenses with my 13 year old son and he couldn’t use it.

its a bargain , i use mine all the time now , get one you will not regret it .

its a bargain , i use mine all the time now , get one you will not regret it .

I used my copy on my 7Dmk2 and on my Olympus EM-1 via a metabones adapter and found the dock useful for tuning both focus accuracy but also focus response (can't remember all the details now) I think I would rate it the best value compromise on price vs performance and I only traded it in for the Panasonic 100-400 when increasing physical decrepitude meant I could no longer hand-hold the lens, it was just to long and heavy for me

I used my copy on my 7Dmk2 and on my Olympus EM-1 via a metabones adapter and found the dock useful for tuning both focus accuracy but also focus response (can't remember all the details now)

I think I would rate it the best value compromise on price vs performance and I only traded it in for the Panasonic 100-400 when increasing physical decrepitude meant I could no longer hand-hold the lens, it was just to long and heavy for me

I sold all my sporting firearms and bought the S version. Best money I have ever spent. I did however need to calibrate it as it was front focusing. I believe one needs to at least check the calibration, my copy was slightly off. Now calibrated, the results are stunning. I use this lens on my Nikon D800E.

I sold all my sporting firearms and bought the S version. Best money I have ever spent. I did however need to calibrate it as it was front focusing. I believe one needs to at least check the calibration, my copy was slightly off. Now calibrated, the results are stunning.

I use this lens on my Nikon D800E.

https://youtu.be/F6tCUFXiDws there are more on there used on nikon .

https://youtu.be/F6tCUFXiDws
there are more on there used on nikon .

[quote] I have a Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro lens (old version) and it really is good and have never had to tune it with any Nikon DSLR that I have used. [/quote] Fine tune is a contentious issue, part because some are reluctant to accept phase detect and contrast detect (as confirmed in the instructions for every Nikon camera) does not work accurate with everything and try to fine tune based on a target the focus does not detect good :( Some wrongly think fine tune can correct for a 6 foot focus miss at 20 feet, even though it is called fine tune and something else is likely to be the cause of the mis focus :( The Nikon view (in camera handbooks) is that Fine Tune is not normally required and that using it may mess up either infinity or minimum focus. If a new Nikon lens needs an obvious amount of fine tune tested sensibly it is "not fit for purpose" and you should get an exchange or refund from the retailer - Consumer Rights Act 2015 UK and similar EEC derived legislation throughout the EEC. If a lens has an impact or the mount gets worn with long term heavy use fine tune can help pending a service or repair. The lens under discussion is f6.3. Some lower priced Nikon bodies do not have the fastest focus tracking ability, especially in low light levels. Occasionally the AF at f6.3 in low light may not keep up with a fast moving subject. When this occurs it is not a fine tune issue. Having tested over 300 lenses and bodies I have yet to find a new one which needs fine tune straight out of the box, with one exception. This was a body with a "very interesting history" sold to a friend as "new" with over 1,000 shutter activations. The testing includes using a 5x magnifier to aid focus accuracy in the era before Liveview I am not saying that all new equipment is perfect. On the other hand testing focus accuracy to a good standard is fairly complex and time consuming. My personal view if I bought a Sigma which needed obvious fine tune I would ask for an exchange. My experience of WEX is they would do this although they might first test themselves. I appreciate if you pay more money for the Dock there is a fine tune as well as an upgrade ability. Even so if it is sometimes necessary to pay extra for the Dock to get a new lens to focus accurate then, without the dock for free, I take the view that particular lens is not fit for purpose.

Quote:
I have a Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro lens (old version) and it really is good and have never had to tune it with any Nikon DSLR that I have used.


Fine tune is a contentious issue, part because some are reluctant to accept phase detect and contrast detect (as confirmed in the instructions for every Nikon camera) does not work accurate with everything and try to fine tune based on a target the focus does not detect good
Some wrongly think fine tune can correct for a 6 foot focus miss at 20 feet, even though it is called fine tune and something else is likely to be the cause of the mis focus
The Nikon view (in camera handbooks) is that Fine Tune is not normally required and that using it may mess up either infinity or minimum focus.
If a new Nikon lens needs an obvious amount of fine tune tested sensibly it is "not fit for purpose" and you should get an exchange or refund from the retailer - Consumer Rights Act 2015 UK and similar EEC derived legislation throughout the EEC.
If a lens has an impact or the mount gets worn with long term heavy use fine tune can help pending a service or repair.
The lens under discussion is f6.3. Some lower priced Nikon bodies do not have the fastest focus tracking ability, especially in low light levels. Occasionally the AF at f6.3 in low light may not keep up with a fast moving subject. When this occurs it is not a fine tune issue.
Having tested over 300 lenses and bodies I have yet to find a new one which needs fine tune straight out of the box, with one exception. This was a body with a "very interesting history" sold to a friend as "new" with over 1,000 shutter activations. The testing includes using a 5x magnifier to aid focus accuracy in the era before Liveview
I am not saying that all new equipment is perfect. On the other hand testing focus accuracy to a good standard is fairly complex and time consuming.
My personal view if I bought a Sigma which needed obvious fine tune I would ask for an exchange. My experience of WEX is they would do this although they might first test themselves.
I appreciate if you pay more money for the Dock there is a fine tune as well as an upgrade ability. Even so if it is sometimes necessary to pay extra for the Dock to get a new lens to focus accurate then, without the dock for free, I take the view that particular lens is not fit for purpose.

Many thanks to all who responded to my question - much appreciated. Len: I think I will go ahead to buy this lens but contact the supplier (WEX) if I think it is a bad copy.

Many thanks to all who responded to my question - much appreciated.
Len: I think I will go ahead to buy this lens but contact the supplier (WEX) if I think it is a bad copy.

The lens is OK, built to a price and not quality though. I have owned both the C and S versions of this lens and will say the Sport is worth the extra money due to build spec, weather sealing and slightly better IQ. What I will say is the auto focusing is not fast by any means and only gets worse with dimming light. I passed the sport onto my wife when she bought a 7Dmkii, however, the weight for her was off putting so we px'ed it for a Canon 100-400 Mkii, now that lens is so good I bought one! Apart from the obvious lack of reach, the Canon wins in every other way, IQ, build, weigh, handling and more importantly, focus speed. So basically we sold two Sigma's and bought two Canon's.

The lens is OK, built to a price and not quality though. I have owned both the C and S versions of this lens and will say the Sport is worth the extra money due to build spec, weather sealing and slightly better IQ. What I will say is the auto focusing is not fast by any means and only gets worse with dimming light. I passed the sport onto my wife when she bought a 7Dmkii, however, the weight for her was off putting so we px'ed it for a Canon 100-400 Mkii, now that lens is so good I bought one! Apart from the obvious lack of reach, the Canon wins in every other way, IQ, build, weigh, handling and more importantly, focus speed. So basically we sold two Sigma's and bought two Canon's.