GHarris
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 p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Pre-order: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports | |
There's a DPReview TV hands-on mini-review:
They reviewed it on L mount, which makes sense given that the telephoto options on L mount are currently so few, but it makes its autofocus look bad since (I assume) an a9 or an a1 would push the autofocus faster than any L mount camera currently can (and would show us what a better L-mount camera might one day deliver with this lens)... we just don't know exactly how much faster.
The Sigma looks like it might focus closer (on the wide end) than the Sony can (at any focal length). On the other hand, on the Sony lens you can use teleconverters to get a bit closer, whereas, currently, no third-party E-mount lens can work with teleconverters as that's one thing Sony won't license/permit to third party manufacturers so far. (this isn't an issue on L mount I assume - there are teleconverters that will work with the Sigma on L mount, right?)
Only the 1.4x teleconverter is really worth using on the Sony 200-600, the 2x costs too much light, sharpness and AF speed, but the 1.4x TC is a real help a lot of the time. A lot of people keep it on the lens more or less permanently to make it an ~800mm lens. That's one thing you just can't have/do on the Sigma yet, until something changes in the E-mount teleconverter market. However if you're lucky enough to shoot with an a1 rather than, say, an a9 or a7iii/a7c then a teleconverter is less necessary/valuable since you have all the same benefit from a digital crop.
Oh, there's one other minor thing. The Sony 200-600 zoom isn't "really" a 600mm on the long end. If you compare it with other 600mm lenses (like the top-end Sony 600mm f/4 GM), you can see that it's actually a bit less, maybe 550 or 560mm or so. So there's another comparison point: How long is the Sigma 150-600, "really"? This is probably a common compromise made on superzooms, and we don't know where the Sigma settles out, or whether it really gives "600".
It's also worth keeping in mind that the Sony zooms internally - so the barrel doesn't extend and the weight/centre of gravity of the lens doesn't move as much when zooming. Maybe a consideration when using the lens on a tripod, where the shift in balance could be a hassle. On the other hand, it means you can only zoom the Sony in/out by twisting the ring, not by push/pull, which, as Chris demonstrated on the Sigma from about 2 minutes 20s, might help with some kind of easier/smoother "grab the target at wide angle, then push in close for the shot" motion. That may end up being a matter of personal ergonomics/preference but it's worth comparing the pros and cons. I suspect it would sometimes be nice to be able to do that - a quick zoom in or out with the Sony while trying to keep the lens on target feels clumsier by comparison, so you just keep the lens 'long' more of the time without zooming out/in.
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zz wrote: