I’m a landscape photographer who enjoys packing light and traveling far. I never anticipated spending over $6500 on a lens that weighs nearly as much as the rest of my photo kit combined. But when it arrived at my door, the realization set in. Suddenly, my excitement was comparable to a kid on Christmas day.
Any photographer who has been around wildlife photography for long knows that most of the best wildlife lenses can run you as much as a down payment on your next vehicle. They are nearly triple the price of some of the highest-end cameras on the market today. The name-brand Sony, Canon, and Nikon 600mm f/4 lenses are among the most prized lenses. This is true in wildlife, sports, and some journalism photography. Any situation where you need to photograph something far in the distance, these lenses have been the gold standard for years. The sharpness and aperture are unmatched. This allows creators to continue shooting well after the sun goes down, as your colleagues are packing up.
Enter the Newcomer
Until this February, these lenses were unmatched. Sure, each brand and even third-party brands had competing zoom lenses that could reach 600mm. However, most had a maximum aperture of f/6.3 when zoomed in to 600mm, costing you a bit of background blur. Additionally, sharpness, and even 1 and ⅓ stop of light. Then, on February 24th, 2025, Sigma announced the groundbreaking Sigma 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports Lens for Sony E and L Mount.
This new lens was designed to bridge the gap between current zoom lenses and super telephoto primes. These zooms offer a much lower price tag at the cost of sharpness and maximum aperture. 600mm f/4 lenses are designed for pros and those who can afford the massive price. The new Sigma 300-600mm f/4 offers the constant f/4 aperture that pro shooters need. Additionally, it also offers a zoom range that makes the lens more versatile. I was sold. I quickly ordered the lens prior to a trip to one of America’s best locations for wildlife photography: Yellowstone.
In this article, I’ll be covering my honest thoughts and opinions on this lens.
Initial Thoughts & Lens Build
It’s no secret that this is a big lens. The constant f/4 aperture and zoom range of 300-600mm is currently unmatched by any other lens on the market. It is larger than the 600mm f/4 prime lenses because it also has the versatility of a zoom. It’s also heavy. You’ll hardly notice the camera attached, it’s that big!
Sigma has thoughtfully designed two loops on the side of the lens that are perfect for a camera strap. I utilized a Peak Design Slide Strap. It allows for easy adjustments to how far the lens sits on the strap. This lens is too large to be carried around your neck. However, I have found it to be quite comfortable to be worn like a shoulder strap with the lens just behind my right arm when walking.
Size and Features
While the front element is massive, Sigma thoughtfully included a rear filter slot for those who need filters. I haven’t had the chance to test these filters yet. However, I have certainly been in a few situations where they would have been useful. The lens is also equipped with numerous switches on the outside. With these, you can do things like adjust the stabilization mode, switch focus modes, and more. Multiple buttons can be customized to put anything you’d want easily accessible on the front of your lens.
The throw is quick, making it easy to go from 300-600mm in an instant. The tripod collar can be easily rotated. There is an option to toggle the “click” on or off at each 90-degree angle. I found it convenient to rotate the tripod collar frequently to use as a handle when shooting handheld in various ways. Since the lens is so large, shooting handheld can tire you out pretty quickly. Being able to rotate the collar to give your arms different support was very helpful.
Autofocus Performance
The autofocus performance of a lens like this is one of the most important aspects. It oftentimes is the difference between nailing the shot and going home empty-handed, especially for those shooting fast-moving subjects. I was shooting on a Sony A7R4, which is an absolute beast when it comes to low-light performance and image resolution. However, it would not be my first choice when it comes to autofocus performance amongst Sony cameras. The autofocus performance of this lens was fast, quiet, and substantially better than any other telephoto I’ve ever used. It picked up targets fast, and out of a couple thousand images, there was just a small handful where the focus was missed. With a camera that was equipped with a better autofocus system to begin with, I do believe that this lens could have been even better.
Image Quality
Before getting the Sigma 300-600mm f/4, I was shooting with a Sigma 150-600mm f/4.5-6.3. I found that lens to be comparable to other lenses within a similar price point. It was an incredible value for the price. That is to say, it left a lot to be desired in terms of low-light performance, sharpness, and bokeh. After the first images I took with the Sigma 300-600mm f/4, I could immediately see the difference. And to be completely fair, I needed the difference to be major. Keep in mind the price difference between the lenses is around $5000.
For the additional light, bokeh, and sharpness, I found the Sigma 300-600mm f/4 to be well worth the cost, especially for photographers who like to inspect the finest details in the image and those who demand the most from their photos. When paired with the 61 megapixel Sony A7R4, the details in some of my wildlife photos were absolutely stunning.
Image Stabilization
Most photographers using a lens of this size would exclusively use a tripod or monopod with the lens. At the time, I didn’t own a monopod, but I did use my tripod a fair amount. However, I also put the image stabilization of the lens to the test since there are undoubtedly situations where a tripod can slow you down, and shooting handheld is the best option. As soon as you depress the shutter button, you can instantly tell the image stabilization has kicked in. I was surprised to find that I was still able to get sharp images down to 1/60 of a second handheld with no support other than my two hands, with the image stabilization. That being said, I found 1/200 to offer more consistent results and would probably stick with 1/200 minimum if I were shooting something that couldn’t easily be redone.
The Cons
While this is a fantastic lens that I found to scratch every itch I had to capture better wildlife images, there were a couple of cons that you should be aware of if you’re considering buying this lens. First and foremost, Sony limits third-party lenses to just 10fps in burst mode shooting. This wasn’t a problem for me as I didn’t require a faster burst for the land mammals I was photographing, but any photographer shooting with the Sony a9iii (120fps) or Sony A1ii (30fps) is limiting their camera to just 10fps because of the restriction placed by Sony on third-party lenses.
While I liked the look of the all-white lens from Sigma, I did find that it could get scuffed very easily. Even shooting with it resting on the window of my truck, the barrel of the lens got scuffed from sliding back and forth on the edge of the window. If you do purchase this lens, I’d highly recommend picking up a protective coat to help it stay in pristine condition.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a wildlife, sports, or journalist photographer who is ready to take their images to a new level, the Sigma 300-600mm is an excellent choice that feels like a steal at $6500 when compared to the alternative 600mm f/4 prime lenses. It offers outstanding versatility with a quick throw to go between 300-600mm, making it highly useful for all sorts of situations without the need to swap lenses. The image stabilization is fantastic, and the attention to detail when it comes to the exterior switches and buttons will satisfy even the most demanding of creators. If you’ve been on the fence about the Sigma 300-600mm f/4, don’t wait any longer!
