Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is a Variable aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Super Telephoto Zoom lens with Optical Image stabilization and 35mm FF max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with Canon EF mount cameras.
What type of photography is the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM lens good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various photography scenarios:
| Photography Type |
Suitability |
| Bird/Wildlife | Very Good |
| Sports | Very Good |
| Portrait | Fair |
| Travel | Poor |
| Street | Poor |
| Wedding | Fair |
| Walk Around | Fair |
| Vlogging | Poor |
| Landscape | Fair |
| Macro | Fair |
Reasons to Buy Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Lens
Here, we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.
| Optical Image Stabilization |
| Autofocus |
| Distance Scale |
| Hood supplied |
| Tripod Collar |
| Full-time Manual Focusing |
| Covers Full-Frame Sensor |
| 9 Diaphragm Blades |
| 400mm reach great for Wildlife Photography |
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| No Weather Sealing |
| Lens Extents while zooming |
| Slow Aperture at Wide end |
| Slow Aperture at Tele end |
| Variable Aperture |
| Heavy |
| Pricey |
Lens Mount
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is compatible with cameras that have Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is also available in Sigma SA and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
Size and weight is a very important decision factor when searching for your next lens. Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has a maximum diameter of 92mm and total length of 203mm when not extended . It weighs 1640g / 57.8 oz.
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has a filter thread of 77mm.
Focal Range
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has a focal range of 120-400mm and 3.3X zoom ratio. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 192 - 640mm.
Optical Image Stabilization
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM features an optical image stabilization system which helps to reduce the blur that occurs due to shaking during hand-held shooting.
Tripod Collar
With a total length of 203mm and a weight of 1640g, the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is a large lens. Fortunately, it comes with a tripod collar which you can use to attach the lens directly to a tripod or monopod instead of attaching the camera. This connection helps to better balance the lens/kit combination.
Zoom Method
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM features Rotary (extending) zoom method where the length of the lens changes as you zoom in or out. This makes it possible to design the lens with a smaller minimum length ( generally when it is zoomed out) compared to internal zoom lenses. The disadvantages of this design are being harder to seal against dust and moisture, weight balance shifting while zooming and zoom creep in certain lenses.
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.24x and has a minimum focusing distance of 1.5m.
Aperture
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM is a variable aperture lens with a max aperture of f4.5 and a minimum aperture of f22 at 120mm, and a max aperture of f5.6 and minimum aperture of f28 at 400mm .
| Focal Length |
Max Aperture |
Min Aperture |
|
120mm
|
F4.5 |
F22 |
|
400mm
|
F5.6 |
F28 |
Optical Formula
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM's optical formula consists of 21 elements in 15 groups . Special elements used in this design is 3 SLD glass elements.
Lens Hood
Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos.
Popular Comparisons of Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM amongst Camera Decision readers.