Smart Photography 201707

VERDICT

The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS

HSM Contemporary lens is an excellent

performer at an excellent price. Even

though it is comparatively light in

weight, I wish it had a tripod collar.

Best Buy!

PLUS

• Excellent performer


• Very reasonable
  price


• Lighter than
  competition


• ������������������
  size (67mm)

MINUS

• No tripod collar


• Distance scale
  in feet almost
  impossible to
  see in less than
  perfect light.

83 %

Design and Build Quality17/20

Key Features 16/20

Ergonomics 17/20

Performance

Autofocus 4/5

Sharpness 4/5

Distortion control 4/5

Aberrations 4/5

Darkening

of corners 4/5

Extra features 4/5

Sub-Total 24/30

Value for Money 9/10

FINAL SCORE

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both end caps)

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

Ergonomics

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body. The lens balanced well and

was very easy to use. Tripod-less

photography is easier since the

lens is not heavy (compared to the

competition). ND grads and PL

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front element does not rotate during

focussing.

Performance

Our tests were done using a Nikon

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Vingnette Control was set to Normal and

Auto Distortion Control was set to ‘On’.

Images were shot in JPEG, Large and

Fine.

Overall, the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-

6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens

performed admirably. At 100mm and

135mm, the centre was acceptably

sharp, with the sides a tad softer when

the lens was used wide open. Closing

down a stop improved the sharpness. At

all other focal lengths, the center as well

as the sides were sharp at all apertures.

Autofocus was quite fast (but this also

depends on the camera body). Negligible

darkening of corners was noticed at f/5

and f/5.6 at 100mm setting. Very slight

pincushion distortion was noticed at

400mm. Though we did not notice any

chromatic aberrations, we did notice

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Overall, a very good performer.

Value for Money

The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS

HSM Contemporary is available at an

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performance, the lens is a steal! |SP

Aperture:����

Shutter Speed:����������

ISO: ���

Mahesh Reddy

LENS

REVIEW

122

Smart PhotographyJuly 2017

http://www.smartphotography.in