Sigma Sigma Contemporary Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Lens Review
The Sigma 16-300mm is the king of convenience, but its slow variable aperture and average autofocus mean it's not for everyone. Is never changing lenses worth $694?
Overview
Let's cut to the chase: the Sigma 16-300mm is the lens you buy when you absolutely, positively refuse to change lenses. It's the Swiss Army knife of APS-C glass, covering everything from wide-angle landscapes to a decent telephoto reach. The one thing to know? It trades ultimate image quality and speed for the sheer convenience of having one lens on your camera all day. If you're a hobbyist who hates lugging a bag or a parent chasing kids around the park, this is your jam.
Performance
The optical performance is surprisingly good for such a massive zoom range, landing in the 97th percentile. That means sharpness is solid, especially for a superzoom. The stabilization is also excellent at the 90th percentile, which you'll need because the variable aperture gets pretty dark at the long end (f/6.7 at 300mm). The autofocus, however, is just okay, sitting in the 48th percentile. It's not slow, but don't expect lightning-fast tracking for sports.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Insane 18.8x zoom range means you never need to swap lenses. 97th
- Optical sharpness is shockingly good for a superzoom. 90th
- Image stabilization works great to combat shaky hands at long focal lengths. 77th
- The macro capability is a fun bonus, letting you get surprisingly close.
Cons
- The variable aperture is a major limitation in low light.
- Autofocus is merely average and can hunt a bit.
- It's a chunky boy at 615g, not exactly a travel lens.
- Build quality feels a bit plasticky and it's not weather-sealed.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 300 |
| Focal Length Max | 300 |
| Elements | 20 |
| Groups | 14 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 170 |
| Max Magnification | 1:2 |
Value & Pricing
At $694, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for convenience over performance. For the same money, you could get two or three fantastic prime lenses that would blow this out of the water in image quality and low-light ability. It's only worth it if the 'one-lens' lifestyle is non-negotiable for you.
vs Competition
Don't confuse this with fast prime lenses like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 or the Meike 55mm f/1.8. Those competitors are smaller, sharper, and let in tons more light, but they only have one focal length. The Sigma's real competition is other superzooms, like older 18-200mm models, where it wins on optical quality. But if you're looking at the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G, you're in a completely different league of price and performance.
Verdict
This is a niche lens for a specific type of photographer. If your top priority is never changing lenses and you can live with the slow aperture and average autofocus, the Sigma 16-300mm delivers great optics for what it is. For everyone else, especially travelers or anyone shooting in dim light, you'll be happier and get better photos with a small kit of two sharper, faster lenses.