The Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary for Nikon Z is an all-in-one zoom for APS-C (DX) cameras. Its 18.8x range covers a 24-450mm equivalent, from wide landscapes to distant wildlife, and Sigma describes it as the first mirrorless lens with a zoom ratio this large. It weighs 630g, so on a Z50II, Z fc or Z30, one lens can replace a bag of them.
Image quality
The optical design has 20 elements in 14 groups, including one FLD, four SLD and four aspherical elements, to keep colour fringing and distortion in check across a very wide zoom range.
Optical stabilisation
Sigma's OS2 stabilisation gives up to 6 stops of correction at the wide end and 4.5 stops at 300mm (CIPA, on an APS-C body). Nikon's DX bodies have no in-body stabilisation, so this makes a real difference to handheld telephoto shots and dim interiors.
Fast autofocus
An HLA linear motor drives the focus group quickly and quietly, which helps with birds, sport and aircraft as well as everyday subjects. Focus breathing is suppressed, which suits video.
Close-up shooting
It focuses down to 17cm at the wide end and reaches a maximum magnification of 1:2 at 70mm, so flowers, insects and small details are easy to fill the frame with.
Build and handling
It measures 73.8 x 125.4mm and takes 67mm filters. The barrel is dust- and splash-resistant, the front element has a water- and oil-repellent coating, and a zoom lock stops the lens extending in a bag. The Nikon Z version is made and sold under licence from Nikon.
Who it's for
This is for travellers, families and anyone who would rather not change lenses, from landscapes and city breaks to wildlife, sport and air shows. The lens has its own stabilisation, so it works well on the Z50II, Z fc and Z30, none of which have stabilisation in the body. On full-frame Z cameras it works in DX crop mode. If you want a brighter lens for low light and shallow depth of field, the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN and Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN are fast primes that pair well with it.
Also available for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon RF and L-Mount.
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