SIGMA has announced some sparkly, unique, and exquisite new products, which may cast a shadow on the SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary, the company’s new all-rounder travel zoom. However shiny and innovative they all are, this lens will probably find itself in countless gear bags worldwide, giving photographers and filmmakers extraordinary coverage in a compact, lightweight, weather-resistant chassis. This APS-C glass will be available for various mounts, as most SIGMA DC lenses are. These currently include Canon RF, FUJIFILM X Mount, Sony E-Mount, and the L-Mount.
16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Lens (Canon RF)
all prices excluding sales tax/VAT
Super-zoom lenses are often disregarded as optically inferior to more modest zoom lenses or primes. I myself have become quite a prime snob over the years, but I do remember the sense of total compositional freedom granted by my first 18-200mm almost 20 years ago. A five-month backpacking trip across South America may also have had a slight effect on this sense of freedom, but it’s not a travel blog here!
Technical specifications
Following SIGMA’s know-how, honed by decades of lens-making, this recent iteration of the classic travel super zoom consists of a rather complex optical formula. The lens is composed of 20 elements in 14 groups. These include one FLD, four SLD, and four aspherical elements to minimize aberrations, ghosting, and flares. The lens will also provide very respectable macro performance. A 1:2 magnification ratio can be achieved at the 70mm setting, with an impressive close focus at other focal lengths. With an f/3.5-6.7 aperture, the SIGMA 16-300mm is not a speed demon, but it does boast a 9-bladed aperture for pleasant bokeh on the narrower settings.
Mechanical features
Unlike the awe-inspiring SIGMA BF, the SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS design is probably best described as “unassuming”. Behind a black plastic hood and a 67mm front element lies a longish black lens.
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The interesting part is inside the barrel. An optical image stabilizer (OS) will provide up to six stops of stabilization at the wide end and up to 4.5 stops at the tele end. A High-response Linear Actuator (HLA) will drive the autofocus with speed and silence. The weather resistance is nice, though bear in mind that such a protruding design will have a hard time keeping every spec of dust or moisture out.
Who is it for?
The SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary lens is all about focal versatility. The lens will cater to the needs of anyone looking for wide coverage with compact, affordable glass. Travel vloggers, weekend warriors, and newcomers who haven’t yet decided on their favorite angle of view – this lens welcomes them all.
Price and availability
The SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary is available for preorder at $699 / €601.25 for RF, X, E-Mount, and L-Mount APS-C cameras. Shipping is due at the end of April 2025.
Will you go for such a versatile glass, or will you opt for more dedicated optics? Let us know in the comments.
