There is nothing more exciting to me than being immersed in nature. The sights, the wildlife, the light… it all draws me in. Capturing that beauty with my camera is my life’s passion. SIGMA lenses help me create nature and wildlife photography my way. One of my favorite lenses to use in the field is the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports lens, which I use with my Sony a7R IV camera.
I can easily bring the SIGMA 150-600mm Sports lens with me on my nature hikes to scout out wildlife. Because it is compact and lightweight, I can watch wildlife through the lens without arm fatigue, while I wait for the perfect shot. Here’s how — and why — I use this lens for my wildlife photography:
1. The SIGMA 150-600mm lets me keep a safe distance from wildlife.
Long-range capability is a MUST for bird and other wildlife photography. Due to the nature of wild animals, it is difficult to sneak up on them, so a long range is particularly important.
You never want to spook a wild animal or cause it undue stress, especially while they are foraging or eating. The range of the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports lens allows you to bring the wildlife to you without interfering with their activity.
2. The autofocus on this lens is a game changer.
The autofocus performance on the SIGMA 150-600mm is truly remarkable. I was excited not only by how quickly it locks onto my subject, but also the reliable focus tracking of my fast-moving subjects within the frame. As you can imagine, this is a truly valuable feature for wildlife photography.
I especially love photographing small birds, which are constantly moving and rarely stand still. This lens superbly locks focus and allows me to track their movements within the frame to easily snap a series of photos that are sharp. And I’m particularly impressed that this ultra-telephoto zoom lens does all of this quietly!Â
3. I can handhold this lens and still create the compressed look I love.
The SIGMA 150-600mm Sports lens gives a wonderful compression that makes my wildlife subjects pop out from the background, even at higher apertures like f/6-8. I absolutely love this look, and the ability to isolate my subject so well while handholding my camera.
A lot of longer lenses in this range are too heavy to get sharp images without a tripod, which I find cumbersome and difficult for nature photography. Because most of the animals I photograph are small and fast moving, I find a tripod impractical. With the lighter weight of this lens, I can easily handhold my camera and lens while still getting sharp images and creating the look I want.
4. The Optical Stabilization gives me added peace of mind.
Another feature I love is the Optical Stabilizer (OS) system. It gives me added assurance knowing that slight camera shake will not be an issue when I’m out photographing moving wildlife and standing in all kinds of weather situations and terrain.
As I mentioned, I primarily hand-hold my camera and lens when photographing wildlife in the field, so the available four stops of OS on this lens really help me keep my images sharp, even at slower shutter speeds.
Honestly, the autofocus locking, tracking and OS on this lens makes it the best wildlife photography lens I have ever used. To say I am very pleased with the AF/OS capabilities of this lens would be an understatement. It is a complete game changer in my nature photography.
5. The weather sealing makes me feel prepared for anything.
The weather sealing on the SIMGA 150-600mm Sports lens is incredible. When I am out in the field, I never know what I might encounter: water splashes, dust, rain, sleet, snow or heavy fog. The lens is weather tight and gives me total peace of mind that I’m prepared for whatever situation comes at me.
I have laid in snow, been near splashing water and have found myself in all kinds of weather with this lens in my hand. Because this lens is totally dust and splash resistant, it’s not even an issue, which lets me focus on what I’m doing without stressing about the lens.
Features I love on the SIGMA 150-600mm F5.6-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports Lens:
- The exceptional optical performance
- Super-fast, accurate (and quiet) autofocus and focus tracking
- The smaller size and lighter weight
- Up to four stops of optical stabilization
- Superior weather resistance
- The ability to create so many looks with just one lens
Overall, I highly recommend this amazing lens. It has everything I need in one compact, lightweight design for the range it covers. It is a favorite lens of mine and one I reach for most often when I am out in the field. I know I never have to worry about being able to capture that beautiful scene or animal I see before me. It helps me capture my mind’s eye, beautifully.Â
5 Tips for photographing wildlife.
1. Go where the animals are. For great wildlife photography, you’ll need to find habitats where a variety of animals are thriving. Look for open fields with tree lines, forests with old growth trees and areas with water. Nature preserves are great for photography, as they usually have the best habitats for wildlife.
2. Choose the best time of day. The best time of day to see the most active wildlife is typically morning and near sunset.
3. Stay back. When you come across wildlife, do not chase and never approach. Not only could this be unsafe for you, but it could also cause stress to the animal. Use your telephoto lens to zoom in on the animal and stay put. Moving around too much after spotting the wildlife could scare off the animal and cause you to lose your opportunity.
4. Pre-set your camera. Make sure you have your camera and settings ready for the conditions you are shooting in. There is nothing more frustrating than spotting wildlife, firing off a bunch of shots and then realizing your settings were off.
5. Be patient. Like most hunts, sometimes you go away empty handed. Wildlife photography is very much a hunt.
Do your research and scout out habitats. Ask other hikers or people in the area if they have seen any animals. Many of my favorite wildlife photos were created after people shared with me what they have seen in the immediate area.
With enough patience and persistence you will get those incredible wildlife opportunities and shots that you will be proud to showcase. Having the right lens to help you meet your vision certainly makes a huge difference. I love my SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sport lens. It works for me and allows me to do wildlife photography the way I want. Get out there and find what works for you!
Photos by Martina Abreu
This is a sponsored post, but opinions are those of the author.
Hi Martina. Good stuff here. I am struggling to get consistent tracking on fast moving objects on my A7IV. I have played around with the settings with no success. Hoping you can share some of yours.