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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2016
The weights listed on the Amazon pages are not accurate. On a quick read, you'll see that this lens is listed at 6.5 pounds, which is about the same as what's listed for the the Sigma 150-600 (Contemporary) that I just bought and loved--6 pounds. But neither weight is true; on my scale, this lens comes out to 8 pounds, 3 ounces while the 150-600 is just over half that.
The confusion is in the Technical Details portion of the page. The 150-600 (C) shows Item Display Weight as 6 pounds; right below that is Item Weight,1930 grams. Over on the 120-300 page, the two entries are reversed: Item Display Weight is 3,390 grams and Item Weight is 6.5 pounds. The Sport version of the 150-600 shows Item Display Weight as 2,900 grams and Item Weight as 6.31 pounds. Are you confused yet? It appears to me the metric weights are correct but the pounds are not; for us metrically-challenged Americans, it's easy to just read the pounds and get it wrong. You might want to check the Sigma website. I did some quickie weighing on a little postal scale and can't swear to my own accuracy; I'm just saying the Amazon page is misleading. This is one of those lenses you really want to try in person before you mail-order it.
As for the lens itself, I only tested it a little. It's very well-built, of course, and seems sharp and precise. I just don't see how anyone could reasonably hand-hold it for any length of time. I'd planned on using it for live-music performances, thinking it only weighed a little more than other lenses I've used (70-200, 100-400, 150-600). But not only is the weight a problem, the diameter and balance are issues. I'm sure this would be a great lens on a monopod or tripod, but hand-held in a crowded venue, it's just not worth the extra reach.
The confusion is in the Technical Details portion of the page. The 150-600 (C) shows Item Display Weight as 6 pounds; right below that is Item Weight,1930 grams. Over on the 120-300 page, the two entries are reversed: Item Display Weight is 3,390 grams and Item Weight is 6.5 pounds. The Sport version of the 150-600 shows Item Display Weight as 2,900 grams and Item Weight as 6.31 pounds. Are you confused yet? It appears to me the metric weights are correct but the pounds are not; for us metrically-challenged Americans, it's easy to just read the pounds and get it wrong. You might want to check the Sigma website. I did some quickie weighing on a little postal scale and can't swear to my own accuracy; I'm just saying the Amazon page is misleading. This is one of those lenses you really want to try in person before you mail-order it.
As for the lens itself, I only tested it a little. It's very well-built, of course, and seems sharp and precise. I just don't see how anyone could reasonably hand-hold it for any length of time. I'd planned on using it for live-music performances, thinking it only weighed a little more than other lenses I've used (70-200, 100-400, 150-600). But not only is the weight a problem, the diameter and balance are issues. I'm sure this would be a great lens on a monopod or tripod, but hand-held in a crowded venue, it's just not worth the extra reach.
