Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG HSM OS Autofocus Lens for Nikon {86} with Tripod Foot

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 OS HSM: affordable reach for serious wildlife and sports shooters.

At 500mm, you have genuine supertelephoto reach in a lens that costs a fraction of what first-party glass demands. The APO (apochromatic) design corrects chromatic aberration across the zoom range, which matters when you're shooting birds against a bright sky or athletes under stadium lights at 500mm f/6.3. Full-frame compatibility means no vignetting or performance compromises on DX or FX bodies alike.

The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) drives autofocus quickly and quietly, and the Optical Stabilizer gives you a fighting chance at sharp images when you're handholding 500mm of glass without a monopod. A dedicated tripod foot ships in the box, which is not a given at this price point and makes a real difference when you're mounting to a gimbal head or a pan-tilt for birds in flight. The zoom range opens at 150mm, so you're not stuck at max reach when a subject moves closer. That 150-to-500mm span covers press-box sidelines, safari distance shooting, and coastal birding without a lens swap.

For Nikon F shooters, this lens integrates with the full autofocus system on bodies from the D500 to the D850. The value proposition is straightforward: 500mm OS reach with a proven optical formula, ready to pair with a teleconverter for even longer work.

Who It's For

Wildlife photographers working from a blind or a vehicle will find the 500mm reach genuinely usable for birds and mammals at distance, with OS helping in low dawn light when shutter speeds get marginal. Sports photographers covering outdoor events on a budget get sideline-to-midfield coverage without renting a prime. Safari and travel shooters appreciate the tripod foot for gimbal use and the zoom flexibility when subject distance is unpredictable. Nikon F DSLR users who want a proven telephoto zoom with in-lens stabilization before committing to mirrorless have an option here.

Key Features

• 150-500mm zoom range with no lens swap required
• APO design eliminates chromatic aberration across entire focal length
• HSM autofocus motor drives focus quickly and quietly
• Optical Stabilizer (OS) provides 2-3 stops of handheld stability
• Tripod foot with Arca-Swiss socket included in box
• Full-frame DG compatible with zero vignetting on DX or FX bodies
• Accepts Sigma teleconverters for extended reach up to 1000mm
• 9-blade rounded diaphragm for smooth bokeh rendition

FAQ

Does this lens work on both DX and FX Nikon bodies?

Yes. The DG designation means full-frame optical compatibility, so you get the same performance on a D500 or D850 without vignetting or optical compromise.

How does the APO design help at 500mm?

APO (apochromatic) glass corrects chromatic aberration across the entire zoom range, which matters when you're shooting high-contrast subjects like birds against sky or athletes under stadium lights at maximum focal length.

Can you use a teleconverter with this lens?

Yes. The lens accepts Sigma teleconverters (sold separately). A 1.4x converter gives you 210-700mm; a 2x converter gives you 300-1000mm, though maximum aperture narrows accordingly.

What's the practical benefit of the OS (Optical Stabilizer)?

At 500mm, OS gives you 2-3 extra stops of handheld stability, which is the difference between sharp shots and motion blur when you're working without a monopod or gimbal head.

Does the tripod foot come included?

Yes, it ships in the box. That's a real value add at this price point. It has a Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release socket and threads for traditional ballheads.

Why start at 150mm instead of 200mm?

The 150mm minimum focal length lets you compose tighter when subjects close in without swapping lenses. On a DX body, 150mm gives you effective reach of 225mm, which covers a lot of working distance.

How fast is the HSM autofocus?

HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) is quiet and responsive. It's not instant, but it's competitive with Nikon AF-S glass from the same era and handles tracking decently on moving subjects.