I don’t like to think I’m lazy and I honestly don’t mind ‘zooming with my feet’, but that’s not always possible. To get as close as I’d ideally like, I’d have to jump the barriers at sporting events, sprout my own pair of wings at airshows, and risk getting eaten alive by hungry wildlife. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, and a 150-600mm lens can get you close to the action from a respectable (and safe) distance.
Originally pioneered by Sigma and adopted by Tamron, 150-600mm lenses used to be a rare breed. Camera manufacturers often didn’t make their own and even if they did, some of the old DSLR examples have now been discontinued. To make this guide as useful as possible, I've included not only ‘150-600mm’ lenses that are currently available, but also a selection of super-telephoto zooms that cover a fairly similar range.
The debate on the 'best' zoom range, of course, rages on – many photographers prefer the best 70-200mm lenses or the best 100-400mm lenses as their favorite working distance. However, the 150-600mm outstrips them both in terms of sheer range and raw distance.
Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer, and as such he has tested more primes and zooms – including plenty of 150-600mm optics – than most people have had hot dinners!
The quick list
Best for mirrorless
For Sony E and L-mount mirrorless cameras, this lens is a worthy successor to a DSLR classic. It's got a weather-sealed build and produces pin-sharp imagery.
Best for DSLRs
Still going strong for Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, Tamron's G2 lens is a refresh of a classic that boasts excellent autofocus and stabilisation.
Best Micro Four Thirds
Delivering a 300-1200mm equivalent zoom range thanks to the MFT crop factor, this is an incredibly powerful super-tele zoom that doubles your reach.
Best Nikon Z
Running very close to the 150-600mm focal range, this lens shaves a bit off the wide end, but still delivers real shooting versatility in a lightweight package.
Best Canon RF
You lose a little at the tele end but gain a little at the wide end, and Canon's RF 100-500mm delivers brilliant images throughout the whole range.
Best Sony
While Sony users can use Sigma's true 150-600mm, this capable telezoom is a solid Sony-made alternative. The optical stabilisation is highly effective.
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Multi-mount mirrorless
Originally just for Sony FE mount, this zoom lens from Tamron has since been made available for Fujifilm X and Nikon Z. It's not quite 600mm, but it's still a great lens.
10x zoom
Need a little more play at the wide end? This Sigma-made lens offers a whopping 10x zoom range for DSLR shooters, and optically it impresses.
Best Fujifilm X
Delivering a whopping equivalent zoom range of 229-914mm, this lens certainly provides telephoto reach. It can even be used with 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters!
Best 150-600mm lenses
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150-600mm lenses
Here are my picks of the best 150-600mm lenses you can buy right now, for both mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
Sigma 150-600mm Sports
A retooling of an already excellent DSLR lens, the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports is the complete package for Sony and Leica L shooters. Pairing superb internal optics with an all-around excellent, weather-sealed build, this heavy-duty zoom lens is a big customer, but is really the only game in town for 150-600mm as far as users of the aforementioned mounts are concerned.
Of course, that wouldn't matter if the lens itself was no good. Fortunately, it's excellent. The optical path is a little different from the DSLR version, including 25 elements arranged in 15 groups, and it produces impressive sharpness throughout the entirety of the zoom range. There's some inevitable fall-off in the corners, but not enough to worry about, and it's the sort of thing that will be hidden anyway when you're shooting with a shallow depth of field.
The autofocus is excellent, though you'll need to make sure your camera is set up in the optimal way to take advantage of it. The build quality of the lens is also impressive – while no one is going to pretend this is a lightweight lens, it handles well, with tactile zoom and focus rings and a series of on-body controls for functions like AF speed, stabilization intensity, and in a new addition for the mirrorless version, Zoom Torque control to adjust the resistance of the zoom ring.
This is an all-around excellent lens that's absolutely worth the money for E-mount and L-mount users.
See our full Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports review
Features ★★★★★ | The lens inherits the high-end features and handling of the older version for DSLRs, in a smaller, lighter package. |
Design ★★★★★ | The design is very refined, while build quality is excellent and includes extensive weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Excellent inherent sharpness is further boosted in real terms by highly effective optical stabilization. |
Value ★★★★★ | It’s a pro-grade super-telephoto zoom with a ‘consumer’ price tag, making it standout value. |
Tamron 150-600mm G2
This G2 (Generation 2) edition of Tamron’s 150-600mm lens is upgraded in pretty much every facet of its features, handling and performance. The LD (Low Dispersion) element count goes from one to three, and BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) coatings add to the older lens’s eBAND (Extended Bandwidth and Angular-Dependency) coatings, to further suppress internal reflections. The uprated autofocus system delivers faster performance, better able to track moving subjects and the redesigned VC (Vibration Compensation) system gives class-leading 4.5-stop effectiveness, plus two additional switchable modes. The second mode is for panning and the third applies stabilisation only during exposures, making it easier to track erratically moving objects. However, the optical stabilizer is only featured in the Canon and Nikon mount editions of the lens.
With the Sony A-fit edition, you’ll need to rely on in-camera stabilization (note that for Sony mirrorless cameras using the Sony E-mount, you should check out the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD).
Going one better than the Sigma 150-600mm lenses, a new flex zoom lock enables you to lock the zoom at any position, rather than just at settings for which a focal length is marked on the barrel. It also matches the Sigma lenses with compatibility for an optional USB dock, which Tamron calls a ‘TAP-in Console’, for applying customization and firmware upgrades. There’s only a marginal Increase in size and weight over the original Tamron (see below), but the G2 gets superior weather-seals and a fluorine coating on the front element. Overall build quality feels superior.
Living up to Tamron’s claims, the G2’s autofocus speed and the effectiveness of its image stabilization are excellent. Image quality is very good overall, but sharpness is a bit of a mixed bag. In our tests, it proved slightly less sharp than the original Tamron lens at short to medium zoom settings, but rather sharper in the 400-600mm sector. It’s a good trade-off, as you’ll usually find yourself using the lens towards the long end of its zoom range.
See our full Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 review
Features ★★★★☆ | The ‘Generation 2’ edition of this lens has a strong feature set with upgraded autofocus and stabilization systems. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The design is pretty crafty and I like that this lens is the best part of a kilogram lighter than Sigma’s competing Sports lens for DSLRs. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality and overall performance are impressive overall but the lens could be sharper at the short end of its zoom range. |
Value ★★★★☆ | The Tamron is keenly priced for a DSLR-focused 150-600mm with high-end specs and handling. |
OM System 150-600mm
The Micro Four Thirds system has a 2x crop factor, relative to a full-frame camera. This means that, although this lens has an advertised 150-600mm focal range, when fitted to an MFT body its field of view will be equivalent to a 300-1200mm full-frame lens. Consequently, this lens offers immense reach for capturing distant subjects, while up to 7 stops of image stabilization helps keep things steady when you're zoomed in to the max.
Keen lens nerds may have spotted that this lens looks very similar to the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports (number 1 on this list). And that's because it is essentially the same lens, adapted for use on Micro Four Thirds bodies. While that has its benefits, as a full-frame lens it does mean the OM System M.Zuiko 150-600mm feels very bulky and heavy compared to more typical MFT optics.
During our time reviewing the OM System M.Zuiko 150-600mm, we came away a little disappointed by the lens's overall sharpness, which was significantly down on the performance of the Sigma 150-600mm. But if you must have telescope-rivalling levels of zoom for your Micro Four Thirds camera, this is the only lens to go for.
Read our full OM System M.Zuiko 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS review
Features ★★★★☆ | Top of the features list is the humungous 1200mm maximum ‘effective’ focal length, backed up by as much as 7-stop stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Build quality is tough, with IPX1 weather-proofing, although it’s big and heavy for a Micro Four Thirds lens. |
Performance ★★★☆☆ | Levels of sharpness are a bit disappointing, especially at longer zoom settings. |
Value ★★★☆☆ | It’s not particularly good value, especially in comparison to the likes of Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm full-frame zooms. |
150-600mm alternatives
There are a few lenses that give a similar, but slightly different, focal length range to a 150-600mm – and below are some of those which are worth considering:
Nikon Z 180-600mm
This big zoom is as close as Nikon has got to matching the 150-600mm focal length – and it's an outstanding lens. Earning the full five stars in our review, the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR offers tack-sharp image quality right the way through that zoom range. While it's a relatively hefty lens, it's light enough that you'll be able to use it handheld for a decent chunk of time. We particularly love the four customisable function buttons, which sit just under where the thumb naturally falls.
A particular asset of this lens is its optical VR (Vibration Reduction) system, which is rated to provide up to 5.5 stops of effective compensation. This makes the far end of the telephoto much more useable hand-held, and helps you make the most of all that gorgeous sharpness. Great for sports, wildlife and other types of telephoto shooting, the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is the best choice for approximating the 150-600mm focal range on Nikon Z cameras.
Read our full Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR review
Features ★★★★★ | Compared with Nikon’s F-mount 200-500mm zoom, this one has longer telephoto reach and more effective 5.5-stop optical stabilization. |
Design ★★★★★ | The lens is impeccably built with extensive weather-seals and is noticeably lighter than Nikon’s 200-500mm lens. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Sharpness and clarity are exceptional, even at the longest zoom setting, backed up by super-fast autofocus and highly effective stabilization. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pricier than the F-mount 200-500mm lens but well worth the extra outlay. |
Canon RF 100-500mm
The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM is the first super-telephoto zoom lens for EOS R-system mirrorless cameras. This is a high-quality lens with its L-series build, and even has a heat shield coating for coping with shooting in challenging weather conditions, whether it’s hot or cold. Plus its 5-stop image stabilization will help you deliver sharp shots when shooting handheld with slower shutter speeds and in low light. It lacks the reach of a 150-600mm at its telephoto lens - but compensates for this with its widest tele setting.
See our full Canon RF 100-500mm review
Features ★★★★★ | There’s a smorgasbord of features packed into this lens with optical stabilization, dual Nano USM autofocus motors and a very high-end optical path. |
Design ★★★★★ | Flourishes include a zoom ring torque adjustment, carried forward from the EF lens, and robust weather-sealed build quality. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Autofocus performance needs one of the more recent than original EOS R bodies to get the most out of the lens, but image quality is fabulous. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pretty good value for what it is, but this lens will nevertheless make a sizeable dent in your bank balance. |
Sony 200-600mm
This used to be the nearest Sony users could get to a 150-600mm, but even though the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports has now stolen its thunder, it's still a good choice. The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS comes pretty close to offering the same sort of reach for what is actually a pretty reasonable price for a Sony lens.
It doesn't boast Sony's G Master badge of optical excellence, and it does have a relatively restricted maximum aperture of f/5.6-6.3, but it has built-in optical stabilization, so pairs well with any Sony Alpha model, including those without IBIS.
See our full Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS review
Features ★★★★★ | There are all the up-market controls, switches and handling extras you could hope for. |
Design ★★★★★ | It’s a necessarily big lens but less of a heavyweight than some, along with robust build quality. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Image quality is great throughout the entire zoom range, with effective stabilization and fast autofocus. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s pricier than the alternative Sigma lens but not bad value for an own-brand Sony G zoom. |
Tamron 150-500mm
The Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is the company’s first super-telephoto zoom for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras. It’s up against stiff opposition from the excellent own-brand Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS (above), which gives even greater telephoto reach. However, the Sony lens is physically nearly 50 per cent longer, somewhat heavier and more expensive to buy. Despite not having quite the reach of a 150-600mm, the range is still attractive enough for action, sports and wildlife photography. It is backed up by super-fast autofocus and highly effective optical stabilization. It’s sufficiently compact and lightweight for prolonged periods of handheld shooting, and the removable Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount collar is a further handling bonus. All in all, it’s a high-performance lens with a strong set of features and a very good buy at the price.
Originally released just for Sony E, this lens has since been made available in Nikon Z and Fujifilm X configurations.
Read our full Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD review
Features ★★★★☆ | There’s a strong feature list that includes a triple-mode optical image stabilizer and fast autofocus. |
Design ★★★★☆ | The build is robust, right down to the Arca-Swiss compatible foot on the tripod mounting ring. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Sharpness drops off a little at the long end of the zoom range but overall, performance and image quality are very appealing. |
Value ★★★★☆ | The Tamron is very good value at the price and you might find some attractive deals if you shop around a little. |
Sigma 60-600mm
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S looks like the company’s popular 150–600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S lens for DSLRs – now discontinued, and replaced by the DG DN OS Sports version in our number-one spot. However, this lens sports a shorter minimum focal length that makes it really unique. With a staggering 10x zoom, it doesn't look so very different from the 150-600mm lens but inside features a sophisticated optical construction consisting of no fewer than 25 elements in 19 groups.
The lens feels sturdy and well made, with a construction that is part magnesium alloy and part composite material. We found the AF to be very quick and effective in the vast majority of cases we tested it in, while the image stabilizer is highly effective for both static and panning shots. Optically and contrast and sharpness are impressive at all zoom settings, particularly when shooting wide-open.
This is an incredibly versatile lens that should be a tempting proposition for those looking to shoot wildlife.
See our full Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM S review
Features ★★★★★ | It’s packed full of features but the best of them is the monster 10x zoom range that stretches from a natural perspective to extreme telephoto. |
Design ★★★★☆ | It’s a big strong lens but the design can feel a bit of a chore as it’s very heavy at 2,700g. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Image quality is very good, considering the extra-large zoom range, although short-end barrel distortion can be quite noticeable. |
Value ★★★★☆ | It’s reasonably priced as one of Sigma’s up-market ‘Sports’ lenses but not the greatest value for money. |
Fuji XF150-600mm
While it says '150-600mm' on the box, this astounding lens actually covers an equivalent focal range of 229-914mm in equivalent 35mm film terms, once mounted to a Fujifilm X camera. And, as if that weren't enough, it even supports teleconverters. This means that if you fitted it with the XF2X TC WR, the range would extend to up to 1200mm (equivalent to 1828mm). Not bad for a lens that weighs just 1605g (albeit without the lens hood, lens cap, and tripod collar foot) and costs under $2k!
The Fujinon XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens has opened up the Fujifilm X-mount to wildlife and sports photographers who don't just want a long lens – they want an easy-to-carry, affordable, and fast-focusing long lens. The performance of the Fujinon XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR is all of these things, and great for the price point. If you're a Fujifilm user, you can now get even closer to subjects that are small, speedy, or elusive.
See our full Fujifilm XF150-600 F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR review
Features ★★★★☆ | Mighty effective zoom range is equivalent to 225-900mm on a full-frame camera, and it comes with 5-stop stabilization. |
Design ★★★★☆ | Typical of Fujifilm XF lenses, it has up-market build quality and extensive weather-seals. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | Autofocus is fast and overall performance is good apart from a drop in sharpness at the long end of the zoom range. |
Value ★★★★☆ | Considering the ultra-long effective reach, extensive spec sheet and high-end handling, it’s very good value. |
Lab data and comparisons
The graphs below show the comparative performance of the lenses in this guide, based on our in-house lab tests. The Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM leads the way for sharpness but some of the others run it very close. The OM System M.Zuiko 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS is the least inspiring for sharpness, especially towards the long end of its mighty zoom range.
Scores for sharpness and color fringing are averaged from data taken across the entire image frame, from the center to the edges and corners, throughout the aperture range. For zoom lenses, the scores are also averaged from data measured at all marked focal lengths, and the same applies to distortion. Bear in mind that these average values don't fully reflect specific areas of performance. For example, a zoom lens might have noticeable barrel and pincushion distortion at its shortest and longest focal lengths respectively, which tends to average out when looking at the data overall. For more detailed graphs of each lens's performance, which give the full picture, check out the graphs in our full standalone lens reviews.
How to choose the best 150-600mm lenses
When it comes to picking 150-600mm lenses, one thing to note is that all the 'true' examples third-party, as camera manufacturers aren't currently making their own. While this means that you may need to get used to different handling, and some features like optical image stabilization may not function as well, the advantage is that they tend to be cheaper than buying native lenses. Given how expensive telephotos can get at longer focal lengths, this is extremely welcome news.
The main manufacturers of 150-600mm lenses are Sigma and Tamron, and they have been producing them for Canon EF and Nikon F full-frame mounts for quite some time. Canon RF and Nikon Z mirrorless users can mount them via adapters, and functions like autofocus should still work well enough. Canon RF users may also want to consider the excellent Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM, which is a reasonably close alternative. Nikon Z users, meanwhile, can take a look at the Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR, which absolutely dazzled us in testing.
For other mirrorless users, 150-600mm pickings used to be thin on the ground. however, Sigma has its 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports lens for Sony E and Leica L-mount (the latter of which includes Panasonic's full-frame mirrorless cameras like the Lumix S5). This has given a few more options for full-frame mirrorless shooters - and Tamron is offering the slightly shorter 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD as an option for Sony shooters. There is also now the Fujifilm Fujinon XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens for the X-series.
When we're looking at a 150-600mm lens, the number on the body refers to the focal length the lens will give you when mounted on a full-frame / 35mm camera; mount one on an APS-C format body and the 1.5x crop factor gives an even greater ‘effective’ zoom range of 225-900mm. On Canon APS-C bodies, the tighter 1.6x crop factor delivers an even mightier 240-960mm zoom range.
How we test lenses
We test lenses using both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.
FAQS
What is a 150-600mm lens good for?
As you might imagine, lenses with a 150-600mm range (or similar) offer a great deal of shooting versatility as well as telephoto reach. This makes them naturally a good fit for sports and wildlife shooting, where you aren't always going to be able to predict how close your subject will get to you. Being able to cover such a great distance with a single lens will make you very nimble as a photographer. A 150-600mm lens can also be very handy for astrophotography, especially for close celestial objects like the moon.
However, don't go thinking that these are the only uses for a 150-600mm telephoto. These types of lenses can also be useful for creating landscape and architecture images with a bit of difference to them. Rather than capturing the standard wide shot, you can push in on details for a more abstract composition. If you want to convey distance in your images, you'll accomplish that much more effectively with a narrower perspective.
What are the disadvantages of 150-600mm lenses?
Unavoidably, 150-600mm lenses tend to be pretty heavy, and will generally have a slower maximum aperture than a shorter zoom like a 70-200mm (f/5-6.3 is the common one, as pioneered by Sigma in its original version). This can be restrictive in low light, or when you want to create a shallow depth of field. The sharpness they produce also tends to be inferior to telephoto primes (which, to be fair, also tend to be much more expensive), particularly at the tele end.
You might also like to read about the best telephoto lenses, as well as the best budget telephoto-zoom lenses and the best lenses for bird photography.
