Sigma 100-400mm FE review by Marc Alhadeff: “excellent alternative to the Sony GM”

The new Sigma 100-400mm FE is now in Stock BHphoto, Adorama, FocusCamera. FotokochDE. WexUK. ParkUK.

Marc Alhadeff from SonyAlphaBlog reviewed the lens and concluded:

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-F6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary (1000 euros) is a very good lens for the price and will ideally complement the Sony FE 24-105 F4 G OSS on a A7III, A9 or A7RIII
The focal range makes it very versatile for sports, portrait, landscape or animals, but if you intend to use it mostly at around 400mm you may want to look at the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS more suited for pure animals/birds shooting
On the Sony A7RIV it can not compete with the Sony FE 100-400mm in terms of sharpness and AF speed, but on a lower resolution camera like A7III or A7RIII you won’t see noticeable difference in term of sharpness
The AF is very good on still subject but on subject in movement you get a higher rate of missed shoots than on the Sony FE 100-400mm
So for animals , sports or A7RIV the recommendation will still be the Sony FE 100-400mm GM OSS F4.5-F5.6, for the others and in case of limited budget, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-F6.3 DG DN OS offers an excellent alternative

Pros
Very good price
Weight
Excellent sharpness on A7III / RIII (24 / 42Mpix)
Very good color rendition
Very good and soft blurry background
Good Bokeh balls
Low CA
Very good AF for still
Effective image stabiliser
Very good build quality
Very good ergonomics

Average
Not compatible with Sony TC, and no Sigma TC possible due to licenses from Sony
Only very good sharpness on A7RIV (61Mpix)
Average Flare resistance
Moderate vignetting and distortion that will require some correction specially at 400mm (no lens profile correction yet)
AFC on moving subject not as reliable as Sony GM lens
Tripod collar is not included and is a paid option (130$)
Corners sharpness

Cons
AF shows sometimes slowness & hesitation in video