Review: Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG Telephoto Lens

We ventured out to Brighton seafront with wildlife photographer Marc Read to size up the mind-boggling Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX APO DG. 

Once we add the Sigma 2x EX APO teleconverter, there’s an effective reach of 1000mm. This telephoto lens weighs almost 16kg, and that’s before attaching the Nikon Z7 body or the teleconverter. Is this telephoto lens worth its considerable weight? Over to you, Marc.

I love photography. But I have an equal—or perhaps even greater—passion for rare and unusual camera equipment. And camera equipment doesn’t come more unusual than the awe-inspiring Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX APO DG.

Released in 2008, it was the first 500mm f/2.8 ever produced. As the majority of my photography is of wildlife or things far away, I’ve always been fascinated with super telephoto lenses. 

I was lucky enough to have used a Canon 1200mm f/5.6 a few years ago, and the size and the telephoto reach blew me away. But the Sigma is probably more impressive. The combination of the 500mm reach and the f/2.8 aperture is mind-boggling.

Check out the top Canon RF 1200mm alternatives.

While the lens’ weight is a big issue, that's to be expected. Especially when you consider what this lens can achieve. 

There's a lot of glass to gather the light required to reach the f/2.8 aperture. Then, a huge autofocus motor ensures that heavy glass can be moved to allow focus. 

This lens is excellent for situations requiring a huge reach with maximum light gathering.

The Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX APO DG is impressive. I’ve been lucky to try many big telephoto lenses over the years, but shooting at 500mm—with the aperture wide open—produces images like I’ve not seen before. 

This is even more noticeable at 1000mm. It’s true that 1000mm is achievable with plenty of modern-day lenses. But the combination of the 1000mm telephoto reach and the f/5.6 aperture’s depth of field gives you something unique.

Using the lens with an extender is pretty easy. The hardest part is finding your subject at 1000mm. But once you’ve ‘locked on’, there’s not really a noticeable difference in the autofocus speed.

It’s not really possible to use this lens handheld. The way the lens is balanced, it would be impossible to hold the eyepiece to your eye. A very strong tripod is a must-have.

The Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX APO DG has been used to film BBC wildlife documentaries, and it definitely makes a lot of sense for videography. 

The only other comparable lens is the Canon Cine-servo 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 EF — which is what many professional wildlife filmmakers use. But it’s even more expensive than the Sigma.

So if you’re on a smaller budget and want a super-telephoto lens offering excellent sharpness and a bright image, the Sigma is a great option.

Read more camera gear guides on the MPB content hub.