Question 1

Will the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary work with Canon EF extenders?

Accepted Answer

Canon EF extenders (1.4x and 2x) are generally not compatible with this lens because the rear element protrudes into the extender space and the maximum aperture at 400mm (f/6.3) already exceeds the f/5.6 limit that Canon extenders require for autofocus to function. Sigma's own teleconverters (TC-1401 and TC-2001) are the recommended option — they're designed to work with the lens's electronic contacts and maintain autofocus capability.

Question 2

How good is the autofocus on the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM for sports and wildlife?

Accepted Answer

The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) drive is quiet and reasonably fast for a lens in this category — more than capable for birds in flight or athletes on a pitch when paired with a capable Canon EF body. For fast, erratic movement, performance is solid rather than lightning-fast, so it rewards good tracking technique on your part. If your camera body has strong predictive AF, the combination works well in real-world wildlife conditions.

Question 3

What does the OS (Optical Stabilizer) do, and does it have multiple modes?

Accepted Answer

OS stands for Optical Stabilizer — Sigma's built-in image stabilisation system. It physically compensates for camera shake, which is especially valuable when handholding at 400mm or shooting in lower light. The Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary is known to offer multiple OS modes: one for static subjects and one designed for panning shots (such as following a moving vehicle or bird). Switching to the panning mode prevents the stabiliser from fighting your intentional horizontal movement.

Question 4

Does the Sigma 100-400mm 5-6.3 DG OS HSM work on APS-C Canon DSLRs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's fully compatible with APS-C Canon EF-mount bodies like the Canon EOS 90D or Canon EOS 850D. On a crop sensor, the effective focal range becomes approximately 160–640mm (using a 1.6x crop factor), which gives you impressive reach for wildlife or sports without any optical penalty — image quality on APS-C has been widely praised as very strong.

Question 5

Is buying a used Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM worth it?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. The Contemporary line is built to last, and used copies are typically in excellent shape because telephoto zooms like this one are often owned by enthusiasts who use them carefully. On Camera-tweedehands.nl, every second-hand lens is professionally inspected and individually photographed before listing, and all come with a minimum 12 months warranty — so you're not buying blind.

Question 6

How does the Sigma 100-400mm compare to the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD?

Accepted Answer

Both cover the same focal range and are built for Canon EF mount, so they're direct rivals. The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD has a slightly wider maximum aperture at the wide end (f/4.5 vs f/5), which can help in lower light at shorter focal lengths. The Sigma is widely regarded for its build quality and optical consistency across the zoom range. Both are strong choices — trying used copies of each is a low-risk way to find which one suits your shooting style.

Question 7

Does the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary have a tripod collar?

Accepted Answer

The lens does not ship with a tripod collar included in the box — Sigma sells it as a separate accessory (the TS-111). If you regularly shoot from a monopod or tripod, especially at 400mm, picking up the collar separately is worth it: it lets you balance the rig properly and rotate between landscape and portrait orientation without repositioning the entire setup.

Question 8

What filter size does the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM use?

Accepted Answer

The filter thread is 67mm. That's a relatively common size, so circular polarisers, ND filters, and UV filters are widely available and tend to be more affordable than the larger filter sizes found on bigger supertelephoto lenses. The front element does not rotate during focusing, which makes using polarising filters much more practical.

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Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary - Canon EF

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