Sigma 723-306 135-400mm
A 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom lens with 1 aspherical and 3 ED elements delivers super-telephoto reach in a compact 104-gram body. Its minimal weight makes it practical for all-day handheld shooting without the bulk of typical telephoto zooms. It’s best for street photographers needing a discreet, lightweight super-telephoto lens for candid captures.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A tank-built 400mm zoom for Nikon F that's sharp enough but shaky without stabilization. Buy it for the reach, not the image quality.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent build quality, 95th percentile 95th
- Serious 400mm reach for the price 81st
- APO design with 3 ED elements helps control fringing
- Works on older Nikon F-mount SLRs
Cons
- No stabilization at 400mm is a recipe for blurry shots
- Macro performance is nearly dead last
- Optical quality is just average
- Only 4 customer reviews, so real-world data is thin
The proof
Performance
The aperture range of f/4.5-5.6 is solidly middle of the pack, and the 135-400mm focal range gives you real reach for wildlife or airshows. The 3 ED elements and 1 aspherical element should help with chromatic aberration and edge sharpness, but the optical score lands at the 52nd percentile, so don't expect modern prime-level clarity. The lack of stabilization is a real problem at 400mm. You'll need fast shutter speeds or a tripod, especially on older Nikon bodies without IBIS. The autofocus is also just average, which on an older screw-drive or early AF lens can feel sluggish by today's standards.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 135 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Groups | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | specially coated to get the best color balance whilst cutting down on ghosting |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 |
| Min Aperture | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | No |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.2 lbs |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 400 |
vs Competition
Against the Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD, the Sigma gives you more reach but loses stabilization and modern optical coatings. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a completely different beast, wider and stabilized, but it won't mount on Nikon F without an adapter and tops out at 135mm. The Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 is sharper and faster but covers a totally different focal range. If you're on Nikon F and want 400mm on a budget, the Sigma is one of the few options at this price, but the Tamron is the smarter all-rounder if you can adapt it.
| Spec | Sigma 723-306 135-400mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Nikon NIKKOR 20059 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 135-400mm | 28-300mm | 18-55mm | 12-35mm | 18-135mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/4.5 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Sony E | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 104 | 590 | 205 | 306 | 326 | 495 |
| AF Type | - | VXD linear motor | pulse stepping motor | Autofocus | Linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma 723-306 135-400mm | 53.8 | 59.8 | 94.7 | 61.2 | 60.3 | 60.2 | 81.2 | 24.8 | 34.3 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 97.7 | 83.8 | 62.8 | 83.2 | 96.2 | 71.1 | 97.9 | 50 | 79.3 |
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 Compare | 84.5 | 81.6 | 83.6 | 95.4 | 54.4 | 82.9 | 82.8 | 81 | 92.3 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.8 | 86.8 | 83.8 | 48.9 | 85.9 | 88.4 | 80.4 | 86.2 | 96.4 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 97.7 | 81.6 | 70.7 | 37.3 | 77.7 | 82.9 | 95.8 | 90.8 | 79.3 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 84.5 | 86.8 | 70.2 | 41.5 | 83.6 | 88.4 | 76.9 | 52.8 | 98.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $600 USD, this is a tough sell unless you specifically need a budget 400mm for an old Nikon DSLR or film body. The build quality is genuinely great, but you're paying for reach and durability, not optical excellence. If you can live without the 400mm end, there are sharper, stabilized options in this price range.
Read more
Overview
The Sigma 723-306 is a weird one. It's a 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom for Nikon F mount that weighs just 104g, which is frankly absurd for a lens with this reach. That weight figure is almost certainly wrong or refers to something else, because a full-frame 400mm zoom made of glass and metal cannot weigh less than a candy bar. What we can say is this is an old-school APO Aspherical design with 3 ED elements, and it's built for Nikon SLRs, not mirrorless. The build quality ranks in the 95th percentile, which tracks for Sigma's older EX-era lenses. But the optical performance sits right around average, and the macro capability is one of the worst we've seen.
Common Questions
Q: Will this lens work on a Nikon DSLR?
Yes, it's designed for Nikon F mount SLRs. It should work on most Nikon DSLRs, but check your body's compatibility with older Sigma lenses, some newer bodies can have aperture control issues.
Q: Is this lens good for wildlife photography?
The 400mm reach is great for wildlife, but the lack of stabilization means you'll need a tripod or very fast shutter speeds. The autofocus is also just average, so fast-moving animals might be frustrating.
Q: Does this lens have image stabilization?
No. There's no optical stabilization, so you'll need to rely on your camera body's IBIS if it has one, or shoot with a tripod at the long end.
Who Should Skip This
If you want a sharp, stabilized all-rounder for travel or street photography, this isn't it. The macro score is abysmal, the stabilization is missing, and the optical quality is just okay. Go grab a Tamron 28-300mm VC or a used Nikon 70-300mm VR instead. You'll lose a bit of reach but gain a lot of usability.
Verdict
The Sigma 723-306 is a niche lens for a specific buyer: someone with an older Nikon F-mount body who wants 400mm reach without spending four figures. The build is fantastic, but the average optics, missing stabilization, and terrible macro score make it a one-trick pony. If that trick is your trick, go for it. Otherwise, keep looking.
