Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF APO DG OS HSM 120-400mm
Featuring a 4-stop Optical Stabilizer and HSM autofocus, this lens delivers a flexible 120-400mm zoom range on full-frame Nikon F-mount bodies. Its rear focus system and three SLD glass elements maintain sharpness, while the 150cm close-focus distance enables 1:4.2 macro-style detail shots. This lens is best for budget-conscious Nikon DSLR photographers starting out in wildlife and sports, where the stabilized 400mm reach offers practical handheld shooting.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong optical (94th percentile) 94th
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile) 93rd
- Strong versatility (84th percentile) 84th
Cons
- Below average build (9th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)
- Below average aperture (23rd percentile)
- Below average bokeh (26th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 8 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 120 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Elements | 21 |
| Groups | 15 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Super multi-layer coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.6 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 77 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | HSM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 4 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 1500 |
| Max Magnification | 1:4.2 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF APO DG OS HSM 120-400mm | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | Sony G SELP28135G.SYX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 120-400mm | 17-28mm | 28-75mm | 12-60mm | 28-70mm | 28-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 | f/4 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | false | false | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 1640 | 450 | 540 | 320 | 495 | 420 |
| AF Type | HSM | Stepping Motor | VXD | linear motor | STM | SSM |
| Lens Type | telephoto | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF APO DG OS HSM 120-400mm | 54.6 | 25.9 | 9.4 | 37.8 | 93.9 | 22.6 | 15.8 | 83.8 | 63 | 92.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87 | 88.1 | 73.6 | 86.3 | 87 | 85.8 | 90.8 | 68.1 | 64.6 | 38 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 VXD G2 Compare | 54.6 | 88.1 | 67.2 | 87.3 | 87.8 | 85.8 | 80.4 | 78.2 | 83.1 | 38 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98 | 88.1 | 83.1 | 50.4 | 90.2 | 85.8 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 63.5 | 83.2 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87 | 25.9 | 70.2 | 80.4 | 85 | 22.6 | 98.1 | 77.2 | 87.9 | 98.5 |
| Sony G SELP28135G.SYX Compare | 94.2 | 80.2 | 75.5 | 31.2 | 87 | 69.9 | 63.3 | 92.4 | 50.2 | 92.8 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
