custodian Loc: New York

Has anyone ever put a tele converter lens on a sigma 150-600 lens? My hubby got me one so i could take close ups of deer, birds etc when we are in the car. It doesnt get the picture he hoped it would when at the 600 point, would a tele converter lens help? i have a nikon d5200. thank you for any advice

this is at 150

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this is at the 600

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Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I do not have it but hope the answers are NOT theoretical BS but from those who have actually done it. Perhaps some examples as well. Looking forward to knowing.
Sadly there will be a lot of pontification of those with no clue and express their prejudices with no real knowledge.
PS the scenery is beautiful in your shot and the deer look pastoral. Have you tried cropping it in a bit?
Again nice shot.

mrpentaxk5ii

The 150-600 I believe is F- 6.2 or 3 at 600 mm, adding a converter will not allow you to use auto focus due to the fact that the F-Stop will exceed your cameras ability to auto focus, and the picture quality will not be very good, converters are best used on a lens that is F 2.8 or F 4.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You can't 'extend' that lens type and retain autofocus on your D5200. So even if the image quality was 'perfect' with a teleconverter / extender, you'll have a manual focus configuration.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Which Sigma 150-600? The Contemporary actually is a bit sharper than the Sport - Sport is designed for rough use etc.

Which teleconverter? There are several brands and some are better than others and some work better with some brands of lens than they do others.

I have never owned one of the 150-600 Sigmas, I have owned both editions of the Tamron and used both with an extender. I have three different 1.4x extenders and even the worst of them produces usable images in good light.

Very important - use a good sturdy tripod and head with the extender+long lens, or rest on a sandbag, folded towel etc because any tiny movement will be magnified greatly. An electronic or wired shutter release also helps - as a last resort set it up, focus and set the timer for the shutter.

Hmm, project for this weekend/Monday (after finishing taxes) = set up my 150-600 and do test shots with my different extenders then maybe post the results. Oh, I know from experience that my Canon 100-400L mk2 + 1.4x III extender will be a bit shorter in reach but will win the image quality match up if I throw it into the test.

SMPhotography Loc: Pawleys Island, SC

I don't have any experience with this lens but the following are some general characteristics common to all teleconverters. Teleconverters in general are going to magnify any faults your lens has (like chromatic aberration) and degrade IQ to a varying degree depending on the quality. And extra glass means the potential for additional flare and loss of contrast. If this is a 2X TC, you will also lose 2 f/stops of maximum aperture, which can make it difficult to focus either in auto or manual. If it is a high quality one, the degradation should not be apparent until you print at 11x14 or so. Also, at the 600mm setting you will now have a 1200mm lens, which is really not hand holdable because every bit of camera shake will be magnified along with the focal length. A sturdy tripod is strongly recommended. I am not saying that they are not useable, far from it, but these are some things you need to be cognizant of when using one.

I have been fortunate with my older Nikon TC-14B and TC-300 TC's along with my 300mm f/2 and 600mm f/4 ED AIS Nikkors. I really do not see any loss of IQ until I am printing at 16x20 or greater. Both of those lenses are razor sharp and there is enough travel in the focusing ring that critical focusing is easy, especially with the TC-14B. Though focusing is a little difficult with the 600mm it is not impossible and although the microprism on my aftermarket screen blacks out, I can still use the ground glass and split image. Both my D850 and D500 have a sensitive enough AF system that I can usually get good focus confirmation.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Let's hear it for manual focus!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

And a sturdy tripod!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The Sigma TC-1401 1.4X teleconverter is designed to work on the Sigma 150-600 zoom lenses. Although auto focus works on my Nikon D500 and Canon 5D mk IV, you may have to focus manually with your Nikon D5200. Sigma also makes the TC-2001 2.0X teleconverter that will work on both Sigma 150-600 zoom lenses but auto focus definitely will not work with the TC-2001 on the D5200. These Sigma teleconverters cost around $350 and $400 USD. I am familiar with both teleconverters because I own them.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Amen to that...

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

A 1.4X TC will loose 1 stop of light, and autofocus on this lens. Look at the image quality at 600mm...the TC will degrade it further. Some say only 5% and this is true for some of the best TCs and fast lenses...it may be more in this case.

Try renting one and see if it will satisfy.

custodian Loc: New York

Than you all for your advice. It is a contemporary one and no i have not tried cropping it

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

You will lose auto focus, but can still get great shots in manual focus, it just takes practice. Happy Shooting.

custodian Loc: New York

Thank you

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sigma actually sells this lenses in a "kit" with their own TC-1401 teleconverter.

Here is a review by a wildlife photographer who normally uses the Tamron 150-600 who tested the Sigma C with TC-1401 and compared them. He seems to think the Sigma and the Sigma with converter are very good. In fact he sold his Tamron and got the Sigma w/converter.

https://digital-photography-school.com/review-of-the-sigma-150-600mm-contemporary-lens-plus-tc-1401-teleconverter-bundle/