Zoom lenses are essential items for any photographer. This type of lens provides flexibility and allows you to capture excellent detail. Sigma consistently offers good lenses and has a large range of zoom lenses available including a selection of wide-angle zoom lenses that are great for landscape shots.
Sigma also has some of the best super-telephoto zoom lenses available with focal distances of up to 600mm. These are perfect for capturing action sports or detailed wildlife photography.
In addition, there is a good choice of multi-purpose kit lenses. These have a wide focal distance that covers everything from wide-angle to telephoto. Sigma lenses like these are suitable for travel or as your “everyday” lens.
Using a versatile zoom lens means you don’t have to purchase a range of expensive prime lenses making an affordable lens purchase even more valuable in the long run. In this guide, we look at the five best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000.
1. Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
Our overall winner for best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000 is the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. This is an excellent affordable lens for the super-telephoto focal distance it provides. The range of 100-400mm is great for wildlife and sports photography and capturing fine details on your subjects.
This lens is available for Sony, Nikon, and Canon full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras. It is a great budget option and comes as standard with a four-year Sigma warranty.
Although the maximum aperture isn’t fantastic, at f/5-6.3 you still have good control over depth of field and light. The lens also has Sigma’s Optical Stabilization and Hyper Sonic Motor technology which means it has image stabilization and an effective autofocusing system for tracking distant objects.
2. Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM
The Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM is a good multi-purpose zoom lens. With a focal distance of 50-500mm, this can cover an extensive range of photography for a budget price.
At 50mm, you can use it for portraits and events photography. Alternatively, at 500mm, you have an excellent telephoto zoom lens for capturing far-off detail. This high-end lens has some great features including image stabilization and the HSM autofocusing motor.
This budget lens is available for Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Pentax, and Sony DSLR cameras; however, the Nikon model is considerably cheaper than the other variations. With the maximum aperture range of f/4-6.3 you can create quality backgrounds using the f/6.3 aperture, even at 500mm.
3. Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
The Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS is another of the best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000. It is a multi-purpose lens and covers everything from wide-angle photography to the telephoto zoom range.
At 18mm you can capture wide-angle shots with great detail, while at 200mm you have a decent mid-range telephoto lens for wildlife and sports shots. This affordable lens offers the best value and has a solid maximum aperture range of f/3.5-6.3.
This lens has Sigma’s Optical Stabilization which provides up to four stops of camera shake correction. This budget lens, however, does not have the HSM autofocusing motor. Despite its advanced lens elements, the lens is still relatively lightweight and portable. It could, therefore, be a good travel lens.
4. Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art
If you want an affordable kit lens, the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM is a good lens under $1000. It offers a nice mix of functionality at an affordable price. You could use this as your main lens and still cover a wide variety of photography types.
The consistent aperture of f/4 across the focal distances is useful, and this top affordable lens also performs well in low-light situations. It also has an HSM autofocusing motor that provides quiet and accurate focusing. This is definitely one of the best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000.
5. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary is one of the best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000 due to its immense zoom range. The maximum focal distance of 600mm provides unparalleled zoom capabilities with one of the largest zoom distances available.
This is complemented by a decent aperture range of f/5-6.3 as well as both OS and HSM technology meaning you can keep your images sharp and focus quickly.
As a Contemporary range lens, the 150-600mm has some extra features. For example, it has a lock switch to keep the lens locked on a single focal distance as well as an improved lens element that is both water and oil repellent.
6. Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art (Budget Winner)
Our best budget option is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art. This is a top lens under $1000 and could serve as a high-end kit lens for your Canon or Nikon camera. The focal distance of 24-70mm is great for a myriad of purposes including use as a standard kit lens.
This lens has an excellent consistent maximum aperture of f/2.8 meaning the bokeh is beautiful and you have great control over the depth of field.
As an Art series lens, this affordable product has various enhancements. For example, it has an advanced lens element that reduces distortion and provides high-quality images. The colors, contrast, and tones look superb.
It comes as standard with a lens hood for added protection. The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art is definitely one of the best Sigma zoom lenses under $1000 due to its quality and versatility.
Shoot in Greater Detail with the Best Sigma Zoom Lenses Under $1000
Why not expand your lens kit today? These affordable Sigma zoom lenses offer great flexibility for your photography. You could purchase a quality zoom lens and use it for many purposes. This can help reduce your expenses and allow you to capture a greater variety of photos with less effort.
