SIGMA to announce an 800mm f/6.3 before the end of February

Last updated: May 5, 2025 11:05 am

Published: February 4, 2025

16 Comments

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Back in December in an interview with SIGMA UK, SIGMA CEO Kazuto Yamaki said;

One of the products that excites me a lot, is a telephoto lens that has never existed before. Sports photographers and wildlife photographers might be very excited about the lens.
https://www.canonrumors.com/sigma-ceo-teases-never-before-seen-telephoto-lens/

It looks like that lens will be an 800mm f/6.3 DG DN OS. Which wouldn't qualify for the above statement. As Nikon has the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. The Nikon lens does a Phase Fresnel element. Which is sort of Canon using Diffractive Optics elements in some lenses to reduce size and weight.

The Nikon also launched with an MSRP of $6496, and I would imaging the SIGMA is going to be much more affordable.

So maybe the new SIGMA still qualifies as “something that has never existed before”.

SIGMA did offer a 300-800mm f/5.6 EX APO DG HSM many years ago in the DSLR days. It was a 13lbs monster that wasn't that much fun to use. Optically it was fine.

However, SIGMA is also rumored to be announcing a new zoom lens, but there is no information about that lens at this time.

800mm lenses are impressive and fun to use, but it's such a specialized focal length. I'm not sure it's really all that exciting, but maybe SIGMA has done something that will make us perk up.

We do not expect to see an RF version of the SIGMA 800mm f/6.3 DG DN OS.

Canon has two 800mm options in their lineup, the RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM and the RF 200-800 f/6.3 IS USM. Both are great options, but something in the middle price wise would probably be a welcomed addition to the RF lineup.

Sony is getting into the 800mm game shortly with an FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8.0 G series lens. It's rumored to be around €3500.

Source: Mirrorless Rumors

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ByCraig Blair

Craig is the founder and editorial director for Canon Rumors. He has been writing about all things Canon for more than 17 years. When he's not writing, you can find him shooting professional basketball and travelling the world looking for the next wildlife adventure. The Canon EOS R1 is his camera of choice.

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16 comments

Walrus

February 4, 2025 at 4:30 pm

Canon has two 800mm options in their lineup, the RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM and the RF 200-800 f/6.3 IS USM. Both are great options, but something in the middle price wise would probably be a welcomed addition to the RF lineup.

What about the RF 800mm F11 IS STM?
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[email protected]

February 4, 2025 at 8:29 pm

I'd take an EF variant and slap a filter adapter on it... if the IQ better than the RF 800 f/5.6, and it was a good deal. Because the RF 800 f/5.6 essentially incorporates both an adapter and an internal TC, perhaps there's room to improve on it. Then again, Sigma never quite reached Canon IQ past a couple hundred mm.
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wilsberg

February 4, 2025 at 9:06 pm

The RF 200-800 f/6.3 IS USM is a RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. 6.3 is only at the short end.
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frankchn

February 4, 2025 at 10:36 pm

It will be interesting to see if they managed to get it to the same weight/size as the Nikon 800mm f/6.3 PF without using PF/DO elements. They managed it with the Sigma 500/5.6 (vs the Nikon 500/5.6 PF).
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Swissbob

February 4, 2025 at 11:08 pm

I guess this Lens will be perfect for Sony Users.
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AlanF

February 4, 2025 at 11:18 pm

I guess this Lens will be perfect for Sony Users.
Not perfect. Sony limits such third party lenses to 15 fps and to be incompatible with TCs. The Sony folks complain.
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Swissbob

February 4, 2025 at 11:35 pm

Not perfect. Sony limits such third party lenses to 15 fps and to be incompatible with TCs. The Sony folks complain.

That‘s good to know. Thank you very much 👍
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classie787

February 5, 2025 at 12:34 am

But if it won't be available in Canon mount, and Nikon already has an affordable 800/6.3 (excellent condition copies under $4500), I'm kind of confused why Sigma would even bother? I might be interested in a Canon RF mount, seeing as how my EF 800/5.6 weighs as much as a minivan, but that doesn't seem too likely.
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frankchn

February 5, 2025 at 5:51 am

But if it won't be available in Canon mount, and Nikon already has an affordable 800/6.3 (excellent condition copies under $4500), I'm kind of confused why Sigma would even bother? I might be interested in a Canon RF mount, seeing as how my EF 800/5.6 weighs as much as a minivan, but that doesn't seem too likely.
Sony doesn’t have anything modern at 800mm (until the leaked 400-800G is released).

I bet it will also be cheaper than the Nikon new and I don’t think it is fair to compare new to used since this will come down in price when it hits the used market too. The Nikon F 500/5.6 PF launched at $3600 while the Sigma 500/5.6 launched at $3000.
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Bob Howland

February 5, 2025 at 12:17 pm

Thanks Sigma, but I think I'll stick with my 150-600 and R7.
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SNJ Ops

February 5, 2025 at 1:17 pm

But if it won't be available in Canon mount, and Nikon already has an affordable 800/6.3 (excellent condition copies under $4500), I'm kind of confused why Sigma would even bother? I might be interested in a Canon RF mount, seeing as how my EF 800/5.6 weighs as much as a minivan, but that doesn't seem too likely.
I won't be available on Z mount either, Sigma's FF mirrorless lenses to date have only been for E and L mount. At the moment there is no 800mm prime available for E mount so this would be more than welcome. I suspect/hope Sony will make an 800mm f5.6 or f6.3 GM at some point.
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Adam Shutter Bug

February 11, 2025 at 12:29 pm

Have been using the Sigma 150-600 for years and never better than on RF. recently though invested in an EF Sigma 800mm f/5.6 great condition for £1400. Motor a little noisy but great optically and a great value proposition.
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AlanF

February 11, 2025 at 1:14 pm

Have been using the Sigma 150-600 for years and never better than on RF. recently though invested in an EF Sigma 800mm f/5.6 great condition for £1400. Motor a little noisy but great optically and a great value proposition.
I had a great copy of the Sigma 150-600, extremely sharp. However, its AF on the R5 was slow and I reluctantly let it go.
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Adam Shutter Bug

February 11, 2025 at 1:53 pm

I had a great copy of the Sigma 150-600, extremely sharp. However, its AF on the R5 was slow and I reluctantly let it go.
The issue is the Sigma lenses are great but you have to have the right shot. Unlike other manufacturers they haven’t focused on going lighter and they are big bits of glass. Problem being bit glass take a lot of moving
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Del Paso

February 11, 2025 at 6:09 pm

I won't be available on Z mount either, Sigma's FF mirrorless lenses to date have only been for E and L mount. At the moment there is no 800mm prime available for E mount so this would be more than welcome. I suspect/hope Sony will make an 800mm f5.6 or f6.3 GM at some point.
Vengeance because Nikon is using many Tamron lenses as OEM Z lenses? 😉
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mimbu

February 25, 2025 at 4:18 am

So, it looks like this rumor was wrong and it was a 300-600/4 lens! And what a lens it is. $6k! Half the price of the "big boy" 600/4 primes.

So...will this ever come to RF? Or Z? I have no doubt Sigma would love to sell this lens on those mounts. Will Canon or Nikon allow it? I think....probably not.
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