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Sigma

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

Sony E Mount

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary — 100–400mm f/5-6.3 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$949

Launch price

Released Jul 2020

vs

Sigma

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

Sony E Mount

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art — 50mm f/1.2 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sigma lineup.

$1,499

Launch price

Released May 2021

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art is 10 months newer.

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Wins

2categories

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

WildlifeVideo & Hybrid

Wins

5categories

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary wins 2 categories·50mm F1.2 DG DN Art wins 3 categories
  • A100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • B50mm F1.2 DG DN Art has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/6.3)
  • B50mm F1.2 DG DN Art has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/5)
  • A100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary has higher Max magnification (0.25 × vs 0.15 ×)
  • B50mm F1.2 DG DN Art has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 38 cm)

Key specs at a glance

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Focal Length100-400 mm50 mm
Max Aperturef/5-6.3f/1.2
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5 stopsNo
Weight1140 g946 g
Min Focus38 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm77 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use case100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Portrait
5.5Fair
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
7.0Good
4.5Fair
Landscape
3.0Limited
4.0Fair
Travel
5.0Fair
2.0Limited
Wildlife
9.5Excellent
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
3.5Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

  • OIS effectiveness

    5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.25 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/5 — lower is better

  • Special elements

    Adds ED

  • Custom function button

    Only 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art supports it

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    946 g vs 1140 g — lower is better

  • Length

    182 mm vs 210 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Diameter

Both 81 mm

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance

50mm F1.2 DG DN Art

Pros

  • Bright f/1.2 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary and 50mm F1.2 DG DN Art at major authorized retailers.

Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

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Full specifications

= category winner

100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Focal length (Min)
100 mm
50 mm
Focal length (Max)
400 mm
50 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/5
f/1.2+4.1 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/6.3
f/1.2+4.8 stops wider
Elements
23
14
Groups
17
11
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical, ED
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Min focus distance
38 cm
30 cm−8 cm less
Max magnification
0.25 ×+67%
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5 stops
0 stops
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Weight
1140 g
946 g−194 g less
Length
210 mm
182 mm−28 mm less
Diameter
81 mm
81 mm
Filter thread size
77 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
50mm F1.2 DG DN Art
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.