SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary for Nikon Z Mount Announced – 18.8x Zoom Ratio, 1:2 Magnification, 6-Stop OS

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by Johnnie BehiriToday

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SIGMA is bringing the 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary to Nikon Z mount, giving APS-C Z shooters a stabilized 24-450mm equivalent all-in-one zoom that weighs 630g / 22.2oz and reaches 1:2 magnification at 70mm. The Z version gets its own control algorithm for AF drive and lens communication plus a rubber-sealed mount, and it costs $769.

The lens itself is not new. We covered the original SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary announcement in early 2025, when it launched for L-Mount, Sony E, FUJIFILM X, and Canon RF. Nikon users had to wait. SIGMA entered the Z system with the 16mm, 30mm, and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary primes, whose development we reported from CP+ in 2023. Like those primes, the new version is developed, manufactured, and sold under a license agreement with Nikon.

What is different on the Z mount version?

The optics are unchanged, so the work went into the electronics. According to SIGMA, the company developed a control algorithm specifically for Z mount lenses that optimizes AF drive and communication speed. The lens supports AF-C and in-camera aberration correction, the latter limited to what the camera body offers.

The mount carries a rubber seal. That comes on top of the dust- and splash-resistant structure of the barrel and the water- and oil-repellent coating on the front element, both shared with the other versions.

Physically, this is the longest and heaviest of the five mounts. It measures 73.8 x 125.4mm / 2.9 x 4.9in and weighs 630g / 22.2oz, compared to 121.4mm / 4.8in and 615g / 21.7oz for the L-Mount lens. The filter thread stays at 67mm.

Optical design and close focus

Inside are 20 elements in 14 groups, including one FLD, four SLD, and four aspherical elements. The diaphragm has nine rounded blades, and the minimum aperture runs from f/22 at the wide end to f/45 at the long end. On Nikon’s 1.5x crop, the angle of view spans 83.2° to 5.4°, which translates to roughly 24-450mm in full-frame terms.

SIGMA calls the 18.8x ratio a world first for an autofocus lens made for mirrorless cameras, based on its own research as of September 2026. The price for that range is speed, with a maximum aperture of f/6.7 at 300mm.

Close focus is the more useful number for video work. Minimum focusing distance is 17cm / 6.7in at 16mm and 105cm / 41.4in at 300mm. Maximum magnification is 1:2 at 70mm, and SIGMA’s product page lists 1:3 at the wide end and 1:4 at the telephoto end. That covers product inserts and detail shots without a lens change.

Stabilization on bodies without IBIS

The optical stabilizer uses SIGMA’s OS2 algorithm and is rated at 6 stops at 16mm and 4.5 stops at 300mm, measured to CIPA guidelines. Nikon’s current APS-C Z cameras (the Z50II, Z fc, and Z30) have no in-body stabilization, so the lens does all of the optical work on those bodies.

Autofocus is driven by the HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motor, which moves the focus group directly without gears. SIGMA also states that focus breathing is suppressed across the zoom range. We have not tested the Z version, so how the new control algorithm behaves with Nikon’s subject tracking in video remains to be seen.

Focusing is internal, but zooming is not. The barrel extends toward 300mm, which shifts the balance point on a gimbal. A zoom lock switch holds the lens at 16mm for transport.

How does it compare to other Z mount all-in-one zooms?

Nikon’s own NIKKOR Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR weighs half as much at 315g / 11.1oz, but it starts at a 27mm equivalent and stops at 210mm. Tamron’s 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD, also available for Z mount, matches the long end and is marginally faster there at f/6.3, with the same 27mm equivalent wide end. The SIGMA is the only one of the three that opens at a 24mm equivalent.

One more note for Nikon shooters: the SIGMA 50-120mm f/2.8 DC OS Contemporary announced alongside this mount addition is not available for Z mount at launch.

Price and availability

The SIGMA 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary for Nikon Z mount costs $769 in the US and £599 in the UK, and it will be available from November 5, 2026. A pouch, the LH706-03 petal-type hood, and front and rear caps are included. For more information, please visit the SIGMA website.

Do you shoot on a Nikon Z APS-C body, and would an 18.8x zoom earn a place in your bag? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!