Sigma Brings Its 18.8x 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 Zoom to Nikon Z for $769

Sigma has announced a Nikon Z mount version of its 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary, an all-in-one zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras with an approximately 18.8x zoom ratio, going on sale November 5 for $769.

The lens first came out in 2025 for L-Mount, Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X mount, and Canon RF mount, and Nikon Z now joins that list as its fifth mount. Sigma makes the Nikon Z version under a license agreement with Nikon. By Sigma's count as of September 2026, the 18.8x zoom ratio is a first among autofocus interchangeable lenses for mirrorless cameras. The range runs from 16mm at the wide end, which Sigma pitches for landscapes and interiors, to 300mm at the long end for sports, wildlife, and aviation.

Close Focus Down to 1:2 at 70mm

At 70mm, the lens reaches a maximum magnification of 1:2, half life-size, which Sigma pitches for flowers, insects, and other small subjects. Maximum magnification is 1:3 at the wide end and 1:4 at the telephoto end.

Autofocus and Stabilization

Focusing runs on Sigma's HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motor, which moves two internal glass elements at the same time to speed up autofocus. Stabilization uses Sigma's OS2 algorithm, which the company says draws on the technology in its Sports line super-telephoto lenses. Sigma says it lets you shoot handheld without a tripod across the full zoom range, though the announcement does not give a rating in stops.

Optics and Video

Sigma says the optical design corrects aberrations across the whole zoom and focus range, and that it measured light incidence under different shooting conditions and used simulation to improve resistance to flare and ghosting. The lens is also designed to suppress focus breathing, keeping framing changes to a minimum as you shift focus anywhere in the zoom range. Sigma aims that at video and at focus stacking, where every frame needs the same framing.

Key Specs

• Focal length: 16-300mm
• Maximum aperture: f/3.5-6.7
• Zoom ratio: approximately 18.8x
• Format: APS-C mirrorless
• Maximum magnification: 1:3 at 16mm, 1:2 at 70mm, 1:4 at 300mm
• Autofocus motor: HLA (High-response Linear Actuator), moving two focus elements
• Stabilization: OS2 optical stabilization
• Focus breathing: suppressed by design
• Mounts: Nikon Z (new), L-Mount, Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon RF

Who It's For

If you shoot a Nikon APS-C body and want one lens for travel, the 16-300mm covers wide landscapes, interiors, close-ups at 1:2, and distant wildlife without a lens change, and the suppressed breathing makes it a reasonable choice for video. On Nikon's 1.5x APS-C sensors, that range works out to roughly 24-450mm in full frame terms. At the long end, though, the f/6.7 maximum aperture means higher ISOs or slower shutter speeds in dim conditions, so indoor sports, evening events, and fast action in poor light are better served by a faster telephoto. That same aperture limits how much you can blur a background at a distance.

Price and Availability

The Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary (Nikon Z) is available for preorder for $769.