Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Evaluate for Sony E-Mount Cameras

The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is a fundamental all-around performer. Touted because the world’s smallest 28-70mm f/2.8 lens, you realize it’s going to be light-weight and compact. 

Past that, it’s not a very spectacular lens in anybody factor however does many issues very properly. Many trendy lenses are nice general performers and that is no exception.

The compact measurement is unquestionably noteworthy. I’ve used plenty of 24-70mm focal size lenses and so they’re at all times too cumbersome for me. Nonetheless, beginning at 28mm as an alternative of 24mm is a sacrifice because it means it’s a must to commerce weight for 4mm of focal vary.

Some will argue however I believe the distinction between 24mm and 28mm is noticeable.

This lens is for anybody who shoots fast-moving topics, needs the flexibleness of a zoom lens, and is prepared to commerce focal size for measurement. Learn on to take a look at my Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 DG DN assessment.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Evaluate Specs

• Sony E-Mount/Full Body Lens
• Aperture Vary: f/2.8 – f/22
• Minimal Focus Distance: 7.5″ / 19 cm
• Weight: 16.6 oz / 470 g
• Size: 4″ / 101 mm
• Diameter: 2.8″ / 72 mm
• Filter measurement: 67 mm
• Picture Stabilization: None
• Focus Kind: Autofocus
• Optical Design: 16 parts in 12 Teams
• Most magnification ratio: 1:4.6

Construct & Ergonomics

The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 claims to be the “world’s smallest” 28-70, however in actuality, Tamron is almost an identical and contains 28-75mm giving it a barely higher vary.

That mentioned, the dealing with of the Sigma is sweet – a lot better than the Tamron 28-75.

The construct high quality can also be good. It’s plastic, a budget-friendly lens, so simply don’t drop it.

It does have a steel mount. The physique and lens mount should not climate sealed which is one thing to pay attention to as nicely. Normally, this doesn’t concern me – you simply must watch out to not get water within the lens mount the place it touches the digicam physique since that’s the place it’s almost definitely to be dangerous.

Usually, I like sturdy gear that I don’t have to fret about breaking or about it slowing me down. Nonetheless, I additionally like budget-friendly and compact gear so it’s nearly weighing the variables once I can’t have all of it.

The guide focus ring and zoom ring really feel agency on the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8. There’s no want for a lock swap: the lens barrel gained’t slide open when hanging from a digicam strap.

It’s good to not have to fret concerning the barrel extending if you don’t intend it to, akin to whereas it’s merely hanging round your neck.

Even with out plenty of the exterior lens options, the trendy Sony our bodies have customized buttons that may be programmed in-camera to do issues like direct guide focus.

Moreover, with the intention to obtain a light-weight lens rating, it’s a clear and easy design with simply an auto/guide focus swap. There’s no stabilization, focus maintain button, variable aperture ring, etcetera – options extra usually current on costlier Sony lenses.

This lens is naked bones for the focal size vary and balances properly on the 650g A7 IV Sony digicam. In contrast with the Sigma Artwork lens I as soon as used, this can be a feather!

Lastly, this lens additionally comes with a pleasant lens hood that protects the entrance ingredient.

Focus Efficiency

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/1600 f/4 ISO 100

The main focus efficiency of the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is sweet. It’s snappy, correct, easy, and tracks nicely.

You want one thing sooner than f/2.8 in actually darkish conditions however for taking pictures outdoors throughout daylight, I discovered the main target efficiency to be strong.

Total the main target is healthier than Tamron and nearly as good as a Sigma 24-70mm customary zoom lens. In order for you a light-weight customary zoom lens, this can be a nice choice.

Basically I didn’t have any points or issues when it got here to focusing – advances in expertise are making this part of my opinions quick and candy. I don’t lengthy for the times once I needed to fear about discovering focus.

With this lens, you’ll discover a minimal quantity of focus respiration, however that’s widespread to many lenses. Some trendy Sony cameras with Sony lenses can compensate for this however it isn’t obtainable for this lens.

Picture High quality

With regards to picture high quality, you do make some sacrifices and compromises with the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8.

A compact lens that’s light-weight and cheaper means loss in nook sharpness and a few sub-optimal traits. I might say that the sharpness is enough for portraits however that it’s not so sharp for landscapes and the like the place you need assured full body nook sharpness.

Bokeh is okay, about nearly as good as you’ll anticipate from a zoom lens with rounded aperture blades. That’s to say that it’s not as lovely and spherical as prime lens and may end up in some rectangular shapes.

Should you actually need lovely bokeh it is best to take a look at an f/1.8  most aperture or decrease prime lenses with an extended focal size like 85mm.

The utmost aperture of f/2.8 on this lens is sweet however not distinctive for low-light conditions. 

The lens additionally creates some vignetting on the large finish which, whereas correctable for photographs, shouldn’t be correctable for video.

Typically the vignetting is sweet so you’ll be able to simply embrace it. Nonetheless, when my intention is a pleasant clear sky throughout the highest of the picture, the vignette will be distracting and a irritating factor to not be capable of management.

The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 creates some barrel distortion however that’s usually correctable for photographs. As with vignetting, the barrel distortion isn’t correctable in video – however on this case, I really feel prefer it’s not as noticeable as a result of the image is transferring anyway. It’s much less evident on the telephoto finish of the zoom vary.

Ghosting and chromatic aberrations are fairly nicely managed, and it looks as if the optical development of this lens is top quality – one thing it is best to anticipate in a Sigma lens.

The chromatic aberrations are particularly nicely managed on the large finish and I don’t anticipate anybody besides essentially the most aggressive pixel peepers to have issues.

Primarily based on an absence of crispness when taking pictures into the solar and fewer than lovely lens flare, this isn’t the most effective lens for taking pictures backlit or into the solar. I do love lovely backlight and so it’s useful to grasp the constraints of my gear and know this lens gained’t create the impact I’m searching for.

Total, the picture high quality isn’t the place this lens excels and there’s nothing to wow me. The query is extra whether or not I can reside with the modest compromises and sacrifices.

I’ve my favourite lenses for bokeh or lens flare, and most different lenses together with this one gained’t stand an opportunity. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply the standard isn’t ample for different circumstances.

As I’ll focus on under, this lens is de facto about making the most effective mixture of value and high quality. Should you merely needed to have the most effective full-stop, I’d shrink back from third-party lenses and go together with the native Sony lenses. However in fact, nearly everybody should contemplate value and worth in the case of digicam gear.

With that in thoughts, this DN up to date lens could be very good.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Pattern Pictures

Listed here are some pattern photos taken with the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN, utilizing a Sony A7 IV.

Uncooked photos had been processed calmly and exported for internet decision. In-camera jpg photos additionally look nice however I desire the flexibleness of uncooked information.

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/4000 f/2.8 ISO 100

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/2500 f/2.8 ISO 200

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/3200 f/2.8 ISO 400

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/1000 f/2.8 ISO 100

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/40 f/10 ISO 1250

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/4000 f/2.8 ISO 100

Sony A7 IV + Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN | 1/1600 f/4 ISO 100

Options to the Sigma 28-70mm lens

Sony A7S III with Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN

With regards to alternate options on this mid-range zoom lens class, you might contemplate the costlier Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8. It’s round US$1,050 whereas the 28-70mm is round US$800. The Sigma 24-70 is a pleasant lens on condition that additional focal size, although it’s also heavier.

Alternatively, you might take a look at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. It’s priced comparatively at round US$830. For me, the reversed zoom and focus rings by no means felt proper and the autofocus is meh.

If funds isn’t a priority and you may justify the worth tag, there are higher-quality mid-range zoom lenses on the market. In any other case, on this value vary, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is a strong decide.

This and another Sigma lenses additionally are available in an L mount model for a Leica or Panasonic full body digicam, though I think the L mount performs practically identically to the Sony mount.

Sony E mount our bodies are so cheap it’s onerous to image getting a unique model of this lens.

What are the most effective Sony e-mount lenses?

Worth for Cash

Sony A7S III with Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN lens

For the $800 price ticket, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is a flexible and strong lens. It’s not the head of efficiency however undoubtedly a workhorse, and it’s realistically the most effective deal on the market for a mid-range zoom if you happen to don’t want the additional 4mm of the 24-70.

Basically, I might say that this can be a nice introductory lens and means higher than any equipment lens you’ll get. It might not be the most effective lens available on the market however I actually don’t hesitate to depend on it.

Typically our consideration to element as photographers makes us extraordinarily choosy about issues that many purchasers wouldn’t even discover or care about which is why it may be onerous to justify an even bigger price ticket on a higher-quality lens after we’re attempting to make sure profitability.

Gear isn’t at all times a easy matter of selecting the most effective of the most effective, it may be a enterprise determination too. And from a enterprise perspective, an reasonably priced, versatile, dependable lens that helps me accomplish what I would like to perform whereas simplifying my work has plenty of worth.

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Evaluate | Conclusion

I get pleasure from this lens. Typically, I’m an enormous fan of primes however I went for this lens as a result of it’s so compact, light-weight, and versatile. Should you learn my opinions you’ll know I’m a sucker for compact and light-weight basically.

For video shoots, this lens is quick to work with as an alternative of continually altering lenses. I actually preferred the number of pictures you will get in a brief time period.

I particularly prefer it for taking pictures weddings in tight areas – it’s on a fast-paced however extraordinarily lengthy day the place this lens actually shines.

As a fundamental, compact zoom lens, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is a pleasant versatile choice for getting the job completed with out breaking the financial institution.