My Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 review - a fast walkaround zoom at an affordable price Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/3dEhv6B // WEX: tidd.ly/37IG8Ln Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN sample images: www.cameralabs.com/sigma-28-70mm-f2-8-dg-dn-review/ #sigma #28-70mm #f2.8
Yep, this lens rocks. I use it on my Sony a7c and have zero complaints. Images are just delish, extremely sharp, excellent bokeh. It's slowly becoming my EDC. Thanks for another efficient, pragmatic, checking-all-boxes review with your signature soundtrack. 🎉
This lens has very pleasing image quality and the size is closer a Micro Four Thirds f/2.8 zoom than a typical full-frame f/2.8, even f/4, zoom. I'm finding myself using it in casual situations where I might have used a prime or a kit zoom before. I understand that this is probably not the best standard zoom for professional use, but these days, you could easily justify replacing a f/2.8 trio with something like a 16-35mm f/2.8 + 35-150mm f/2-2.8 duo, so the standard zoom is not even necessary for professional use, so we could easily consider a more casual alternative.
100% agree! Been trying to justify this lens to myself as a B-cam lens just so I can buy it for my general walk around lens rather than my Sigma 24-70mm f2.8...
thanks for the review, excellent compact zoom! As a general purpose zoom/travel/landscape zoom I prefer a 24-70 f4 but for low light situations like events this is a great option....
Thank you as always for your excellent review. I’ve decided to give this a try and bought a nicely priced used one to pair with the A7C in a small kit. If and when I think I need wide I can use it along side my FE 20/1.8 or Loxia 21/2.8 and still have a kit lighter than my FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM on my larger 4th gen bodies like the A1 and A7R IV.
nice to see steven seagull again :) nice review Gordon - looks a nice viable alternative to the tamron as a travel fast zoom. Sony E mount has a huge lens selection now, lets hope it makes it's way to nikon Z and canon RF to give those owners good alternatives too which would only be good for the industry as a whole!
On a single lens choice I’d prefer having 24mm. Above all I would choose quality over range and size when it comes to 2.8 zoom. I am a bit surprised with regard to vignetting and soft corners. Curious to see comparison with Tamron. Thanks
The Tamron maybe is a better overall value. Sigma looks sexier but it may be a dust pump. 28-70 2.8 is great for events and lifestyle, but it is nice to have 24 mm. Although now Lightroom is great at stitching photos that the need for ultra wides and wides is less stringent. But price should be below the Tamron to be competitive. The Tamron hopefully will lower in price because of this.
I think that a 24-60 would be bigger and pricier than a 28-70, but I agree, the range would be lovely. Like that Lumix 20-60 is a perfect range BUT the compromise is the dimmer aperture.
@@kifley19 I like that range.. but 5mm less at the telephoto end isn't going to make it much smaller.. If quality was the only factor the original was already great, but if they just wanted to beat Tamron at size they could have gone 24-60mm or 24-55mm to have leeway to make it small.. & peoole get to choose whether thry want the wide end or the low end of the standard zoom.
I wish it was fully weather sealed like the Tamron version of this lens. Would’ve made for a good pairing for my S5 like my A7RIV and the 28-75! I do go in full rain often so sadly it seems this won’t do for me :(
I have this lens and this review is a fare assessment of it. I will probably in the future go for a 17-28 if sigma make one for l mount . I actually prefer just using compact 35 and 50mm f1.8 primes in this focal range and will probably sell this zoom once more l mount lenses become available great review as always.
Thanks for the review! Using the a7c, it is a great system with this lens, however I noticed the same issue you have noted - where the Eye AF @ f2.8 misses the eyes exactly, on a rough 50% of my shots. (A little more often on the longer end than wider) I hope Sony's able to fine tune this issue through a firmware update as the lens is perfectly weighted and encourages me to bring it out on my a7c alot more often!
24mm would be nice, but heavy and big Zooms were not my cup of tea anymore. I've owned the tamron 28-75, but also that was too big for me, the sigma might be the right choice, testet it in a shop and found the size of it very nice! Now I have to decide, if I want to buy it or use my 35 primes instead and my feet for zooming.
I also bought a Nikon z5, after 5 years shooting with Sony (kept my Sony apse cameras with 16-55 and sigma primes). You can find the Nikon 24-70 f4 refurbished or used like new for half price and it is really good. 28-70 2.8 is great for events and lifestyle, but it is nice to have 24 mm. Although now Lightroom is great at stitching photos that the need for ultra wides and wides is less stringent
How many of these are there ?! I like my lens but none of these looks like it ?! Using it with my Canon 50ii (Mark 2) and a 100 stop ND for SeaScapes ! But this is a Good versatile Lens !!! 👌 👌
Can you do a review comparing it with the Lumix 24-105 f4? This is the one I use with the Sigma fp but am very tempted by a lighter lens. What are your thoughts.Thanks
It would be interesting but I fear it would have very limited appeal as a video, so wouldn't justify the work that would go into it. Each of my videos takes 1-2 weeks to test, film and edit, so they need to provide 1-2 week's worth of income as this is my only job. So I have to be mindful about the reviews I undertake.
do you think it's too heavy to be on my camera all day during travel? I dunno whether to go for sony 28-60mm kit lens for the lightness or this sigma 28-70mm for the bokeh... (i shoot mostly video)
@@odohayo9140 I’m finding there are some great used deals on Z lenses and if you truly believe they will survive as I do then now is the time to grab them. The 24-70mm f4 being a case in point.
Enjoyed this video Gordon because I'm a big fan of Sigma lenses I started using them back in the early 80s on my Minolta xd11 camera and I still use them to this day I currently have one on my Canon T2i I believe it is a 28 - 300 mm lens it takes wonderful images. I can live with its little quirks. I believe they're good quality for the money. How about Tamron lenses I use them also Gordon.. take care Gordon be safe.
Great video, as always Gordon! Another great lens from Sigma... today, we're really spoiled for choice. I have a question though, when you take the shots to analyze the sharpness at the closest distance, do you take into account field curvature? The distance to the sensor from the plane of focus (or the element in which you choose to focus) is different at the center than at the extreme sides of the field of view, so when shooting wide open and so close, if the lens is not corrected for this, the plane of focus (being so thin in this conditions) will curve leaving the extreme sides of the image, that are following a flat surface in this case, out of focus. To test edge sharpness I always focus on the edge, otherwise field-curvature needs to be taken into account. The lens might be sharp in the edges but if the lens is not corrected for field-curvature, it won't matter when shooting because the plane of focus will curve leaving subjects that are in the same plane as those in the center of the frame, out of focus. Anyway, sorry for the rant, just wanted to know a little bit more about your process when you film these amazing reviews. Keep up the good work, greetings from Edinburgh!
there's two ways to test and ideally you'd do both. One focuses in the middle so will reveal field curvature and the other is where you measure edge / corner sharpness by actually placing the focus area there. I tend to do the former, but in the written reviews at cameralabs.com myself or Thomas sometimes do the other. This particular lens was focused in the middle.
This lens makes makes sense in L mount as Panasonic is about to bring out its 24mm f1.8 prime, to go with its 85mm f1.8. This zoom drops in between the 2 perfectly. Sigma and Panasonic are getting their heads together!
I bought the Sigma 28-70 for the L mount and and i am dissapointed, dark corners, focus breathing, so much hunting in low light, it's inferior to the Panasonic 20-60 that my Panasonic S5 came with. Could be a problem with software integration betwen the lens and the camera, but until it's resolved, this lens will continue to disappoint
Sounds like a firmware update is required to perform the required lens corrections. Dark corners are normal on brighter lenses though at their maximum apertures.
@@dalziel7864 Hi! Can you confirm if focus breathing, vignetting wide open, and focus hunting on the Sigma 28-70 are completely solved now with the new firmware?
Hi, I've been subscribed to your channel for a long time and congratulations on the always very technical reviews. I own a Sony A7R IIIA and would like to get the sigma 28-70mm f / 2.8 dg dn c. Not being an ART series, the lens is able to "resolve" the 42 mpx sensor in terms of sharpness and detail? Thanks.
I'll be frank, I really don't get the point of this lens, I own the Tamron equivalent which mentioned is in the same ballpark for price weight and size but with slightly better advertised sealing. The AF/MF switch seems to be the only physical difference. I guess I'm price insensitive but the extra 200-300 dollars/pounds for the 24-70 seems like a good value if you ask me.
Tamron is 15% longer and heavier. Might be no biggie, but on my A7C MK2 it's quite a difference. While Sigma is right on the edge of being comfortable and useable, Tamron feels very chonky, IMO.
What does this offer over the Tamron 2875F2.8? Sigma should had launched a 2460F2.8 instead to differentiate from the proven Tamron, which has weather proofing.
@@cameralabs I have been using the Sony Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70mm f4 for a number of years now and it has given me great service since 2014. It the lens I use most on my A6400, sometime even on my A7r2 although on this camera I prefer the 24-105 f4 FF. for longer reach. Surely they can make a better version of the 16-70mm nowadays with out being fixated by a wider f stop!!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #1 НАЧАЛО ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ [Новый сезон] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/380Q7gLWGvk/mqdefault.jpg)
My Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 review - a fast walkaround zoom at an affordable price
Check price at B&H: bhpho.to/3dEhv6B // WEX: tidd.ly/37IG8Ln
Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs
Gordon's In Camera book at Amazon: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ
Like Cameralabs? Get the merch: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop
Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN sample images: www.cameralabs.com/sigma-28-70mm-f2-8-dg-dn-review/
#sigma #28-70mm #f2.8
Yep, this lens rocks. I use it on my Sony a7c and have zero complaints. Images are just delish, extremely sharp, excellent bokeh. It's slowly becoming my EDC. Thanks for another efficient, pragmatic, checking-all-boxes review with your signature soundtrack. 🎉
This lens has very pleasing image quality and the size is closer a Micro Four Thirds f/2.8 zoom than a typical full-frame f/2.8, even f/4, zoom. I'm finding myself using it in casual situations where I might have used a prime or a kit zoom before. I understand that this is probably not the best standard zoom for professional use, but these days, you could easily justify replacing a f/2.8 trio with something like a 16-35mm f/2.8 + 35-150mm f/2-2.8 duo, so the standard zoom is not even necessary for professional use, so we could easily consider a more casual alternative.
100% agree! Been trying to justify this lens to myself as a B-cam lens just so I can buy it for my general walk around lens rather than my Sigma 24-70mm f2.8...
thanks for the review, excellent compact zoom! As a general purpose zoom/travel/landscape zoom I prefer a 24-70 f4 but for low light situations like events this is a great option....
I think the price difference between this and Sigma's 24-70mm is almost insignificant, the real reason to get this lens is the size/weight
Thank you as always for your excellent review. I’ve decided to give this a try and bought a nicely priced used one to pair with the A7C in a small kit. If and when I think I need wide I can use it along side my FE 20/1.8 or Loxia 21/2.8 and still have a kit lighter than my FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM on my larger 4th gen bodies like the A1 and A7R IV.
I hope sigma will also compete agains the 28-200 from tamron.
nice to see steven seagull again :)
nice review Gordon - looks a nice viable alternative to the tamron as a travel fast zoom.
Sony E mount has a huge lens selection now, lets hope it makes it's way to nikon Z and canon RF to give those owners good alternatives too which would only be good for the industry as a whole!
On a single lens choice I’d prefer having 24mm. Above all I would choose quality over range and size when it comes to 2.8 zoom. I am a bit surprised with regard to vignetting and soft corners. Curious to see comparison with Tamron. Thanks
I like its size and weight much more over 24mm. In fact, personally I like 28mm more than 24mm.
The Tamron maybe is a better overall value. Sigma looks sexier but it may be a dust pump.
28-70 2.8 is great for events and lifestyle, but it is nice to have 24 mm. Although now Lightroom is great at stitching photos that the need for ultra wides and wides is less stringent. But price should be below the Tamron to be competitive. The Tamron hopefully will lower in price because of this.
Would have been preferred even 24-60 mm over 28-whatever... but hey. Also, first... on to the review.
I think that a 24-60 would be bigger and pricier than a 28-70, but I agree, the range would be lovely. Like that Lumix 20-60 is a perfect range BUT the compromise is the dimmer aperture.
24-65mm 2.8
@@kifley19 I like that range.. but 5mm less at the telephoto end isn't going to make it much smaller..
If quality was the only factor the original was already great, but if they just wanted to beat Tamron at size they could have gone 24-60mm or 24-55mm to have leeway to make it small.. & peoole get to choose whether thry want the wide end or the low end of the standard zoom.
I wish it was fully weather sealed like the Tamron version of this lens. Would’ve made for a good pairing for my S5 like my A7RIV and the 28-75! I do go in full rain often so sadly it seems this won’t do for me :(
I have this lens and this review is a fare assessment of it. I will probably in the future go for a 17-28 if sigma make one for l mount . I actually prefer just using compact 35 and 50mm f1.8 primes in this focal range and will probably sell this zoom once more l mount lenses become available great review as always.
I'm worried about dust getting into the lens. I don't get why they cheap out on that. The 24-70mm 2.8 has an issue with dust as well.
Thanks Gordon. As always you make the most usefull reviews. For me the most important part is always the autofocus performance especially in Video.
Thank you sooo much for this video. I'm thinking about getting this lens when it drop
Thanks for the review!
Using the a7c, it is a great system with this lens, however I noticed the same issue you have noted
- where the Eye AF @ f2.8 misses the eyes exactly, on a rough 50% of my shots.
(A little more often on the longer end than wider)
I hope Sony's able to fine tune this issue through a firmware update as the lens is perfectly weighted and encourages me to bring it out on my a7c alot more often!
It's a no no I miss 24 mm in Tamron so much that I regret some time
These lenses will suck in dust like no tomorrow. I like the size but these lenses won't last long until you have to send it in and get it cleaned.
Got it for a month already, zero dust. And I bought it used as well.
Thanks for reviews. Waiting for comparison with Tamron!
Great review, 4mm makes a huge difference, I can add the 17-28 with little weight penalty compared to the 24-70 art
Exactly, my point was while it's nice to have 24 in a general zoom it may be nicer still to have it as part of an even wider zoom.
Confused between tamron 28-75 g2 and this one… does it get soft after 50mm especially at 70mm? A lot of reviews say that.
Everything I know about the Sigma is in this review. My friend reviewed the Tamron at www.cameralabs.com/tamron-28-75mm-f2-8-di-iii-g2-review/
24mm would be nice, but heavy and big Zooms were not my cup of tea anymore. I've owned the tamron 28-75, but also that was too big for me, the sigma might be the right choice, testet it in a shop and found the size of it very nice! Now I have to decide, if I want to buy it or use my 35 primes instead and my feet for zooming.
Thanks. That was the most comprehensive review of the lens for me.
You're welcome!
Thanks for the review. But I think I wait to see how much dust this lens will collect, otherwise this could be a good lens for a Sony A7C.
Yes, I think it would be a great match for the A7C
Yea thats exactly what I am looking for - a great compact lense for my new A7C.
My thought exactly!!!
@@cameralabs hi, what about Sony A7iii?? Thanks
I hope it doesn’t collect too much dust. I’m gonna get it due to size
Do you think this would be a good choice over the new Tamron G2? I like that it's not as heavy!
Not sure as I've not tested the new Tamron myself, but my friend tests a lot of lenses on my website at cameralabs.com which you may find useful.
评测非常中肯，很小巧的入门级变焦，旅行的话24-105或许才是最佳选择。
looks great, i judt dropped a solid bit on a Z5 and it's 24-50 kit, think the 28-70 sigma would compliment it?
It'd be perfect - if they made it in Z mount!
I also bought a Nikon z5, after 5 years shooting with Sony (kept my Sony apse cameras with 16-55 and sigma primes). You can find the Nikon 24-70 f4 refurbished or used like new for half price and it is really good. 28-70 2.8 is great for events and lifestyle, but it is nice to have 24 mm. Although now Lightroom is great at stitching photos that the need for ultra wides and wides is less stringent
Great review... thanks as always!
Thanks!
Hi Gordon, is better choice the Tamron 28-200 or 28-75 than this Sigma?
What is it that you want?
@@cameralabs quality to make pro stuff in portrait, travel and some astrophotography
How many of these are there ?! I like my lens but none of these looks like it ?! Using it with my Canon 50ii (Mark 2) and a 100 stop ND for SeaScapes ! But this is a Good versatile Lens !!! 👌 👌
I am sorry, what?
Can you do a review comparing it with the Lumix 24-105 f4? This is the one I use with the Sigma fp but am very tempted by a lighter lens. What are your thoughts.Thanks
It would be interesting but I fear it would have very limited appeal as a video, so wouldn't justify the work that would go into it. Each of my videos takes 1-2 weeks to test, film and edit, so they need to provide 1-2 week's worth of income as this is my only job. So I have to be mindful about the reviews I undertake.
do you think it's too heavy to be on my camera all day during travel? I dunno whether to go for sony 28-60mm kit lens for the lightness or this sigma 28-70mm for the bokeh... (i shoot mostly video)
It's twice the weight but I'd,say still light and worth it
@@cameralabs Thanks!
Hope that this comes in the RF mount in the near future.
I hope they make all the DG DN lenses in RF and Z mount in the future!
Yeah, waiting badly 🙏🏻
@@cameralabs nikon is dead for a lot if people but if they focus on video first camera and good pricing they will win
@@odohayo9140 I’m finding there are some great used deals on Z lenses and if you truly believe they will survive as I do then now is the time to grab them. The 24-70mm f4 being a case in point.
@@kjltube if they focus in video they do with good pricing
Would you think this lens on an a7iii would outperform the sony G 16-55mm f2.8 on an apsc?
That's the big question, and without comparing them side-by-side, I can't say, sorry.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Does it changes focus when zooming
Enjoyed this video Gordon because I'm a big fan of Sigma lenses I started using them back in the early 80s on my Minolta xd11 camera and I still use them to this day I currently have one on my Canon T2i I believe it is a 28 - 300 mm lens it takes wonderful images. I can live with its little quirks. I believe they're good quality for the money. How about Tamron lenses I use them also Gordon.. take care Gordon be safe.
Thanks!
Great review as always!
Thanks!
Is this lens Parfocal?
Great video, as always Gordon! Another great lens from Sigma... today, we're really spoiled for choice. I have a question though, when you take the shots to analyze the sharpness at the closest distance, do you take into account field curvature? The distance to the sensor from the plane of focus (or the element in which you choose to focus) is different at the center than at the extreme sides of the field of view, so when shooting wide open and so close, if the lens is not corrected for this, the plane of focus (being so thin in this conditions) will curve leaving the extreme sides of the image, that are following a flat surface in this case, out of focus.
To test edge sharpness I always focus on the edge, otherwise field-curvature needs to be taken into account. The lens might be sharp in the edges but if the lens is not corrected for field-curvature, it won't matter when shooting because the plane of focus will curve leaving subjects that are in the same plane as those in the center of the frame, out of focus. Anyway, sorry for the rant, just wanted to know a little bit more about your process when you film these amazing reviews. Keep up the good work, greetings from Edinburgh!
there's two ways to test and ideally you'd do both. One focuses in the middle so will reveal field curvature and the other is where you measure edge / corner sharpness by actually placing the focus area there. I tend to do the former, but in the written reviews at cameralabs.com myself or Thomas sometimes do the other. This particular lens was focused in the middle.
@@cameralabs Thanks, great review once again :)
Anyone know how many FPS this does on electronic shutter for the A9? (Granted most of us will shoot it on single shot for travel)
I've not tried this exact lens for e bursts BUT other Sigma DG DN lenses fired at a max of 16fps on the A1. Not sure about the A9.,
When will the RF mount versions come? 👀😷
Keep calling Sigma!
@@cameralabs keep calling Canon to open their mount
@@onchky every time I see them, I ask.
Great review, thank You Gordon. Best regards, Kai the bee filmer :)
This lens makes makes sense in L mount as Panasonic is about to bring out its 24mm f1.8 prime, to go with its 85mm f1.8. This zoom drops in between the 2 perfectly.
Sigma and Panasonic are getting their heads together!
I bought the Sigma 28-70 for the L mount and and i am dissapointed, dark corners, focus breathing, so much hunting in low light, it's inferior to the Panasonic 20-60 that my Panasonic S5 came with. Could be a problem with software integration betwen the lens and the camera, but until it's resolved, this lens will continue to disappoint
Sounds like a firmware update is required to perform the required lens corrections. Dark corners are normal on brighter lenses though at their maximum apertures.
@@cameralabs you were right, Panasonic has released a new firmware and it seems to have fixed my complaints...thank youuuuuu
@@dalziel7864 excellent!
@@cameralabs i am impressed now..tested it and everything is better than Ok, i take back all my complaints..thanks again Gordon..you made my day.
@@dalziel7864 Hi! Can you confirm if focus breathing, vignetting wide open, and focus hunting on the Sigma 28-70 are completely solved now with the new firmware?
Hi, I've been subscribed to your channel for a long time and congratulations on the always very technical reviews. I own a Sony A7R IIIA and would like to get the sigma 28-70mm f / 2.8 dg dn c. Not being an ART series, the lens is able to "resolve" the 42 mpx sensor in terms of sharpness and detail? Thanks.
Yes, I'd say it's good enough.
Thank you Gordon for all your videos!
You;'re very welcome! Thanks for watching!
Does it have linear manual focus?
It does
is this Full frame lens or crop lens
Full frame, didn't I mention that near the start? PS - also Sigma's naming is that DG DN means full-frame mirrorless.
@@cameralabs Sorry i don't know much about sigma so i asked.
@@eternalslayer1141 no problem! In Sigma's series, DN means mirrorless, DG means full frame and DC means APSC / crop.
@@cameralabs thanks for such info. its really helpful.
There also wonderful Sigma's14-24 f2,8
True, but that's large and expensive
@@cameralabs fair enough. What about sigma's own trio of fix lenses, are they opticly better than this lens?
@@TimofejNenarokov primes are normally better, yes.
Amazing!
I'll be frank, I really don't get the point of this lens, I own the Tamron equivalent which mentioned is in the same ballpark for price weight and size but with slightly better advertised sealing. The AF/MF switch seems to be the only physical difference. I guess I'm price insensitive but the extra 200-300 dollars/pounds for the 24-70 seems like a good value if you ask me.
Remember it's not just about price, the 24-70 2.8 is almost double the weight. But I agree there's not much in it in price.
@@cameralabs That's fair I guess, I guess I'm one of those young whipper snappers that's not too concerned about the extra weight 😊
@@Rollergold4 If you´d be a Gimbal-user then extra 100g is thumbs up!! I will buy it!
Tamron is 15% longer and heavier. Might be no biggie, but on my A7C MK2 it's quite a difference. While Sigma is right on the edge of being comfortable and useable, Tamron feels very chonky, IMO.
What does this offer over the Tamron 2875F2.8? Sigma should had launched a 2460F2.8 instead to differentiate from the proven Tamron, which has weather proofing.
It offers nicer bokeh
Now if Sigma could make a 20-60 with a constant f4 I would be all over that.
YES! Now that would be good.
@@cameralabs I have been using the Sony Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70mm f4 for a number of years now and it has given me great service since 2014. It the lens I use most on my A6400, sometime even on my A7r2 although on this camera I prefer the 24-105 f4 FF. for longer reach. Surely they can make a better version of the 16-70mm nowadays with out being fixated by a wider f stop!!
Well, Tamron just announced a 17-50 f4, so that's pretty close.
Good One Sir
24mm is worth millions to me so I won't be getting it.
If Nikon copied canon and did a 28-70 f2 then maybe I might just make that sacrifice.