Hands On: Sigma 28-105mm DG DN Art - The perfect all-rounder?
24-70mm, 20-70mm, 24-105mm, 35-150mm,... There are already quite a few standard zooms on the market. However, the new Sigma 28-105mm DG DN Art for Sony FE and L mount with a continuous aperture of 2.8 is not yet available. In this blog post with video, we reveal what this lens can do and, above all, for whom it could definitely be worth a look.
Form factor and workmanship
As with Sigma Art lenses, the new 28-105mm DG DN Art has an absolutely solid, high-quality finish, is protected from dust and splash water and feels very good in the hand.
The aperture ring moves smoothly and can be locked. The same applies to the zoom ring, which can also be fixed with a small switch so that nothing can be accidentally adjusted. In the event that a quicker reaction is required, however, Sigma has come up with a pretty good feature:
If the zoom ring, which is actually fixed, is turned significantly, it automatically unlocks again so that the focal length can be changed again completely freely - and above all quickly. And without having to operate an additional button. This is super practical at events, for example.
Size and weight
At just under 1kg, Sigma's 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is not an absolute lightweight. However, if you compare this with what you would expect for this focal length range with a continuous aperture of f/2.8, Sigma has still managed to make the lens really small and, above all, light.
Size and weight are probably also the main reasons why the focal length range starts at 28mm. Because even if a 24-105mm f/2.8 would have been an absolute dream, it would have made this lens significantly larger and heavier.
For comparison: Tamron's 35-150mm f/2.8 has not been able to fall below the 1kg mark and Canon's 24-105mm f/2.8 also weighs just under 1.3kg - and thus already weighs significantly more.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
- Sigma novelty presentation on September 5th
- Get informed: Sign up at request a price.
Image quality
But now to the much more important question: How does the new 28-105 photograph? We would say: pretty good. The image quality is definitely impressive. The bokeh is beautifully soft and Sigma was also able to reduce flares or ghosting very well with this Lens.
Close focusing distance
Thanks to a closest focusing distance of around 40cm over the entire focal length range with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:3 in the telephoto range, the new 28-105mm can also be used to take great close-ups, allowing you to capture smaller subjects beautifully.
Autofocus
There's nothing to complain about when it comes to autofocus either: not only does it work quietly, but also quickly and reliably, so that it can easily keep up with the high speed of an A9 III, for example. We did not notice any focus breathing during our test.
We also noticed positively how stable the focus remains even when zooming. Just in case we can make a small request here: A completely parfocal lens (in other words, a Lens that keeps the focus completely unchanged when zooming) would be super good. And it would be extremely practical for videographers in particular, who would be able to comfortably zoom while recording without having to refocus.
Test photo sharpness Sigma 28-105 DG DN Art - 105mm, f 2.8, 1/320s
Test photo sharpness Sigma 28-105 DG DN Art - 105mm, f 2.8, 1/500sLinear vs. non-linear focus
When it comes to focusing, there is another feature that the new Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 has to offer, but unfortunately only in the version with the L-mount connection: Here you have the option of switching between linear and non-linear focus.
In case that doesn't mean too much to you at first, here's a brief explanation:
When the focus ring is turned during manual focusing, this happens at a certain speed. With linear focusing, the focus point always moves in the same way (at the same angle of rotation) regardless of the speed of rotation.
With non-linear focus, the situation is different: the speed of rotation of the focus ring plays a role here. If it is rotated quickly, the focus point also moves correspondingly faster than if it is rotated more slowly - even if the focus ring is otherwise rotated in the same way, i.e. at the same angle. With a little practice, this can help you to focus more precisely.
Conclusion:
With Sigma's new 28-105mm f/2.8 there is now not just another standard zoom, but a real competitor to the previous - very good - other Lens currently available on the market. Not only does it cover a comparatively new and different focal length range, but it also performs really well in terms of size, weight and price compared to the competition.
And it also does very well in terms of compactness, considering that we have a lens with a continuous aperture of f/2.8, where you simply have to accept a little more weight. And let's be honest: if you have this lens with you, you won't actually need another one to change in most situations and can save a gram or two in your photo backpack this way too; because: This Lens is simply super versatile and can be used in many areas: From landscape to portrait (where you might like to fall back on 85mm) - and even beyond.
Both when traveling and especially at events, such as weddings, where speed and flexibility are required, this Lens is definitely a good choice.
