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Sigma 70-200mm DG DN OS | Sports activities preliminary impressions
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Product photographs: Carey Rose
Sigma’s newest launch, the 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports activities, gives a brand new constant-aperture telephoto zoom for customers of Sony, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens itself is not a lot of a shock, what with the prevailing ‘pre-announcements’ which have been floating across the net for some time now, however we have been in a position to get our fingers on a replica to shoot some samples, to get an thought of the way it stacks up in opposition to the prevailing first- and third-party competitors.
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Key specs:
- Focal size: 70-200mm (105–300mm with APS-C crop)
- Aperture vary: F2.8 – F22
- Stabilization: Sure
- Filter thread: 77mm
- Shut focus: 0.65m (25.6″) at 70mm; 1m (39.4″) at 200mm
- Most magnification: 0.19x (at 70mm)
- Diaphragm blades: 11
- Hood: Included
- Weight: E-mount 1335g (2.94 lb); L-mount 1345g (2.96 lb)
- Optical development: 20 components in 15 teams (6 FLD, 2 SLD, 3 aspherical)
The lens comes with a really useful value of $1499, which represents a good low cost from most digital camera maker’s personal choices, and Sigma says will probably be accessible on December 7, 2023.
Dealing with and construct
At practically one-and-a-half kilos (∼three kilos), the Sigma 70-200mm DG DN OS is not any light-weight, nevertheless it does really feel lighter than you may anticipate given its dimensions and functionality. It additionally balances nicely on the a7R V that we have had it mounted to.
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It is no light-weight, nevertheless it’s probably not a heavyweight, both. |
Construct high quality is nearly faultless. The outside is a mixture of textured high-quality polycarbonate and steel, and the ribbed zoom, focus and aperture rings are straightforward to seek out by really feel. The aperture ring is especially well-executed. It permits for each clicked- and clickless operation, and it may be locked in both ‘A’ (which, relying in your capturing mode, passes aperture management off to a command dial or the digital camera’s autoexposure algorithm), or it may be locked out of A, which means you need to use the ring to freely choose your publicity, however you will not by accident override the ring with an excessively enthusiastic adjustment.
There are switches aplenty, together with a C1-C2 swap for choosing between two units of optical stabilizer or focus limiter settings (although that is an L-mount-only function requiring Sigma’s UD-11 USB dock). There’s additionally a three-setting focus limiter (Full, 3m–infinity, minimal distance–3m), an autofocus selector and the aforementioned aperture click on and lock controls. Lastly, there are three programmable pushbuttons on the barrel between the zoom and focus rings; one on the highest of the lens, one on the underside and one on the left as you’re looking down the barrel in the direction of your topic. However take into account that although there are three buttons, you’ll be able to solely program a single operate for them (a minimum of, that is the case on our Sony a7R V).
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| An Arca-Swiss cutout on the tripod foot is at all times a pleasant contact. |
For the tripod lovers amongst you, the (included) tripod foot comes with an Arca-Swiss dovetail cutout and the tripod collar has good, pronounced detents at every 90-degree rotation. And for the video shooters amongst you, you may be joyful to know that zooming the lens would not meaningfully change the general weight distribution, so you’ll be able to zoom away even whereas capturing on a balanced gimbal.
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| This overlap (full zoom ring proven on left aspect, hood overlap proven at proper) proved to be irksome for me, however your mileage might differ. |
If there’s one concern we now have with the dealing with of the Sigma 70-200mm DG DN OS, it is with the included lens hood. The construct of the hood itself is improbable, constructed out of carbon-fiber bolstered plastic and it secures to the lens with a textured thumb screw. The issue is that, when it is mounted within the capturing place, it covers 3–4mm of the entrance fringe of the zoom ring. That will not sound like rather a lot, and to make certain, there’s nonetheless loads of ring to seize onto, however nonetheless, my hand saved operating into the hood as I used to be going to regulate the zoom setting. This can be one thing that clears up with extended utilization and muscle reminiscence, nonetheless.
Picture high quality and autofocus impressions
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A very good 70-200mm F2.8 lens is usually a worthy companion for all kinds of photographic pursuits. Sony a7R V | Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 @ 200mm | ISO 100 | 1/500 sec | F8 |
Whereas we have to reserve ultimate judgment of the lens’ optical traits till we have had time to do extra formal testing, our preliminary impressions are largely constructive. Whereas the lens is actually sharp sufficient at F2.8 on the 61MP sensor of the a7R V, notably for portraits, one can find that stopping right down to F4 and F5.6 will get you larger readability for landscapes and the like. Vignetting is current however is fairly refined even at F2.8.
We discovered the bokeh (traits of out-of-focus areas of the picture) to be fairly easy and barely distracting, even with busier backgrounds and extra average apertures. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not a fan of the cat-eye impact of out-of-focus highlights, you’d greatest steer clear – the impact will be very pronounced at wider apertures. Capturing into the solar can induce a slight lack of distinction, however we did not discover it to be excessive, and chromatic aberrations are very nicely managed certainly. We’ll be wanting extra intently at sunstars and flare when the solar emerges for quite a lot of moments at a time right here within the Seattle area.
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A quick 70-200mm lens is not simply for outside use, both. Sony a7R V | Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 @ 173mm | ISO 800 | 1/200 sec | F2.8 |
Autofocus speeds are fast, and although they don’t seem to be as near instantaneous as another choices in the marketplace, we do not assume you may have hassle monitoring most any transferring topic. We’ll want extra sporting alternatives to know for positive. The handbook focus ring is splendidly damped, and focus respiration is well-controlled throughout the zoom vary, so that is shaping as much as be a strong possibility for video shooters on this focal vary.
Pattern gallery
Please don’t reproduce any of those photographs on a web site or any publication/journal with out prior permission (see our copyright web page). We make the originals accessible for personal customers to obtain to their very own machines for private examination or printing (together with this evaluate); we accomplish that in good religion, so please do not abuse it.
Takeaways
Total, the Sigma 70-200mm DG DN OS | Sports activities is a welcome addition to the constant-aperture telezoom market. It is not absolutely the sharpest possibility in the marketplace, neither is it the lightest, however between its wonderful construct high quality, spectacular aberration management and comparatively affordable value, we expect photographers will discover rather a lot to love right here.
Is the Sigma 70-200mm DG DN OS going to discover a place in your digital camera bag? What do you make of Sigma’s newest telezoom launch? Tell us within the feedback.
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