Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens Review
A new full frame lens from Sigma, for Sony FE and L mount cameras, always promises to be interesting, and here we have a relatively unusual focal length range of 28-105mm. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is maintained throughout the range. It makes a potentially very useful alternative to the ubiquitous 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses, losing a little at the wide angle end, but then gaining a little at the telephoto. Matching the lens up with the 42MP Sony A7R III camera body, let’s check it out both in the field and in the technical tests and see what this good looking new optic has to offer. As part of Sigma’s premier range of Art lenses, expectations are high.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Handling and Features
Weighing in at a hefty but not unreasonable 995g (L mount) or 990g (FE mount), the lens is also quite long, measuring up at 87.8mm x 157.9mm (L mount) or 87.8mm x 159.9mm (FE mount). Weather resistance increases the usefulness and is described by Sigma as being dust and splash resistant. As always, there is the advice that this does not mean waterproof, so some judgement has to be applied. The front element also has a water and oil repellant coating. This reviewer is happy using such lenses in light rain, always using a cloth to wipe away excess water before zooming back towards the camera body. This helps avoid pushing our luck and overloading the seals within the lens.
There is a provided bayonet fit petal lens hood and this locks firmly into place. The locking catch is well recessed, thus avoiding any possibility of the hood being accidentally dislodged during use. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a standard 82mm filter thread.
First up is the electronic focusing ring, and as expected this is totally smooth in operation. The usual Sony focusing features are supported, including DMF (Direct Manual Focus). Just behind the focusing ring we have two AFL buttons, and these can be programmed on some bodies. The AF/MF switch is also found at this point, as is a lock for the zoom ring. This latter switch locks the zoom at 28mm to stop the lens extending while being carried. To be fair, there is not much sign of this being a danger and even having the lens pointed downwards for copying documents there is no zoom creep. However, as the lens ages it may be a useful feature.
Focusing is down to 0.4m (1.31 feet) at all focal lengths, giving a maximum magnification of 1:3.1 at 105mm. This is a very satisfactory magnification, extremely useful even with flat subjects such as documents. AF is driven by a High Response Linear Actuator and is fast, accurate and virtually silent. Focus breathing is suppressed, something of particular interest to videographers.
Whilst focusing does not change the length of the lens, zooming certainly does as there is quite a mass of glass to move. The action is firm, but very smooth. There is no sign of zoom creep, but should it be needed, there is, of course, the previously mentioned zoom lock.
The aperture ring is very well designed, offering either an A setting if we want the camera to set the aperture, or a scale in one third of a stop click stops. If required, probably for videography, there is a de-click switch. There is also an aperture ring lock switch so the ring can be locked on A or alternatively locked out of A. The aperture is electronic in action so should be consistent even with high speed shooting. Sigma also mention that the lens has a magnetic field that could be harmful to pacemakers and to the data stored on the magnetic strips of credit cards. The magnetic field seems to stretch out about 2 inches so these items should be kept further away than that.
Optical construction is 18 elements in 13 groups, including 2 FLD (Fluorite-like low dispersion), 1 SLD (Super Low Dispersion) and 5 Aspherical. The diaphragm comprises 12 blades, giving a rounded aperture for enhanced bokeh. FLD glass mimics closely the properties of fluorite, but the lower cost enables its wider use. Nano porous coating and Super multi-layer coatings are used to reduce flare.
Finally, we have Sigma’s usual beautifully engineered brass mount, available in Sony E fit and L mount. The L mount version is compatible with the USB Dock UD-11. Magnesium alloy is used around the lens barrel rather than Aluminium, to help reduce weight.
There is no built in image stabilisation, this being provided by the camera body.
The lens is a great choice of focal lengths for those photographers whose style and interests extend further into telephoto shots than the 24-70mm lenses can cover. It is not just portraits that will benefit from this. Lenses around the 100mm mark have always been considered a versatile choice for a short telephoto. Yes, we lose a little at the wide end, but the choice is there. This 28-105mm is a slick performer, handling very smoothly with the Sony body and, no doubt, with the L mount bodies as well.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Performance
At 28mm, central sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 right through to f/16, even rising to outstanding at f/5.6. Performance is still very good at f/22. The edges are excellent from f/2.8 to f/5.6, very good from f/8 to f/16, dropping to just fair at f/22.
At 50mm, central sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 to f/8 and very good from f/11 to f/22. The edges are excellent from f/2.8 to f/8, very good at f/11 and f/16 and good at f/22.
At 105mm, central sharpness is excellent from f/2.8 to f/8 and very good from f/11 to f/22. The edges are very good from f/2.8 right the way through to f/16 and still remain good at f/22.
This is an impressive and consistent performance.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art MTF Charts
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How to read our MTF charts
The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Sony A7R III using Imatest. Want to know more about how we review lenses?
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very well controlled at the centre of the field. The edges, especially at 28mm, do show some CA, but this does not translate into particularly visible colour fringing except under severe lighting conditions.
Distortion figures show a modest -0.58% of barreling at 28mm, reducing to an almost rectilinear -0.08% by 50mm. There is a small amount of pincushion distortion at 105mm, measuring +0.24%.
Bokeh is impressively smooth, making the lens very suitable for portraiture and flower studies in particular.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Chromatic Aberration Charts
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How to read our CA charts
Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens’ inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.
Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Sony A7R III using Imatest.
Flare is very well controlled, even with very severe backlighting. It is very difficult to generate any artefcats, even with harsh lighting at the edge of the frame.
Vignetting is only really visible at 28mm and wide apertures and as we zoom in it becomes very close to zero. This is an excellent result for any lens, and especially so for a zoom.
| Aperture | 28mm | 50mm | 105mm |
| f/2.8 | -1.9 | -0.9 | -1 |
| f/4 | -1.5 | -0.7 | -0.9 |
| f/5.6 | -1.4 | -0.5 | -0.6 |
| f/8 | -1.3 | -0.5 | -0.5 |
| f/11 | -1.2 | -0.5 | -0.5 |
| f/16 | -1.2 | -0.5 | -0.5 |
| f/22 | -1.2 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Sample Photos
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Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Aperture range
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Value For Money
The [AMUK]Sigma AF 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art|+Sigma+AF+28-105mm+f/2.8+DG+DN+Art[/AMUK] lens is priced at £1399.00
Alternatives around the same pricing level might be:
- [AMUK]Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art|Sigma+24-70mm+f/2.8+DG+DN+II+Art[/AMUK], £1179
- [AMUK]Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary|Sigma+28-70mm+f/2.8+DG+DN+Contemporary[/AMUK], £779
- [AMUK]Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III|Tamron+35-150mm+f/2-2.8+Di+III[/AMUK], £1799
The pricing looks reasonable for a lens that extends the range of Sigma optics at a high level of performance.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Verdict
Although quite a hefty lens, the wide aperture of f/2.8 and the very useful focal length range more than make up for this. The lens handles well and has good balance with the Sony A7R III used for this review. Whether or not this is a preferred range over the more common 24-70mm optics depends very much on what sort of images we tend to shoot. There are many situations where a bit of extra reach could be very useful, and if that is the case then the 28-105mm is a great choice. For many situations, 28mm can be wide enough, although for some this will not be the case, so choices are there to be made. It is, of course, all about choice and if the specification suits then this new Sigma lens will not disappoint as it excels in so many ways.
Another fine Sigma lens that can be Highly Recommended.
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Well controlled CA
- Very low distortion
- Smooth bokeh
- Dust and splash resistance
- Minimal vignetting
- Close focusing
- Magnification 1:3.1
- Excellent AF performance
- De-clickable aperture ring
- Smooth bokeh
- Virtually no flare
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Cons
- Quite bulky
[REVIEW_FOOTER]R_features=4.5|R_handling=5|R_performance=4.5|R_value=4.5|R_overall=4.5|A_level=4.5|A_text=Highly Recommended – Fantastic handling and high performance with a versatile range of focal lengths|E_id=8027[/REVIEW_FOOTER]
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Source: Photography News
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens Review
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