Sigma 70 200mm F 2 8

Sigma seventy-200mm f/two.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens Review

A lens with a 70-200mm focal length range, a wide, fixed max f/ii.viii discontinuity and optical stabilization is destined to get a critical role of nearly people's lens kit. With this lens model now offered by many manufacturers, "Which one is right for yous?" is a bigger question than "Can I make use of this lens?" And that is the bigger question this review volition effort to help you respond, but I'll answer the easier/latter question first.

That answer is "Definitely." Y'all will utilise such a lens for portraits, for weddings, parties, concerts and other indoor events, for indoor and outdoor sports, for landscapes, for large and/or shut wildlife and for not-and then-wild life:

You will observe many other uses for one of these lenses - including chasing the kids and grandkids around to their diverse events. The wide-every bit-it-gets on a 70-200mm zoom lens f/two.8 discontinuity allows this lens to stop action in low calorie-free and to create a potent background blur as shown in the above sample photo.

I took thousands of pictures with the Sigma lxx-200 OS, but the ones I liked best came from this same late 24-hour interval session at the corral (the sample pictures will reflect this). While out by the befouled, let'southward take a look at the 70-200mm focal length range.

These images were captured with a full frame DSLR with an f/eight aperture setting. A 70-200mm lens on an APS-C/1.6x FOVCF format body will deliver an angle of view like a full frame 112-320mm lens. A 70-200mm focal length range makes a lot of sense in either format kit. And this lens will look skillful in that kit.

Optical stabilization is a primal ingredient for making a lens such as this one so useful. Particularly for the indoor events (parties, weddings, concerts ...). While this is the fourth Sigma 70-200mm lens I've owned, it is the commencement to incorporate Os, which almost automatically makes this my favorite version so far.

Sigma's 4-end OS system is nicely implemented and includes the Mode II panning option. Bone causes no significant viewfinder framing shift on startup. The Sigma seventy-200'southward optical stabilization makes an audible click when starting up and again when shutting downwardly. Moving the lens while Os is active will generate some lite clunking sounds.

I will be comparing the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS Two USM Lens and the Tamron lxx-200mm f/ii.8 Di VC USD Lens throughout this review. In these particular optical stabilization (Os) vs. image stabilization (IS) vs. vibration control (VC) (respective different names for the same characteristic) implementations, IS makes a like startup and shutdown click while VC is quieter. When adjusting the framing while stabilization is active, IS provides a less-jittery paradigm than either OS or VC.

Under ideal atmospheric condition with ideal technique, I am getting a good percentage of sharp 200mm handheld shots at one/25 sec and I nonetheless have a reasonable keeper rate at one/twenty sec. At 70mm, the keeper per centum results trail off gradually from 1/20 through 1/8 where an approximately 50% of the images were however usable.

These results represent about iii stops of assistance over the focal length range. Not equally good every bit the Canon or Tamron which perform similarly to each other. Notation that you should non expect to go this reported operation in the air current, on a small gunkhole, after a fast run ...

Compared to its stabilized contest, I'm disappointed in the Sigma 70-200mm f/two.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens from an f/two.eight image dissimilarity and sharpness perspective. It does not perform terribly, simply at f/ii.8, there is a noticeable lack of sharpness beyond the focal length range and across the paradigm circumvolve. This is noticeable in real globe images and quite noticeable in our lab image quality testing. Cease downwards to f/4 and life is expert – the results are much more than pleasing.

But the f/2.8 aperture is a pregnant reason for ownership a 70-200 f/ii.8 lens. If you don't need f/two.8, you would be ameliorate off ownership a Canon EF 70-200mm f/four L IS USM Lens. It will give yous amend image quality in a smaller and lighter package – and it currently costs less.

The Tamron 70-200 VC delivers noticeably better f/2.8 paradigm quality and the Canon lxx-200 IS Two delivers even ameliorate prototype quality. The differences are less noticeable at f/4, but the Tamron remains the image quality leader over the Sigma except at 200mm where the Sigma performs better in the full frame corners. The Catechism 70-200 IS II's image quality rules over all other AF zoom lenses available at this time in whatever focal length range.

As this image quality comparison shows, the lxx-200 Bone's predecessor, the Sigma lxx-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM II Macro Lens, performs better at f/two.viii and f/iv except at 200mm where the Os version holds a slight advantage.

Expect a pocket-sized amount of CA (Chromatic Aberration) in total frame corners at 70mm f/2.eight. Terminate down or zoom in and the CA becomes less noticeable. A pocket-size amount of CA is visible at 200mm.

The 70-200 Os delivers vignetting amounts of near ii stops at 70mm and 85mm, 1.v stops at 100mm, 2 stops at 135mm and ii.5 stops at 200mm. Stopping down to f/four reduces vignetting past almost ane stop.

As usual, APS-C format DSLR owners have fiddling vignetting to worry nearly from this full frame compatible lenses. Expect a just-noticeable one cease of vignetting at 200mm.–

The Sigma 70-200 Os's vignetting pattern is very like to the Tamron seventy-200 VC with the Sigma having slightly more vignetting at 200mm f/2.8. The Canon 70-200 IS Two has less vignetting at comparable f/ii.eight focal lengths. The stopped downwardly differences are less noticeable.

With their high lens chemical element counts, all of the stabilized 70-200 f/2.8 lenses show flare rather hands with a brilliant light in the frame. The narrower telephoto angle of views and the large lens hoods minimize the situations where bright lights cause this trouble. The differences between the compare-to models are non enough to consider from my perspective.

We currently expect barrel distortion from the wide end of a zoom lens and pincushion baloney from the long end. The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens meets these expectations. Barrel distortion at 70mm is modest. The crossover/nigh-0-baloney focal length is around 85mm. Pincushion and then increases to moderate from 135mm to 200mm. Again, the Tamron and Canon lenses are not dissimilar in their distortion fingerprint.

To compare the bokeh (quality of the background blur) of the three stabilized 70-200 f/2.8 lens, I captured sample pictures from each using a stationary photographic camera and identical focus distances. While all three lenses were gear up to their max 200mm focal length, the realized focal length, specially at this distance, is not the same for the 3. The Sigma is slightly longer than the Tamron and the Canon is significantly longer than both (more about this later). The longer focal length creates a more than strongly blurred background. The Canon produces larger blur details even with a one-stop narrower discontinuity.

Aside from the deviation in the magnification of the blurred subjects, I don't see any differentiating qualities in the results of this comparison. All three lenses are looking skillful.

Overall, The prototype quality from the Sigma 70-200mm f/ii.eight EX DG OS HSM Lens is quite expert, simply the trailing-the-pack, mediocre f/2.8 epitome sharpness leaves me wanting.

As the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens name indicates, this lens features Sigma's HSM (Hypersonic Motor) AF system. This implementation is internal and very quiet, merely this is not an especially fast-focusing lens. If you lot are focusing from one distance to a not-besides-different distance, focus speed seems reasonably fast. You can hear a quiet "shhhh" followed by a series of clicks while fine tuning adjustments are beingness made. When going from minimum focus distance to infinity, y'all will detect the slower AF speed.

In side-by-side comparing with total-extent focusing changes, information technology is non hard to run across the difference in focus speed betwixt this lens, the Tamron 70-200 VC and the Canon seventy-200 IS Two. The Tamron and Canon variants focus noticeably faster in this scenario. For shorter focus distance changes, the Tamron and Sigma compete more than closely – and the Catechism is noticeably faster.

As I said before, this is the fourth Sigma seventy-200mm lens model I've owned. And I admit that, based on by experience, my biggest business concern for this lens was AF accuracy. The great news is that I'm finding near photos accurately focused – in both One Shot and AI Servo AF modes. The Sigma 70-200 Os' AI Servo focus accurateness has not been amazing – but quite usable.

Note that, based on plenty of feel, Roger Cicala at Lensrentals.com merely recommends renting this lens for use on cameras with the AFMA characteristic.

This lens has the desired FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing feature. This feature that I greatly prefer is a bit of a liability on this lens due to my left hand resting on the rear-positioned focus ring. A focus limiter switch is non provided. The front chemical element does not rotate.

Appreciated by videographers is that subjects remain similarly-sized during focus pulling. This lens performs better than the Canon IS II and the Tamron VC in this regard.

The seventy-200 OS has a depth of field calibration that is usable at 70mm, though but f/22 markings are provided for 200mm. DOF scales are not plant on the Canon and Tamron versions of this lens model.

The 70-200 Bone is not parfocal. Changing focal length from 200mm to 70mm will shift focus to a longer altitude. Zooming from 70mm to 200mm volition shift focus to a shorter distance. Most zoom lenses are not parfocal – y'all need to refocus subsequently irresolute your selected focal length.

Model	MFD		MM
Canon EF seventy-200mm f/2.8 L IS Two USM Lens	47.two"	(1200mm)	0.21x
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens	55.ane"	(1400mm)	0.13x
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Ii Macro Lens	39.4"	(1000mm)	0.29x
Tamron 70-200mm f/ii.8 Di VC USD Lens	51.2"	(1300mm)	0.13x
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens	47.2"	(1200mm)	0.21x

A 0.13x maximum magnification (MM) spec is not going to turn any heads. Only, in real life manual focus testing, the Sigma OS delivers more than magnification than the same-rated Tamron VC does. Still, this lens is not going to reproduce small details big on a sensor.

The Sigma lens has a slightly wider field of view than the Catechism at 200mm at longer focus distances. And the Tamron trails the Sigma in this matter.

What does 0.13x await similar? Below is a full frame sample photograph taken at about MFD using an f/2.eight aperture.

The Canon IS II, even though it does not accept a much shorter minimum focus distance (MFD), has a much higher MM spec and does deliver on this. The Sigma and Tamron lenses lose significantly more focal length at short focus distances. You will not come across much magnification/angle of view differences betwixt these lenses at longer distances. To see real world focus distance examination comparisons, check out the focus distance test results in the measurement and specifications tool link at the top of this review. There you will detect that the bodily MFD of these lenses in manual focus mode is even more than like than the specs above indicate.

As usual, extension tubes will modestly decrease MFD and increment MM for a telephoto lens. This lens is too compatible with the Sigma one.4x EX DG APO Teleconverter and the Sigma 2x EX DG APO Teleconverter. The teleconverters will brand a more than significant difference in magnification at the lens' native MFD.

Calculation a Sigma ane.4x TC to the 70-200 Bone creates a 98-280mm f/4 Bone lens. This combination reduces image sharpness noticeably with a wide open discontinuity, only sharpness becomes decent at f/v.6. The 1.4x adds considerable CA to total frame DSLR corners – which will also be noticed in APS-C format corners.

Adding a Sigma 2.0x TC to the seventy-200 Os creates a 140-400mm f/5.6 Bone lens. All Canon EOS DSLRs can autofocus with this max discontinuity. This is an advantage the 70-200 f/ii.8 lenses hold over the 70-200 f/4 lenses equally many DSLRs cannot AF with the resulting f/8 max aperture of these 2x combos. The downside to using a 2.0x with this lens is the considerable reduction in image sharpness. And the significant amount of CA becoming apparent. On the positive side, the 200mm pincushion distortion is reduced as the 2x TC adds compensates with added barrel distortion. Plan on stopping downwards to at to the lowest degree f/viii for this combination to be usable. And f/11 if you want precipitous corners.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/two.eight EX DG Bone HSM Lens is, from a build quality perspective, a very nice lens. Sigma's latest finish is very attractive and has a quality feel to it. It should resist peeling far amend than the quondam terminate.

I like the ribbed safety grip surface on the zoom and focus rings, only non every bit much equally I like how impressively polish both of these rings are.

It is nice when your various lenses operate similarly to each. The Sigma's zoom and focus rings rotate in the Catechism management while the Tamron's rings, rotating in reverse management, will have more than appeal to Nikon lens owners. There is no play in the Sigma 70-200 f/ii.8 Os zoom or focus rings. The Tamron also has little or no play in its rings, simply I prefer the resistance smoothness of the Sigma (and Canon) more than. My well-used Catechism lxx-200 f/two.8 IS Two has a very slight amount of play in its rings.

The Sigma has a noticeably-raised switch box. While not a big bargain, the Canon switches are raised less, just are smooth with the barrel just across them. The Tamron switches are noticeably more affluent with the barrel. The Canon has ii additional switches for focus distance limit settings and separated IS On/Off and Mode settings.

I don't intendance for Sigma's 3-position (Off, I and 2) switch pattern. The position marks are likewise close together and the switch can be positioned in an in-between setting. I shot for over an hr with IS off because I visually misaligned this switch setting prior to shooting. I caught this same issue early another occasion. Learning from mistakes is of course a key in life, but I'd similar this lens to do a amend chore of protecting me from my mistakes.

More of a large bargain to me, equally I mentioned earlier, is the Sigma'south rear-positioned focus ring. In apply, my left hand's fingers residual on this band. Since this lens features FTM focusing, at that place is take chances in me inadvertently changing the focus distance setting after autofocusing. The Sigma'southward focus ring resistance is house enough to reduce this chance, but I still much prefer the Catechism design - and much appreciate the grip balance when using a rear-positioned zoom ring.

With a barrel the size of what comes with a 70-200mm f/2.viii lens design, creating adequately-sized focus and zoom rings has not been a problem for manufacturers. If a large manual focus band is on your wish list, the Canon, with about 2x as much focus ring surface surface area every bit the Tamron and Sigma, is going to all-time meet this need. Rubber covers less than half of the Sigma'due south focus ring, making information technology easier to discern from the zoom band by bear on alone.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Bone HSM Lens has modestly more than focus ring rotation than the Catechism and Tamron (72° vs. 62° and 60°). And less zoom ring rotation (120° vs. 137° and 143°). It is not probable that these differences will be significant to you.

A keen pattern feature shared by all of these 70-200 f/ii.8 lenses is the fixed size. There is no barrel extension when zooming to a longer focal length.

While Sigma, Canon and Tamron are using quality plastics in their construction, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens design requirements dictate that the weight – and size – be noticeable. The weight and size differences between the 3 lenses I've been comparing are not of significance.

Model	Weight		Dimensions w/o Hood		Filter	Year
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS Ii USM Lens	52.6 oz	(1490g)	3.5 ten 7.8"	(88.viii ten 199mm)	77mm	2010
Sigma seventy-200mm f/two.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens	50.v oz	(1430g)	3.four x 7.8"	(86.4 10 197.6mm)	77mm	2011
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Ii Macro Lens	48.4 oz	(1370g)	3.4 x seven.2"	(86 x 184mm)	77mm	2007
Tamron 70-200mm f/ii.8 Di VC USD Lens	51.ix oz	(1470g)	3.four x 7.4"	(85.8 x 188.3mm)	77mm	2012
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM Lens	46.two oz	(1310g)	three.three x vii.six"	(85 x 194mm)	77mm	1995
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens	26.8 oz	(760g)	three.0 10 half-dozen.8"	(76 x 172mm)	67mm	2006
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM Lens	24.9 oz	(705g)	three.0 x half-dozen.8"	(76 x 172mm)	67mm	1999

For many more comparisons, review the complete Sigma 70-200mm f/ii.8 EX DG Bone HSM Lens Specifications using the site'south Lens Spec tool.

The size and weight of this lens are of significance, simply not overly so. Near photographers will find this lens to be very usable. These lenses do take up more space in a case - and you might need a larger case to acquit this lens than your standard zoom lens requires. I often bear my mounted 70-200 f/2.8 lenses in a Lowepro Toploader Pro 75 AW.

Hither are the three stabilized lxx-200 f/ii.eight lenses side-by-side.

Positioned in a higher place from left to right in their fully retracted positions are the following lenses:

Tamron 70-200mm f/2.viii Di VC USD Lens
Canon EF lxx-200mm f/ii.eight L IS II USM Lens
Sigma lxx-200mm f/2.viii EX DG OS HSM Lens

The same lenses are shown below in their fully extended states (which is the same size as when retracted for these lenses) with their lens hoods in place.

All 3 of the to a higher place lenses come with a lens hood. Generally, the longer the lens focal length, the longer the lens hood. Nosotros are looking at telephoto lenses and the lens hoods for telephoto lenses are more often than not large. Large lens hoods take up more than room, only they also provide serious protection to the front lens element. These hoods can prevent bear upon, tin can go along rain and water spray off of the lens, can reduce grit on the lens, and of grade, provide protection from the sun and other vivid light sources.

The Sigma lens hood is the longest in this comparison fifty-fifty without the included APS-C lens hood extender (the lens hood extension is shown higher up – it extends the hood to make it better-protect the narrower bending of view seen by APS-C DSLRs). With the less-rounded corners, this lens hood has a pointy expect to it. Tamron and Sigma use a plastic interior with ridges design to forbid reflections while Catechism utilizes a flocking material. The Canon design is more effective, but ... few will find the differences to be significant. All 3 lens hoods take ends flat enough to allow the lens to sit upright when balanced on them, merely ... use this technique with circumspection.

Even though this lens hood is deep, the center-pinch lens cap is easily installed or removed with the lens hood in place.

Like the rest of the 70-200 f/ii.eight lenses discussed in this review, the Sigma lxx-200 OS comes with a removable tripod ring included. Using hinged designs, the Sigma and Tamron tripod rings practice non crave the lens to be unmounted as the Canon ring requires. With no hinge, the Canon design is potentially stronger.

The Canon blueprint is also less at risk of accidental removal. The Sigma quick release friction spiral requires less than 90 degrees of rotation to go from really tight to completely loose. At completely loose, only a pocket-size tug outward on the release spiral is required to release the lens from the band. This ease of release makes me a bit nervous. I recommend keeping a certain grip on the photographic camera or lens while this tripod ring is not completely tight.

The Sigma tripod band is not as smooth-performance as the Canon and Tamron rings, just it is completely functional. The Canon ring allows more clearance for fingers wrapped effectually the lens, but the Tamron and Sigma rings are lower profile.

All of these lenses utilize the very-common-sized 77mm filters. The medium-large 77mm filters are shareable on a wide range of other lens models.

A squeamish padded, zippered, nylon lens case ships in the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.eight EX DG OS HSM Lens box. While a shoulder strap is included with this instance, a pro-sized photography belt loop would be an easy improver to make this case even more than useful.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG Bone HSM Lens is not a weather-sealed lens. The Tamron and Canon lxx-200mm variants compared in this review are sealed.

My review re-create of the Sigma 70-200 OS was purchased retail.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/ii.viii EX DG OS HSM Lens is bachelor in Canon (reviewed), Nikon, Pentax, Sony/Minolta and Sigma mounts. My standard disclaimer: There are potential problems with third party lenses. Since Sigma reverse engineers (vs. licenses) manufacturer AF algorithms, there is always the possibility that a DSLR trunk might not back up a (likely older) 3rd party lens. Sometimes a lens can be made uniform past the manufacturer, sometimes non. In that location is likewise the gamble of a trouble that results in the lens and body manufacturers directing blame at each other. Sigma U.s.a.'s 4-year warranty is far superior to Canon's standard 1 yr warranty (Sigma'southward international warranty is likewise i year).

At review time, the Sigma 70-200mm f/two.8 EX DG Bone HSM Lens is modestly less expensive than the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens. There are numerous Sigma concrete features that I adopt to the Tamron including the focus and zoom rings smoothness and rotation direction. But, the price departure is not dandy and the Tamron'southward f/ii.8 paradigm quality makes information technology well worth some additional cost.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/ii.8 L IS II USM Lens rules. If you can swing the higher price tag, the Canon is well worth the investment.

If you need the to the lowest degree expensive stabilized 70-200mm f/2.viii lens, as of this review date, the Sigma seventy-200 Os is your lens.

Bringing you this site is my full-time job (typically threescore-80 hours per calendar week). Thus, I depend solely on the commissions received from you using the links on this site to brand whatever purchase. I am grateful for your back up! - Bryan

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Source: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-70-200mm-f-2.8-DG-OS-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx

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