Sigma 70-200 mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM
11. Summary
- good build quality,
- splendid image quality in the frame centre,
- very good image quality at the edge of APS-C/DX sensor,
- chromatic aberration well-controlled,
- slight distortion,
- low coma,
- slight vignetting on the edge of APS-C/DX sensor,
- good image stabilization,
- silent and efficient autofocus,
- generous selection of accessories (caps, tripod adapter, petal-type hood and a case),
- three-year-long warranty period with the possibility of extending it by two more years.
Cons:
- a bit too soft wide open at the edge of full frame,
- significant vignetting on full frame,
- cooperation with converter might have been better in some areas.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Sigma is certainly a big step ahead - it is better, often remarkably so, than the old version in practically every respect. The step is so big that the Sigma might now compete successful with the newest stabilized Canon and Nikon instruments. The flaws are still present, though, but they are generally difficult to avoid. The full frame edge near the maximum relative aperture wasn’t sharp also in the case of the more expensive Nikkor. The cooperation with the converter, listed under the cons, can be rather counted as the flaw of the converter itself. Its small dimensions seem to be the main factor limiting the performance of such a big and fast zoom lens. The huge vignetting of the lens-plus-converter set might prove this hypothesis. Canon and Nikon have refreshed the line-up of its converters not long ago, perhaps it’s time Sigma did something similar too?
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One thing we didn’t enjoy was the unfavourable change of the minimum focus distance. All producers moved forwards on this matter, only the Sigma moved backward. As a result it lost the position of the leader, becoming the last one. The company it keeps is good, though, because it occupies the last position together with the Nikkor 70-200 VR II.
To sum up the Sigma seems to complement the journalistic zooms’ offer very nicely. It is a bit worse than the new Nikkor 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II but it is also cheaper than that lens, a bit physically lighter and smaller. The comparison to the new Canon 70-200 mm f/2.8 IS must wait until one of next our tests, though.
Sample shots
Sample shots taken with the tested lens on the Canon 50D can be additionally seen here.
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 s, ISO 400 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.71 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/250 s, ISO 400 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.93 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/125 s, ISO 800 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.63 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.16 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 97 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.09 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 4.6 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 137 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 400 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.41 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 91 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 400 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 4.82 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 137 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 3.8 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 137 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/320 s, ISO 400 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.13 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2500 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.49 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 137 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/3200 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.15 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/4000 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.49 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/3200 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.03 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 97 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.63 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 112 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.08 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 91 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.58 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 97 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 8.33 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.22 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/2500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.41 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/640 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.36 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 137 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/640 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.32 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.92 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 97 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/400 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 8.1 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.12 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 128 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.43 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.57 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 97 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.53 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 200 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/320 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 6.78 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 70 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/500 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.81 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII Parameters: 104 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/200 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 8.32 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII + TC 1.4x Parameters: 280 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.75 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII + TC 1.4x Parameters: 280 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/800 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.29 MB |
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Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII + TC 1.4x Parameters: 280 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.19 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII + TC 1.4x Parameters: 280 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 s, ISO 100 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 5.57 MB |
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII + TC 1.4x Parameters: 280 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/320 s, ISO 125 File: JPEG, 5616×3744 pix, 7.81 MB |
