The lenses of 70-200 mm f/2.8 class has often had a lot of issues concerning the work against bright light. It is due to two factors. Firstly, we deal here with constructions closed at one end by big front element which usually is not covered by anything and catches side light easily. Secondly, these are very complex instruments in terms of optics, with even several dozen air-to-glass surfaces which must be anti-reflection coated. Even if you use the best coatings available on the market, with such a huge amount of surfaces to be covered the transmission of a lens will never be perfect; the lost light wanders inside the lens causing flares and the decrease of contrast.
The Sigma 70-200 mm is not an exception to the rule. Before we show you photos taken typically in every our test (i.e. with the sun near one of the frame corners) let’s have a glance at a bit different view.
Please Support Us
If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.
In this case the sun shone toward the lens but it was far away from the frame. The photo presents the ground floor of a 3-storeyed tenement building and our day star was shining even about 20 degrees above it. Although the distance to the frame was significant still we can notice a greenish gleam, registered in the photo.
When the conditions become even more difficult, catching flares is much easier. At 70 mm focal length the flares are still quite intense. At longer focal lengths the problems are less pronounced. It can be seen very well looking at the examples below.
