Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro review - Autofocus

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Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

18 April 2012

Arkadiusz Olech

10. Autofocus

This chapter seems to be crucial in the case of Sigma instruments. You can expect problems here because the producer didn’t decide to install an HSM drive. Fortunately the situation is not very bad although Sigma lowered standards so much in this category that virtually every success, even small, is something to be praised.

In the limited range it would be difficult to have any reservations, concerning the speed and loudness of the autofocus. Of course it is not as silent and fast as an HSM drive but its performance is really decent. One thing that should be criticized is slowing down with the jump correction of the primary focusing. The lens finds the right position almost immediately but then, for a fraction of a second, adjust it step by step.

The situation changes diametrically when you switch the autofocus working mode into Full. Then you deal with a classic, loud and slow “drilling machine”.

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The lack of an HSM drive also influenced the accuracy of the autofocus, which is simply not good. In studio conditions the lens missed in 17% of cases.

Fortunately the Sigma 2.8/70 didn’t have any distinct back or front focus tendencies. It didn’t focus properly because of the errors but the number of misfocused results belonged fairly to both sides of the right position.