Sigma 24 70mm F 2 8 DG DN II Art Review | 54 Data compared

The Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | ART is an upgraded standard zoom lens for Sony E and L-mount cameras that focuses heavily on improved handling, speed, and build quality while keeping its $1200 USD price competitive. Physically, the lens is slightly shorter, slimmer, and 100g lighter than its predecessor (weighing 735g), and features a thorough weather-sealed body with new flush switches and a physical aperture ring with a declick option. The most significant practical performance upgrade comes from the integration of Sigma's HLA (High speed Linear Actuator) focus motor. This silent motor delivers near-instantaneous real-world autofocus speed, tracks moving subjects accurately during fast bursts, and provides smooth video autofocus transitions with minimal focus breathing. Additionally, close-up capabilities are enhanced, offering a maximum magnification of 0.37x at the 24mm wide end and 0.25x at the 70mm telephoto end. Optically, the lens relies on an optimization of the existing formula rather than a complete overhaul, yielding mixed improvements. On the positive side (pros), the lens delivers great overall center sharpness, exceptional flare and ghosting resistance, attractive 22-pointed sunstars, solid coma...

The Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN II Art lens is an impressive, high-value zoom available for Sony E and Leica L-mount full-frame cameras. Priced around $1200, it costs just over half as much as Sony's premium 24-70mm G Master II, making it a relative bargain for event photography and general-purpose use. Built at Sigma’s sole factory in Japan from a Thermally Stable Composite material, the lens features excellent weather sealing and structural design. Key improvements over its predecessor include a 10% weight reduction down to 735g, an updated High-response Linear Actuator focusing system for fast and silent autofocus, and an added physical aperture ring that can be de-clicked for smooth video operation. Optically, the lens delivers excellent sharpness in the center across all focal lengths at f2.8, while boasting a very short minimum focusing distance of 17cm at the wide end for impressive macro capabilities. However, the lens does exhibit a few performance trade-offs compared to native options. At 70mm f2.8, the edge and center details lack the ultimate crispness found at wider focal lengths, though closing the aperture to...

The Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art lens is characterized by The-Digital-Picture.com as a high-performance, value-driven standard zoom featuring exceptional optical sharpness, contrast, and flare resistance across its range. Upgraded with a fast HLA linear motor, this 7% smaller and 10% lighter, redesigned lens offers enhanced close-focusing capabilities, an aperture ring, and a second customizable button. SIGMA Key disadvantages noted in the review include the lack of built-in optical image stabilization, requiring reliance on camera IBIS and menu-based controls. Additionally, the lens shows significant, though auto-correctable, peripheral vignetting and barrel distortion at the 24mm wide end when shot wide open.

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art lens is praised for its stellar optical performance, offering phenomenal sharpness, very low distortion, and virtually no flare, while being 7% smaller and 10% lighter than its predecessor. Designed for Sony E and L-mount systems, it features a new HLA autofocus motor that is three times faster, plus professional handling features like a de-clickable aperture ring and close-focusing capabilities.

In his review on Pat's Photo Journal, the author highly recommends the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DGDN II as a versatile workhorse lens for portraits, landscapes, travel, and close-action sports. Priced at $1,139, it is positioned as a high-value alternative to premium native options like the $2,298 Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II. The reviewer heavily praises its pros, noting that the lens features a very solid, hefty build quality, delivers sharp real-world images, and rarely misses focus. During his real-world testing at a 100-mile endurance race, the zoom range easily captured both intimate runner portraits and wide-angle shots of spectators, all while maintaining beautifully blurred backgrounds. However, the review also highlights a few specific cons and quirks of the lens. Most notably, the zoom ring rotates counter-clockwise to zoom in, which is the opposite direction of most standard brands and can cause critical mistakes during fast-paced shooting scenarios. Additionally, while the author did not mind the weight during a three-hour shoot, he notes that it remains a hefty lens. Finally, his "scientific" tripod testing revealed that the zoom is less...

📸 The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN ART II is a highly popular, weather-sealed standard zoom lens that offers major optical and mechanical upgrades over its predecessor, despite a steep $1,300 USD price tag. Mechanically, it is 10% lighter (735g) and 7% smaller than the Mark I, introducing a snappier HLA linear autofocus motor and a de-clickable aperture ring. Optically, the center sharpness is excellent at 24mm straight from f/2.8, peaking beautifully across the frame between f/5.6 and f/8. It also boasts well-controlled lateral chromatic aberrations and mild native distortion that is easily completely corrected via software. ⚠️ However, the lens is not without its flaws, as it still exhibits a noticeable drop in corner resolution in the middle section of the zoom range. RAW vignetting is highly elevated at 24mm f/2.8, requiring constant auto-correction to tame the heavy light falloff. Furthermore, axial chromatic aberrations (bokeh fringing) are clearly visible at f/2.8, and the lens's 11 rounded aperture blades make it poorly suited for rendering clean sunstars. While the background blur is generally smooth, the tested sample revealed a potential...