Sigma 28mm F1 8 EX DG ASP Macro Review | 54 Data compared

The Sigma 28 mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro lens review by LensTip highlights a solid mixed-bag performance, positioning it as an affordable wide-angle alternative for both full-frame and APS-C shooters. On the positive side, the lens delivers good image quality in the frame centre once stopped down to f/2.8. It boasts low chromatic aberration, minimal distortion, and a very solid physical build quality. A standout feature is its macro capability, allowing photographers to focus at a minimal distance of just 20 cm with a helpful 1:2.9 magnification ratio. Additionally, it performs quite well when shooting against bright light and comes packaged with a rich standard accessory kit. LensTip.com However, the review reveals several significant optical and mechanical drawbacks. The lens produces very weak image quality when shot wide open near its maximum f/1.8 aperture, and its performance at the edges of a full-frame sensor remains unacceptable across almost all aperture values. Optically, it suffers from visible coma, high astigmatism, and substantial vignetting on full frame. From a usability standpoint, the autofocus mechanism lacks an HSM motor, making it noisy,...

📸 The Imaging Resource review highlights the Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro as a solid, budget-friendly wide-angle prime lens with impressive close-focus capabilities. One of its main pros is its dual identity as a macro lens, delivering a notable 0.34x magnification at a minimum focusing distance of just under 8 inches (20 cm). Furthermore, it controls barrel distortion quite well (.4%) and offers a budget-conscious price tag of roughly $450, making it cheaper than rivals like the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8. Image quality is decent in the center when shot wide open, but stopping down to f/2.8 massively boosts overall sharpness. ⚠️ However, the lens comes with several notable cons regarding optical performance, autofocus, and handling. When shot at f/1.8, it suffers from significant corner softness and prominent vignetting (a full stop of light falloff) on full-frame cameras. Optically, it also shows signs of both transverse and longitudinal chromatic aberration at wide apertures. Mechanically, the lens features a noisy, somewhat outdated electrical motor with sluggish autofocus speeds taking up to a second to sweep the range. Additionally, the...

The LensTip review of the Sigma 28 mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro highlights several notable advantages, concluding that its usefulness depends significantly on the camera body used. On the positive side (pros), the lens features a solid, robust housing and includes a rich standard accessory kit backed by a 3 year guarantee. Optically, it delivers good image quality and sharpness in the frame centre once stopped down to f/2.8, peaking at f/5.6 on an APS-C/DX sensor with roughly 43 lpmm. Furthermore, the lens handles certain technical elements well, showing low distortion levels, low chromatic aberration, a close minimum focusing distance of just 20 cm, and relatively good control against ghosting and flares when working against bright light. However, the review outlines substantial disadvantages (cons), particularly concerning resolution and autofocus performance. At its maximum wide-open aperture of f/1.8, image resolution in the frame centre is weak and inadequate (dropping to 25 lpmm), requiring users to step down to at least f/4.0 for fully sharp results. The optical performance degrades significantly at the frame edges, showing severe coma and astigmatism aberrations...

The LensTip review of the Sigma 28 mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro lens highlights several notable advantages, particularly when used on smaller sensors. The optical design yields good image quality in the frame center once stepped down to an f/2.8 aperture, alongside low chromatic aberration and low distortion. Additionally, the lens features a solid housing, stands up well against bright light, and includes a rich standard accessory kit backed by a 3 year guarantee. Photographers will also appreciate its close-focusing macro capability, which allows for a minimal focusing distance of just 20 centimeters. However, the review details serious drawbacks, especially regarding full-frame camera performance. Image quality is exceptionally weak near the maximum f/1.8 aperture, and corner resolution remains unacceptable across almost all aperture settings. Users will have to contend with high astigmatism, visible coma, and massive vignetting on full-frame bodies. Operationally, the lens is bulky, heavy, and suffers from a slow, loud, and unreliable autofocus mechanism. Given its high post-currency crisis price, LensTip concludes that its value is highly debatable when compared to superior alternatives like the Sigma 30...