Sigma APO 70 200mm F2 8 EX DG OS HSM Review | 54 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation of the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM praises it as a capable, cost-effective alternative to first-party telezooms, noting exceptional sharpness when stopped down, low chromatic aberration, effective image stabilization, and a robust autofocus system. Its sophisticated design includes FLD glass and a removable tripod mount, providing strong value for the price. Conversely, the review notes significant softness at the edges when shooting wide open at 200mm, coupled with harsh bokeh and a lack of weather sealing. Additional drawbacks include high vignetting, a lack of a focus limiter switch, and an inconveniently positioned zoom ring that cannot be operated with the lens hood reversed.

The ePHOTOzine review of the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens highlights it as a capable telephoto zoom offering excellent value, featuring very good central sharpness at f/2.8, fast autofocus via the Hyper Sonic Motor, and a useful Optical Stabilizer for low-light shooting. The lens boasts solid build quality and internal focusing, making it a strong, cost-effective alternative to proprietary options. Conversely, the lens shows softer performance towards the edges at maximum aperture, requiring stopping down for optimal corner-to-corner results. Key cons identified include a lack of robust weather sealing and a tendency for autofocus to hunt when using a 2x teleconverter.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens, reviewed on The Digital Picture, offers a solid, professional-grade build with fast Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) autofocus and an attractive price point compared to competitors. However, the review highlights significant drawbacks, including disappointing wide-open (f/2.8) sharpness, mediocre image contrast, and an average optical stabilization system, which requires stopping down to f/4 for better performance. Additional cons include a long 5.9-foot minimum focus distance and a finish that attracts dirt, ultimately making it a difficult recommendation despite its value.

The Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is highlighted as a budget-friendly, professional alternative to higher-priced stabilized f/2.8 telezoom lenses from Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Evaluated using a 36-megapixel Nikon D810, the lens delivers impressive center sharpness across most of its focal range, significantly exceeding sharpness standards at 70mm, 100mm, and 140mm when stopped down. Key advantages of this 3.2-pound lens include its fixed f/2.8 aperture, built-in optical image stabilization with two distinct panning modes, and the inclusion of a hood and tripod collar. However, because it is an older model, it lacks eligibility for Sigma's mount conversion service. Despite its solid value, the lens compromises on edge performance and exhibits noticeable optical distortion. Testing revealed a strong 2.4% barrel distortion at 70mm alongside weak peripheral sharpness, though stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 helps correct these edge issues. The lens's greatest weakness occurs at the 200mm maximum focal length, where image sharpness drops off drastically at f/2.8, requiring shooters to close the aperture to f/8 or f/11 to achieve optimal, crisp results. Ultimately, while it falls short...

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO lens delivers a strong performance, especially when paired with the 16-megapixel Foveon sensor of the Sigma SD1 Merrill camera, which yields higher resolution results than competing Bayer-sensor cameras like the Canon 60D or 5D Mark II. Built with a solid, durable finish, the lens features smooth zoom and focus rings and a highly practical tripod socket that can be quickly removed without detaching the lens from the camera body. Optically, the lens excels by offering exceptionally low vignetting even wide open, minimal distortion across its zoom range, low chromatic aberration, and a smooth, attractive background bokeh. The major advantages of this lens include its very high center resolution starting at f/2.8 (except at 200mm), lightweight design compared to Canon and Nikon alternatives, and its highly attractive price-to-quality ratio. Additionally, it comes well-equipped with a durable pouch and two separate lens hoods for APS-C and full-frame sensors. However, the review highlights notable downsides: the autofocus system is not particularly fast and tends to hunt in low light or low contrast environments when...

The DPReview evaluation of the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 OS highlights a well-built design featuring a uniquely designed, detachable hinged tripod ring and a versatile three-position Optical Stabilizer (OS) switch. Handling is further enhanced by specialized switches, allowing for precise control over image stabilization during both static and panning shots. DPReview Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, including the omission of a focus limiter switch, which can lead to increased lens hunting in action photography. Additionally, the lens lacks environmental sealing at the mount, and the zoom ring becomes inaccessible when the lens hood is reversed for storage.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a highly recommended, budget-friendly telephoto zoom lens that offers excellent value compared to its more expensive first-party competitors. Tested on a high-resolution 36MP full-frame sensor, it delivers strong, reliable contrast and sharpness in the image center across the entire focal range, even when shot wide open at f/2.8. Key advantages include built-in Optical Stabilization (OS), a constant fast f/2.8 aperture, an internal focusing mechanism that preserves lens length, and a standard 77mm filter thread. Additionally, its center resolving power remains high enough to successfully pair with a teleconverter for an extended reach. However, the lens exhibits clear performance trade-offs, particularly at longer focal lengths and near the outer edges of full-frame sensors. The 200mm focal length proves to be its weakest end, where the image corners suffer heavily from astigmatism, spherical aberration haloing, and visible vignetting. Photographers must stop down significantly to f/8 or f/11 to achieve sharp, uniform cross-frame resolution. Other notable disadvantages include a lack of weather-resistant sealing at the mount, a bulky profile weighing over 1.4kg, and a...

The CNET review of the Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM highlights the lens as a robust, high-value alternative to native lenses, featuring a fast f/2.8 constant aperture, effective image stabilization (OS), and excellent sharpness. Its solid, durable construction makes it a versatile choice for portraiture and low-light event photography. CNET However, the review notes that the lens lacks professional weather sealing and has an autofocus system that is slightly less precise than top-tier, first-party competitors. Additionally, it misses out on automatic, in-camera lens profile corrections for vignetting, which are available with native Nikon or Canon alternatives.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 APO DG HSM EX OS is characterized by robust, weather-sealed construction, highly effective image stabilization, and swift autofocus capabilities. It delivers excellent central sharpness, minimal chromatic aberration, and pleasing bokeh at f/2.8, positioning it as a strong alternative to native lenses. Conversely, the lens exhibits significant vignetting and reduced edge sharpness at the maximum aperture, alongside a noisy stabilizer and occasional low-light autofocus hunting. The heavy, non-removable tripod collar and notable distortion across the zoom range are also identified as key limitations.

The Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM offers a budget-friendly, high-performance option for photographers, featuring effective optical stabilization and a removable tripod collar. It is noted for excellent center sharpness at shorter focal lengths and strong value compared to more expensive alternatives. However, the 3.2-pound lens lacks weather sealing and displays significant softness at 200mm f/2.8, requiring narrower apertures for better edge-to-edge results. Additionally, it shows notable barrel distortion and is not eligible for modern, competitive mount conversion services.

The Benjamin Lehman review praises the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM as a highly capable and affordable alternative to brand-name counterparts, showcasing outstanding performance under demanding, unpredictable scenarios like weddings. The core pros highlighted are its exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8, and its highly effective optical stabilization (OS) system. The reviewer emphasizes that the OS allows photographers to capture clean, jitter-free images at a focal length of 200mm with a shutter speed as slow as 1/80th of a second. Additionally, the lens retains crisp structural details like eyelashes and fine lines even when aggressively cropped beyond its native digital resolution. However, the review uncovers a few notable cons regarding its overall optical rendering. A distinct green color fringing (chromatic aberration) is visible in high-contrast situations, which contrasts with the magenta fringing typically seen on Canon equivalents. Despite this minor optical flaw, Lehman notes that the overall amount of color fringing is actually less severe than what he experienced on his own brand-name gear. Ultimately, the review concludes that this lens breaks the stigma...