Sigma 70mm F/28 Dg Macro Art Lens Review

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Review L Mountain:

I must admit that I don't really shoot much macro probably considering I was a Leica M user for so many years, and while in that location are ways to shoot macro with an M like say using the Leica Macro-Elmar-Thousand 90mm f4 , it's just not really that convenient.  The Leica SL system inverse a lot for me, especially when the L Mount Alliance was established.  One way it changed things for me was beingness able to shoot with a lens like the Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens .  I had this lens on loan for a few weeks, and tested information technology entirely with my Leica SL2 .  Here's what I think of it.

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Build Quality:

Permit's offset off talking about the build quality, which by the way, is excellent.  This is a Sigma Art Line lens, so you lot can bet it's built for professional use.  The 70mm f2.viii Macro is constructed from a combination of metallic, and Thermally Stable Blended (TSC) cloth.  According to Sigma, this allows for greater precision, and apply in broad temperature variations.  The bayonet mountain is also made of brass.  Thanks to rubber sealing, the lens is grit and splash resistant equally well.

↑ The Leica SL2 with the 70mm f2.eight DG Macro Art lens attached.

Overall, the 70mm f2.viii DG Macro Art lens feels very solid with admittedly no signs of inferior workmanship.  There are no creaks, rattles or whatsoever signs of lower quality build whatsoever.  In that location's a big focus ring, which makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to grab and rotate.  It's also smoothen as yous rotate it.  The switches on the side of the lens for things like AF/MF, and the focusing limiter click solidly as y'all choose each setting.  There is no image stabilization simply I've been using this on the SL2, which does have image stabilization, and I didn't see whatsoever instability problems.  Overall, the build is impressive, and matches every other Sigma Art Line lens that I've tested then far.

↑ There are AF/MF and focus limiter switches on the side.

Now, I'll admit that virtually of the Sigma Fine art Line lenses that I've reviewed and then far have been large and heavy.  Sigma's Fine art Line is all most the optics fifty-fifty if its at the cost of size and weight.  I'm a person who is definitely for this philosophy; weight and size are generally not a cistron for me, so long as I get the results that I'k afterward.  All the same, not anybody wants to comport a big and heavy lens, which is understandable.  Plus, it depends on what you're shooting as well.  Plainly, if I'thousand on holiday, I'm probably going lighter ;).  Practiced news about the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens is the image quality is fantastic (I will speak more near it beneath), and so optics have clearly not been sacrificed at all merely the 70mm f2.8 is also a lens that is quite manageable in terms of weight and size.

↑ Top view of the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro lens.

Considering its focal length, prototype quality, and maximum aperture, the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens is really a relatively compact and light lens.  In terms of size, it's kind of similar the Leica Summicron-SL lenses.  As for weight, the 70mm f2.8 Macro is just 515 g, which is actually lighter than my APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f2 ASPH .  The latter is 700 k.

↑ When yous're focusing shut, the barrel extends out, an yous can see what ratio y'all're shooting at.

What all of this basically ways is the 70mm f2.8 is really great to walk around with all solar day.  It balances nicely on my SL2 just besides that, it'due south not a large lens, so it still tin can be unimposing and like shooting fish in a barrel to manage.  Being that information technology'south also relatively light, it's something that isn't going to tire yous out either.  I had this lens on loan during some very hot weeks hither in New York City.  How hot?  Well, equally I'grand writing this right now, it's really 99 degrees outside, and that's non factoring in the humidity or annihilation else.  This is definitely one of the easier lenses that you can deport around, especially for the L mount organization.  You won't exist struggling with information technology at the end of the mean solar day.

As for what is included with the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Fine art lens , y'all get a lens instance with zipper opening, and a lens hood.  I had absolutely no issues with flare during normal testing (meaning I did non purposely aim at the sun, for case), and then I just used the lens hood for the start few days that I had information technology.  Afterwards, I left information technology at home.

↑ The Sigma 70mm f2.viii DG Macro Fine art lens comes with a zippered pouch, and a lens hood.

Sigma 70mm f2.eight DG Macro Art Lens Autofocus:

Now that nosotros finished talking most the build quality, let's get into the autofocus system.  The Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Fine art lens uses a newly developed coreless DC motor.  It uses a focus by wire organization.  Full-fourth dimension manual focus is possible even during autofocus, and so the lensman can brand pocket-sized adjustments simply by turning the focus band.

So that above is all the tech stuff.  In actual usage, I establish the 70mm f2.8 Macro'southward autofocus to be decent overall.  It does not accept the fastest autofocus out there but it's also not the slowest either.  In other words, it's average.  I tried this lens with everything from cityscape, portraits, some activeness, and of course, macro; overall, the autofocus wasn't something that was causing me any issues.  For instance, a model during a casual shoot I scheduled was still able to be spontaneous with her poses.  However, the closer you go to i:i, the more the autofocus will hunt, which isn't out of the ordinary.  Still, it was fast enough to capture a bee on a flower earlier it flew away, for example.  What helps is the focus limiter switch I mentioned before.

Also, while the autofocus is very tranquillity, you'll still hear a little chip of noise from the motor.  Merely it's nothing that would scare off whatever bugs for instance, when you're out doing macro piece of work.

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Image Quality:

Let'southward talk about image quality, which is where the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens truly shines.  When I offset got this lens in to review, I wasn't certain what to wait.  I've reviewed Sigma products in the past, and overall, I love what they can produce.  But I don't do much macro work, and I wasn't thinking I would relish this lens equally much even though you can use it for other subjects besides macro photography.  Simply afterward using it, I can definitely see why for one, this is the first Sigma prime macro lens to carry the Art Line badge, and two, why this has become one of my favorite lenses.

↑ This was taken using 250 ISO and f4.5, 1/250s.

↑ This was taken at f8, 1/250s with 400 ISO.

↑ This was taken at f8, one/250s with 100 ISO.

First off, this lens is incredibly sharp.  The pics here probably do not do it justice simply because of the pinch.  The amount of detail that the 70mm f2.viii Macro resolves is astounding.  This lens is easily upwards in that location with the all-time.  Center sharpness at f2.8 is excellent with the corners pretty much on par as well.  It's so sharp that quite frankly, it's hard to see any real noticeable difference even when yous finish this lens down.  In other words, feel free to use this lens throughout its aperture range.

↑ This was taken at f8, 1/250s with 400 ISO.  The bee had just flown into the pic right earlier I took it, so it is slightly off focus.

↑ Hither's a 100% crop of the photo above.

↑ This was taken at f2.viii, i/250s with 400 ISO.

↑ Hither's a 100% crop of the photo to a higher place.

↑ This was taken at f8, 1/250s with 160 ISO.

↑ Hither'due south a 100% ingather of the photograph above.  This lens retrieves every single little detail.

In addition to sharpness, the 70mm f2.viii DG Macro Fine art lens has other excellent traits.  Color rendering and contrast are peachy.  There isn't any noticeable distortion that I see, and flare wasn't an consequence for me at all.  There is vignetting at f2.8, which is not out of the ordinary but stopping down to just f4 helps quite a bit.  Later that, it's not an issue.  Overall, if yous're looking for a macro lens or simply a brusk tele that simply has superb eyes, you probably don't need to look any farther.  There'southward not much I tin can fault this lens optically.

↑ This was taken at f8, 1/250s using 100 ISO.

↑ Here'southward a 100% crop of the photo to a higher place.

↑ This was taken using 100 ISO, and f8, 1/100s.

↑ This was as well taken using 400 ISO.  The settings were f11 and 1/250s.

To top it off, I found the bokeh and shallow depth of field to be extremely pleasing.  The 70mm f2.eight DG Macro Fine art lens  has a 9-blade rounded diaphragm, which contributes to the quality of its bokeh.  I did use it for a casual shoot I was able to schedule with a friend, and the groundwork simply melts away at f2.8.  When shooting macro, I found stopping down to f5.half dozen, f8 or even farther was improve simply because at f2.8, and with such a close distance, so much is thrown out of focus.  Even at smaller apertures though, the bokeh was ultra smooth and inviting.

↑I wanted to do more shoots to test this lens merely with New York City only recently getting out of lockdown because of the corona virus, scheduling shoots was still pretty difficult.  Hither's a shot of my friend taken at f2.8, and 1/250s with 50 ISO.

↑ This was taken at f2.8 using 100 ISO.  As you can see, the bokeh is ultra smooth.  I didn't practise besides many macro shots at wide open discontinuity because the depth of field was just likewise sparse for my taste.

↑ Here's a 100% crop of the photo to a higher place.

↑ This was taken using 400 ISO.  The settings were f5.half dozen, and ane/250s.

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Pros And Cons:

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Fine art Lens Pros:

• Well-built.
• Compact and lite.
• Incredible optics.
• Abrupt.
• Great bokeh.
• 1:1 macro capability.
• You tin can get this lens in multiple mounts.
• Affordable price.

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art LensCons:

• Lack of epitome stabilization.

Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art Lens Verdict:

I didn't think I would enjoy the 70mm f2.eight DG Macro Art lens as much every bit I did at kickoff because I'm not really a macro photographer only afterward my fourth dimension with it, the 70mm f2.viii has apace become one of my favorite lenses.  You're really getting a lot here, and at what I call back is likewise a bang-up cost.  The list price of this lens is $569 but currently, there's a $100 rebate bringing the price downwards to $469.  Yet at this price, y'all're getting a lens that I feel matches with the best out there.  For one, the build is fantabulous.  It'south as well compact and light, so it'due south something that can be easily carried around all day.  The autofocus is decent for the nearly part.  Lastly, the optics are downright impressive.  I don't desire to keep repeating myself just I really want to emphasize that optically, this is one spectacular lens.  The way that this lens resolves volition accident yous away.

↑ This was taken at f8, 1/250s using 160 ISO.

Furthermore, yous don't need to necessarily exist into macro photography to reap the benefits of this lens.  In other words, the 70mm f2.8 Macro works slap-up as a normal short telephoto as well.  As you can see in my review, I used information technology for many unlike subjects.  All of its strengths similar its build, size, weight, and of course, eyes brand it a dandy lens to always have in your bag in general.  The macro ability for me is only an added plus.

↑ This was taken at f8, ane/250s using 320 ISO.

Bottom line is the 70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens is seriously hard to shell.  This lens has quite bluntly impressed me, and has but made me an even bigger fan of the Sigma Art line of lenses.  If y'all're looking for macro adequacy for an 50 mount camera and/or just a superb short tele, I highly suggest you put this on your brusque list of lenses to consider.  I can't recommend it enough.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!  If you're considering purchasing the Sigma 70mm f2.8 Macro, and my review helped you lot decide, please help support this site by purchasing from the link below or any mentioned in this review.  It will not cost you anything actress.Thanks for your support!

70mm f2.8 DG Macro Art lens at B&H Photo

Leica SL2 at B&H Photo

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Source: https://findingrange.com/2020/07/29/sigma-70mm-f2-8-dg-macro-art-lens-review-l-mount/

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