sigma 24-70 HSM
T
he new Sigma 24-70mm
The RRP at £899 is not bargain
of the field sharpness is vital, and
ƒ2.8 eX DG hSM replaces to guarantee that with the new lens
both the older non-macro 24-
basement, but it’s £500 to £1,000 less
at 24mm you must stop well down
70mm and 24-60mm models with to ƒ8 or ƒ11.
an updated design using a Hyper than you would pay for an alternative The HSM focusing is a big
Sonic Motor. Its Sigma's equivalent improvement over body drive or
to Nikon SWM, Canon USM and micromotors. This is of course the
Sony SSM. main selling point of the lens,
The slightly larger but lighter apart from its compact dimen-
24-70mm ƒ2.8 EX DG Macro, with sions and reasonable 915g weight.
mechanical drive or micro-motor It does not extend when focused,
focusing and a 1:3.8 close focus and only a modest amount when
image size at 40cm, remains on zoomed. The lens hood is a sensible
sale at around two thirds the £899 size unlike the Nikon which when
RRP of this latest launch. The new combined with an extra 38mm of lens
IF lens manages 1:5.3 at 38cm but length gives the impression you are
is the shortest and lowest-cost using a long lens when you are not.
of all the current ultrasonic focus The only marque lens the Sigma
motor 24-70mm ƒ2.8 lenses. may be ‘as good as’ is the Canon,
Canon, Nikon and Sony CZ rivals the oldest of the current big name
all take smaller 77mm filters and designs and no doubt due for revi-
offer a better close-up magnifica- sion. Nikon and Sony users both
tion than the new Sigma, but all have 24-70mms released in the
sell for well over £1k and can be last 18 months, with high price
close to £1.5k street price. The tags matched by excellent reputa-
Sigma has appeared in shops at tions. But apart from Sigma’s own
around £750, not massively dis- – equally good optically – macro
counted – many dealers are asking and older fast wide to portrait
over £800 and just a couple hit the designs, there is no longer any
£699 mark. At this price level you expect independent competition.
We have been able to test an extremely well-made lens, If you want an ultrasonic focus-
the new lens on Nikon D3 and and the Sigma delivers. The ing 24-70mm ƒ2.8 at around half
on APS-C coverage, but not on Nikon bayonet (AF-S G type) is the price of your own brand, this is
high resolution full frame. The beautifully machined and the your only option.
trade-off for very compact size whole lens fits and feels good – D & RTK
is clearly present, and Sigma has on a body like the D3, above. null
not (despite hopes) produced a
lens which matches or betters the
Nikon 24-70mm G AF-S ƒ2.8 or
The Sigma, right, versus the 24-
the 24-70mm ƒ2.8 Sony Carl Zeiss 70mm Nikkor, left. We didn’t have
Vario-Sonnar ZA. Quality losses are
mainly at the extremes of the field,
them side by side in the studio but
at ƒ2.8 to ƒ4 and the wide angle we have tried to match the barrel
end. It’s strikingly sharp centrally,
and has good even coverage at
dimensions in these two shots, in
70mm, though a comparison with scale. The
the 70-200mm ƒ2.8 HSM Sigma
resulted in a clear win for the tele
difference in
zoom. camera body
In practice, 24-70mm is now
feeling a bit wide and lacking at
size is due to
the long end for full frame use. the Nikkor
We have all become used to these
lenses on the smaller 1.5X and 1.6X
being mounted
formats, where they make an ideal on a D300 and
general purpose midrange zoom
for people shots. On full frame you
the Sigma on
immediately miss the frame-filling the much
ability for portraits which even
a 105mm has, relative to 70mm.
larger D3.
The wide-angle end is impressive
but for most wide-angle shots,
you are trying to cram a group
in the frame end to end or shoot
an interior, landscape or building.
These are all instances where edge
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