Sigma 70 - 200 F/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport Review

[Zack T]

Sigma 70 - 200 F/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport Review

A little history about my photography experience. Last year I was still using the Canon 5dm3 + 6D and I was waiting for the next greatest thing from Canon. Unfortunately nothing materialized. The 6D2 is a step back and the 5D4 was too much for too little. Sony then revealed the A7III. That body gave you pretty much everything I wanted in the 6D2 but unfortunately Canon didn't make it nor did they price it. I prompty pre-ordered the lens and got it 1st day on release in North America. The EOSR was underwhelming so I picked up the A7RIII to complement my A7III. All my lenses are still EF mount in case Canon came out with anything competitive but I switched out some of my lense for more Sony friendly Sigma EF mounts. From all the reviews I read and watched, Sigma's Art line + mc-11 was pretty much on par with the E mount version of the same lens. The only difference was focus noise in video. Optic wise Sigma lenses was either on par or a step ahead of Sony's lens of that focal range. Since I have no ambition to record video it was a no brainer for me.

The 2 most versatile lense are the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8. I own both Canon's version and will be keeping the EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II I because it still focuses fast, accurate and quick while offering the best image quality out of any brand's 24-70 f/2.8, including the GM. The Sigma 24-70 F/2.8 Art is the only dud of their Art line up.

My EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS L II would sometimes hunt forever and will not acquire a lock. It was infuriating to have one of the better 70-200s but not be able to use it to it's full capacity. Luckily Sigma announced a refresh of their 70-200 and rebranded into their Sports/Art line. Since the lens is so new and no one else really has a review from a Sony user's perspective, I'd give it a go.

Autofocus

Tested on my Sony A7RIII v2.1 + MC11 v1.4.1
I used 3 lenses for AF tracking comparison.
Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II (1.49kg)
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport (1.8kg)
Sony 85 f/1.8 FE

The Sony 85 f/1.8 is one of the quickest AF on the Sony body, I do not have lens that focus faster than this one. It would lock on quick and fast on the very 1st try, no hunting. I had no issues locking on to anything expect in really harsh back lighting.
I would rate it a 10/10

The Canon IIL if it can resolve would lock on pretty quick too 9/10, but when it can't it will hunt indefinitely. You really cannot tell when it will hunt, it just happens and you will miss your shot. I was at a fashion show event and ending up switching to my 105 f/1.4 Art because of the focusing issues. 0/10 when it cannot resolve.

The Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 Sport would track pretty well in great lighting 9.5/10. When it has bad lighting conditions like bright back lightning it's about a 4/10.

Unfortunately I did not have access to a Sony 70-200 F/2.8 GM to test out and compare it with these against the Canon or Sigma.

You can make AF faster with the Sigma dock and assigning it to one of the custom toggles. It makes the AF a small % faster than without it enabled. Since I own the dock this is not an issue, but if you do not own one you will need to purchase one or ask someone to help you out. This should of been automatically set up as Custom C1 out of the factory.

Video AF works as the Canon version does not adapted so there is not much more for me to go into on this. I have the 85 f/1.8 FE to do video if I really wanted to get a tight AF shot and I think that would be better for video than a zoom anyways.

Canon extenders AF

1.4x - very quick, works fine 8/10
2x - much slower AF than when I remember the 70-200 + 2x on my 5dm3 5/10

Flaring

Has better flare resistance than the Canon EF 70 -200 f/2.8 II as I tested this against the Canon f/2.8 II. I do not have the version III to test out but I believe that lens would beat the Sigma. 9/10



Sigma Left - Canon Right

Focus Breathing

Either this lens is really a 201mm to 205mm or the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II has a tiny amount of focus breathing as at closest focus distance or the Sigma has an even smaller focus distance. I noticed that the subject is a fraction bigger than it is on the EF 70-200 F/2.8 L IS II. This is incredible because no other lens comes close to the legendary EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II for this ability. 10/10



Sigma Left - Canon Right

Image Stabilization

4 stops worth and it also works in conjunction with Sony's IBIS this should be even better than Tamron's 70-200 G2 on a Canon body. 10/10

Optical Quality / Sharpness

It's pretty much on par or sharper than my Canon EF 70-200, and that's saying a lot as even Canon didn't change their optics when they refreshed it to version III. Great edge to edge sharpness right at f/2.8. Minor improvements at f/4. 10/10



Other features

3 Focus hold button can be reassigned to whatever you want on the Sony body. Eye AF, Focus hold, AF on, or whatever else is in their custom button menu. Each button does the same thing though.
Custom toggle C1/C2 can be pre-programmed with quicker/smoother AF / focus range limitered / and smoother IS?
IS mode has off / on / panning only IS
Removeable Arcaswiss foot attached to tripod collar so you do not need external plates unless you have a totally different tripod head.

Conclusion

I have not had the chance to play with the Sony's GM version but I think the Sigma is the better value for 66% the price. The only negatives of this lens is the weight and maybe native AF. The AF is the next best thing though. I will sell my Canon 70-200.

 

[KRRacing]

Thanks for the review. Can you please post some image comparisons between Sigma and Canon to prove that the Sigma is sharper? How about the color, contrast and bokeh quality?

 

[Sevan]

This is really great thanks for the review. I was really curious about the focus breathing so its nice to see how well the sigma is doing. Guess sigma has really been stepping it up like crazy lately. I think this is one lens many people waited for a long time to arrive and it looks like it will not disappoint!

Well I guess I will need to visit Samy's camera store once they got it in stock to test out this bad boy versus the Tamron 70-200 G2 before I buy it. Not that I really have any desire to get rid of the Tamron which I love but I would love to add this to my kit My only 2 things about the tamron is the delay in when the stabilization kicks and the focus breathing which isn't really a huge deal but does annoy me at 200mm a bit.

I too would love to see some more image quality comparisons if it's not too much trouble!

 

[fishy wishy]

Thanks for the review. Can you please post some image comparisons between Sigma and Canon to prove that the Sigma is sharper?

Does he need to do that? It can be enough that it looks no worse and saves $1000.

How about the color, contrast and bokeh quality?

Notice how smooth the background was in that shot just above what you wrote? Some lenses do a lot rougher than that. If you want to see rough OOF, look up "Nisen" bokeh.

He's only a forum poster doing you a favor, you're asking him to write more than Dustin Abbott.

 

[Zack T]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

 

[SushiEater]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

 

[Zack T]

Thanks for the review. Can you please post some image comparisons between Sigma and Canon to prove that the Sigma is sharper? How about the color, contrast and bokeh quality?

Sigma is always on the Left and Canon is always on the right



Both are at 200mm as I don't really care for the other focal lengths.

No IS, Manually focused.

I seriously can't tell the difference between the 2 lens. You see a minor bit of sharpness out of Sigma but barely. There is some fringing on the Canon lens at f/8 in the corner. It could be down to how I recorded these results though, but this is my 1st time as I tried to keep both sets as close as possible to the same settings.



f/2.8 center





f/2.8 corner





f/4 center





f/4 corner





f/8 center





f/8 corner

 

[Marco1227]

The Canon 70-200 2.8 II is about 195mm at minimal focus distance so the sigma must be pretty close to 200mm as well.

Great effort by Sigma.

 

[antonoat]

Really appreciate you sharing this as mainstream reviews have been very thin on the ground thus far. I am considering the Sigma instead of the latest Nikon 70-200f2.8fl which in many tests proves to be the sharpest lens of this type available, if the Sigma is comparable it may well save me £1,000 which could fund more gear.

Cheers and thanks again.

 

[SQLGuy]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

 

[Mark K]

Thank you very much Zack. I am pretty much at the fence of newer cameras and lenses, using 5d3, A7r2 and your review is just in time to push me to get an A7r3 and perhaps to sell 70-200 f2.8 IS to finance the newer Sport. I have two Sigma 70-200 OS...And they suffer from severe focus breathing.

 

[SushiEater]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

 

[SQLGuy]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

If you meant Canon EF without adapter vs. with adapter, the only thing I have to compare with is an EOS A2e. On that camera, AF is maybe a tenth of a second faster for that test.. I would not call that "much slower." I would attribute this difference to the extra refinement that happens with Sony native hybrid AF (AF is at taking aperture, with some open and close happening in cases where taking aperture isn't wide open). On the Canon, AF stays wide open the whole time. If that's what you want, then you should use some other adapter than the MC-11. With something like a Viltrox, you'll get wide open AF all the time with no extra refinement... and no other native features either.

 

[SushiEater]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

It was tested on Sony and on 5D4 if I remember correctly.

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

Even one second is too slow. You should see how Tamron focuses on Nikon cameras like D500 or D5. Very fast, almost instant. But of course it is a native mount.

Of course Tamron has its problems, build quality, switches, focus breathing. That is why I was inquiring how fast Sigma focuses. Everything else seems very good.

 

[SQLGuy]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

It was tested on Sony and on 5D4 if I remember correctly.

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

Even one second is too slow. You should see how Tamron focuses on Nikon cameras like D500 or D5. Very fast, almost instant. But of course it is a native mount.

Of course Tamron has its problems, build quality, switches, focus breathing. That is why I was inquiring how fast Sigma focuses. Everything else seems very good.

 

[SushiEater]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

It was tested on Sony and on 5D4 if I remember correctly.

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

Even one second is too slow. You should see how Tamron focuses on Nikon cameras like D500 or D5. Very fast, almost instant. But of course it is a native mount.

Of course Tamron has its problems, build quality, switches, focus breathing. That is why I was inquiring how fast Sigma focuses. Everything else seems very good.

Ok. Please time or make a video under the same circumstances: full frame camera, focus to infinity, then focus to a subject 9 feet away, indoors, with no focus limiter, and default focus speed.

Are you going to do the same?

 

[fishy wishy]

Thank you very much Zack. I am pretty much at the fence of newer cameras and lenses, using 5d3, A7r2 and your review is just in time to push me to get an A7r3 and perhaps to sell 70-200 f2.8 IS to finance the newer Sport. I have two Sigma 70-200 OS...And they suffer from severe focus breathing.

I don't know how you put up with them. I had them on both Canon & Nikon and soon got rid because at 200 f2.8 they were only good in a tiny central zone. Nice enough to use though. They went to somebody else who seemed to be happy with them...

Very interested in comparisons with a good G2 copy, because you can buy the G2 so much cheaper gray market frankly.

 

[SQLGuy]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

It was tested on Sony and on 5D4 if I remember correctly.

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

Even one second is too slow. You should see how Tamron focuses on Nikon cameras like D500 or D5. Very fast, almost instant. But of course it is a native mount.

Of course Tamron has its problems, build quality, switches, focus breathing. That is why I was inquiring how fast Sigma focuses. Everything else seems very good.

Ok. Please time or make a video under the same circumstances: full frame camera, focus to infinity, then focus to a subject 9 feet away, indoors, with no focus limiter, and default focus speed.

Are you going to do the same?

Yes. I already did. Those number are from me timing it.

 

[SushiEater]

haha yah I'll try to get some comparison pictures later today. I'm at work right now and my laptop is lacking.

Is it possible to de-focus Sigma to the infinity on the long side and focus on something in the decent light like in the bright living room. Then use your cell phone to make a video of it?

Thanks.

I am not going to make a video of it, but, from infinity to an object in my living room, at about 9', took a bit over a second. This is AF-S on an A7R2 with MC-11, 200mm, center AF area, and default AF speed. The same test with the Sigma 100-400 at 400mm took about twice as long.

Thank you but by the time you posted this I read somewhere that Sigma 70-200mm will focus much slower on non native cameras with adapter. I am going to wait a month for WPPI where I can do it myself.

Much slower than what? And with which adapter?

It was tested on Sony and on 5D4 if I remember correctly.

You're saying "non-native cameras with adapter..." The only native Sigma cameras are the SA mount ones, like the SD Quattro. Are these still in production? Anyway, a bit more than one second is a bit more than one second.

Even one second is too slow. You should see how Tamron focuses on Nikon cameras like D500 or D5. Very fast, almost instant. But of course it is a native mount.

Of course Tamron has its problems, build quality, switches, focus breathing. That is why I was inquiring how fast Sigma focuses. Everything else seems very good.

Ok. Please time or make a video under the same circumstances: full frame camera, focus to infinity, then focus to a subject 9 feet away, indoors, with no focus limiter, and default focus speed.

Are you going to do the same?

Yes. I already did. Those number are from me timing it.

Test was done on D5. I think it even focuses faster on D500.

Download this video.

https://app.box.com/s/gacrg0mfzs9xsxmllti6pfr1pfyv6a69

Video was made by D500.

I could not do it on inside but I put the target in the dark shade outside from what it seems like 12 feet away. I don't think distance matters.

Focus is faster than I can time it with any stopwatch,

So then I loaded this video in Wondershare Filmora which has timing scale and advanced it what it seems like frame by frame.

These frames are from the second try which starts from around 20.17 seconds.

As you can also see that limiter switch is in upper position, means no focus limiter engaged.



























--
If I don't respond to your post after you responded to my with NEGATIVE remarks that means you are on my Ignore list.
Photography Director for Whedonopolis.com

 

[Mark K]

Thank you very much Zack. I am pretty much at the fence of newer cameras and lenses, using 5d3, A7r2 and your review is just in time to push me to get an A7r3 and perhaps to sell 70-200 f2.8 IS to finance the newer Sport. I have two Sigma 70-200 OS...And they suffer from severe focus breathing.

I don't know how you put up with them. I had them on both Canon & Nikon and soon got rid because at 200 f2.8 they were only good in a tiny central zone. Nice enough to use though. They went to somebody else who seemed to be happy with them...

Very interested in comparisons with a good G2 copy, because you can buy the G2 so much cheaper gray market frankly.

Well I tolerate them because of the prices I paid.... I bought F mount to replace the blank after I giving my beloved 70-200 VR away....and A mount the replace the much hated 70-200 EX... I paid only 1500 for two brand new lenses 1