Sigma 70-200 APO

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Sigma 70-200 f:2.8 EX APO HSM DG

The Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX APO HSM DG is more than a serious rival for the first trade lens as Nikon and Canon, mainly the Nikkor 80-200 f2.8 AF-ED and Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 USM L. The Sigma optic quality is exceptional and it doesn't only equal but rather it overcomes its rivals in some aspects. The EX (excellence) Sigma series qualifies this lens inside the professional range of the mark. The lens version we will analyze here doesn't include the macro function.

The lens has 17 elements in 14 groups, and 4 SLD (low dispersion) elements are included, two of them being in the front, what contributes to improve resolution and contrast. The minimum focus distance is 1,80 meters (mine focuses up to 1,50 meters) and it weighs about 1.270 gr. The lens has a 9 petals aperture blades that gives a really beautiful bokeh. The filter diameter is 77mm. It includes a flower-shaped hood, to protect it from flare, something very common to all zooms, and a balanced tripod mount, , due the Sigma lens weight.

The optics and mechanics quality of this lens are very good, it really deserves professional's epithet. It has a HSM focus mechanism, with an on lens motorized focus system that makes focus quick, precise and very silent. Has a full time manual override. The focus is faster and more silent than the Nikon 80-200 AF-ED.

The color quality is amazingly good, maybe lightly less saturated than Nikon, but is that a problem or an advantage?; the sharpness obtained between 70 and 140mm is almost better than Nikon, but on the other hand, Nikon overcomes Sigma lightly in the longer focal, next 200mm.

The Sigma 70-200 APO EX resolution is very good to excellent. Very good when it is completely open to f2,8 and improving to excellent when closing aperture a little..

The distortion is really low and has something from small barrel at 70mm, similar to the competitors, changing to a slight pincushion at 200mm. something that is common to the three zoom that we have mentioned here, being their behaviour very similar.

The vignetting is enough well controlled and we can say that is almost nonexistent, at least for Nikon DX sensors, where it has been proven. It exists, to say something, a -0,3 EV vignetting at 200mm f2,8, but this should not worry us, it is insignificant. The same thing we can say about chromatic aberrations, anything important.

This lens is a very interesting alternative to its competitors. Their construction quality and operation is similar, and if we cannot find the Nikkor 80-200 AF-ED at a good price, this Sigma is the perfect alternative that won't defraud you and it works perfectly with all Nikon and Canon DSLRs.

Some example images :

My daughter´s portrait. Nikon D50 y Sigma 70-200. Datos: 1/500, f2.8 y 200mm; -0.3 EV

Bell Tower. Nikon D50 y Sigma 70-200. Datos 1/4000; f5.6 y 200mm; ISO 400; -0,5 EV

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