Sigma’s new 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is the latest addition to the Art lens series. It's a wide angle to medium telephoto lens, making it an ideal choice for a variety of shooting styles and genres. Thanks to its constant f/2.8 aperture, you’ll get consistent brightness no matter how much you zoom, offering both flexibility and great image quality. Whether you’re capturing sweeping landscapes, taking portraits with smooth background blur, or even shooting videos, this lens is built to perform.
Thanks to Sigma’s advanced optical design utilizing large-diameter elements, including FLD, SLD, and five aspherical elements, it promises sharpness, clarity, and minimal distortion. The lens is built for demanding photographers and videographers alike. Does it live up to its promises and the quality of the Art series lineage? We test it to find out.
Build Quality
As you would expect from Sigma’s Art series, the build quality of the 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN is nothing short of premium. At less than 1 kg (995 g to be precise), it feels surprisingly lightweight for a lens of this range and aperture, making it easy to carry for longer shooting sessions. The lens itself is of medium size, measuring 159.9 mm on the Sony E-mount and 157.9 mm on the Leica L-mount, so it's not an obtrusive lens, nor is it of a concealable size if you were shooting, say, street photography.
A total of 12 diaphragm blades make up the aperture, with the lens comprising 18 elements in 13 groups (2 FLD, 1 SLD, and 5 aspherical elements). A minimum aperture of f/22 and a minimum focusing distance of 40 cm with a filter size of 82 mm. The lens also has Sigma's NPC (Nano Porous Coating), which helps lessen reflected light causing flares and ghosting, achieving clear image quality.
The lens barrel is constructed with a combination of metal and high-quality polycarbonate materials, giving it a durable yet refined feel. The petal-shaped hood, made from the same polycarbonate materials, also worked well in the situations I was testing, and it is locked and released via a button on the hood.
The lens also features a smooth or clickable aperture ring that adds a tactile element for those who prefer more hands-on control over exposure settings. The focus and zoom rings are well-damped, providing precise handling. The zoom ring is lockable when not in use, and I unlocked it to see if there was any lens creeping when being carried; rest assured, there was none.
The lens is also dust- and splash-resistant, allowing you to shoot confidently in varying weather conditions. However, as recommended by Sigma, don't get the lens soaked. There are also two AFL buttons located on the lens, positioned for both vertical and horizontal shooting, and they can be assigned to different functions depending on the camera model.
Performance
Optically, the Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN delivers excellent performance throughout its focal range. The use of FLD (F Low Dispersion), SLD (Special Low Dispersion), and aspherical elements ensures that chromatic aberrations and distortion are kept to a minimum. Only in high-contrast sky images did I notice any chromatic aberrations, which were easily dealt with in post. The lens delivers images that are sharp from edge to edge, with impressive contrast and clarity, even when shooting wide open at f/2.8.
There is no VR on the lens, although I didn't find this to be an issue due to the fast aperture; handheld videographers, however, might.
Bokeh is smooth and creamy, especially at the longer focal lengths, which makes this lens a great option for portraiture. The fast f/2.8 aperture allows for more creativity in low-light conditions without needing to increase the ISO too much. The autofocus, powered by Sigma’s high-speed HLA (Hyper Sonic Motor) technology, is snappy and silent, making it perfect for both still photography and video applications. For this review, I didn’t try any videography with the lens, so I am unable to comment on the accuracy of the focus and focus breathing when filming.
28mm
105mm
Pros
- Constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range
- Exceptional optical quality
- Lightweight and relatively compact for a zoom lens
- Fast and reliable autofocus performance
- Dust- and splash-resistant
- Smooth and clickable aperture ring for manual control
Cons
- The cost could be an issue for some
- Lack of image stabilization, which may be a downside for handheld video shooters
Final Thoughts
The Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens is a solid, professional lens for photographers and videographers who need versatility without sacrificing optical quality. Its combination of a fast aperture, excellent optics, and lightweight design makes it a versatile all-rounder. While it may come at a premium price for some, the build quality and performance are exceptional and what you come to expect from Sigma’s Art series of lenses.
I wished I had been able to take the lens further afield to different locations to test it more, and also do some videography, but alas, this wasn't the case this time around. Is the lens versatile? Yes. Did the lens perform as expected? That's a definite yes, and then some. I own the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art, so I am very aware of the Art series quality, and this lens is no exception. It has a premium feel, produces excellent image quality, and proved to be very versatile with its focal range.
If you are considering this lens, you can find out more here.
As this lens is neither wide nor long enough for my event or travel photography, if I were willing to schlep such a heavy lens, I'd take my 35-150/2.0-2.8 any day of the week and pair it with a UWA zoom. This is what I do for event work, but for walkabout I pair my 20-40 with a much lighter 50-300.
I couldn't get past the photo of the jet with a bird seemingly right next to it. Gah. But anyway, this looks like a great lens judging by the photos. But when the lens fairy comes to my home, I am expecting her to leave the Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 under my pillow. I am saving for that one.