Sigma 28-105mm F2.8-4 Aspherical IF A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#29641 date: Jul-27-2016 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 3 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 3.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony DT 16-105 F3.5-5.6 Sony DT 18-135 F3.5-5.6 SAM Sony AF 28 F2.8 Minolta AF 28 F2.8 Minolta AF 24-105 F3.5-4.5 D Minolta AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5/RS Minolta AF 28-135 F4-4.5 Sigma AF 35-135 F3.5-4.5 |
| price paid: | 60 USD (used) |
| positive: | Compact size Light weight Internal focus/non-rotating filter thread Very decent performance over entire range |
| negative: | Low Contrast (veiling glare?) Backward zoom direction Short throw, stiff, uneven zoom mechanism Short throw, noisy manual focus Barrel distortion at 28 mm 72 mm filter thread |
| comment: | This lens was released in 1996 replacing the 28-105mm F4-5.6 UC model. The original suggested retail price was $240 but $200 seems to have been the actual street price. This one is simply marked Aspherical--no "IF" or "D" or "DG" lettering on the barrel. It borrows the lens ID of the Minolta AF 28-135 F4-4.5 lens just like the earlier Sigma 35-135 F3.5-4.5. "Made in Japan" It really is quite compact and light for offering a range from 28/2.8 and 105/4. It is lighter than the Minolta AF 24-85 F3.5-4.5 not to mention the 28-105 F3.5-4.5. The 72 mm filter thread diameter is unnecessarily large. Optically it is a small improvement over the slightly larger, heavier Minolta AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5. The controls and feel however are definitely a step down. The focus plane is similarly curved unlike the Minolta AF 28-135 F4-4.5. It matches the half meter minimum focus distance of Minolta AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5. The distortion at 28 mm is very similar to the Minolta AF 28-xx zooms. The aperture blades seem to be straighter than either version of the Minolta. The 28 mm F2.8 primes have slightly better central sharpness and contrast wide-open and less distortion, but performance across the frame is similar. Test chart comparison with the Minolta AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5 and others. |
; 10MPrating summary
- total reviews: 12
- sharpness: 3.96
- color: 4.42
- build: 3.42
- distortion: 4.08
- flare control: 4.08
- overall: 3.99