Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG APO A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#20420 date: Nov-9-2015 | |
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| sharpness: 3.5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta MD 50-135 F3.5 Sigma 50-150 F2.8 EX DC II Sony DT 55-200 F4-5.6 SAM Vivitar 70-150 F3.8 Kino & Tokina Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Vivitar S1 70-210 F3.5 I & II Minolta AF 70-210 F4 Minolta AF 70-210 F3.5-4.5 Tokina 80-200mm F2.8 AT-X Pro Vivitar 85-205 F3.8 Minolta AF 100-200 F4.5 |
| price paid: | Rokinon 16/2 |
| positive: | Quiet AF Smooth and quiet zoom action Internal zoom Internal focus |
| negative: | Size and weight Inaccurate AF Soft corners Soft on the long end Heavy PF and CA Varifocal |
| comment: | RacingManiac traded me this lens in exchange for the Rokinon 16 f/2.0. So, this is the second review of this particular copy of this lens. The non-DG version of lens was released in 1998 and replaced the older Sigma 70-210 F2.8 APO that came out in 1992. Sigma borrowed the lens ID of the Minolta AF 70-210 F4. "MADE IN JAPAN" I prefer the feel and operation of this lens to the more metallic Tokina 80-200 F2.8 AT-X Pro. It is certainly much quieter focusing. It also uses the normal Minolta zoom direction. From memory the image quality was better than the Tokina, though that lens may have been damaged. The smaller 70-150 F2.8 DC II is a much nicer lens to use, and has similar image quality on APS-C. The older, much smaller, and slightly slower telephoto zooms are much sharper especially in the corners. The image quality is nowhere near as good as what is available from the Sony 85 F2.8 SAM, Minolta AF 100 F2.8 RS, or Minolta AF 135 F2.8 prime lenses. It is hard to see why anyone puts up with the drawbacks of these big clunky zooms. |
; 24MPrating summary
- total reviews: 23
- sharpness: 4.78
- color: 4.70
- build: 4.78
- distortion: 4.91
- flare control: 4.87
- overall: 4.81