Unleash the Power: SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art Review – The Ultimate Gimbal-Friendly Lens for Unmatched Versatility
Report◉Masaomi Sakaguchi (SPO Sakaguchi Photo Office ）
He is active in a wide range of genres, from advertising photography and TV commercials to promotional videos and documentaries, and is not only a photographer but also a director. He runs the YouTube channel SPO, where he also publishes examples of lenses and bodies, as well as other equipment review videos.
SPO YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@SPO
SPO website http://spo.main.jp/
table of contents
■ Overview of SIGMA 28-105mm DG DN | Art
■ View lens details
■ Usability and image quality
■ Focus Breathing
■ Delineation power at 150mm telephoto end
■ Balance when combined with camera bodies from three L-mount alliance companies
■Summary
Overview of SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art
SIGMA’s Art series has a reputation for high optical performance and build quality, and is a top-of-the-line line worthy of being called SIGMA’s flagship. The Art series includes prime lenses and zoom lenses, and this time we will be reviewing the 28-105mm, the latest addition to the Art line zoom lens, following the previous 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art. F2.8 DG DN | Art.
Two types of mounts are available: Sony E mount and L mount.
This lens is a convenient large-diameter zoom lens that covers everything from wide-angle to medium-telephoto, and can shoot up to 105mm, which is especially frequently used. The lens itself is part of the SIGMA Art series, which pursues high image quality and operability among the many SIGAM lenses, so it is considered a flagship. The angle of view from 28mm to 105mm is a lens that is intended to be used in a wide range of scenes such as landscapes and portraits, and in this review, we will introduce the build quality, performance, and usability with actual shooting samples. think.
[Zoom lens that can shoot up to 105mm with aperture F2.8]
There are two main features of this lens: it has a zoom range of 28-105mm, and it has an aperture of F2.8. This alone is an attractive spec that needs no explanation. Following the 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art, these specs make you feel that a new era of zoom lenses has arrived.
Speaking of zoom lenses that cover up to 105mm, the first thing that comes to mind is the 24-105mm F4, which is released by SIGMA and other companies. It is a popular lens with many users currently using it as their main lens.
Although this convenient zoom lens started out as 28mm, it is surprising that it now has an F2.8 aperture. The most popular standard zoom lens, 24-70mm F2.8, has a telephoto end of 70mm, which is slightly insufficient for portrait and product photography, so you will need to bring an additional prime lens or telephoto zoom lens. Ta. In fact, if you don’t have an expensive telephoto zoom, or if you want to reduce the amount of equipment you need, it’s actually common to compromise a little and shoot with 70mm. Users are happy to be able to solve these problems with a single lens.
View Lens Details: Design and Build Quality
[Size]
When actually shooting, the first thing to consider is the size and weight of the casing. The sizes are listed below.
Maximum diameter 87.8mm, length 157.9mm, weight 995g (L mount)
When I actually held it in my hand, it felt similar in size and weight to the company’s 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art. However, since this lens uses a retractable zoom, it is relatively compact when stored and when used at the wide-angle end. However, considering the lens specs, it is very small. As for build quality, as I mentioned in my previous review of the 28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art, I can really feel the high level of precision in the manufacturing of SIGMA lenses.
Despite being made of a combination of high-strength engineered plastic and metal, it is dense with very little clearance. I feel that the craftsman’s high level of technical ability was able to create such a detailed design while taking into account the heat shrinkage of different materials. That’s no wonder. SIGMA’s products are manufactured at the Aizu factory, making them one of the few truly Made in Japan lenses.
The lens construction is rich with 18 elements in 13 groups. It uses two pieces of low-dispersion glass, one piece of special low-dispersion glass, and five aspherical lenses to effectively suppress chromatic aberration and achieve excellent image quality with a sense of resolution. It’s amazing that this high-magnification lens covers everything from wide-angle to medium-telephoto, and it achieves the quality that accompanies SIGMA’s Art.
[Autofocus]
The AF uses a so-called HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) so-called linear motor, which enables highly accurate and fast AF, and has the performance to match the ever-increasing speed of camera-side AF.
[Operation system and surface finish]
The switches use an aperture ring, similar to SIGMA’s new zoom lenses (24-70mm F2.8 Type 2/28-45mm F1.8 DG DN | Art). The aperture ring can be clicked on and off, making it suitable for video shooting. The AFL button is placed in two locations at different angles so that it can be operated naturally for both vertical and horizontal shooting. As with the previous SIGMA Art series, the zoom lock and aperture ring lock can be operated.
If you look closely at the casing, the surface finish is also different from previous Art series products. It has the same satin finish as the Sports series, giving it a tougher impression.
[Lens configuration]
18 elements in 13 groups (2 FLDs, 1 SLD, 5 aspherical lenses)
Number of aperture blades: 12
Minimum twist F22
Shortest shooting distance 40cm
Maximum image magnification 1:3.1 (at focal length 105mm)
Filter size 82mm
Usability and image quality
【Feeling of use】
I immediately went out to the field and took pictures. The mass of this lens is kept at 995g (L mount). Considering the specs, it is very light. However, I thought it would be a little tight to hold it handheld, but it felt surprisingly light. I guess the weight balance is good. It’s not too front-heavy, and it’s easy to hold, making handheld shooting fun.
In particular, the photo shoot was stress-free and relaxing. The focus ring has a moderate viscosity and stays exactly where you want it. The adjustments in this area are, to be expected, exquisite. The zoom ring also moves smoothly and allows for delicate operations. Even with the lens at its longest length and an ND filter attached, it doesn’t feel too heavy to me.
【image quality】
When I immediately checked the material shot with this lens, what I noticed at first glance was the “resolution.” I felt it was very sharp and had good clarity. It has a clear impression with good contrast and rich coloring. It perfectly depicts the luster of the car’s body and the sharpness of the intricate press lines.
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/50 f8mm ISO100 105mm 
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/30 f8mm ISO100 105mm Try photographing landscapes. I tried shooting with the aperture stopped down to bring out the sense of resolution, and the detailed depiction was just as I got from the first look. I deliberately chose a location that was difficult to depict due to backlighting that reduced the contrast, but it was also depicted with a wealth of information. This expressive power is reliable.
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/200 f8mm ISO100 45mm 
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/250 f5.6mm ISO100 28mm [Lens coating]
The backlight resistance is also amazing. That’s no wonder; in addition to the usual multi-layer coating, this lens coating includes a “nanoporous coating” that is used on some high-end single-focal-length lenses. Although the coating is difficult to process and expensive, it is generously applied and is reflected in the overall image quality. The company’s 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art is a wide-angle zoom lens that uses the same nanoporous coating. It looks good to use in combination with this lens.
I took a slow shutter shot in a dark place, but the separation between the details of the leaves and trunk and the smooth water surface was amazing. Even areas that are likely to be overshadowed are clearly depicted.
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/3 f8mm ISO200 40mm 
Shooting data: SIGMA fp L 1/15 f2.8mm ISO200 35mm focus breathing
Focus breathing (change in angle of view due to focus movement) is also well controlled. When performing focus operations such as focus shifting, this lens has less focus breathing like a cine lens, making it possible to take high-quality shots that naturally focus the viewer’s gaze. This shows that this lens was made with video shooting in mind. This photo was taken at 50mm aperture F2.8, and the bokeh was very smooth and gave a beautiful impression.
Delineation power at 105mm telephoto end
Shooting data: LUMIX S5M2x ISO640 1/500 f2.8 105mm The 105mm lens at the telephoto end, where you may be concerned about image quality, also has a sense of resolution, and whether it’s wide open or stopped down, the in-focus areas are sharp. Stable descriptive power is felt even in contrasting light conditions, such as low-contrast dawn (top photo) and clear daylight (bottom photo).
[105mm telemacro]
The shortest shooting distance can be as close as 40cm over the entire area. When shooting at 105mm, it is wonderful to be able to use it as a telemacro camera with a maximum magnification of 1:3.1. This shows the wide scope of this lens.
Balance when combined with camera bodies from three L-mount alliance companies
This lens is available in Sony E mount and L mount, and I am currently an L mount user.
With the L mount, manufacturers participating in the alliance use a common mount, so various combinations of lenses and bodies are possible. In addition to SIGMA, Panasonic, Leica, and DJI, the addition of Blackmagic Design further expands your options.
I tried setting it up on three cameras from the equipment I had on hand. I would like you to take a look at the size and balance so that it will be helpful before purchasing. The three bodies used were SIGMA fp, LUMIX S5M2x, and Blackmagic Design BMCC6K. I tried setting it up with everything in the cage.
The SIGMA fp has an extremely compact body, so naturally it is front-heavy, but this camera is like that in the first place. If you combine it with optional grips and side handles, you can hold it securely. 
LUMIX S5M2x This combination feels very well balanced. The S5M2x has a common size and shape for mirrorless cameras, so I think it will have a similar impression when combined with the Sony α. 
BMCC6K Although it is the largest camera among the three, it has a good balance with the lens. This balance gives me a good impression since this is a camera that primarily uses manual focus. My impression after attaching it to three cameras is that it’s a good size and not too big. summary
I would like to summarize my impressions using both videos and photos.
I think this lens will become a product that symbolizes the brand in a sense, as “SIGMA’s standard zoom lens is the 28-105mm F2.8.” At 28mm on the wide-angle end, the angle of view is a little narrower than a typical standard zoom, but it’s made more compact. If I were to start with 24mm, the weight would be well over 1kg, making it a large and heavy lens that would require a tripod mount, so I think this is the optimal solution.
I tested it under various conditions, and it was clear that the image had a good sense of resolution across the entire aperture range. A simple, high-quality lens. The F2.8 wide-angle lens covers everything from wide-angle to mid-telephoto while achieving high-speed AF, and the control system has been exquisitely tuned, down to the texture of the switches and the sound. The shortest shooting distance is 40cm over the entire area, making it a lens that allows you to get close.
Focus breathing is effectively suppressed even when shooting video, so you can shoot without feeling any discomfort when changing the focus. The adoption of HLA allows simultaneous recording and shooting without worrying about the noise of the focus motor. Due to its reduced size and mass, it can also be used with gimbals. This is a product that fits the word “almighty” very well. The price can be purchased in the 240,000 yen range (as of October 2024). It’s not cheap by any means, but considering the price of lenses with similar specs, it’s excellent value for money. If you’re having trouble deciding, this is the lens that I can confidently recommend.
