Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports Review: A Pro Telephoto Zoom for Sony and L-Mount
Sigma’s first mirrorless 70-200mm f/2.8 took a long time to arrive. Sigma announced it on November 16, 2023 and shipped it on December 7, at $1,499 for Sony E and L-mount. That’s about half the price of Sony’s 70-200mm GM II and Panasonic’s S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8.
It’s a Sports-line lens, built for working professionals. The zoom is internal, focus uses two HLA linear motors, and it has an aperture ring, a first for a Sigma zoom. It replaces the old DSLR 70-200mm Sports, which weighed about 1,800 grams. The new one weighs 1,345 grams with its tripod foot.
A 70-200mm f/2.8 is the classic lens for sports and events, where you work from the barrier and the action happens a few meters away. Race days, ceremonies and street events all live in this range.
Photo: Pixel Effects
Dustin Abbott’s review tests it on Sony and compares it with the rivals.
Video review: Dustin Abbott
Design
The optical formula is 20 elements in 15 groups, including six FLD, two SLD and three aspherical elements. The aperture has 11 rounded blades and the filter thread is 77mm. Close focus is 65cm at 70mm and 1 meter at 200mm, for 0.19x magnification.
Stabilization is rated at 7.5 stops at 70mm and 5.5 stops at 200mm, with two modes and an intelligent panning mode. Controls are plentiful: three AF-L buttons, a focus limiter, AF/MF, OS and custom switches, and the aperture ring with a click switch and a lock. The mount is brass and the lens is dust and splash resistant.
How it performs
Dustin Abbott and Photography Blog found it sharp across the range, with good corners at 200mm. Both praised the stabilization, and Abbott found autofocus fast with low focus breathing.
The weaknesses: it’s heavy. At 1,345 grams it outweighs Sony’s 70-200mm GM II at 1,045 grams and the Tamron 70-180mm G2 at 855 grams. Photography Blog saw vignetting wide open and mild distortion. Abbott found the switches stiff and the tripod foot needs tools to remove. Magnification is low.
On Sony, there are extra limits. Teleconverters only work on the L-mount version, and Sony restricts third-party lenses to 15 frames per second on its fastest bodies. Sigma’s USB dock isn’t available for this lens either.
Who should buy it
L-mount shooters get the best version: full teleconverter support and no burst limit, at half the price of Panasonic’s S Pro lens. It fits well on the Lumix S1II and S5II. Our Lumix L-mount holy trinity covers how it fits a full kit.
On Sony, it’s a strong buy if you don’t need teleconverters or 30fps bursts. If you do, the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM II is lighter and has no limits. If weight matters more than the last 20mm, the Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 G2 is smaller and cheaper. We compare the Sony third-party options in our Sigma and Tamron holy trinity.