Hands On With The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Lens

Earlier today Sigma announced a new fast zoom lens from its Contemporary series which will compete directly with the Tamron 28-70mm lens and complement Sigma’s own 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The new Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN is smaller, much lighter, and less expensive but initial reviews show good potential for this lens as an all-around travel lens.

Different emphasis

Although Sigma claims that the new 28-70mmis based on the existing 24-70mm lens (we are not exactly sure how this can be actually), they have different emphasis and it is very clear from looking at them side by side (you can see Sigma’s own press event below for that).

While the 24-70mm is designed with maximum optical performance with a wide-angle and with the very high build quality, The 28-70 is all about the compact size, sacrificing the wide-angle but gaining a huge reduction in weight (almost half that of the 24-70mm) and some length (about 2 cm less – although both are pretty compact).

The lens materials are also different – while the 24-70mm is an all-metal lens (hence the build and weight), the 28-70mm is made of polycarbonate (hard plastic) which is much lighter. It also lacks some of the buttons and switches the 24-70mm has but it does retain the AF/MF switch which is the most important lens button in our opinion.

Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Specs

28-70mm f/2.8 lens with FF coverage.
Optical structure with 16 elements in 12 groups including two FLD elements, two SLD elements, and 3 aspherical elements.
Nano coating and water-repelling coating.
9 aperture blades.
19-38cm minimum focus distance (1:4.6 max macro magnification ratio).
67mm filter thread.
470g weight.
Mounts – Sony E and Sigma/Panasonic/Leica L mounts.

Pricing and availability

The new Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8 DG DN will be priced at $900 starting in March 2021.

Hands-on and first reviews

Online there are already several hands-on reviews and previews of this lens and we collected a number of them for your viewing pleasure (above you can see B&H’s video on the lens).

Our friends from DPR in a rather hilarious look at the Sigma 28-70mm shooting on a Pentax camera

Christopher Frost look at the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN

Dustin Abbott on the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN

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Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.