As a portrait artist who focuses on children, family and self portraiture, I love the idea of having a lens that does it all. When SIGMA released the 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art lens, I was immediately drawn to the range. I’m often shooting with fast prime lenses such as SIGMA’s 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm F1.4 on a weekly basis. I knew this lens would simplify so much for me.
Whether I’m at home or traveling, having light, minimal gear is valuable. I want to be spending less time changing out lenses, and more time soaking up the moment. I felt like I could capture a little bit of everything with the 28-105mm lens. From my back yard in Michigan to a family vacation along the coast of Alaska, this lens allowed me to soak up and creatively capture moments.
My impressions of the SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art
Construction and quality
Being that it’s a full-frame zoom lens, I expected it to be heavier than it was. It’s definitely lighter than I anticipated it to be. Not only does this lens have a flexible focal range that simplifies the amount of gear I need with me, it packs light too. Like all SIGMA DG DN Art lenses, the lens boasts an aperture ring which is one of my favorite features to have on a lens. I am able to quickly and easily adjust the aperture if needed. The lens also includes customizable features like click stops, or smooth, for the aperture ring, as well as a lock on the zoom ring. Additionally the lens is weather sealed and dust resistant to protect it from the elements. Living on a dusty dirt road myself, this is a must-have feature.
Flexibility
The flexible range with a constant F2.8 aperture is one of the best attributes of this lens. I found myself easily able to capture a lot of environment while shooting from above at the 28mm length. This, of course, has been especially beneficial in tight spaces. In contrast, at the 105mm length with a wide open F2.8 aperture, I was able to beautifully separate my subject from the background and create a dreamy atmosphere which is something I often strive for with my favorite prime telephoto lenses. The ability to easily change my focal length in a single environment thanks to the wide range was huge. I was able to capture single spaces in versatile and creative ways.
Optical performance
One of the things that impressed me was how fast and sharp this lens is. I’m often photographing little ones who are typically running at full speed ahead. The lens was fast, grabbing focus accurately and efficiently. Even at a wide open aperture of F2.8 while in challenging lighting, my subject was sharp. Overall, the sharpness was quite impressive center to the edges, even at the 28mm and 105mm lengths. The softness at the edges is minimal and what you would expect, especially at the 28mm length.
The most magical focal length (105mm)
For many years, one of my absolute favorite portrait lenses has been the SIGMA 105mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens. I often gravitate towards it when trying to create dreamy, surreal portraiture. Though nothing beats the wonderful, round bokeh I’m able to achieve with the F1.4 aperture on the 105mm, I was quite impressed with the beautifully smooth bokeh created with the 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art lens, especially at the 105mm F2.8 setting. With this lens, I was able to separate my subject from the background when needed, and achieve that dreaminess I so often strive for.
Final thoughts
The versatility of this lens is incredibly appealing and I definitely feel like I can capture a little bit of anything and everything with it. It’s perfect for landscape, lifestyle and portrait photographers. Whether I was shooting in a home environment or out in a remote Alaska location, I often found I only needed this lens.
What SIGMA has been able to achieve with this range is impressive, and I found that it was especially ideal to travel with. The SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art lens is light, fast and sharp all while boasting an incredible coverage of range.
Get the SIGMA 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art:
