Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM lens review

Sigma’s pro-spec 24-70mm f2.8 full-frame zoom lens is available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Sigma mounts, and was tested here in conjunction with a Nikon D700 (full-frame) body. The first thing to note about Sigma’s 24-70mm f2.8 lens is its considerably lower cost than other premium zooms. Whereas Canon, Nikon and Sony all pitch their 24-70mm f/2.8 zooms in the £1,400 to £1,500 RRP bracket, Sigma’s lens is just £900 by comparison – and that’s before any on-the-street price discounts. The big question, therefore, is whether this less expensive lens is a true bargain or simply an inferior corner-cutting pretender. Nothing appears to have been sacrificed in terms of build quality - the Sigma's matt-black zoom feels solid and looks at home on the front on a Nikon D700. It nestles very comfortably in the hand with the manual-focusing ring falling naturally under the thumb and second finger. The zooming ring is wider and positioned to the rear, meaning that the left hand’s grip has to be shifted closer to the camera body. Under other circumstances this change of grip might have left the lens feeling rather unbalanced but the Sigma’s compact dimensions largely avoid this problem.