Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8
This zoom goes all‑out for performance
A top telephoto performer with a mighty feature range and a sumptuous build
Rightly or wrongly, Sigma and Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses were once seen as the poor man’s alternative to own-brand editions from Canon and Nikon. That all changed a couple of years ago, with the advent of the Tamron G2 (Generation 2) edition, which goes toe to toe with camera manufacturers’ pro-grade zooms, while undercutting them for cost. The long-awaited Sport edition of Sigma’s 70-200mm has now joined the fray, replacing the 2010 model and delivering a wealth of improvements.
A criticism of the old Sigma lens was that it lacked weather-seals. The Sport edition is massively better engineered to suit the rigors of a tough professional lifestyle. It has a magnesium alloy barrel and a coated brass mounting plate, along with comprehensive weather-seals. The look and feel of the lens is also consummately professional. As with other Sigma ‘Global Vision’ lenses, this one is compatible with Sigma’s optional USB Dock, for applying firmware updates and customisation. In this case, customisable options include the ability to fine-tune autofocus accuracy through a range of four different zoom settings.
The lens itself is one of the biggest and heaviest in its class, being 94.2mm in diameter with an oversized 82mm filter thread. Weighing in at 1,805g, it’s about 300g heavier than most current competitors.
Performance
Autofocus is as fast, accurate and quiet as you’d hope for. The optical stabiliser gave an effectiveness of up to four stops in our tests, matching the latest equivalent Nikon lens and beating the newest Mk III Canon, but falling slightly behind the Tamron G2 for static subjects. However, the effectiveness of panning stabilisation was a little better than in the Tamron lens. Image quality is simply fabulous, with creamy bokeh in defocused areas.