Sigma APO 70200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM £800 / $1,199
A long-standing favourite
Compared with the equivalent Canon and Nikon stabilised 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses, this Sigma is under half the price of the Nikon – and £1,200 less than the Canon. Even so, it has a solid build, albeit without any weather seals. There’s a dual-mode optical stabiliser for static or panning shots, a removable tripod mounting foot, and ring-type ultrasonic autofocus.
Inside the lens are two FLD (F Low Dispersion) elements, claimed to equal top-quality fluorite glass in performance, as well as three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements, plus Super Multi-Layer Coatings. The aim is for excellent sharpness and contrast, with minimal colour fringing, ghosting and flare.
As a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, it’s a big and beefy item, with almost exactly the same dimensions as the Tamron lens on test. However, the Sigma is slightly lighter at 1.43kg. The Sigma is also available in a wider range of mount options, including Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony, all with a four-stop optical stabiliser.
Performance
There’s little to choose between the Sigma and Tamron in terms of centre-sharpness through most of the zoom range, although the Tamron is noticeably sharper at the long end and retains better sharpness towards image corners. The Tamron also handles colour fringing and distortions marginally better but, overall, the Sigma is outstanding value for a 70-200mm f/2.8 stabilised lens.