Sigma’s 28-105mm f/2.8 Art Combines Fast Aperture and Long Reach

A person is holding a Sigma camera lens above an open camera bag with a red interior. The lens is black with various markings and a lens hood attached. The scene takes place outdoors, as indicated by the background.

Sigma announced the 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens for Sony E and Leica L mount systems. It combines the speed of the much loved 24-70mm f/2.8 lens type with the more versatile focal range of the 24-105mm f/4 in one, sacrificing a bit of range at the wide end to maintain the f/2.8 aperture.

The lens measures 87.8 by 157.9mm (3.5 by 6.2 inches) and weighs 995 grams (less than two pounds). Additionally, Sigma notes that the lens barrel near the mount is made of magnesium rather than aluminum, which it says ensures rigidity while reducing the weight of these parts alone by two-thirds.

A person in a green jacket and gray pants holds a Sony camera with a large telephoto lens, standing in an outdoor setting with a blurred background of greenery and a cloudy sky.

The company says the new lens is surprisingly compact and covers several popular focal lengths, including 50mm and 85mm while keeping a constant f/2.8 throughout. The optic is constructed out of 18 elements arranged into 13 groups, including two “difficult-to-process” large-diameter FLD elements in the first group to suppress chromatic aberrations, five aspherical elements that are part of why the lens can maintain its compact form factor, and one SLD element. It features an aperture range of f/2.8 through f/22 via a 12-bladed diaphragm.

A black Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN lens is shown horizontally against a white background. The lens has various settings and focus adjustment rings, as well as a visible scale for focal lengths and a switch for autofocus and manual focus.

A black Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens lying horizontally. The lens has a wide zoom ring, focus ring, and an aperture ring with markings from f/2.8 to f/22. A lens hood is attached to the front.

The 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art promises minimal focus breathing, so the angle of view won’t change dramatically when focus is shifted.

Sigma says the lens is designed to minimize flare and ghosting thanks to its Nano Porous Coating and Super Multi-Layer Coating — going so far as to claim they have been largely eliminated — which allows the lens to render high contrast results in “all conditions.”

The lens maintains a minimum focusing distance of 15.8 inches (40cm) at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.1 at the telephoto end, which Sigma says adds to the versatility of the optic.

Close-up of a person holding a professional camera and adjusting its settings, with another person smiling in the background. The camera features a large telephoto lens, and the scene conveys a joyful moment of photography.

For focusing, the 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art features Sigma’s high-response linear actuator (HLA) motor that promises to deliver a maximum drive speed, ensuring responsive, precise, and smooth autofocus. This type of focusing system is also very quiet, which Sigma says makes it ideal for video capture, too.

The body of the lens includes two AFL buttons for customization and an aperture ring that can be clicked or de-clicked for photo and video applications. The lens also has a petal-type hood with a locking mechanism that assures it stays affixed to the lens. The 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is also weather-resistant with a dust and splash-resistant structure.

Below are some sample images captured with the new lens, courtesy of Sigma.

A serene forest scene featuring a small, cascading waterfall flowing over moss-covered rocks. A fallen tree, also covered in moss, leans across the stream. Lush green vegetation surrounds the water, creating a tranquil and natural atmosphere.

A gracefully curved stem of vibrant purple foxglove flowers blooms against a blurred green background. The flowers, shaped like elongated bells, hang delicately from the stem, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding foliage.

A young girl with long blonde hair stands barefoot against a green wall. She is wearing an orange dress with white and yellow stripes at the bottom and is holding a green leafy plant in her hands. Sunlight casts soft shadows around her.

A child in a blue coat and yellow skirt stands at the end of a wooden dock, facing away, overlooking a calm body of water. Across the water are colorful buildings with a mountain, partially obscured by clouds, in the background. A white bird flies nearby.

A young child with blonde hair, shirtless and wearing brown overalls, stands on the grass, holding a grey blanket. Behind the child, a clothesline with various colorful garments is set up outdoors against a backdrop of trees.

A tall, vibrant pink flower stem stands out against a blurred background with green foliage. The golden glow of the setting sun creates a warm and dreamy atmosphere, illuminating the flower delicately from behind.

A serene lake mirrors a forest of tall trees at dusk. The sky is painted in pastel shades of pink, orange, and purple, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The calm water flawlessly reflects the sky and silhouetted trees, enhancing the peaceful scene.

The Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art will retail for $1,499 and is expected to become available by late September 2024.


Image credits: Sigma

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