Changing the Landscape – The Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art – Review & Test
The lens is use
I carried the lens on a number of photographic expeditions, and never found it a chore to handle. While it’s certainly larger than a regular prime, it actually doesn’t feel as heavy as you might be expecting, and it’s also beautifully balanced, making it straightforward to hand hold.
That maximum aperture of f/1.8 is also a key benefit. You might consider that modern cameras perform so well at higher ISO speeds these days that you no longer have such a need for super-fast lenses, but it’s the look and feel of a wide aperture, and the narrow depth of field they enable which photographers simply love. This lens features a constant minimum focusing distance of 30cms across the entire zoom range, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4 at the telephoto end, and this gave me the opportunity to shoot some excellent macro-style shots as I explored some of the rotting hulks in my local boatyard.
The AF performed beautifully, being fast and responsive, and when I moved in for tight close-ups and switched to manual focus it was very easy to achieve the most intricate of adjustments. Overall, the lens also oozed quality: typical Sigma, the finish was first class, it felt sturdy and beautifully put together, and I would envisage that you would get many years of solid service out of this lens if you took proper care of it. And it’s also said to be weatherproof on the barrel, and again this is something that every pro working outside on a regular basis has to consider.
Verdict
This is very much a lens that lived up to its promise, albeit with a couple of caveats. Chief of these is the focal length that’s covered, which is a little curious when the 24-70mm range is so universal. But then again, the technical issues involved with attempting to produce a realistically-sized fast zoom that covered a range that wide would be phenomenal, which is why it hasn’t happened.
The relatively short zoom range on offer won’t work for everyone: you’re maybe replacing a prime 28mm, 35mm and close to a standard 50mm with this lens, whereas a short telephoto of 70mm is also a regular requirement. But the quality of the results at all of these zoom settings, even at full aperture, is truly outstanding, so anyone stuck with the notion that you’re sacrificing resolution by going for a zoom option surely needs to think again.
Cost-wise you’re paying for everything that comes with a Sigma Art lens, which is excellent optical quality and fabulous build. This is a premium piece of glass, and the £1299 price point is justified, but will be beyond the justifiable reach of some pros. And if you’re regularly working with one particular focal length – say 35mm – you can certainly get cheaper and smaller alternatives, but you’re making compromises to get the versatility that comes with the extra reach, which will be exactly what many will be buying it for.
Overfall a truly exceptional new zoom, one that might well open the door to others of this ilk from Sigma, and for those who need a do-it-all optic that could stay on the camera for long periods then it’s definitely worth the investment.
