Sigma 90mm F2.8 DG DN Definitive Review | DA

[@Cthames123]

Terrific job putting this all together, as always! I pulled the trigger on the Sigma, 90mm, f2.8 about a month ago. The most remarkable thing about it is its size and weight, and sharpness across the frame. I previously owned the Sony, 90mm, f2.8, G, macro which has spectacular sharpness, no distortion, and the macro features were otherworldly. Still, it was much larger than anything I was used to shooting with, and I left it home many times because I didn’t want to lug it around. Also, it was on the expensive side and the autofocus was not the fastest. The Sigma 90 mm, f2.8 has to be the smallest 90mm lens out there and while I knew I’d be giving up the macro feature, and I’d have to live with not having perfect distortion control that the Sony, 90mm, f2.8, G, macro I am happy with the similar sharpness and faster auto focus speed. I am ultimately happier and will likely be shooting more with the sigma 90mm, 2.8 vs the Sony I returned.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That compact size is a treat, for sure.

[@juliel7522]

Did u find the sigma equally as sharp as the sony, or was 1 sharper than the other? When did u experience the distortion on the sigma? Thinking of both lens and cant decide

[@Cthames123]

There was no perceptible difference to me, though admittedly I was not comparing side by side images. I will say the macro capabilities of the Sony 90mm, f2.8, macro was other worldly. I knew I would be giving up this novel feature. Distortion on the Sigma, uncorrected was apparent when shooting down streets, (I use it for streets and landscapes sometimes), but the in camera correction did a fine job of fixing without degrading it stretching the image. The auto focus on the Sony slower also to fix in the target, which can cause you to miss some action moving in front of you. I am very happy with the Sigma model. In my mind I'm getting just about every bit of sharpness at 90mm, manageable pin cushion distortion, and in a small size that can come with me anywhere. (And it's more than 1/2 the price). The Sony is a very fine piece of engineering but it just wasn't for me, (too big to lug around). It didn't make much sense for me to send what I spent on something I didn't want to use. Good luck with your decision.

[@Cthames123]

@@juliel7522. Sorry I didn't originally tag you. Hope this was helpful.

[@juliel7522]

@@Cthames123 thanks thats very helpful!

[@thebitterfig9903]

Never really thought much about this lens at first, since I'm not in E mount... but recently I've come to really wish Sigma would release this for Fuji X. It'd be a wonderful alternative to great lenses like the Fujinon 90 or Viltrox 75. Small size, great minimum focus distance, and an aperture ring. It'd be perfect for me.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

So far they have just released their APS-C specific lenses on X-mount. Samyang just released a 75mm F1.8 for X-mount, and if it is anything like the Sony E-mount version, it's a keeper!

[@thebitterfig9903]

@@DustinAbbottTWI oh, I know, but it’d be nice. Most FF lenses hold little interest for me with the Fuji, but Samyang 75 and Sigma 90 are pretty much the only two which aren’t too dark or too big to consider for a crop camera, at least to me. I’d trade the maximum aperture of the Samyang for the proper ring, closer focus, and longer reach of the Sigma, but I’ve been thinking about the Samyang.

[@MrChrissk]

I've got that 60mm f2.8 art S well as the 30mm version, wish I purchased the 19mm one to before they stopped doing them. At the time I purchased them they were £119. Exceptional performance for the price, when I saw this lens advertised by sigma on there social feed the 60mm art was the lens it reminded me.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Exactly.

[@troyphillips1077]

I strictly use the magnetic lens cap on my 65mm I series. I’ve lost many many Sigma lens caps and some Nikon and Sony . Sigmas are square edged and bump off a lot . Less on the newer Art lenses though. I’m debating between this 90 i, the new Sigma 85mm/1.4 for e or the Sony 135 mm f/1.4 gm

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Sounds like the magnetic cap is the right one for you, then.

[@troyphillips1077]

Getting ready to check out your review. I’m excited about this lens . Thinking I may need something faster though for what I’m doing. I have the 65 and love it

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair enough. It’s a nice little lens, though.

[@gitithadani]

Its a very interesting lens because of its form factor and the complex optics. During the film days canon, meyeroptik etc made some very small lenses but optical design was not complex nor with such a mfd. In their I series there is the f2 line with normal mfd & in their slower lenses significantly less & smaller size. Its not intended to be macro sharpness but extends the possibilities of rendition in both video & still. Its interesting that their macro contributions are 105 and 70. The sony 90 macro is much larger and heavier. The form factor - design does come from a cinematic understanding - in the very tactile minimal feel. Hence making fine hand movements & when required small tripods (a small joby like tripod can be used for landscape - events - can be easily mounted. Its very different from heavy geared cine lenses w manual follow focus & longer MFD. What the form factor does is open up the possibility of the 85-100mm range. Its not restricted only to a certain shallow dof portrait look. And with high res sensors the field of view changes from ff to apsc + with clear zoom & sigma fpl frame magnification.This is what makes Sigma as an innovative company so interesting. They challenge the visualizer to move out of their comfort zone and to explore different nuances of similar focal lengths. They have made both very fast to much slower lenses at the same FL - made some great APO lenses both very heavy and very lightweight. I hope to see them making lighter lenses - also with longer tele primes & zooms

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Some good points here. I don think this is a very interesting lens.

[@gitithadani]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I agree with you - in terms of optics its not. The sony 90 macro gives far more. It is much more in terms of form factor and the optics +AF +aperture/mf dials within this.

[@shawndougherty9680]

I just received my copy and there is a very distinctive clicking sound everytime it achieves focus, sometimes it's a double click. Definitely not the aperture blades, it still happens wide open and stopped down I can hear their quiet sound. The sound does not occur in MF. I have my A7C and A7R2 set so there is no sounds other than the actual shutter. I can hear this 'clicking' at arms length different from the sound of the focus motor in MF and always at the end as it achieves focus. Would you say this seems like a defective unit compared to what you've reported in your review? Thanks, Shawn.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I don't recall anything like that, though you might hear some slightly different sounds in AF-S mode (I shoot pretty much exclusively in AF-C)

[@shawndougherty9680]

@@DustinAbbottTWI I spent some more time with it and it's not always only at the end, sometimes during the focus process as well. I'm going to try another unit, I've never heard something quite like it. The size and weight is fantastic for the focal length and aperture. Thanks.

[@stevesvanderpool8653]

Lmaoooo at LoKey the cat from the robot cleaner!!!!! But I'm here for that lens review of course!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

LOL...but that is a highlight.

[@SerielThriller]

We need more Dustin Abbott preaching!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You can find plenty of that on the Emmanuel Lighthouse channel.

[@Princeton_James]

Thanks brother. I checked out the other channel. Praise Jesus! ​@@DustinAbbottTWI

[@mrbaiser4133]

A compact 135mm f4 lens is really missing. Either as Sony G or as Sigma iSeries. Some of my street photography heroes used telephoto prime lenses, Saul Leiter for instance. I bought the Sony 85mm f1.8, because the Sigma 90mm wasn't available back then. But sometimes, I need a little more reach. And a 70-200 f4 or 70-180 f2.8 are way too large.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Agreed. I'd love to see a modern equivalent of the old 135mm F2.8 lenses.

[@67tagada]

Hello Dustin. Compared to the Sigma 1.4/85mm DGN ART, and apart from its 2.8 aperture, is this 90mm worth the detour?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Those are two very different lenses. The single greatest advantage of the 90mm is its extremely compact size for a lens with a focal length this long. The 85mm F1.4 DN wins pretty much everything else.

[@lsaideOK]

Given the focal length and aperture, I thought at first it would be a macro. A macro would have done well with the close-ups you were doing. At that focal length, I would likely get a macro over this sort of lens. One can only get so many lenses at one focal length!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It’s highly unlikely that a full frame macro lens could be this small. I understand your point, but this would be a very different lens if it were a macro lens. I welcome the compact nature of the lens, myself.

[@gitithadani]

A macro at 1;1 or even 1:2 macro would be sizewise much larger and longer. The sigma is at 1:5 so its not a lense that one would use for very small objects or for any work that requres more compression and magnification. However getting closer for slightly larger objects/faces/hands can open up new perspectives - particularly for movements.

[@lsaideOK]

@@gitithadani Just saying when I heard the aperture was 2.8 and the focal length was 90, I thought it was a macro. Which would interest me

[@gitithadani]

@@lsaideOK only option is the sony 90 macro whch you know anyway. Its a great lens - have had it for several years. And it cost me less than what the sigma costs now!

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you for a great review!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad it was helpful!

[@oriwo99]

Very interesting lens. Would be fine to get it for the Canon RF mount 😉...

[@frankluo230]

I used to drool over E mount options. Nowadays I believe Canon's takes will usually be at least equally as good, sometimes even better like the newly announced 100-400 and 16f2.8 Sigma 100-400 f6.3 is 2/3 more expensive, 2/3 of a stop faster at 400mm, 2/3 more weight. Canon focuses faster, more reliably, IS maybe better. One thing is for sure, Canon 100-400 will sell a tonne more.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Unfortunately there hasn’t been any indication of any Tamron and Sigma development on Canon RF yet.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Hi Frank, I’m not sure that it is a relevant comparison on a 90mm F2.8 review. There’s certainly nothing like that on RF mount.

[@oriwo99]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Hi Dustin, from Tamron I got a statement that lenses for the Canon RF mount should come, from Sigma unfortunately not. But the reengineering of the mount seems to take time.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It seems like Canon has been actively resistant to third party autofocusing lenses to this point.

[@michaelbell75]

Thanks for the review but I was disappointed to see no portraits as this is primarily a portrait lens.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I’m putting in about 80-90 hours a week due to a major construction project at the church I pastor, so my time to give to these projects is more limited right now.

[@lindakantes873]

Love this lens

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It is still the rare compact lens with a focal length longer than, say, 75mm.

[@mauricerijnders3507]

I returned my Sigma 90mm. It had serious bokeh issues with straight lines leadings up to the focus point... Showed the camera store and they completely agreed and refunded my money. Anybody else seen this?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Wow - that's very strange

[@Sergey_Pashnin]

Что это значит ? Можно подробнее ?

[@Sorgesol]

🤔 Am I the only one that think this lens would be perfect to bring to a concert? I am pretty sure I can get it passed the security guards... 😬

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Good point.

[@gitithadani]

@@DustinAbbottTWI In some classical music concerts they are now putting discrete cameras - operated remotely - within the orchestra. A compact medium tele which focuses on a soloist - hands etc.

[@micahturner5599]

This set from sigma looks to compete with loxia. Pros and cons and such of course...

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I think this is a fair comparison.

[@marknathan7744]

I would love to see them make a 135mm f3.5 in this series

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Agreed. A compact 135mm would be nice.

[@begr_wiedererkennungswert]

It seems to be a nice lens, but the FE 85mm 1.8 weighs nearly the same, is 100-240 Eur cheaper, has fast and reliable AF and has f 1.8... I wish Sigma brought a 20mm and a 135 or 180mm.

[@gitithadani]

Sigma in the slr days made a 180/5.6 APO ultra compact 1:2 macro at 435 grams. The 2.8 version is about 3 times heavier. I managed to get the 5.6 in almost new condition and get great results on the a7r4. I use it handheld between f8 to f11. If they were to make a lens like this today they would have to put AF and it would cost over a 1000E/$.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair enough, though that price advantage isn't the same in all markets.

[@Chris-ey7zy]

I’ve owned the Sony. It’s so plastic and breaks easily if you drop it. I have on carpet. This sigma is pretty solid. I just bought it. I have the Batis as well but wanted something smaller and lighter with aperture Ring for gimbal work

[@JackieSemple]

I've used the Sony 85/1.8 extensively for a number of years. It's a great lens but I decided to add the Sigma 90/2.8 to my lens kit, just a few weeks ago. Not been able to road test it yet but usage around my home suggests it might prove to be a useful addition. This review mentions some false positives in terms of autofocus. I haven't seen that yet.