It's now over a decade since Sigma'southward original 70-200mm F2.viii APO blueprint showtime saw the light of day, and subsequently iii successive makeovers, the company clearly felt information technology was fourth dimension to kickoff again from scratch. The result is this: the 70-200mm 1:2.eight EX DG Bone HSM, which despite its similar-sounding name is a completely new blueprint. It was appear back in February alongside four other lenses, equally Sigma stole the show at an otherwise-tranquillity PMA 2010. The 'OS' stands for 'Optical Stabilizer', this being is the first epitome-stabilized fast telephoto zoom to sally from a third-party lens maker. Indeed the combination of in-lens stabilization and Sigma'south ultrasonic-type 'HyperSonic Motor' (HSM) focusing is sure to make a compelling package for a wide range of users - information technology'south considerably cheaper than Canon and Nikon's similar options, while offering the option of optical stabilization to Sony and Pentax users for the beginning fourth dimension in this blazon of lens.

The lxx-200mm F2.8 Os sports a brand-new optical optical formula which incorporates a new weapon in the lens maker's armory, the latest type of glass which Sigma calls 'FLD' for 'F' Low Dispersion. This slightly opaque classification indicates that it has similar optical properties to Fluorite, an expensive and hard-to-work material that Canon has employed in the course of establishing its reputation as a maker of excellent telephotos. The 70-200mm F2.8 OS HSM uses 2 FLD elements within its 22 element / 17 group construction, alongside three elements made from the more conventional Super-Low Dispersion (SLD) glass. Sigma promises that this should requite excellent correction for remainder chromatic aberration.

The lens'south impressive specification is rounded off with a 9-blade circular discontinuity for the bonny rendition of out-of-focus regions of the epitome, plus an adapter that extends the length of the lens hood to provide more effective shading for users of APS-C format DSLRs. The minimum focus distance is 1.4m, with a maximum magnification of 0.13x, which is a step back from the 1m minimum focus and 0.28x magnification of the well-nigh recent 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II. All this is topped-off past a price which, while substantially higher than the older lens, is still substantially lower than its Nikon and Canon equivalents. On paper at least, this all adds up to a mouthwatering package; so let's run into how well the lens lives upward to its promise.

Sigma seventy-200mm F2.eight design history

  • lxx-200mm F2.viii EX APO - Original version, minimum focus distance 1.8m (1999)
  • 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG - Addition of 'digitally optimized' lens coatings to reduce flare (2005)
  • seventy-200mm F2.eight EX DG Macro (HSM) - Minimum focus distance reduced to 1m (2006)
  • seventy-200mm F2.eight EX DG Macro HSM II - Improved optical performance (2007)
  • 70-200mm F2.eight EX DG Bone HSM - All-new design with built-in Optical Stabilization (2010)

Headline features

  • 70-200mm focal length range; fast F2.8 abiding maximum aperture
  • Optical image stabilization – four stops claimed
  • Ring-blazon HSM focusing with full-time manual override
  • Bachelor in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma and Sony mounts

Angle of view

The pictures below illustrate the focal length range from broad to telephoto, on 35mm full-frame and APS-C camera bodies:

70mm (full frame) 200mm (full frame)
70mm (APS-C; 112mm equivalent) 200mm (APS-C; 320mm equivalent)

Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.viii EX DG Os HSM specifications

Price • US: $1800
• UK: £1300
Date introduced February 2010
Maximum format size 35mm full frame
Focal length 70-200mm
35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C) • 105-300mm (Nikon, Sony, Pentax 1.5x)
• 112-320mm (Canon 1.6x)
• 119-340mm (Sigma 1.7x)
Diagonal Angle of view (FF) 34º - 12º
Diagonal Angle of view (APS-C) 23º - 8º
Maximum aperture F2.8
Minimum discontinuity F22
Lens Structure • 22 elements / 17 groups
• 2 FLD elements
• 3 SLD elements
Number of diaphragm blades 9, rounded
Minimum focus ane.4m
Maximum magnification 0.13x at 200mm
AF motor blazon • Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor
• Total-time manual focus
Focus method Internal
Zoom method Internal
Image stabilization • 4 stops claimed
• Dual fashion - Normal and panning
Filter thread • 77mm
• Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories • Front and rear caps
• Hood
• APS-C hood adapter
• Soft Example
Weight 1430 g (iii.two lb)
Dimensions 86 mm diameter x 197 mm length
(3.4 x 7.8 in)
Lens Mountain Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma, Sony

* Supplied accessories may differ in each land or surface area