Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art: The brightest full frame zoom EVER MADE

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Thanks to Westcott, PetaPixel's preferred lighting partner, for sponsoring this episode!
Products featured:

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The Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art is the fastest full frame zoom lens we’ve ever seen. It looks perfect for video and event work, but how does it perform in the real world? Chris Niccolls went to Calgary’s East Village to find out.

Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store:

0:00 - Intro
1:58 - Design and controls
3:41 - Sample images
4:14 - Autofocus
4:39 - LoCA
5:15 - Portrait
5:59 - Sharpness
7:08 - Close-up
7:41 - Flare and sunstars
8:19 - Bokeh
8:53 - Video
9:59 - Should you buy it?

[momchilyordanov]

It's a 1 kilo lens already, they should have made it more useful. Like 24-55/1.8

[hfmusicandmediagroup]

My very first thought was this would be good for small venue event or live music photography. Would be awesome if you are shooting up close to the stage.

[dj_laundry_list]

I have a 50mm f.95 that focus breathes so badly, it's basically a zoom lens, so it really deserves the title of brightest full frame zoom

[bernardwelsh]

Its interesting, but 28-45 is such a narrow range, and this thing is so large, I'm kind of inclined to just carry a 35mm and call it a day.

[NeonShores]

I just wish it was a 24-50mm f/2.

Also Jordan repping Criterion is always rad.

[josecolon]

I can not believe that Chris just walked by a water puddle and did not take a photo. He loves doing that! 🤷🏻 oooh he’s growing up 🤔

[jayforcinema]

Ugh, plena.. Please please Chris, can you stick to the Noct? Plena is too confusing

[chennyye]

Wow what happened to Chris? the first two samples were shot in 35mm???

[kevindiossi]

I’m kind of shocked that I still haven’t seen anyone draw a comparison with the Canon RF 28-70 f/2. I love that Sigma has become the brand that tries new stuff that nobody else will do. I personally don’t find a lens like this very useful, but it sounds like a dream come true for many.

[BurneraccountXD]

I was literally just complaining about how I wanted Sigma to update their old 24-35 F2 lens for mirrorless cameras a few weeks ago after the launch of their second 24-70 f2.8 lens for mirrorless. Thank you very much Sigma for blowing away my expectations!

[Zakna]

Boo. Say no to 28mm zooms. Not wide enough. Seriously. What is the point of this lens? I’d just use a 35 1.4 and call it a day.

[zbieraj]

The problem is that for the same price, you can get the Tamron 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8. An important note: in the 35-45mm range, the Tamron still maintains an f/2.0 aperture (it only goes to f/2.2 at 50mm). It is 5mm longer and 215g heavier than the Sigma. Additionally, the Tamron 25-50mm f/2.0 is coming, which according to rumors, will be half the size, half the weight, and half the price of the Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8. And Sony is about to release Sony 24-70mm f/2.0 for the price (again, rumors) between this Sigma and Canon 28-70mm f/2.0.

While it is the brightest full-frame zoom ever made, it doesn't offer enough in terms of range, size, and weight to be truly competitive with what's already available on the market, especially considering what's about to be released (such as the aforementioned Tamron 25-50mm f/2.0).

[AStCG]

It’s essentially a 35 prime with a little more give and take

[paulhancock]

Hats off to Sigma. Creating some sensational glass lately, and competition at the premium end is good for everyone as consumers, especially when they're keeping prices very reasonable.

That said, this is the focal length I personally would use for street, landscape etc and it's very bulky for those kind of 'walkaround' scenarios. I'd probably just go for the 35mm f1.8 Sony which is cheap, small and excellent. Horses for courses though... Credit for being creative in their lens design.

[jacobh]

I’m sure this is a great lens for those of us in need of it, but it also kind of shows how great the Lumix Leica DG Summilux 10-25 and 25-50 f1.7 zoom lenses are. I know these are MFT lenses, but on scale these are superb in range and light gathering capabilities.

[liveliferock]

Nikon Z6 iii looks good, at least in video

[parmanduke]

No thanks. 24 70 ii is way more versatile vs that thingy

[sunflowerdeath]

I fucking need this lens and I literally don't have a single fucking dollar 😢😢 Life is so unfair!

[shang-hsienyang]

This lens is impressive. I have been considering the lens since I have read the rumors. However, I really can't see myself using this lens over the Tamron 35-150 in any application that I could think of.

[simplysaso]

Canons 28-70F2 still blows this out of the water in terms of versatility… woulda been cool to see something similar to that made by sigma. The 28-45 just seems limited, as much as he says he doesn’t like 35mm, at that focal range I would rather strap a 35 1.4 to the camera lol.