CameraReview

Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8 DG DN | C

Sigma · 28–70 mm · f/2.8 · Contemporary

Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8 DG DN | C

Score Breakdown

Scores combine our editorial testing with published lab data.

Physical 93
Optics 81
Features 52
Construction 69
76
SCORE /100
What We Like
+Constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom
+Light body for all-day carrying
+Focuses close for near-detail work
+Weather sealing for outdoor shooting
+Fluorine coating eases front-element cleaning
Worth Knowing
−No built-in image stabilisation
−No zoom lock
−Only 28mm at the wide end

General

About This Lens

This Sigma standard zoom suits full-frame mirrorless cameras in Leica L and Sony E mounts. The 28–70mm span takes you from wide scenes to short telephoto framing. That makes it a natural fit for travel, events, and portraits of family and friends.

The constant f/2.8 aperture works at every focal length, so you keep the same light-gathering ability as you zoom. The trade-off for the light, compact body is a plain feature set. There is no built-in stabilisation and no zoom lock. Sigma has made this lens since 2021, and it remains in production.

BrandSigma
Release Year2021
Production Status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Pro Branding
ⓘ
Specific branding codes used for professional-tier lenses.
Contemporary
Lens Mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Leica L
System
ⓘ
Indicates which camera system the lens is designed to attach to.
Leica L
Maximum Format
ⓘ
Largest sensor size compatible with the lens.
Full Frame

Physical

93/100
About the Build

It weighs 1 lb 0.6 oz (470 g), so it stays comfortable on the camera for a full day of walking and shooting. The Leica L version runs 4 in (101.5 mm) long and 2.84 in (72.2 mm) wide. Screw-in filters fit the 67mm thread on the front. Its physical score is 93.

Lens Weight470 g
Lens Diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
72.2 mm
Lens Length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
101.5 mm
Front Filter Compatible
ⓘ
Some lenses are compatible with front filters, some are compatible with back filters and some are compatible with both. Front filters are usually more convenient to add and remove.
Yes
Front Filter Size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
67 mm

Optics

81/100
About the Optics

The 28–70mm range handles the everyday framing most photographers reach for. At 28mm you can take in rooms, tables of people, and streets. At 70mm you can tighten on a face or isolate a detail without changing your position. Between the two ends, the middle of the range gives a natural perspective for casual portraits and documentary shots. The 28mm short end is modest by wide-angle standards, so cramped interiors may still ask for a wider lens.

The f/2.8 maximum aperture stays available through the whole zoom, so dim interiors and evening events stay workable. It also gives you a consistent exposure as you zoom, which saves adjusting settings mid-shoot. Wide open at 70mm, f/2.8 gives enough subject separation for portraits with softly blurred backgrounds. In dim rooms, the wide aperture keeps shutter speeds usable without raising ISO as far.

Nine aperture blades influence how out-of-focus highlights render behind a portrait subject. The lens also focuses as close as 0.6 ft (19 cm). That lets you fill the frame with flowers, food, or objects on a table from a short working distance.

Focal Range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
28–70 mm
Aperture Range
ⓘ
Largest aperture at the lens's shortest focal length to longest focal length (aperture range start - end)
2.8
Focal Length Angle of View75.38498656029279°–34.34976958695978°
Flange Focal Distance
ⓘ
Distance from lens mount to sensor.
20 mm
Diaphragm Type
ⓘ
Structure and design of the aperture
Automatic
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
9020
Zoom Lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
Yes
Zoom Mechanism
ⓘ
System enabling zoom function
Manual
Zoom Ring
ⓘ
If zooming is adjusted using a zoom ring
Yes
Zoom Type
ⓘ
The design or approach to zooming
Rotary
Closest Focusing Distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
19 cm01500
Maximum Magnification
ⓘ
Largest size a subject can be reproduced
0.22x
Autofocus ModeYes
Manual ModeYes
Manual Focusing RingYes

Features

52/100
About the Features

There is no stabilisation built into the lens. You will need a steady hold or camera-body stabilisation in dim light. Its features score is 52. There is also no zoom lock, so the barrel will not hold itself at a chosen focal length.

Weather sealing guards the joins against dust and moisture, which suits outdoor events and travel. A fluorine coating on the front element repels water and oil, so fingerprints and drizzle wipe away easily. Together they make the lens easier to live with on long shooting days outside.

Weather Sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes
Fluorine Coating
ⓘ
Coating to repel water and oil from lens elements.
Yes
Built In Lens HoodNo
Lens Hood TypePetal
Zoom Lock
ⓘ
Zoom lock allows the zoom ring to be locked at the desired focal length
No
Teleconverter
ⓘ
A teleconverter (extender) is an extra piece of equipment that fits between the lens and the camera body to enhance magnification
No
Image StabilizationNo

Construction

69/100
About the Construction

The lens focuses internally, so the outer barrel does not extend while you focus. The Leica L version combines aspherical elements with low-dispersion glass. Aspherical surfaces help correct distortion and spherical aberration. Distortion makes straight edges appear curved, so this correction matters when you photograph buildings or interiors. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce colour fringes along high-contrast edges, such as a window frame against a bright sky.

Elements
ⓘ
Lens elements refer to individual pieces of glass within the lens.
16
Groups12
Aspherical Elements
ⓘ
The number of aspherical lens elements which can help correct aberrations such as spherical aberration.
1
Bi Aspherical Elements
ⓘ
Elements with two non-spherical surfaces
0
Low Dispersion
ⓘ
Elements that reduce chromatic aberration
1
Super Low Dispersion
ⓘ
Advanced elements further reducing chromatic aberration
0
CA Reduction
ⓘ
Built-in features to reduce chromatic aberration
2
Internal Focusing
ⓘ
Internal Focusing means that the lens does not change in size during focusing, and the front element does not rotate.
Yes