News Sigma releases a CONTEMPORARY 20–60mm F2.8–4 DG

[Greytop]

Looks like f2.8 doesn't linger for long so it's more of an f4 lens. Looks interesting though.

20-60mm F2.8-4 DG | LENSES | Sigma

This page is about Sigma's 20-60mm F2.8-4 DG.

www.sigma-global.com

 

[CharlesH]

Nice. Could be an upgrade for the Panasonic 20-60. The weight is only 35g more. It will be interesting to see the reviews.

 

[xaviergut]

The only downside is that you lose crop-less stabilization, but it's a really tempting lens.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Here’s a review:

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I was unimpressed by the dpreview gallery. If you consider that most of the landscape pictures are taken at F8 or higher. The closes focus stuff is nice and like the rendering and oof, but landscape wise.... leaves to be desired. My comment is just this gallery. I found that the gallery does not match their words: "In use, we’ve been pretty impressed with the results". I think on the same site the gallery of the Lumix 20-60 is better lens quality wise.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I think this lens is a good option and a nice upgrade to the Panasonic 20-60mm, at least in terms of speed while covering the same range. However, $850 is too high for such a lens. For that money I'd get the Panasonic 24-60mm f/2.8 and take the cut at the wide end in exchange for the constant f/2.8.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

This would be nice paired with the 16-28. I assume they will do a 60-180 or something along those lines to finish that trio. Then one could have a set that all twist the same direction, LOL.

I’d rather have a light, variable aperture 24-85 or some-such than a 20-60, since I’m always going to have an UW zoom with me anyway. But, for folks who are happy with 20mm on the wide-end, these 20-60s are perfect, I’m sure.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I think this lens is a good option and a nice upgrade to the Panasonic 20-60mm, at least in terms of speed while covering the same range. However, $850 is too high for such a lens. For that money I'd get the Panasonic 24-60mm f/2.8 and take the cut at the wide end in exchange for the constant f/2.8.

After seeing the sample gallery, for this price I doubt it will a viable upgrade over the Lumix 20-60. Only in terms of speed, and minimal in tems of size/weight. I think with this lens Sigma try to target small camera's like the S9 who need a bit more speed and little less bulk. 24-60 is better for the price I guess, but it is also in another weight class.

That said, dpreview gallery is not the holy grail of good test images. And N=1 means we need much more samples and an l-mount version to draw conclusions. For now, I my self, would rather pick up a mint condition Lumix voor 250.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

DPR are not renowned for the quality of their lens galleries - they need to get a decent number of shots in a short time with each lens so I can't really blame them. Anyway, I wouldn't base any decisions just on that.

 

[pdk42]

Despite being a big fan of Sigma and a naysayer on Panasonic lens reliability, I don’t see this offering anything over the lowly Panasonic 20-60 for the sort of shooting I do. That little cheap 20-60 actually delivers excellent results.

 

[kamcma]

The price is quite tough when compared against the price of a mint, de-kitted Lumix 20-60mm. You're paying a lot for a stop of light.

That said, I'm glad it exists. I think the Sigma 20-60mm and 100-400mm is a compelling two-lens landscape kit. You get a lot of focal length coverage with two lenses that share a zoom ring direction and a 67mm filter thread. (It bugs me that the analogous Lumix kit, the 20-60mm and 70-300mm, doesn't share a filter thread size. I wish Lumix would offer something telephoto with a 67mm filter thread.) It'd be even nicer if Sigma would refresh the older Contemporary lenses, including the 100-400mm, now that they're offering more thorough weather-resistance on that line.

I look forward to more reviews. Maybe some time on the market will push down the price.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

The price is quite tough when compared against the price of a mint, de-kitted Lumix 20-60mm. You're paying a lot for a stop of light.

That said, I'm glad it exists. I think the Sigma 20-60mm and 100-400mm is a compelling two-lens landscape kit. You get a lot of focal length coverage with two lenses that share a zoom ring direction and a 67mm filter thread. (It bugs me that the analogous Lumix kit, the 20-60mm and 70-300mm, doesn't share a filter thread size. I wish Lumix would offer something telephoto with a 67mm filter thread.) It'd be even nicer if Sigma would refresh the older Contemporary lenses, including the 100-400mm, now that they're offering more thorough weather-resistance on that line.

I look forward to more reviews. Maybe some time on the market will push down the price.

24-60/2.8 & 70-300 share the same 77mm and zoom direction. As does the 16-35 and 24-105. All 77.

 

[pdk42]

The price is quite tough when compared against the price of a mint, de-kitted Lumix 20-60mm. You're paying a lot for a stop of light.

That said, I'm glad it exists. I think the Sigma 20-60mm and 100-400mm is a compelling two-lens landscape kit. You get a lot of focal length coverage with two lenses that share a zoom ring direction and a 67mm filter thread. (It bugs me that the analogous Lumix kit, the 20-60mm and 70-300mm, doesn't share a filter thread size. I wish Lumix would offer something telephoto with a 67mm filter thread.) It'd be even nicer if Sigma would refresh the older Contemporary lenses, including the 100-400mm, now that they're offering more thorough weather-resistance on that line.

I look forward to more reviews. Maybe some time on the market will push down the price.

Just fit a 67-77 step up ring up ring on the 20-60. That's what I do to ensure all lenses take my 77mm mag filter set.

 

[kamcma]

24-60/2.8 & 70-300 share the same 77mm and zoom direction. As does the 16-35 and 24-105. All 77.

Too large.

Just fit a 67-77 step up ring up ring on the 20-60. That's what I do to ensure all lenses take my 77mm mag filter set.

A good solution for those that like them, but I find step rings too fiddly. And you can't use the lens hood.

My ideal is a pair of zooms, a wide-to-normal and a telephoto, that share a filter thread size, so I can carry a single filter stack, no loose step rings jangling about in my bag. I'm not advocating anyone else adopt my preferences, just explaining why the Sigma 20-60 + 100-400 is appealing to me over the Lumix 20-60 + 70-300.

 

[pdk42]

Too large.

A good solution for those that like them, but I find step rings too fiddly. And you can't use the lens hood.

My ideal is a pair of zooms, a wide-to-normal and a telephoto, that share a filter thread size, so I can carry a single filter stack, no loose step rings jangling about in my bag. I'm not advocating anyone else adopt my preferences, just explaining why the Sigma 20-60 + 100-400 is appealing to me over the Lumix 20-60 + 70-300.

Yeah, but the 100-400 isn’t the sharpest tool in the box. It’s also pretty big and heavy. And lens hoods? - anything that doesn’t vignette at 20mm will offer very little benefit at 60mm. I never use hoods on zooms for this reason, especially wide zooms. And the step ring doesn’t jangle in the bag because it’s always on the lens. It’s as if the lens has a native 77mm thread. Simple!

 

[RuleOfThirds]

Yeah, but the 100-400 isn’t the sharpest tool in the box. It’s also pretty big and heavy. And lens hoods? - anything that doesn’t vignette at 20mm will offer very little benefit at 60mm. I never use hoods on zooms for this reason, especially wide zooms. And the step ring doesn’t jangle in the bag because it’s always on the lens. It’s as if the lens has a native 77mm thread. Simple!

I either put an uv filter or a hood, practically never both. Just nog to get it fingerprinted bij accident Ofcourse not my finger prints.