Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A Review

Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 6th March 2015.<br/>Jakub Smrz (CZ) Lloyds British Moto Racing Ducati

Jakub Smrz (CZ) Lloyds British Moto Racing Ducati, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A, Focal length 24mm; 1/320 sec; f13; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 6th March 2015.<br/>Jakub Smrz (CZ) Lloyds British Moto Racing Ducati

James Ellison (GB) JG Speedfit Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A, Focal length 38mm; 1/250 sec; f16; ISO 200; Shutter priority.

Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 6th March 2015.<br/>Jakub Smrz (CZ) Lloyds British Moto Racing Ducati

K-Tech Suspension in Chris Walker's Be Wiser Kawasaki, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A, Focal length 105mm; 1/200 sec; f4; ISO 800; Shutter priority.

Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A Review2015 British Superbike Championship, BSB Pre Season Test, Cartagena, Spain. 6th March 2015.<br/>Jakub Smrz (CZ) Lloyds British Moto Racing Ducati

Be Wiser Kawasaki Team Principle, Tommy Hill, Circuito de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Canon EOS 5D MarkIII, Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A, Focal length 28mm; 1/125 sec; f13; ISO 200; Manual.

The new Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, is the standard zoom lens from their new "Art" line, of lenses in the Sigma Global Vision Range.

http://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/cas/product/art/a_24_105_4/features.html

My previous lens in this focal range was the Canon EF 28-70mm f2.8L USM and this was going to take some beating, as it is one of my favourite lenses.

Again, after unpacking, I updated the lens firmware and set about seeing what I could do with it in the pit box at the BSB test in Cartagena.

The lens feels very solid, and all the buttons are well located. They have a slight recessing and a positive click, so you will not accidently switch off the AF, or OS. The zoom ring is tactile and I like the way that the focusing ring is much smaller and recessed, so as to avoid knocking shots out of focus manually.

I quickly felt at ease with this lens and found it to be surprisingly sharp, not just in the centre, but at the edges too. Thanks to the HSM, it was quick to latch onto subjects, even in dull lighting conditions. It was also possible to shoot wide open and still throw the somewhat messy and confusing backgrounds out of focus. This was an attribute of the Canon lens that I particularly loved and was concerned if the Sigma lens could replicate it. The added bonus of the OS will also enable you to shoot at much slower speeds without any fear of camera shake, thereby cancelling out that it is an f4.

I found that the contrast of the images produced was excellent, whether shooting in bright sunlight with clear blue skies, or in the concreted grey environment of the pit boxes. There was also good definition in the shadows.

All in all, this is a very good lens. It sits in the standard zoom range, which is an extremely competitive area. Technically it is more advanced than its competitors (see above link) and this clearly shows in the final images. Do I want my old lens back? No thanks, the Sigma 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM / DG HSM | A, is a definite keeper!