The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) is primarily a photography lens, though it will be used for video.
In this article let’s take a comprehensive look at the important features and specifications of the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DN Macro Art and see how good it will perform specifically for video, cinematography and filmmaking.
I think it is important to mention that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer and its performance cannot be justly compared to the native lenses.
The aim of this article is to provide you with enough information and perspective so you can decide for yourself whether this lens is right for your film or video.
Important: This article is a comprehensive overview of the lens with available information; and an analysis based on our experience shooting for almost two decades. It is not a hands-on review. If and when we get hold of the lens we’ll be sure to publish a detailed review. If this is not your cup of tea you can stop reading.
Here is an official release by Sigma showcasing the potential of their 28mm, 40mm and 105mm:
Click to what you want quickly:
- TLDR;
- What does DG DN mean?
- Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS vs Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
- Features:
- Control:
- Basics:
- Alternatives to the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
TLDR;
What you need to know for video work about the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H):
- The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Art DG DN is a great third party medium telephoto focal length lens.
- The f/2.8 aperture is great for low light work.
- It’s compact and lightweight.
- 9 blade aperture for a theoretically better bokeh.
- It comes with an aperture ring on the lens to ride the aperture easily.
- Has a customizable button on the lens.
- Maximum magnification ratio is 1:1.
- Has a 0.29m minimum close focusing distance.
- The lens doesn’t have OS, but you will get some stabilization with a camera that has in built stabilization.
- It exhibits breathing.
This lens will be useful for following types of filmmaking:
- Wedding filmmaking
- Short filmmaking
- Low budget music videos
- Interviews
- Documentary filmmaking
- Advertisements
- Product Shoots
This lens can be used to gain the following shots:
- Extreme close up
- Close Up
- Telephoto Shot
- Glamour Shot
- Product Shots
- Macro Shots
What does DG DN mean?
According to Sigma, DG refers to the lenses that are designed specifically for full frame DSLR cameras. Sigma claims that their DG DN lenses are designed specifically and exclusively for full frame mirrorless cameras.
So while the DG HSM will work with a full frame mirrorless camera, but, according to Sigma, a DG DN lens will communicate better with the camera than the DG HSM lens.
HSM refers to their ring-type hypersonic autofocus motor in that lens.
Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS vs Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Macro
| Lens | Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS | Sigma Art 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art | Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Macro |
| Filter Thread | 72mm | 86mm | 62mm |
| Size | 85.2mm x 118.1mm | 115.9mm × 157.5mm | 74mm × 135.6mm |
| Weight | 700g | 1,720g | 710g |
| Closest focusing distance | 0.57m / 1.87ft | 1m / 3.28ft | 0.29m / 0.95ft |
| Aperture Ring | Present, De-Clickable | Absent | Present, De-clickable |
| Customizable Button | Present | Absent | Present |
| Image Stabilization | Present | Absent | Absent |
| Max. Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Min. Aperture | f/20 | f/16 | f/22 |
| Aperture Blades | 11 blades | 9 blades | 9 blades |
| Angle of View (Diagonal) | 24° | 23.3° | 23.3° |
Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, so this is not an apples to apples comparison. Native lenses will always have an edge over third party lens manufacturers, when it comes to the communication with the camera system. While being a third party lens manufacturer, Sigma has become a tough competitor to many major lens manufacturers.
The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) is lighter than the other lenses in this comparison. This would make the Sony 100mm the preferred lens for gimbal or handheld use. The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN has the closest minimum focusing distance.
The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art has a much farther close focusing distance and is heavier than the rest. However, it does give you an extra two-third stops of light. This lens is also missing an aperture ring, which could prove to be useful in the field.
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Macro is a macro lens and has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1. The macro ability makes this lens the preferred lens for product shoots, advertisements.
Both the Sigma lenses are missing internal stabilization which makes them a secondary choice for run and gun shoots.
Upon comparing the official MTF charts of the lenses you can infer that Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 is as sharp as a katana but it is that sharp at f/2.8, while Sigma is pretty sharp with a slight fall off towards the edges at f/1.4! So with Sigma you would get a much shallower depth of field with a comparable amount of sharpness.
Even though the Sony has inherent advantages being a native lens, you might really want to test both to know what works for you.
Same goes for the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Macro. Sharp as hell but you have to consider the fact that the Sigma is comparable at f/1.4. If you need that f/1.4 and that shallow depth of field, you only have one option.
However, if image stabilization is important then you should go for the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 GM STF OSS.
You will have to test the lenses out for yourself to get a proper understanding.
Features
Coverage
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) is a full frame lens. It is designed to completely cover a sensor the size of 36mm x 24mm.
If you are considering this lens for an APS-C sensor or other cinema camera, check out this article:
Focal Length
The focal length is 105mm. This is considered as a medium telephoto focal length on a full frame 35mm sensor.
This focal range is most used for close ups, beauty shots and will be also used for extreme close ups. This lens, having the maximum magnification of 1:1, will be preferred for product shoots.
Aperture
The maximum aperture is f/2.8 and the minimum aperture is f/22.
Having f/2.8 is great for low light. Most people will use it at f/2.8 or even f/3.5 for the purpose of getting optimum sharpness, and to get soft out of focus backgrounds.
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) has 9 diaphragm blades. One expects a smooth bokeh, considering the number of blades, but it’s not always a given. To know more about bokeh:
Resolution
From Sigma’s official MTF charts:
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) is sharp in the center and has a minute falloff towards the edges of the frame.
With the variance in the Sagittal and Tangential lines, you can infer (somewhat) that the bokeh will not be as good as the best primes in the world.
If you really want this lens at its sharpest you’re better off stopping down to f/2 or even f/2.8 for best results.
If you are curious and want to read the MTF chart for yourself. Here’s a guide on how to read them easily.
Close Focus
The closest focusing distance of this lens is 0.29 meter or 0.95 feet. This great as you will need to get up close with your subject for those macro shots.
The lens is equipped with a focus limiter switch and this switch has three modes
- Full: 0.29m to infinity
- Normal: 0.5m to infinity
- Macro: 0.29m to 0.5m
Image Stabilization
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) lens doesn’t have OS. At this focal length, you need some stability in the lenses. Not having image stabilization makes this lens a hard choice for run and gun shoots. Using it cameras that have IBIS can provide it with some image stabilization.
Control
Manual focus system
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) has an infinite turn ring for its focus ring and can turn infinitely one way or the other. Unfortunately for videographers and cinematographers, the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Macro is set to focus by wire by default and has no option to switch it to fly by wire.
What is the meaning of focus by wire and fly by wire?
Focus by wire: Let’s say you turn the focus ring to change focus from point A to B. You’d expect the focus to shift accordingly. When you stop point B will be in focus. Now bring the focus point back to A and try again, but at a different speed. Slower or faster, doesn’t matter. Now, even if you precisely rotate to the exact same degree, the focus will not be on point B! The speed of rotation determines which point it is focused on. That’s just completely useless for follow focus work. If an actor or person moves at a different speed, even slightly, you’ll never get the same focus. Avoid focus by wire lenses like the plague (for video work).
Fly by wire: The distance of focus shifted is directly proportional to the speed at which the ring is turned. This is how a manual focus ring is supposed to operate for video and cinematography.
This decision to exclude fly by wire or linear MF by Sigma will make this lens unsuitable for professional cinematographers and videographers.
Autofocus system
Sigma’s autofocus is improving day by day, but it is nowhere near the precision and reliability of Canon or Sony’s autofocus system. Keep in mind, that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, i.e. they do not make native lenses. Native lenses, such as Sony’s FE series and Canon’s EF and RF series, have always been better than third party lenses at communicating with their respective cameras.
I do not think anyone will purchase a Sigma lens for its autofocus performance.
Basics
Filter Thread
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) has a filter diameter of 62mm. This is a common small filter diameter. Finding the right filters can be a bit problematic.
Build Quality
The majority of the lens exterior is plastic, though the lens doesn’t feel cheap.
The optical design consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, including aspherical lens and SLD glass.
Size and Weight
The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) has a diameter of 74mm and a length of 135.6mm for the E-mount. It weighs around 710 grams for the E-mount. The E-mount variant of this lens is the biggest and heaviest of all mount variants.
Weather resistance
Sigma claims that all their Art lenses are weather resistant. But again this only holds true if the camera body you will be using is also weather sealed. No camera is truly and officially weather sealed, so the best you can hope for is reliable weather resistance. Sigma claims to coat their lenses with dust and moisture repellent.
This is an Art series lens and we can expect it to perform as such.
What’s in the box
This is what you get in the box (other than the lens):
- Case
- Hood (LH653-01)
The hood might be useful for photography, but the shape and design makes it mostly vestigial for video work. Some people like to put it on to protect the front element in case of a fall. The hood takes the impact and shatters, but saves the lens. I’d keep it on unless you have good reason not to.
Alternatives to the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens
For the E-mount, Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS (Amazon, B&H) can be a good substitute but for a hefty price. It has more blades and is lighter.
But if you need that shallow depth of field and extra light, you can opt for Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art.
I hope you found this overview of the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art (Amazon, B&H) useful. If we have missed out on something, please let us know in the comments below.
