Sigma’s 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II is Lighter, Faster, and Sharper for $1,199

May 16, 2024

A close-up of a person holding a Sony camera with a large lens attached. The individual is wearing a beige, textured top and blue jeans, with the camera hanging by their side. The background is softly lit with blurred, neutral tones.

Sigma announced the 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II which it says has undergone a “significant” evolution to enhance the optical performance, autofocus speed, and operability while also shrinking down its size compared to the original.

The new 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II is shorter while the lens barrel is also slimmer thanks to a downsizing of the zoom mechanism and moving the buttons to a position directly on the barrel. Sigma says that it also reduced the weight of the lens by 10% and changed the autofocus motor to a linear-type system to make its performance significantly faster than the original. Overall, the design has resulted in what Sigma calls “a highly portable lens body” with a maximum diameter of 87.8mm (3.5 inches), a length of 120.2mm (4.7 inches), and a weight of 745 grams (26.3 ounces).
 
A camera lens rests on a wooden surface with soft light and shadows. A detached lens cap lies nearby, and an out-of-focus plant is in the foreground, creating a serene atmosphere.

The lens is constructed of 19 elements arranged into 15 groups including six FLD glass elements, two SLD glass elements, and five double-sided aspherical lenses. Sigma says this construction has allowed aberrations to be “highly corrected” and in particular, sagittal coma flare is heavily corrected. It also sports a high level of flare resistance so that point images, such as stars, at the periphery of the image are closer to ideal points.

A black Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Series camera lens with various focal length markings ranging from 24mm to 70mm. The lens features a robust design with a focus switch for AF/MF, zoom, and aperture rings, showcasing high-quality optics.

It features an aperture range of f/2.8 through f/22 via an 11-bladed diaphragm and has a close-focusing distance of 6.7 inches (17 centimeters) at the wide end with a 1:2.7 magnification. It has a click/declick option on the aperture ring, an additional AF-L button (for a total of two), and a zoom lock switch — that last addition is unusual on a lens with this short of a zoom range.

A black Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN zoom lens is shown horizontally with the lens hood attached. The lens features various controls and markings, including a zoom ring, a focus ring, and a focus mode switch. The lens mount is visible on the right side.

“The lens has high sharpness throughout the entire image from its maximum aperture, even on high-resolution cameras. Focusing on enhancing its rendering performance, the brightness of f/2.8 produces a large, beautiful bokeh effect, and allows users to experience the power of a flagship lens in all types of visual expression. In addition to its advanced close-up capability and resistance to flare and ghosting, the lens is designed to minimize focus breathing,” Sigma says.

A close-up of a person holding a Sony digital camera with a large lens attached. The camera is black, and the person is gripping it with both hands, standing outdoors with a blurred background.

A person with long blonde hair, dressed in a black jacket and white shirt, is looking down and adjusting the settings on a large camera they are holding. There is a bright window in the blurred background.

On L-mount cameras, the lens has support for switching between linear and non-linear focus ring settings and Sigma will also offer its mount conversion service for the lens if a photographer switches to another Sigma-supported mount.

Below are a few sample images captured with the lens, provided courtesy of Sigma:

A young woman with long brown hair stands outdoors with her arms crossed. She is wearing a black leather jacket, a white t-shirt, and blue jeans. The background shows a street scene with a blurred storefront behind her.

A young woman with long, light brown hair and green eyes looks directly at the camera. She is wearing a light blue blouse and a gold necklace with small pendants. The background is dark and slightly blurred, highlighting her face.

A parrot with green and yellow feathers and a distinctive patterned chest sits perched on the edge of a terracotta plant pot, with lush green foliage in the background, inside a brightly lit room.

A young green leaf sprouts from the forest floor against the base of a mossy tree trunk. Sunlight filters through tall trees in the background, creating a serene woodland scene with shadows and natural textures.

A bride in a strapless white wedding gown with sheer off-the-shoulder sleeves holds a bouquet of white, peach, and greenery flowers. She stands in a rustic greenhouse, looking thoughtfully to the side. Her dark hair is styled in loose waves, adorned with a hairpin.

A beautifully set dining table with elegant white tablecloths and floral centerpieces featuring roses and greenery. Tall white candles in gold holders, clear glassware, and white plates with gold cutlery add a sophisticated touch. The background features large windows and a rustic wall.

A close-up of a single tulip with pink and yellow petals in full bloom. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the flower's delicate structure and colors, set against a backdrop of green foliage.

A whole red onion sits on a rustic wooden cutting board with a metal handle. The background features a stack of aged papers and a wooden surface, contributing to a vintage and homely atmosphere.

A slice of chocolate cake with white frosting and a halved strawberry on top sits on a small, dark square plate. The plate rests on a wooden table with a blurred green background.

Perhaps most impressive is the price: Sigma is asking $1,199 for the 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art II; that’s just $100 more than the last generation lens retailed for and is half the price of Sony’s 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II; that’s the same line it was able to use with its first generation, too. Sigma expects the lens to be available by late May 2024 in both Sony E-mount and L-mount.

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