We are truly living in a golden age of camera lenses, with new options being released on an almost weekly basis. What is rare, however, is lenses that are genuinely exciting – and Sigma has certainly provided that spark with a new 'world first'.
Announced today is the Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS | Sports, a full-frame mirrorless telephoto prime lens that features the widest aperture for a lens of its kind. At first glance, a 200mm f/2 seems like it will be the perfect portrait lens – and while that's true, a closer look at the extensive specs reveals this lens is highly versatile.
The 200mm f/2 will fall into Sigma's Sports line, a series of lenses that prioritize optical performance while keeping up with the challenging conditions of professional photographers and filmmakers. And the newest member has certainly been injected with this same DNA.
Sigma's lenses always deliver on visual performance. By adopting an optical design of 19 elements in 14 groups, including 2 FLD and 2 SLD glass elements, aberrations are corrected and controlled. This delivers a finely detailed rendering that maintains excellent resolution and contrast from the center to the edges of the frame, even at maximum aperture.
That aperture is what makes this new release a world's first, as up until now, there has been no other mirrorless 200mm lens with as 'bright an f-number', boasting twice the amount of light as the typical telephoto max of f/2.8. When coupled with the 200mm focal length, subject separation becomes easy, compressing the background into a soft, dreamy blur.
This effect will make the 200mm f/2 a portrait lens to be rivaled and, in my early opinion, I can see this gaining as much popularity for portraits as the Nikon Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena and the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM. A big statement, admittedly, but the sample photos and the idea of combining 200mm with f/2 scream "portraits".
As I alluded to earlier, the spec list makes this lens highly versatile. The wide f/2 aperture is ideal for almost any low-light situation and Sigma has highlighted indoor sports photography as an ideal scenario.
"The f/2 brightness allows for a faster shutter speed even in low-light environments, making it a powerful tool for indoor sports photography," says Sigma.
"The large bokeh enhances the movements and expressions of the athletes, creating dynamic images, and with the high-speed AF made possible by the HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motor and Optical Stabilization (OS), that decisive moment is not missed, even in fast-moving sports scenes".
Where this lens might surprise people is with landscape photography. It's not always the wide-angle lenses that capture great vistas; sometimes, having a longer focal length enables the photographer to focus in on a particular part of the landscape.
From personal experience, I love capturing landscapes at 200mm, and the wide aperture enables shooting well into blue hour and beyond. Just take a look at the sample photos as evidence.
The Optical stabilization makes use of Sigma's OS2 algorithm to provide outstanding compensation of 6.5 stops. There are two OS modes on the lens, changeable via an on-body switch. Mode 1 is suitable for general shooting and Mode 2 uses Sigma’s Intelligent OS, specially designed for panning shots. Mode 2 would be particularly ideal for motorsports photography or tracking wildlife / birds.
Build quality has always set Sigma Sports lenses apart in the market, and this time is no different. The lens body exterior is finished with a coat of thermal insulation paint that suppresses heat absorption from working in direct sunlight; much like Sigma's recent 300-600mm f/4 Sports telephoto zoom lens.
In addition to the robust construction, the mount joints, manual focus ring, zoom ring, custom switches and exterior joints are all protected from dust and splashes by a dust and splash-resistant structure. The lens is also coated with a water- and oil-repellent coating, so no dust and water adhere to the lens.
Other notable features include a newly designed tripod socket with Arca-Swiss type foot, AFL buttons in three different locations, a focus mode switch, a focus limiter switch, an OS switch (Mode 1/2), a custom mode switch and an aperture ring. This list doesn't even cover half of the specs, and I highly recommend checking them out on the official Sigma website.
Now here comes the sad news, for some: the Sigma 200mm f/2 DG OS | Sports will be released for Sony E and L-Mount only. Priced at £2,999 (approximately £2,219 / AU$4,626), it is scheduled for release on September 04.
What is interesting to note is that I recently wrote about a leak that showed images of a new Lawoa 200mm f/2 lens in production. It will be interesting to see the differences in performance and price, and if Loawa pips Sigma to the 'world's first' title.
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Check out our guides to the best telephoto lenses and the best lenses for portraits.
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