Sigma DG DN lenses are the best value full frame E and L mount lenses available. The combination of feel, ergonomics, feature set, image quality, and price make these the best value lenses available in 2022. This is a user evaluation of the lenses that I use.
Backstory: In the past 40 years, I’ve been a strong advocate of buying the name brand lens matching the brand of the body. Why? Lens selection, quality, feel, ergonomics, compatibility. It was a no brainer even if the matching name brand lens cost more, it was worth it. In 2022 this is no longer true. The quality, feel, ergonomics, and price make the Sigma DG DN lenses the best value lenses on the market for L mount and E mount cameras.
I also lean towards zooms over primes since they assist me in composition and filling the frame. The main knock on zooms is that they are slower, but the Sigmas are f2.8 so plenty fast enough for my photography. The convenience of not having to carry all the prime lenses contained in the zoom and not having to switch lenses in the field is so worth owning and using a zoom.
Sigma nomenclature:
DG: Designed for Full Frame cameras.
DN: Designed for mirrorless cameras.
I Series: These are premium metal barrel prime lenses with manual aperture rings. Though I don’t use primes that much these are such cool lenses, I bought the 24mm f2.0, 45mm f2.8, and 90mm f2.8. According to Sigma, “SIGMA I series lenses are premium, compact prime lenses that are both strikingly beautiful and optically impressive. With full-frame coverage, all-metal construction, exceptional autofocus performance, and gorgeous (yet functional) touches like a knurled manual aperture ring and a magnetic lens cap, I series lenses are designed to enhance both the artistic potential and the tangible experience of mirrorless photography.”
Zooms:
Canon and Sigma L mount lenses zoom in counter clockwise. Nikon and Sony zoom in clockwise rotation. I’m used to counter clockwise after using Canon for 10 years. With these 3 zooms, most users will have everything they need from 16mm-400mm. These are the three lenses I carry in my bag.
16-28 f2.8 DG DN | C MSRP $900 street price $900 This is my third most used lens. It’s light, uses a 72mm filter, focuses and zooms smoothly. I’ll update in July or August after I’ve had some more time with this lens.
28-70MM F2.8 DG DN | C MSRP $900 street price $800
This is my most used lens. It’s light, uses a 67mm filter, focuses and zooms smoothly, and is faster than the competition.
100-400MM F5-6.3 DG DN OS | C MSRP $949 street price $900
This is my second most used lens. It’s light, uses a 67mm filter, focuses and zooms smoothly. This lens is only a little larger than most 100-200mm f4 zooms so no reason not to get the extra 200mm of zoom. The Canon RF 70-200 f4 is Approx. 3.29 in x 4.69 in. / 83.5mm x 119.0mm while this lens is 86.0 x 197.2mm / 3.4 x 7.8 in.
150-600MM F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S MSRP $1500 street price $1400
I haven’t actually used this yet. The 100-400 has been enough for me so far. Filter size 95mm. One cool thing is the tripod ring is already machined for an Arca-Swiss tripod clamp compared to all the others that require the user to buy and attach a separate plate.
An apples to apples comparison with Sigma DG DN lenses with Canon RF and Nikon Z isn’t possible, so I may have 2 lenses in a category. Though not a precisely even comparison you can see Sigma DG DN are a much better overall value. I wonder if Sigma will make a RF or Z mount available for their DG DN lenses? I’m sure they’d sell. I’m sure Sony is selling a lot of bodies to users buying Sigma DG DN lenses. Maybe Sony should have joined the L mount alliance? Nikon really needs to stop calling their Z mount lenses the “S line,” how dumb is that?
| Sigma L Mount | Canon RF Mount | Nikon Z Mount | Sony FE Mount | |
| 16-28 f2.8 | $900 | 14-35 f4.0 $1700 15-35 f2.8 $2400 | 14-30 f4 $1300 14-24 f2.8 $2400 | 16-35 f2.8 $2200 |
| 28-70 f2.8 | $900 | 24-70 f2.8 $2400 28-70 f2.0 $3100 | 28-75 f2.8 $1200 msrp $900 street 24-70 f2.8 $2300 | 24-70 f2.8 $2200 |
| 100-400 f5-6.3 | $949 | 100-400 f5.6-8 $650 | 100-400 f4.5-5.6 $2700 | 100-400 f4.5-5.6 $2500 |
| 150-600 f5-6.3 | $1500 | 100-500 f4.5-7.1 $2900 | NA | 200-600 f5.6-6.3 $2000 |
| Total | $4249 | $4750 low – $8400 hi | $4900 low – $7400 | $8900 |
Primes:
24mm f2.0
35mm f1.4 This was my first f1.4 lens. Since I’m mainly a landscape photographer. I thought I’d shoot with this and the 85 f1.4 for weddings, one lens on each body and just use these two lenses exclusively.
45 f2.8
85mm f1.4
90 f2.8 I haven’t used this lens at all yet. Not sure I need it with an 85 f1.4 and 100 f2.8
105mm f2.8 Macro
| Sigma | Canon | Nikon | Sony | |
| 24 f2.0 | $639 | NA | 24 f1.8 $1000 | 24mm 2.8 $600 |
| 35 f1.4 | $900 | 35 f1.8 Macro $500 | 35 f1.8 $850 | Zeiss $1000 Sony GM $1400 |
| 45 f2.8 | $549 | 50 f1.8 $200 | 50mm f2.8 $650 | 40mm f2.5 $600 |
| 85 f1.4 | $1200 | 85 f2 $600 | 85 f1.8 $800 | $1800 |
| 90 f2.8 | $639 | NA | 85 f1.8 $800 | 90mm 2.8 Macro $1100 |
| 105 f2.8 Macro | $800 | $1400 | 105 f2.8 $1000 | 90mm 2.8 Macro $1100 |
| Total | $4737 | $2600 | $4300 | $5500 |
Canon M Cameras 