Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Sigma 24-105mm F4.0 Art DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon

Superbly sharp lens, a definite competitor to Canon's 24-105 f/4 and Nikon's 24-120 f/4

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014

Style: Nikon CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I've had this lens for a month or so now. I took it to Tokyo and Kyoto on a trip and took nearly 1000 shots with it. I must say, I am thoroughly impressed with this lens. The image quality is superb. I shoot with a Nikon D7100, and it is very sharp corner to corner on a DX body from 24-80mm. Above that to 105, image quality may start to soften slightly, but it's negligible. I've never shot the Canon 24-105 or the Nikon 24-120 to be honest, but after extensive research and reviews, I settled on this over the Nikon 24-120, and I'm very happy with it. The build quality is tops. The lens is a bit on the heavy side, but you're getting quality glass, and I had no issues carrying it around all day with my BlackRapid sling. A couple things to be aware of... first, the lens focuses backward (counterclockwise, like Canon) compared to the normal Nikon clockwise focusing fashion. It was a little weird at first but you get used to it, no biggie at all. Second, there's been reported issues with Sigma lenses and the Nikon D7100 (and maybe other Nikon's as well) concerning image review. With the Sigma lens attached, you cannot hold the arrow button down to pan around an image for review, it requires clicking each time. Also, if you have a screen timeout set for 4 seconds, the image review will stay on for about 1 minute with this lens on. Once a Nikon lens is put on, your image review functions go back to normal, even when looking at images taken with the Sigma lens. It's a known issue, and apparently Sigma isn't planning to release a firmware update for it (I have no idea why...). It's a minor nuisance, and in my opinion, the quality of the lens outweighs those cons. I'll be interested to see if the problem persists with my new D610 when it arrives. Regardless, I still think the lens is a very worthy standard zoom that can outclass both the Nikon 24-85 and the 24-120 in both image quality and construction quality, and also the aging Canon 24-105! Do yourself a favor and check one out!

19 people found this helpful

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LostJohnny

Fantastic, All-Purpose Lens

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2015

Style: Nikon CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I'm a Nikon-shooting wedding photographer. I bought this because I needed a replacement for my hardy Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8 while it was out being repaired (it's been shooting HARD for 6 years), and I could always use an extra wide angle (my wife shares my equipment).

So here's what I found: Excellent focusing, even in the dark. The Nikkor 24-70 would give me soft-focus issues every once in a while, but NOT the Sigma.

The Sigma is sharper than the Nikkor 24-70 at every aperture, and would have a little more contrast and slightly poppier colors. It DOES vignette often in the telephoto range, but I personally LIKE that look, so I won't complain about it. Just know that it's there.

The f/4 aperture might put some people off, but honestly, if you're shooting wide-angle, do you really need a wider aperture for most circumstances? Probably not. If you're a natural light shooter, I can see it causing problems - especially on older bodies where you can't crank up the ISO to compensate for the aperture.

On a shallower note, this is a beautiful lens. It's just so freakin' well crafted and beautiful to look at. It's got a nice weight to it, and just oozes quality glass - something I'd never thought I'd mention in a review. The weight might be a problem for some, but this is a professional lens - you kinda have to expect it to be heavy.

In conclusion, this lens is a great buy. Great all purpose focal lengths, decent constant aperture, impeccable focusing, and handsome to boot. I prefer this lens over my Nikkor 24-70, and it's half the price. Kind of a no-brainer.

65 people found this helpful

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Bill P

Wow! I love this lens when used with my full frame Nikon D700.

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2017

Style: Nikon CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I have used a Sigma 24-70 2.8 EX DG for many years. Its biggest shortcoming is that it relies on the camera bodies motor for focusing. I have shot many great pictures with it...
Now comes the new Sigma 24-105 F4 Art lens. WOW! It is sharp. The built in focus motor is fast and quiet. It works perfectly on my Nikon D700 body. I normally shoot with the aperture set from F8 to F11. In this range it is amazingly sharp for a 4.4X zoom. The little extra on the long end is very useful in my style of photography. Back in the film days I often shot with a Nikkor 105 F2.5 (I still own it). It is wonderful to have this range again without having to swap lenses, which is the price we pay when using prime lenses. No zoom is as sharp as a Nikkor prime in a given range, but the convenience more than makes up for the small loss of sharpness and can usually be corrected (along with any minor geometry issues) in ACR or other good RAW editors.
This Sigma offering is not an inexpensive lens, but remember that glass is a long term investment that can span several camera bodies in useful life. I am including an image shot with this lens that I print at 16"X24" on 17" wide roll paper. The JPEG doesn't really do it justice. The edge enhancement plugin that I use will bring out all the faults in an image. This image is as good as any in my catalog when it comes to lacking grossly visible defects. If you want a standard zoom in this range and have a camera body that will complement it, I highly recommend the Sigma 24-105 F4 ART Lens.

7 people found this helpful

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Gatorowl

Excellent Glass, But Not in the Same League as Other Art Series Lenses

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2014

Style: Nikon CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

Don't get me wrong, the lens is excellent, but it isn't amazing like the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 APS-C lens or the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens. Perhaps one cannot expect miracles from a more than 4x lens. Nonetheless, the lens is noticeably better than my 24-85G and has a longer range, so I will almost certainly keep it.

The lens is big--but not too big--and very heavy. The difference between it and my 18-35G (feather light) and 24-85G (light) is astonishing. Nonetheless, I don't believe it is too heavy to carry around all day. Also, I prefer its "squat" not-too-long size to the longer, skinnier 70-200mm F/4 VR. It balances better at the end of an FX camera, and improves focus at very slow shutter speeds (yes, even with the excellent VR). I also prefer the heavier Canon 70-300 L size to the lighter but longer 70-200 L f/4 IS size, but that's a different topic. However, you need to try it before making the decision for your own personal use.

Note: a Nikon D800E was the test camera--I did not use this lens with an DX/APS-C camera.

Okay, here's the lowdown on IQ.

At 24mm

At a distance (25meters) In the center the Sigma is sharper than the Nikon 18-35mm G wide open and much sharper than the 24-85mm. However, the 18-35 G catches up and even surpasses the Sigma on the edges. The 24-85 has the worst edges. However, the Sigma gets even sharper stopping down to f/5.6 and has decent to good edges at f/8. I really don't see much improvement in the Nikon pair from stopping down, so this is a big positive for the Sigma. Closer in (3meters), the Sigma still maintains its advantage, but differences are just not as noticeable.

At 35mm

The Sigma seems to be at its best. The difference between it and the Nikon zooms is even more apparent, and the Sigma just might be sharper at 35mm than at 24mm. Sharpness, however, still drops off near the edges and differences between it and the Nikons aren't as pronounced.

At 50mm

The Sigma is still very sharp in the center but the lead over the Nikon 24-85mm isn't as pronounced. I really have to pixel-peep to see differences in the center. Both the Sigma and Nikon have better edges at 50mm, and the Sigma maintains its edge (on the edges), but there aren't major differences. As with other focal lengths, the Sigma gains more from stopping down and has very nice edge-to-edge sharpness at f/8. The Nikon is good here as well, but the Sigma is better.

One annoying aspect of this lens is that it doesn't ever communicate 50mm to the camera. The camera registers 48mm and 52mm but never 50mm. The same is true at 70mm and 80mm. These FL are indicated on the barrel of the lens, but will not register in the EXIF files as such.

At 70mm

Which is 68mm for the Sigma, the lenses are indistinguishable in the center wide open (f/4 for Sigma, f/4.5 for Nikon). However, stopping down to f/5.6 provides a razor sharp center for the Sigma, that the Nikon doesn't reach. Unfortunately, the Sigma falls off faster towards the edges, which only improve to an okay level at f/8.

At 85mm

The Sigma (82mm in the Exif information) once again takes a substantial lead. Wide open it is noticeably sharper than the Nikon in the center and a little sharper on the edges. Stopping down to F/5.6, the Sigma is razor sharp in the center and much sharper than the Nikon throughout the frame. It still takes f/8 to get edge-to-edge sharpness, but if you can stop it down this much, you will find the result truly impressive.

At 105mm

No comparison here (that will come later), but the above pattern holds here as well. At f/4 the Sigma seems relatively soft in the center. It sharpens a bit at f/5.6 but is at peak sharpness--nearly razor sharp--at f/8. At f/8 the edges sharpen up to an acceptable level but trail the center noticeably.

Overall, a very good performance and a good choice for a walk around lens if you can handle the weight.

As for other IQ characteristics, there is quite a bit of light falloff (vignetting) wide open at every focal lengths. However, this is easily corrected, so I don't consider it major. Chromatic aberration is also quite noticeable. Someone mentioned a susceptibility to flare. I was able to see some flare by shooting into the sun early in the week, but I could not duplicate it in my testing today. Suffice to say flare is possible, but if you shoot with the hood and are careful about the location of the sun, flare should be manageable as well.

For the first few days I had the Sigma I wasn't sure if I was going to keep this lens. I focussed too much on the flaws, which after additional testing I find to be acceptable compromises in a lens with this range. Zooms are by necessity a compromise. This more than 4x lens is very ambitious (the best full-frame zooms are 3x or less) so its imperfections are not surprising. Moreover, although I have never shot with the Nikon 24-120mm based on reviews of that lens and my experience with this one, I am convinced that the Sigma is the best normal-range zoom for my purposes.

EDITED: March 9, 2014

Got a chance to compare with my 70-200 f/4 VR and the results were extremely promising. At 70mm (68 for the Sigma) the lenses are really close. It's hard to say which lens I'd give an edge to. At 85mm (82 for the Sigma), the 70-200 is better wide open, but the Sigma catches and, and perhaps, surpasses it by f/5.6. It gets interesting at 105mm. By comparison, the Sigma is noticeably softer wide open. But stopped down to f/5.6, the Sigma is better! Perhaps the resolution is about the same, but the Sigma has better contrast and color. The Sigma's softness wide open may simply be lower contrast and not lower resolution.

Because this review is long enough already, I will stop here. However, for anyone who is curious, I will add details and my thoughts on edge softness (it's complicated and deals with field curvature of the lens) in the comment section.

95 people found this helpful

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AC

A fine short/medium-range alternative to Canon builds

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2014

Style: Canon EF CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

Ah, the good old 24-105mm fallback. This is Sigma's latest answer to the call, and a good one at that. It's undoubtedly superior to the old Sigmas that you might have jeered at in the past, but at the same time not exactly in the same league as some of the other lenses in the same product line. Ultimately it's a good alternative to the now-aging Canon 24-105 L lens at a slightly lower price point.

IMAGE QUALITY
I'll keep this brief since others already have detailed explanations. As expected, the lens performs best around the midrange e.g., 50mm. It's decently sharp at 24mm and acceptable at 105mm. Your 105mm pictures will look ok until you zoom in, at which point focus suffers - but this is expected for a lens at this price point (including the Canon lens that begs for comparison). Pincushion is fairly minor throughout the range. I've noticed that picture will pick up the dark corners due to the sun shield/hood.

BUILD QUALITY
As one of Sigma's new lenses from their Global Vision restructuring, the 24-105 Art lens is much more refined than the old one I had from 2007. It's all black with white lettering, giving it a serious look, and feels similarly built. Next to the Canon with which it competes and my old Sigma, this one is light years ahead. The shell isn't metal like my bigger Canon L lens - looks like high-impact plastic to me - but you'll still feel good holding it. The hypersonic motor is also nearly silent - a big leap from the DC motor in my old Sigma. The 82mm filter size also makes it seem more substantial than the other 77mm filter-threaded 24-105 lenses.

FIELD SURVIVABILITY
The lens isn't weather-sealed in case you need that capability. However, mine survived 0 Celsius rain(?!) in Korea and 35 Celsius + 80% humidity weather in Taiwan, and now California drought, so I think it's safe to say it will survive most normal trips.

PRICING AND FINAL THOUGHTS
List price for this glass is $900, but availability is limited. The list price for the Canon 24-105L hovers around $1000 but you can usually find it for cheaper. While I did think about price despite the minor difference, I ended up going with the Sigma because of the improved build quality. In terms of image quality the Canon and Sigma are nearly the same - if you want much better I suggest looking at the 24-70mm category (though you lose some reach).

5 people found this helpful

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Brandon W.

Broke the first time out of the box

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024

Style: Canon EF CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

The lens broke the first time I used it where it connects to the camera. I tried to get it fixed via the warranty and they claimed it was caused by external force and was not covered by warranty. Very shoddy plastic holding it together.

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Leslie

A must have lens.

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020

Style: Nikon CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I just want to start by saying I was highly iffy about this lens. I’ve heard so many great reviews about sigma art lens, but I’ve also heard horribly stories about it’s focusing issues. Thankfully, because of this quarantine I’ve had ALOT of time to read countless reviews, comments and scores from reputable sites like DxOMark. With all that being said. If you are in the market for a workhorse lens. This is it. I primarily shoot with primes. I love them, but sometimes having that extra reach help. You don’t always have time to switch lens or “zoom with your feet.” That’s where a lens like this comes in handy. After a few weeks with this lens I can see no reason why that anybody from a “professional photographer” to a weekend warrior couldn’t benefit from this lens. It is very sharp, durable and unlike its art counterparts I did not need the usb dock to fix its focusing issues. Do not let the 4f scare you away. This is a must have lens. I shoot with a few Nikons and this is my second copy of this lens. The only thing I will suggest is that it is a bit heavy so be weary of that fact. I am also a fitness addict so the weight doesn’t bother me but I could see it posing a problem long term. Other than that I think you will love. Btw my two close friends shoot with both the Nikon and canon equivalent and both have agreed it is sharper and worth every penny.

4 people found this helpful

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Beemer903

Less expensive than Canon equivalent and MUCH sharper.

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2017

Style: Canon EF CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I was tempted by this lens after my huge disappointment with the new Canon 25-105 f4 II L. The images from the Canon lens on my 5D Mark IV never felt quite right — soft and lacking contrast. I thought it might have been the particular lens I received, or the IS system, but after careful calibration and a trip to Canon Professional Services, I was assured it was all working as it was meant to — but it still didn't render impressive results.

Enter the Sigma. An older lens than the few-month-old Canon, it is a staggering improvement over the Canon offering, and for less money. I did many 'real world' side-by-side tests with the Canon 24-105mm II, and the Sigma is simply a superior lens. The most noticeable difference is that it is considerably sharper. I have attached two 100% image crops from the 5D Mark IV, without retouching, showing the difference. The settings and condition were the same for both shots. (I'm hoping the Amazon image upload/compression doesn't negate the visible sharpness difference!) The Sigma is the first image of the two.

Beyond the superior sharpness, the Sigma exhibited marginally less distortion, and marginally less chromatic aberration. Vignetting is roughly the same. One very interesting note, is that the Sigma transmits nearly one stop more of light than the Canon, despite both being f4. I confirmed this across a range of comparative shots using Lightroom.

It's also cooler looking and no more bulky than the Canon. It's my first foray into the "Art" lens series, having been a lifelong "L" glass guy, but in future I am going to be seriously looking at the Sigma offerings alongside the Canon ones. I am mightily impressed.

Of course, I did my comparisons using the particular lenses I received. I guess "your mileage may vary" as they say!

93 people found this helpful

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NC

Better than expected!

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023

Style: Canon EF CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

I've seen mixed reviews so I was a little bit apprehensive. I bought my copy gently used and it appeared to be in mint condition when it arrived.

I spent a day getting familiar with the lens, then took it out on a hike. I attached it to my 6D body and I couldn't be happier with the results.

The OS allowed me to take several long exposures hand held, and the lighting wasn't great. The pairing of the 6D with the Sigma 24-105mm Art lens worked very well!

The attached photos tell the story for me.

One person found this helpful

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MikeG

Make sure to calibrate it!

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023

Style: Canon EF CamerasSet: US VersionVerified Purchase

Initially, I hated this lens. It focused about 4" closer than where I was trying to. My son's 70-200 Sigma came with the calibration kit, so I borrowed it and this lens was indeed way off. I did the calibration and now it became my favorite lens. If you don't own any newer Sigma lenses, be sure to purchase the interface kit which also connects for firmware updates.

2 people found this helpful

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Sigma 24-105mm F4.0 Art DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon

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Sigma 24-105mm F4.0 Art DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon

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