Sigma Art EF

24-70 f/2.8 OIS

Sigma Art EF 24-70 f/2.8 OIS

    • Full-frame Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 standard zoom from Sigma’s Art line.

    • Constant f/2.8 aperture across the zoom range.

    • Optical Stabilization for handheld stills and video.

    • HSM autofocus motor.

    • 19 elements in 14 groups, with SLD and aspherical elements.

    • 0.37m / 15 in minimum focusing distance with 1:4.8 maximum magnification.

    • 82mm filter thread and 1020g weight.

  • I bought this lens used in 2020 as an affordable standard zoom for my then-new Canon EOS R, after renting it for months from Vistek in Calgary for automotive shoots.

    As part of Sigma’s Art line, the image quality was excellent. You would honestly need to pixel-peep against Canon’s EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II to see the differences in most real-world work. On top of that, the Sigma had Optical Stabilization, while the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II did not.

    It was heavy and a bit awkward on the EOS R, especially because it felt front-heavy once adapted, but it did exactly what I needed. It also became my way back into zoom lenses after years of mostly shooting primes.

    I still have it and sometimes use it on the Elan 7, Canon 5D Mark II, or when I need two 24-70mm lenses at the same time for commercial work.

    The important note is video autofocus on the R6/R5C: compared with Canon EF or RF lenses, this Sigma can hunt more, and the focus motor is more audible. For stills and DSLR work, it remains a strong value. For modern RF video work, it is not my first choice.

    The Good:

    • 24-70mm range at constant f/2.8 without the high price of RF glass.

    • Optical Stabilization is a major advantage over some EF 24-70mm alternatives.

    • Art-series build and image quality are strong for the price.

    • EF mount keeps it usable across DSLR and adapted RF bodies.

    • Still useful when I need a second 24-70mm for commercial work.

    The Bad:

    • Heavy, especially once adapted to RF.

    • Front-heavy on smaller mirrorless bodies.

    • Edge performance can lag behind top Canon options.

    • Autofocus may not feel as native or quick as Canon RF Nano USM.

    • Autofocus can hunt and be noisy for video in Continuous AF.

    • Get it if you need an EF 24-70mm f/2.8 with stabilization.

    • Get it if value matters more than native Canon integration.

    • Get it for DSLR bodies or mixed EF/RF kits.

    • Get it if you find a clean used copy at a strong price.

    • Pass if you primarily use RF bodies and want a main commercial workhorse.

    • Pass if quiet, reliable video autofocus is a priority; in that case, go for the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 IS USM or L version.

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