Sigma AF 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM | A ("Art") (Nikon FX) - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Nikon / Nikkor (full format)

Sample Shots

The following sample shots were taken with a D3x and RAW-converted via CaptureOne.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window).

Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 42.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 82.0mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 24.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 58.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 105.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 48.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1600s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 105.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 24.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 105.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 38.0mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 48.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 95.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 105.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 38.0mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure 1/640s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 28.0mm
Aperture: f/5.0
Exposure 1/640s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 105.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/320s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 62.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/80s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 48.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/500s

Verdict

Sigma released some great products recently, but have they really found the silver bullet in all categories ? No, they aren't there yet. Traditionally standard zoom lenses have been a weak spot in the Sigma range and the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG HSM OS | A is not capable of being substantially better than other lenses in this class.

A highlight of the lens is certainly its amazing center performance - images are really tack sharp here and that's throughout the zoom range. The borders/corners are less impressive but still decent. However, the last bit of the extreme corners are blurry at 24mm.

Distortion is not really extreme but certainly not negligible either with the usual weak spot at the wide end. From a real world perspective, the light falloff is also a bit disturbing at f/4 at the long end of the range.

Coming back to positive aspects, the level of chromatic aberrations is relatively low and the quality of the bokeh is quite good for a standard zoom lens.

Another highlight is the mechanical quality of the Sigma lens. The used materials feel really superb and it's hard to spot weaknesses here. However, we'd like to mention the lack of weather sealing and we tend to put question marks behind the long term reliability of zoom mechanisms based on two inner lens tubes (duo-cam design). The HSM AF works as fast and noiseless as Nikon's AF-S and Sigma's optical image stabilizer is a handy and proven value-add by now.

The question of the day is, of course, how the Sigma lens can be seen vs the Nikkor AF-S 24-120 f/4 VR. Honestly, they are very close with the Sigma offering a slightly better optical performance vs. a longer focal range on the Nikkor. Depending on your preferences, the edge may be on the one or the other side.

Optical Quality:    
★★★★★
Mechanical Quality:
★★★★★
Price/Performance:
★★★★★

Click here for an explanation of our star ratings


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