Conclusion

The Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art is a full-featured, weather-sealed macro lens that delivers outstanding edge-to-edge image quality for Sony E-Mount and L-Mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.

It delivers outstanding sharpness in both the centre and edges of the frame throughout its aperture range, even performing brilliantly when shooting wide-open at f/2.8.

Vigentting is an issue as with all fast lenses, requiring you to stop down by at least 2 f-stops to prevent it completely, but there's little evidence of chromatic aberrations and distortion is well controlled even when shooting in the RAW format where the camera doesnt apply any automatic corrections.

The minimum focusing distance of 29.5cm with a maximum magnification of 1x / 1:1 provides true life-size reproduction, with the focus limiter switch speeding up auto-focusing at closer distances.

Considering that the Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art lens is a dedicated macro lens, it offers quite fast and reliable auto-focusing in good light on the Sony A7 II camera that we tested it with, although it's prone to hunting a little more often in low-light conditions.

Manual focusing is a joy thanks to the generously sized focusing ring with its large throw and the ability to over-ride the autofocus system at any time.

The Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art offers an outstanding level of build quality given the budget price, with a more durable brass mountand dust and moisture resistance.

It also benefits from several new features, most notably the excellent aperture ring complete with de-click function for video use and a lock button.

Sigma have also included a high quality round-shaped lens hood that locks into place and a good quality padded case.

Compared with its main rival, the excellent Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS, the new 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art is sharper at f/2.8 and in the corners, offers more controls and better handling, whilst costing about 2/3rds of the price.

On the minus side, its AF system isn't quite as quick or reliable in low-light and it doesn't feature an optical image stabilisation, instead relying on the camera's own built-in stabilisation system (if there is one).

Overall, we'd recommend the Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO Art more highly than the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS, especially if you tend to shoot macro subjects using the camera on a tripod in manual focus mode.

The Sony FE 90mm has the edge for hand-held, auto-focus macro work, but it isn't as good optically as the new Sigma 105mm F2.8.

If you don't already own the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS, then we'd definitely recommend purchasing the simply superb Sigma 105mm F2.8 Art if you're even remotely interested in macro photography.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	5