Conclusion

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports lens is bigger and heavier than all of its main rivals, but we can forgive that because of the compelling mix of fantastic sharpness and image quality, great build quality, and outstanding feature set and performance. In short, this is our new favourite 70-200 f/2.8 lens for DSLR owners, and it also works really well on the Sony Alpha mirrorless system too.

Image quality is simply superb. It's outstanding at every focal length, with epic levels of sharpness virtually throughout the aperture range. Chromatic aberrations are almost non-existent and flare is only ever an issue when shooting directly into the sun or if you choose not to use the large lens hood. The only real optical issue is obvious corner shading at the maximum aperture, something that can be easily remedied by either stopping down to f/5.6 or in post-production.

Auto-focusing proved to be very quick, accurate and reliable on the both the Canon EOS 5DS R DSLR and Sony A7 III mirrorless cameras that we tested the lens with, while manual focus over-ride is a great feature, as is the effective built-in optical image stabilisation system that's worth up to 4 stops.

Build quality is excellent, with the brass lens mount and sober all-black design adding to the high-quality feel and the dust/splash-proof construction adding some peace of mind, plus there's a good lens hood and padded case. The Arca Swiss compatible tripod mount/collar is a nice touch, although some users may wish that it could be completely removed, and it ships with a high quality lens hood, shoulder strap and padded case.

In terms of price, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports is a little more expensive than the Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2, but significantly undercuts its main rival lenses from Canon and Nikon. In our view, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports is well worth its asking price, and well worth our coveted 5-star Award.

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