LensTip.com

When the rumors about Sigma designing a full frame 20-200 mm lens reached my ears I imagined a really big instrument, weighing about one kilogram, that might remind you 70-200 mm f/2.8 or possibly 35-150 mm f/2.0-f/2.8 class models.

Meanwhile we got a shapely, handy lens which length in folded position doesn't exceed 12 centimeters and weight reaches just 550 grams, so, roughly, two times less than my expectations.

The following chart presents a comparison between the tested Sigma and other full frame superzooms. Of course in their case the shortest focal length amounts to as much as 24-25 mm and they offer the maximum focal length of 240 mm. All of them are heavier than the Sigma, and only the Nikkor Z 24-200 mm f/4-6.3 VR is very slightly shorter. It's worth adding that the Sigma and the Tamron are the only models without an optical image stabilization module, a fact that allows to simplify their optical construction, limit the weight and dimensions of the lens. Also the Sigma along the Tamron stick out in a positive way in this group with their minimum focusing distance.

Please Support Us If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As we've already mentioned this aspect, it's worth adding one more important fact - in the 28-85 mm range the Sigma offers you a very sensible 1:2 mapping scale, providing a quite nice substitute of a macro mode. It increases the flexibility of this lens.

In the photo below the Sigma C 20-200 mm f/3.5-6.3 DG is positioned between the reflex camera Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM and the Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 G.

The tested lens starts with a metal mount that surrounds contacts and a rear element, 25 mm in diameter. The rear element moves and at 20 mm it is positioned almost on the same level as the contacts; when you pass to 200 mm it hides inside the tube almost 4 cm deep. The area around it is properly blackened and matted. Between the bushing with the element and the tube you can notice a slit through which you can spot inner construction part so you cannot speak about the lens being completely sealed.

The proper casing of the lens starts with a smooth, black ring that increases its diameter and is made of plastics; on the ring there is a white dot, making the alignment with a camera easier, and the number with the model year of the instrument (025 in this case).

A big, ribbed aperture ring is the next part; it is 49 mm wide, with focal length markings at 20, 28, 35, 50, 85, 135, and 200 mm. Right next to it you see an inscription MADE IN JAPAN, and information about the minimum focusing distance (MIN. 0.165M/0.55FEET at 28mm).

The ring is properly damped but moves smoothly and evenly. Its performance depends on the position of the lens. For example when you put it upward and pass to the 200 mm focal length the resistance of the ring is distinct but when you move the ring the other way round the resistance decreases as gravity helps a bit.

An immobile part of the casing, partially covered by fine ribbing, is next; it features the name and parameters of the lens, the logo of the producer, the serial number, a silver C letter meaning the lens belongs to the Contemporary line, and also two switches. The first one, AF/MF, controls the focus ring modes, and the second one, LOCK, blocks the zoom ring at 20 mm in order to prevent an uncontrollable change of dimensions of the lens.

Further on you see a manual focus ring, 17 mm wide, mostly covered by fine ribbing, without any markings. It is a focus-by-wire construction, very comfortable to use, and properly damped. Running through the whole distance range needs a turn through an angle of about 180 degrees when you move the ring very fast. When you slow the turning down you are able to reach even near 470 deg, an angle that ensures you great precision of manual settings.

The Sigma C 20-200 mm ends with a hood rim inside which you find a non-rotating filter thread, 72 mm in diameter. The front element is slightly convex, 50 mm in diameter. As you increase the focal length the whole optical system extends on a homogeneous tube covered by plastics. During this operation the length of the lens increases by 7 cm.

When you increase the focal length the lens gets slower and quite fast to boot. At the shortest focal length you get the f/3.5 aperture, at 22 mm it decreases to f/4.0, at 29 mm the aperture is f/4.5, at 38 mm it drops to f/5.0, at 51 mm to f/5.6 and from the 83 mm upwards the aperture available amounts to f/6.3. Here you get to know the price you have to pay for small dimensions of the tested instrument.

When it comes to optical construction the lens features 18 elements positioned in 14 optical groups. You deal with one FLD element with properties similar to fluorite among them, three elements made of low dispersion SLD glass, and as many as four double aspherical elements. Taking into account the fact that you deal here with a budget Contemporary line instrument the producers weren't skimply with special elements. Inside you also find a round aperture with nine blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at 20 mm and to f/40 at the 200 mm focal length.

Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, a petal-type hood, and a flimsy case that is decorative but it cannot provide any protection.