Sigma 90mm DG DN Prime Lens Review

great review with so many vivid pictures as support, thanks!

Hi Mark, is there an option of downloading your A7c e-boom without becoming a patreon. I want to give a donation no problem.

Brilliant review! I've been carrying a kit consisting of the Sigma 90, Sony 50mm F/2.5, and Sony 24mm F/2.8 for about 8 months now, and I couldn't be more pleased with the config. I have a few larger lenses like the GMaster 24mm, but it's becoming increasingly rare for me to actually take them out to play. So happy that somebody is finally extolling the virtues of the mini-rig. Less is more. Couldn't agree more with your speculation re a 135mm F/4. That is definitely something I would look at seriously.

I love the Sigma I series of lenses. When I'm casually traveling in tourists areas, I like to pack light. So my light travel kit is the Sigma 17mm f4, Sigma 50mm f2, and the Sigma 90mm.

Bought one and it's exceeded my expectations. Loving it.

As always, thank you for this review. I picked this lens up and WOW, what a gem! Have the 85mm f1.8 but sometimes just a bit too big and draws too much attention when traveling. This Sigma is Soooo much more discreet. Feels great and focuses superbly. Agree, we need something longer and compact like this. Have really preferred moving to these smaller lighter optically excellent lenses. Still have some faster glass, but more and more prefer going to lighter set-ups. Reminds me of Leica M glass. Tiny but great.

Thank you Mark for this real life review. It's great to see this actually used with a purpose and the fact that it succeeded in various lighting situations. I am enamored with my Sigma 65mm f2 and the Sigma 35 f2 is also nice to use, but I have been using my 35mm f1.2 more for many serious projects. Both have their place in my bag on different days. My issue is more with the Sigma 105mm f1.4,and for as much as I love the image quality it lets me down with so much flare, being so heavy and bulky, which is fine but in a bag with other gear its a limiting. After owning Sony 85 f1.8 the Sigma 135mm f1.8 and exchanging it for the 105mm f1.4, I can say that 100mm is amazing, and we should have some interest in a 100mm f2, in the same air and flavour of the 65mm f2, and with the same quality of contrast and flare resisitance. That would be amazing. Sadly I feel this 90mm would feel too similar to the 85mm,but 100mm is so useful. I hope lens makers try more medium tele primes.

Very interesting. Maybe if I didn’t already own the Sony 85. I like the shorter min focus distance & all-metal construction. But to me there is a special quality from the Sony 85 that makes me go “Wow” when I see the results. Anyway, I like watching your product reviews b/c you always give useful photography instruction. Thanks.

Je possède le 2.0/35 Contemporary, ainsi que le 1.4/85mm DGDN Art avec mon Leica sl2s, très satisfait !. Ils sont très piqués, bien construit et présente un excellent rapport qualité prix. Le 65mm semble pas mal aussi.

I actually prefer the Sony 90mm macro to this lens I purchased it and I took it back to the store. Nothing compares to the 90mm macro by Sony

Love this review. Honestly though, I like my Sony 90mm 2.8. Sharpest lens I've ever used

Mark likes light and sharp lens

I still prefer Sony 85 f1.8 for a wide aperture which is better for portrait

Thanks for the review Mark. I did watch it a couple of times but still not sure which way to go. I guess these days we're spoiled for choice and that can become a problem - a good problem to have though. I'm considering this Sigma 90mm and the Sony 85mm f/1.8. The Sigma is tempting to me because it's lighter, has an aperture ring and better minimum focus distance. The build quality is a nice to have. But when looking at a DXOMARK comparison the Sony seems superior to the Sigma in every image quality measure that they cover (sharpness / distorsion / chromatic aberrations / vignetting ) except transmission. And today the Sony is significantly cheaper (in Europe) than the Sigma. I can get the Sony for 450 EUR vs 630 EUR for the Sigma (both new). You're an excellent photographer and, as shown, able to get great photos with both lenses. I'm wondering, which of them would you get if you had to choose just one? Thanks a lot in case you get to reply.

This review I think just made me decided sigma 90mm is going to be my next lens. Pretty good price, weight, and build value. Thank you!!!

Such stunning pictures and a perfect review, hats off! Thank you for making this wonderful video.

Minolta had an excellent 135/2.8 AF lens for A-mount, very compact, a pocket rocket. I hope Sony can reproduce that design and manufacture a compact 135.

I have had the 90mm sigma lens since awhile. Sometimes sigma has flash sales (in India) & I got it for under 600$. There are a lot of times when I want more DOF & the ability to go closer without the macro magnification & size of the sony 90 can give some special rendering & on the 61mp sensor it gives a 135mm crop. It certainly would be possible to make a small mirrorless 135mm. I have a japanese no name slr lens 135mm f3.2 & its small & light with 10 blades. Its smaller than the zeiss jena 135mm f4 but longer than the sigma. The problem is mfd - the leica has 1.5m mfd compared to 1m of the zeiss jena sonnar. The zeiss is about 390 grams - lighter than the leica. I also have a sigma 180mm f5.6 apo lens 1;2 macro - it weighs in at around 450gms. It is very much possible to make lighter & compacter teles for the mirrorless system.

That is actually a portrait of the monkey not a wildlife 😂 dude you’re good🙌💯

No comparison with the sony 90mm 2.8 macro? I know the sony is much bigger and heavier but I'm still very curious.

Hi Mark, thanks for the interesting review. I own the A7C and have been on a quest for smaller, lighter lenses. I agree, there is a real lack of small and light telephotos. I would love to see a 135 f4. I have a very old 135 f3.5 Pentax lens with an adapter. It’s not great optically compared to modern lenses for landscapes and is manual focus so not great for moving subjects, but the size is perfect and the bokeh is very fine on portraits if you nail the focus. From my perspective, f3.5 on a 135mm lens is perfectly acceptable, so expect f4 would be as well. Thanks again for all your work.

I'm surprised with you're reach sigma would not loan a lens for review

Really helpful video, thanks. Currently looking for a short tele for my A7C and deciding between this and the 85 1.8 so this has helped reassure that 2.8 is probably enough for me. I’d love to see a compact 135 too. Currently I’m filling that niche with an old Olympus OM 135 F3.5. It’s small & light, even with the adapter, and dirt cheap, but of course manual only and while the quality is okay for portraits I wish it was a bit sharper across the frame for landscape work. A modern sigma would be just the ticket…

I wasn't aware of such compact primes in decent aperature for FF other than the trio sony released. Its pretty cool option from sigma

I'm with you!! Love the Sony Compact G's. Love the OG Sony/Zeiss 35mm f2.8. Love the Tamron 20mm f2.8 1/2 macro. The shortage, exactly as you say, is for a compact tele! I came across the Samyang 75mm f1.8 for Sony FE. It's almost the exact same size as this Sigma 90mm and a bit lighter. It's a budget lens with an innovative custom switch that can change its one ring from MF to Aperture. I like it on the a7c. The Sony 85mm f1.8 feels a bit large on the a7c for me. I hadn't heard of this Sigma 90mm f2.8 before and it looks interesting. Thanks, Mark!

I think the 135mm F/4 is a brilliant idea.

I am waiting for the new version of the Sony 90mm F/2.8.

Great video and agree 100%. I own the Sigma and love the size, just wish it was f2 for shooting at night. You may want to try the Samyang 75mm 1.9 cinema lens. While it's designed primarily for video it's optically quite good. My dream set up would be an A7C camera with a high mp sensor and a Sigma 85 or 90 f2 in the size of the 90mm 2.8

This lens is fantastic.

For much less money and unrivalled quality you'll have the Minolta 85mm 1.4.

Hi Mark, is the sigma 90 2.8 lens’s AF motors as fast as the Sony 85 1.8 lens’s linear motors?

Really great to see you review a non-Sony lens.

Great review Mark, I do hope you review some more 3rd party lenses, I'd love to get your take on them!

Dear Mark, please keep going and don't stop at the reviews of lenses!

Appreciate your efforts, love you, please do a review of the Sony 35mm 1.8 and additional lenses from Sigma and voigtlander ❤️❤️

What what?! Mark reviewing non sony product?!

Thank you

Sir, please review Tamron 20-40mm FE 2.8

I will also like to see Sony make APSC Cameras with 40 megapixels !

The Zeiss Sonnar Batis 135mm 2.8 would have been more compact without image stabilizer (and cheaper !) !

I agree that there are customers for small, light prime Lenses with the best high resolution optical image quality, from prime extreme wide angle Lenses all the way to prime super tele Lenses, I will like to see more high end compact very good and solid built14/15mm 4.0/4.5/5.6, 24mm 2.0/2.8/3.5, 35mm 2.0/2.8, 55/60/65mm 2.0/2.8, 85/90mm 2.0/2.8, 135mm 2.8/4.0, 300mm 4.0/5.6, 400mm 4.0/4.5/5.6, 500mm 5.6 Lenses. I can see that Tamron have a 350mm 4.5 on it´s way... I will also like to see a 1.4 GM tele converter that can be used on 135mm and shorter focal length Lenses !

Very nice with these tiny primes, so good for travel. Currently wishing this up v the Samyang 75mm f1.8, which is also very tiny and light.

Lol but. Sony owns 10 % of Sigma

I am shocked that Mark is reviewing a non-Sony lens 😱😱😱

Yess! Finally
Thank you Mark for extending your perfectly executed reviews to some interesting 3rd party options. Please continue.