Last updated on 2026-05-20
A review and sample images of the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG lens, released in 2004, used with a film SLR camera, the SA-7n.
- Please see the disclaimer regarding advertising here.
- Italicized links in the text are advertisement links that take you to other sites.
- If you find any images used on this site problematic, please contact us via the comments or inquiry form, either as the rights holder or their representative. We will review the matter and take appropriate action.
Table of contents
Gallery
The following cameras were used to take the example photos.
- SIGMA SA-7n +KONICA SINBI100 +NIKON COOLSCAN V ED
Review
1．Overview
The “28-70mm F2.8 EX DG” is a zoom lens released in 2004. It has a wide-angle end of 28mm, a telephoto end of 70mm, and a constant aperture of F2.8.
According to SIGMA’s naming convention, the “EX DG” indicates that “EX” is a high-grade lens within the SIGMA lineup and stands for “Excellent,” while “DG” indicates improved lens coating and digital camera compatibility.
Though the name does not include “IF” to indicate internal focusing, the lens has an internal focusing system. The front lens ring does not rotate during focusing, and the lens does not extend or retract. However, the lens length changes during zooming: it is longest at 70 mm and shortest at 28 mm.
Furthermore, despite not having “Macro” in its name, it can focus as close as 0.33 m across the entire zoom range.
The main specifications are provided in the table below.
- Aperture: F2.8
- Lens Construction: 7 elements in 9 groups
- 2 special dispersion glass elements, 4 aspherical lenses
- Aperture Blades: 9
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.33m
- Lens Hood: Dedicated petal-shaped hood LH730-02
2．Usability
The SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG is a large-aperture zoom lens released during the transition period between film and digital cameras. It has a wide-angle end of 28mm, a telephoto end of 70mm, and a fixed maximum aperture of F2.8. When used with a 35mm film camera, this lens can be used with its specified focal length range of 28-70mm.
This lens uses internal focusing, so the front lens ring does not rotate during focusing. This makes it easier to use with PL filters. This is particularly advantageous when using it with film cameras. Furthermore, its minimum focusing distance of 0.33 meters allows it to be used as a simple macro lens.
All example images were taken with a film SLR camera loaded with reversal film at the widest aperture of f/2.8.
The first image shows a cat looking up from about one meter away. Its delicate whiskers are visible, and its fur is rendered softly. The bokeh in the foreground and background is pleasant, demonstrating sufficient image quality for a zoom lens. However, in close-up shots, it doesn’t have the same sharp resolution as later digital camera lenses.
Looking at the landscape images in the second and third photos, one can see that, unlike older lenses that tend to be sharp only in the center, this lens is sharp throughout, with no noticeable vignetting.
The bluish tint is characteristic of the “KONICA SINBI 100” film used.
3．Summary
In summary, the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG is a large-aperture, standard zoom lens designed for film cameras. While it doesn’t offer the same level of resolution as newer digital camera lenses, its image quality is perfectly adequate for film cameras. It’s designed for digital cameras with around 10 million pixels, so it might feel underpowered with higher-resolution cameras.
Specifications, considerations, etc.
The SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG is a large-aperture standard zoom lens that has undergone several minor specification changes. The previous model was the “28-70mm F2.8 EX Aspherical.”
The “24-70mm F2.8,” which extended the wide-angle end to 24mm, subsequently became a best-seller among large-aperture standard zoom lenses. However, the 24-70mm F2.8 zoom lens, which starts at 24mm (4mm wider at the wide-angle end), is considerably larger than the 28-70mm F2.8. Therefore, there is still strong user demand for compact lenses. Even in the mirrorless era, the “Contemporary 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN” was released as a compact lens with a constant F2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range.
| Items | EX DG | EX DG MACRO |
| Sensor size | 35mm full frame | 35mm full frame |
| Focal length(mm) | 28-70 | 24-70 |
| Max aperture | F2.8 | F2.8 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 9 |
| Lens Construction | 14 elements in 12 groups, 2 SLD glass elements, 4 aspherical lenses | 14 elements in 13 groups, 2 SLD glass elements, 3 aspherical lenses |
| Min distance(m) | 0.33 | 0.4 |
| Lens length(mm) | 87.2 | 115.5 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 74 | 88.7 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 67 | 82 |
| Weight(g) | 510 | 715 |
| accessories | 花型フード LH730-02 | 花型フード LH875-02 |
| Release date | November 2004 | September 25, 2004 |
| Lens mount | CANON EF NIKON-F SIGMA-SA PENTAX-K SONY-A | CANON EF NIKON-F SIGMA-SA PENTAX-K SONY-A |
| Price(JP-Yen/No-tax) | 50,000円 | 67,000円 |
Reference links
- 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG・WebArchive
- 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO・WebArchive
- SIGMA 28-70mm DG DN・SIGMA Official page
- IT Media News release
寄付のお願い・Request for donations
Affiliate links
- Sigma・Ads by Amazon
- Sigma lens・Ads by Amazon
- Sigma books・Ads by Amazon
Update history
- 2026.5.19
Be First to Comment