(P)REVIEW: SIGMA 65MM F2.0 DG DN

The Sigma 65 mm F2 DG DN is part of a new series of compact, relatively bright and affordable fixed focal points.

The Sigma 65 mm F2 DG DN is a lens in a new series of Sigma fixed-focal length lenses. Sigma calls it the I series, and the other lenses in this series are the Sigma 24 mm F3.5 DG DN and the Sigma 35 mm F2 DG DN. They are lenses in the Contemporary series. So they’re not Art lenses. Nevertheless, the lenses are designed to give the highest image quality, they have a metal housing, and they are weatherproof. On this point, they are hardly inferior to lenses from the Art series.

In addition to image quality and robustness, the user interface is also important to Sigma. The ribbed focusing ring, which we now also know from the Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN, is part of this. It gives a lot of grip. The I-series lenses also have an equally strongly serrated aperture ring. The use of the aperture ring is optional. If you set it to A, you can set the aperture on the camera. A funny innovation is the magnetic lens cap, which is easy to put on the lens.

Check out the introduction of Sigma’s new I lenses above, starting at 19:55.

A striking feature of the Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN is of course the unusual focal length of 65mm. It is quite long for a standard lens and a bit short for a portrait lens. At the same time, it can fulfill both functions. The focal length is only 10 mm longer than, for example, the much-acclaimed Sony FE 55 mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss. At the same time, it is only 5mm shorter than the 70mm position that you find on the frequently used 24-70mm zooms that are often used for portraits. It will depend on your own preferences whether 65mm is a versatile or a strange focal length for you. The new I lenses are available in E mount and L mount. They can therefore be used on the mirrorless cameras from Sony, Leica, Panasonic and, of course, also on Sigma’s FP.

BUILD

The 65mm F2 DG DN is a robustly built lens that has an all-metal housing. The serrated focus ring and aperture ring are therefore also made of metal and not rubber. The lens is also weather-resistant. The optical design consists of 12 elements in 9 groups. To minimize chromatic aberrations, one of the lens elements is made of special SLD glass. The lens also contains no fewer than two aspherical elements. The diaphragm has 9 rounded blades for a circular opening and a beautiful bokeh. The filter size is 62 mm. This is different from the 58 mm of the Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN and the 55 mm of the Sigma 24 mm F3.5 DG DN.

This lens has an aperture ring. Strictly speaking, this is not necessary for many photo applications, unless you use a camera like the Sony A7C that does not have a front dial or you want to operate an aperture ring with your left hand in the old-fashioned way. It gives the lens a nice retro look. However, it does not have a switch to make the aperture clickless for video applications, as the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro Art does. The lens has an AF/MF switch that you don’t, as usual, slide back and forth but that moves with the curvature of the lens. A funny innovation is the metal lens cap. It’s magnetic and therefore clicks very smoothly onto the lens. To store the lens cap when the lens is in use, Sigma supplies a lens cap holder that you can hang on your pants or bag with a carabiner and that you can put the lens cap on.

FOCUSING

Just like the 24 mm and 35 mm, the Sigma 65 mm F2 DG DN uses an STM motor for focusing. This is a stepper motor. It ensures accurate and silent focus. However, this type is not as fast as more advanced, newer solutions. The drive is optimized for both the Sony cameras, which use phase detection AF, and the Panasonic cameras, which only use a contrast detection AF system. The shortest setting distance is 55 cm. This provides a magnification of 1:6.8.

IMAGE QUALITY

The MTF curves of the new I-series lenses look promising.

We will soon receive a copy of the Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN in our test lab, and then we will publish a full review.

ConclusiON: REVIEW Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN oN Sony A7R III