The Sigma 16-28mm is the value zoom with the same 16mm wide end as the Sony GM II. At 450g and $899 it competes directly with the Tamron 17-28mm — and the deciding factor is usually filter compatibility and the matter of an extra millimeter wide vs an extra few millimeters tele. Inner zoom design is a real advantage for gimbal users. Image quality is excellent throughout the range, sharper than expected at the corners.
Strengths
- +450g weight with inner zoom design — center of gravity stays constant for gimbal use
- +16mm wide end matches the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II
- +Five FLD elements and four aspherical lens elements for sharpness
- +Same $899 price point as the Tamron 17-28mm
- +Sigma's Contemporary build quality is consistently solid
Watch-outs
- −16-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm
- −Shorter zoom range than the Tamron 17-28mm by 1mm at each end (effective)
- −Sigma's Contemporary line is positioned below the Art line in build quality
- −RXD-equivalent stepping motor — less premium than Sony XD Linear
How it compares
Direct competitor to the Tamron 17-28mm at the same price. Wider on the short end (16mm vs 17mm), narrower on the long end (28mm). Inner zoom design is the differentiator vs the Tamron for video and gimbal work. Less expensive than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II by ~$1,400.
Who this is for
At a glance: gimbal videographers and astrophotographers who want a constant-length 16mm-wide zoom at value pricing.
Why you’d buy the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary
- 450g weight with inner zoom design — center of gravity stays constant for gimbal use.
- 16mm wide end matches the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II.
- Five FLD elements and four aspherical lens elements for sharpness.
Why you’d skip it
- 16-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm.
- Shorter zoom range than the Tamron 17-28mm by 1mm at each end (effective).
- Sigma's Contemporary line is positioned below the Art line in build quality.
Rating sources
Our 4.6 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
