Sigma Art 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II 24-70mm

Optical wizardry at a blue-collar price. It's heavy and a bit slow to focus, but the images will make you forget all that.

What surprised us most is just how relentlessly sharp this lens is across the frame, even wide open at f/2.8. Corners stay crisp, and the Super Multi-Layer Coating does a fantastic job keeping flare and ghosting under control. The optical stabilizer nets you about 3 stops of shake reduction, which is solid if not class-leading. On the flip side, the bokeh is a bit nervous and the minimum focus distance of 1.2 meters means you'll never mistake this for a macro lens. Autofocus speed falls in that middle-of-the-pack zone—fine for portraits or landscapes, but it'll frustrate you if you're tracking kids or pets.

Stack it against the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II, and the Sigma matches or beats it in corner sharpness at a fraction of the price. The Canon wins on autofocus speed and overall weight, plus it feels a bit more bombproof in bad weather. The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 is another budget rival with slightly faster AF and VC, but the Sigma's build quality feels more premium and the glass has a bit more microcontrast. For stills shooters who don't need lightning-fast tracking, the Sigma is the value king. Video shooters, though, should lean toward the Canon or Tamron for smoother AF and less breathing.

At roughly $800, this lens is an obscene bargain for the optical quality you get. Newegg currently lists the best deal we've seen, though some bundles inexplicably spike into five-figure territory (ignore those). For comparison, a used Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II still runs over $1,500. The Sigma gives you 95% of that performance for half the cost. If you're on Canon EF and your wallet's feeling light, this is the no-brainer buy.

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art is the kind of lens that makes you question why Canon L glass costs so much. Our database puts its optical performance in the top 2% of all lenses we've tested, which is absurd for a zoom you can grab for around $800. It resolves detail with a bite that's usually reserved for $2,000 glass, and the colors pop beautifully right out of the camera. But this lens doesn't come without trade-offs: it weighs enough to make your neck ache, autofocus is merely average, and there's no zoom lock to stop the barrel from creeping when you're walking around. For stills shooters on a budget, though, it's a revelation.

If you're primarily a video shooter or you absolutely need a lightweight travel lens, this ain't it. The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 STM adapted to EF is lighter and focuses much more smoothly for video. And if you need the fastest autofocus or a zoom lock, pony up for the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II. But if you value sheer image quality over all else and don't mind a workout, the Sigma is the clear winner.

The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art is the lens that punches so far above its price class it's almost unfair. You get optical wizardry at a blue-collar price, with the only real penalties being heft and so-so autofocus. If you're a stills photographer on Canon EF and can live with those quirks, this is the standard zoom that will make your camera sing. It's our top recommendation under a grand.