Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated Review

According provided by Sigma UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated Lens (Nikon Option) Huge thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including similar lenses.

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

The Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated is a very simple and very cheap telephoto lens with an excellent price / performance ratio. I had never heard of it before, but as it turned out, it is quite usable and no worse than the original Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6.

The Sigma UC line was designed to create lightweight and compact lenses... The Sigma 70-210 UC uses a small 52mm filter and, at a 70mm focal length, folds to a very compact size.

There are only two lenses of the Sigma UC 70-210 / 4-5.6 class:

  1. Sigma auto focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated (available in several sub-options with different elastic bands on the focus and zoom rings)
  2. Sigma auto focus UC-II ZOOM 70-210mm 1:4-5.6

In parallel with the Sigma UC 70-210 / 4-5.6 line, the Sigma 70-210 / 3.5-5.6 line was produced.

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Main technical characteristics of Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated:

Review Instance Name Front lens lettering 'Sigma UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated Lens Made In Japan ø52', lettering on the body 'Sigma Auto Focus', serial number 2027017
Basic properties
  • UC (Ultra Compact) - ultra compact body, light weight
  • Multi-coated - multilighting optics
  • Auto Focus - support for automatic focusing by means of a camera motor, analog Nikon AF
  • lens designed for full-length cameras Nikon fx
  • presence of a diaphragm control ring with aperture lock, analog Nikon NON-G lens
  • the lens does not transmit the focusing distance to the camera, analog Nikon NON-D
  • Changing the focal length by means of a piston (push / pull, or pump-type lens)
  • Macro - the inscription on the focusing distance scale means the ability to shoot pseudo-macro
Front Filter Diameter 52 mm, plastic thread for filters
Focal length 70-210 mm EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 105-315 mm
Zoom ratio 3 x
Designed by for film cameras
Number of aperture blades 6 straight petals
Tags focusing distance in meters and feet, focal length values ​​for 70, 85, 135, 210 mm, aperture values ​​F / 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 (the ring can be set to 1 intermediate value). R mark for 70mm infrared operation (marked with 'w' - 'wide'). DOF scale near the focusing scale for values ​​F / 5.6, 11, 22 for 70 mm focal length. The second depth of field scale is located on the piston part and works already with the values ​​of F / 5.6, 16, 22.
Diaphragm 70 mm from F / 4 to F / 22, 210 mm from F / 5.6 to F / 32. The lens has an aperture control ring with a slider to fix it at F / 22 (Non-G - lens type). The maximum F value at 135 mm is F / 4.5, at 85 mm - F / 4.
MDF (minimum focusing distance) 1.2 m over the entire range of focal lengths, maximum magnification ratio 1: 4.3
The weight 340 g
Optical design 13 elements in 9 groups. No optical design pattern found.
Lens hood bayonet type, model unknown, in the review the lens was with a universal rubber hood
Manufacturer country Lens Made In Japan
Period Since 1992, it was subsequently replaced by Sigma Auto Focus UC-II ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6
Price Not for sale, used options sell at 50-100 cu All prices for modern Sigma lenses can be viewed here.
Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

The main thing about the lens

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated is well built and will last for more than a decade. The lens is really compact. The inner part of the piston of the Sigma UC 70-210 / 4-5.6 is metal, and the outer part is plastic. They say that the Sigma UC-II 70-210 / 4-5.6 version is much worse assembled.

Auto focus speed is average. During focusing, the front lens rotates and moves forward / backward. Focus ring rotates 135 degrees. Focusing problems on the camera Nikon D700 not observed. Spontaneous lengthening of the frame does not occur.

At an open aperture, sharpness is weak and decreases with increasing focal length. When you close the aperture, the sharpness rises significantly. The lens is chromate. Like most weak zoom lenses aperture, Sigma UC 70-210 / 4-5.6 creates pictures with good contrast. Of course, the picture is not perfect, especially if you shoot on a motley background, but, in general, because of the strong blur at 210 mm, something interesting can be squeezed from the lens.

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sample Photos

The gallery contains photos without processing (only the size is reduced and a line with EXIF data).

Original photos in RAW format (.'NEF ') can be downloaded here.

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated

Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated and Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4

Catalog of modern Sigma lenses can look at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Results

The Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated is a compact lens with good build quality and excellent price / performance ratio. I was pleasantly surprised that such a nondescript model could please with its picture so much.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Radmir

 

 

Comments: 56, on the topic: Sigma Auto Focus UC ZOOM 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6 Multi-Coated review

  • KalekseyG

    Roses are awesome.

  • Radmir

    Really nice looking picture on the lens, suitable colors are already without processing.

  • Pastor

    Cool lens. From time to time, such old, but quite suitable pieces of glass appear at the flea market - I buy and I am surprised that they turn out to be quite suitable and not much worse than the newer and more expensive options. Here is another confirmation of my guesses. The pictures of the kids are great! I think, tell some amateur that it was filmed for 70-200 2.8vr2 - they will believe :)

  • Radmir

    We must take)))

    • Andrei

      take it -))

  • Ruslan

    Good afternoon Arkady. Thanks for the interesting review, but IMHO, you need to insert more photos of the lenses into the reviews. For example, there is clearly not enough view of the lens in profile at several focal points, view on the camera.

    • KalekseyG

      +1

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • Andrei

    Excellent review (however, as always). Very, very nice picture of the lens. A rarity for budget glass !!

  • Dim

    For non-native glasses, the main thing is how autofocus works, if half of the photos are out of focus, then why is it needed? And with 6 aperture blades on the photos with a blurry background, there will be nuts

    • Denis

      Have you read the review? Arkady wrote that his particular copy, together with the D700, had no problems ... Isn't the bokeshka in the pictures visible?

      • Dim

        There were no problems with focusing - too vague. When the lens is not immediately in focus, this is also a problem. I have two Sigmas - on one fotik they hit well, and on the other so-so, native glasses are much more predictable. The visibility of the nut pattern depends on the relative position of the background and the object and on how contrasting the background is. In the presented photos, the nuts are not visible, but this does not mean that you will not see them at all

        • Arkady Shapoval

          My practice has shown that most third-party lenses do not have problems with screwdriver lenses (Af-type). Problems begin when the motor is built in. My guess is that the focusing instructions and the list of commands vary widely.

          As for the lens from the review, if the focus was bad, or at least somehow wrong, for example, from the second time, I would indicate this.

        • Andrei

          And I have two sigma and both fall into focus and cost 2,5 times cheaper than kenon. And I don’t have a second camera, and therefore I’m from a high bell tower to sigma instability.

        • Andrei

          By the way, this lens on ebay costs 28 euros. what native can I buy for 28 euros?

  • zengarden

    Arkady understood the formula for success - more seals in the reviews :)

    I have a similar Nikon 70-210 (the article refers to it), but only on crop; I like the picture here more. It would be desirable to bring some photos to the cropped camera.

    PS. Ah, you no longer have a motor crop, sorry.

    • Danko

      And what prevents the focus on the non-motorized crop from turning the handles?

  • Denis

    Great review as always. Very nice picture! I tried to find it on the secondary market in the Republic of Belarus ... I did not find it (and there are such pieces of glass in Ukraine.

  • Vladimir

    I have a Nikon d5200, so I would also like to see a photo of this lens on crop.

    • Oleg Vasilievich

      I've got. Under the “screwdriver” Back in 1991, he brought him from Switzerland for Nikon F 401. Then he worked for a long time at F 801, then at Nikon D 300 .... Wonderful lens. unpretentious and with good quality. The most wonderful experience. Against the sun or in side light - it works fine. The sharpness is good, it was not necessary to adjust even once when switching to different cameras. The picture - similar to the photos given in the article - pleases the eye. A little softer than I give native Nikon glasses. but if you compare for a long time

  • Fixed_nixied

    Interested in a review of lenses from filmoscopes, slide projectors, they are even coated with coating, there are plastic and there are glass, and condensers are also glass or plastic. And from cameras-soap boxes such as kodak, film, there were such before.

  • Timothy

    A little off topic, but interesting for a long time. Often I see a sticker on photos of different photographic equipment as on Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4 from the article, but I can’t see what is written on it. So what is it?

    • Fixed_nixied

      Fassed or Massed ... like smears or not, sharp or not very

      • Sergei

        Passed, I have the same inscription on my old tamron, of Japanese origin, it means that the lens is good ... Thanks for the review ...

        • Timothy

          Thanks. So this is such a Japanese quality control, that's all :)

  • Alex_LSE

    Arkady! Thank you very much for your work.

  • anonym

    I have been using this for a long time with the magpie. I usually take hiking. Shtatnik + this sigma, everything fits in a small bag and weighs a little. Sometimes I take it for a walk around the city - good color and contrast, and the size is modest - 70 mm more compact than 18-55. At the long end, however, you need to clamp the aperture for pixel-by-pixel sharpness. I bought for 300 UAH in 2013, I didn’t see anyone, but I’m fine on a bold pixel. By the way, on d700 Arcadia has the same pixel, so someone may not have enough sharpness. Comparing the photos from the review and your own - the differences in the picture are imperceptible. I will add my samples later

    • anonym

      is it normal or lack sharpness, is the fat content the same?

  • anonym

    "I have been using this for a long time with a forty" do you mean nikon d40?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      canon 40d can

      • Kira

        Hello! Tell me, please, is it possible to use this lens on a mirrorless camera Fujifilm x-m1?

    • anonym

      Yes, he generally did not understand what he wrote, probably the drunk was incomprehensible

  • Denis

    Seals are good!

  • Sergei

    Just the day before yesterday I read this review, found this model on OLX for $ 20, and yesterday I already had it. I urgently needed an option for a temporary portraiture, well, plug the bayonet mount until I collect something serious. I tried to shoot them a video. And here's what happened:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7y_7oVyrBc
    For such a price, it's a bomb! Sharpness, of course, not razor-sharp, but the picture is very delicate, voluminous. And what is especially pleasing is the smart autofocus, without the slightest hint of back / front.

    • Sergei

      Portrait advise Helios 44-2. It is him, since the most successful of all helios. I call him the dream of a dermatologist. Soap is easy to make from super pictures. On the contrary, it is not possible. And instead of a whale, a universal lens was taken by Sigma AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II. Very flat lens, went through a dozen, stopped on it. In general, I see no reason to buy expensive lenses, to take the old ones for the film shooters, the result is the same, but for the money much less.

  • anonym

    Crop Nikon D5100. Sample photo.

  • Sergei

    I use this lens for 3 years for Sonya. I’ll say from experience. that the lens, although cheap, but in the picture clogs its fellow 20 thousand. He works perfectly on Sonya and focuses very quickly. The picture is sharp. From 10 meters I made a portrait of my son at the maximum reach. The picture is super, the eyes of all the veins are visible. The funny thing is the same sigma, but with an index k, the resolution is much worse. I see no reason to throw 20-25 thousand, if you achieve the same pictures for 4-6 thousand. Judge the quality of the picture, with your hands at maximum focus and 1/200, that is, the most ordinary shots. At this focus, a normal picture at 1/300 at least. I recommend.

  • anonym

    Thank you Arkady for your site! I found a lot of informative and interesting here. Often read and reread.
    Like, for example, an article about this lens. I read it, and immediately bought myself such a (only for Canon) lens, literally for a couple of bucks.
    I had to finish the diaphragm electronics so that it switched. Because older Sigma have such incompatibility with Canon digital cameras that you can only shoot with an open aperture. Now all is well. I am satisfied! Thanks!

  • Ivan

    Will Canon Recycling be required?

  • Oleg

    Used this trimmer (only with the APO prefix and red on Nikon). Now I use with Fuji through the adapter. It’s soft on the open, but it’s worth covering for one division and there are no questions for it))) I’m very pleased))) and for many years now. One of my favorites))) Fujevsky lens (I can compare) 55-230 / 4,5-6,7 gives an incomparably worse picture.

    • Oleg

      That's just a little I lied. Very similar, but I have a Sigma APO 70-210 / 3,5-4,5 lens, and the picture (bokeshka) is very similar to those in the review

  • Leonid

    Hello Arkady bought exactly with this marking, but he does not connect to the Nikon cameras tried on the D90,700 and 610.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      So from exactly this, but for another system (Canon, Pentax, etc.)

  • Leonid

    THANK YOU

  • Leonid

    Arkady, please, how to use it especially, for macro photography. Thank you in advance.

Add a comment

Copyright © Radojuva.com. Blog author - Photographer in Kiev Arkady Shapoval. 2009-2023

English-version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2016/05/sigma-uc-70-210mm-mc/comment-page-1/?replytocom=118747

Versión en español de este artículo https://radojuva.com/es/2016/05/sigma-uc-70-210mm-mc/comment-page-1/?replytocom=118747