Settings :  24mm,f4.0, 1/800th,ISO 3200

Review: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Fight Photography

I’ve been using the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens for a few years now to shoot fight nights, and honestly, it’s become my go-to. If you’re covering live fights — whether cage-side or ringside — this lens just gets the job done.

The zoom range is super practical. At 24mm, I can grab those wide shots showing all the action, crowd and coaches in the background, lights blazing — it really helps set the scene. Then, once the action starts, I punch up to 70mm to catch the hits, clinches, and reactions up close without switching lenses or moving around too much. It covers most of what I need without missing a beat.

One thing that stands out is how sharp this lens is. Even in fast-paced moments where the fighters are constantly moving, the shots come out crisp. You can see sweat flying, facial expressions mid-punch — the kind of detail that makes an image really land.

Low light? Not a problem. Fight events are usually held in weird lighting — lots of shadows, harsh overhead spotlights, and fast motion. This lens handles it well. The f/2.8 aperture lets in plenty of light, so I don’t have to crank my ISO to unusable levels. Colors stay rich, and there’s enough contrast to make the images pop straight out of camera.

It’s not the lightest lens, but it feels solid and well-balanced which when standing ringside is what I want. Mounted on my Sony body, it doesn’t feel front-heavy or awkward, even after a long night of shooting. Autofocus is snappy too — it locks on quick, even in those chaotic moments when fighters are scrambling or moving unpredictably.

In short, the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is a reliable workhorse for anyone shooting fight events. It lets you stay in the action without having to swap lenses or miss key moments. If you shoot combat sports and want one lens that can handle most of the job, this is it.

Please note Sigma now have the Version 2 of lens which has the new AF linear motor HLA (High-response Linear Actuator), with 3x quicker drive speed so even better tracking and focus.