Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification

Sigma now have a new offering in their expanding range of CSC lenses for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) and Sony E APS-C format cameras. This new 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary lens has a 35mm-format equivalent of 32mm in MFT and around 24mm in APS-C. This makes it a wide standard lens on the Panasonic Lumix G6 body used for this review, and more of an ultra-wide on Sony E CSCs. In either case, with its bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, potentially we have here a very useful lens. It will be very interesting to see how it performs.

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Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Handling and Features

Weighing in at a modest 380g, without hood or caps, the lens is by no means a burden. It is supplied with a solid petal lens hood that bayonets cleanly into place. This surrounds a filter thread of 67mm.The only other adornment is the wide, electronically operating, manual focusing ring. This is very smooth and probably best switched off in camera if MF is not being used. Otherwise, the natural grip on the lens barrel also grips the ring, which could be accidentally moved. As the MF function works with the AF system this could be an issue for some. However, as the AF is so fast and silent, thanks to the excellent stepping motor used, there is little motivation for manual focus in general use. One exception could be macro photography, where small manual adjustments to the point of focus can be useful. As this use would probably involve mounting the camera on a tripod, there would be no issue with accidental shifting of the focus point.

Focusing is down to 0.25m, or 0.82 feet. This gives a maximum magnification of 1:9.9, which is about what would be expected of a traditional 35mm or so wide standard lens.

Sigma state that the lens is dust and splashproof, but the instruction leaflet advises that it isn't waterproof and should be kept dry in the rain. This does seem to be a contradiction, but as the website is very clear over the issue then perhaps a modest amount of rain would be acceptable, but certainly not immersion in water.

Coverage of the lens is suitable for APS-C and MFT formats, being identified as such by the DC designation. DN refers to a mirrorless design with a short back focus, made possible as there is no SLR mirror in the way.

Optical construction is 16 elements in 13 groups, and interestingly the instruction leaflet makes a point of informing that all the glass used is both Lead and Arsenic free. This is relevant to environmental issues if and when the lens is finally disposed of. There are various special lens elements, including 2 moulded glass aspheric, 2 SLD (Super Low Dispersion) and 3 FLD (Fluorite-like Low Dispersion). The FLD glass performs in a way very similar to a fluorite element, helping to reduce chromatic aberration even further. Fluorite elements are both expensive and quite brittle, so the FLD glass can be used with a very similar end result. There are 9 rounded diaphragm blades, aimed at making the aperture as circular as possible for improved bokeh.

Looking at the lens in terms of its 35mm-format equivalent field of view, in MFT format a 32mm lens is unusual, the closest being the SMC Pentax 31mm f/1.8 Limited SLR optic. In use it has its advantages though, offering a very fast wide-standard lens that has a multitude of possible applications, from street photography to group portraits, architecture and landscape as well as general subjects. The lens is obviously well made, it focuses very quickly and silently and really has no operational glitches at all. Excellent ergonomics.

If the lens is Sony E fit, then the APS-C format gives an equivalent of 24mm, a classic ultra-wide focal length. This would also be an excellent lens for street photography, landscapes and architecture, although it is always possible to use lenses outside their normal, accepted applications, sometimes to very good effect.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Performance

Looking first at sharpness, a fast, bright f/1.4 optic might be expected to start off slightly soft at open aperture, but in fact the new Sigma has very good central sharpness from f/1.4 through to f/2, rising to excellent from f/2.8 through to f/8. Diffraction starts to take hold, as would be expected with the small MFT format, but performance remains very good even at f/11 and f/16.

Edge sharpness is also creditable, being very good from f/1.4 to f/2.8, excellent at f/4 and f/5.6 and then very good at f/8 and f/11. Results are softer at the edges at f/16, but can still be described as good.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C MTF Charts

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very low centrally throughout the aperture range. It is a little higher at the edges, but unlikely to be an issue except in the most demanding circumstances. Correction can be switched on in cameras or tackled in software if desired.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Chromatic Aberration Charts

Barrel distortion measures -0.08%, virtually perfect drawing. Whether this is because of the high level of correction of the lens or because of basic processing in camera that is integral to the system and cannot be switched off is impossible to say, but the result is in any event excellent.

It is quite difficult to induce any flare at all, even when shooting directly into the sun.

Bokeh, the quality of the out of focus areas, is helped by the circular bladed diaphragm. The overall effect is very smooth and backgrounds avoid any of the “busy” or “ragged” look that can happen with high resolution lenses.

In summary, an excellent overall performance and a very fine lens, living up to its claim to be almost on a par with the Sigma Art range.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Sample Photos

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Aperture range

Value For Money

The Sigma AF 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens costs £449. There are no other f/1.4 lenses in direct competition for these mounts, and Fujifilm users have a Fujinon 16mm f/1.4 lens, but the following may offer some alternatives that we can make a comparison to:

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M. Zuiko, £369
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH, £459
Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 II ASPH, £299
Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 Nokton, £799
Samyang 16mm f/2 ED AS UMC CS, £357

The new lens seems to be very good value against these, particularly taking into account the ultra-bright maximum aperture. For more options have a look at the Top 21 Best Sigma lenses, or the Top 28 Wide-angle Landscape Lenses.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Verdict

The Sigma AF 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens gives excellent performance, a reasonable price and a very bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, which all add up to a very desirable package, that will be apealling for both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount photographers.

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C is a bright f/1.4 optic with an excellent performance at a fair price.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN C Specifications

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