Sigma 402965 16 mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Sony E Lens - Black

Product Information

Because the Sigma 16mm and Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm are priced very similarly and have comparable optical characteristics, we need to focus our attention on the other differences that could influence your decision. While testing the Sigma 16mm and M.Zuiko 17mm on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic Lumix GX80, we never encountered any issues with the autofocus performance of either lens.

Size-wise, it measures a fairly long 3.63in (9.2cm) and it even gains an extra 1.5in (4cm) when the lens hood is attached. While not anywhere near the size of a full-frame lens, this is still pretty large compared to most APS-C primes. Physically, there is no significant difference between this Fujifilm X version and other versions of the lens that we have seen, aside of course from the mount. It has the same simple, elegant design that Sigma adopted almost a decade ago. There is minimal text and branding on the barrel, with just a simple small chrome badge with the letter ‘C’ denoting that this is part of the Sigma Contemporary lens line. There are no buttons either, just a very large focusing ring with a ribbed texture. Unlike most of Fujifilm’s lenses, there’s no aperture ring, so to change this setting you have to use a dial on the camera body. Autofocus

Field of View

Otherwise, using the lens with a Nikon camera is pretty much identical in experience to using it with one of the other mounts. Focusing is fast, accurate and quiet, making it well-suited to a range of different subjects. The Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN C lens has a very wide focus ring. There are no hard stops at both ends of the range, making it more difficult to set focus at infinity. Polariser users should be pleased that the 67mm filter thread doesn't rotate on focus. 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. The 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary is a crop-sensor lens, sold in both Sony APS-C E-mount and Micro Four Thirds varieties. I was sent the Sony E-mount version and tested it with the Sony A6500, a very capable APS-C mirrorless camera. Let's see how the Sigma handles a variety of shooting situations. Key Features and Specifications

Naturally, there’s not a whole of point in having a fast f/1.4 lens if image quality doesn’t hold up when shooting wide-open. As it turns out, sharpness and contrast are maintained very well at the widest aperture. Another bonus is that the wide aperture and short 25cm minimum focus distance enable a fairly tight depth of field and good bokeh, enabling interesting perspective effects. Before we round it all off, I’d like to offer two main alternatives for your consideration. Sony E 15mm F1.4 G The Sony 15mm f/1.4 G is a welcome addition to Sony’s APS-C lens lineup. With an equivalent focal length of 22.5mm, this lens will give photographers and videographers who like to keep things wide a nice option. However, it’s clear that Sony is going after Sigma’s 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary. Of course, a fast, wide angle lens makes one think about using it for low-light photography. It will be great for star trails where absolute sharpness is unnecessary. Gladly, the Starry Sky AI-focusing function of the OM-1 works with this lens. Attached to my OM-1, it was nicely balanced. It’s similar in width to my Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8, but slightly longer. This lens isn’t only compatible with Micro Four Thirds; other versions fit the Sony E, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, and Leica L mounts. It comprises nine rounded diaphragm blades, so I anticipated the bokeh would be pleasing.In the official specifications, Sigma states that the 16mm has a maximum magnification of 1:9.9 (0.1x) but it is unclear whether this is referring to Sony APS-C – the primary system the lens was designed for – or 35mm format. If it is the former, we would expect the magnification to be 0.075x in MFT terms, whereas if it is the latter, it would be 0.05x in MFT terms. The mount features a special sealing to make the lens an excellent choice in a wide variety of conditions.

I shoot with a wrist strap and was able to handhold & carry my setup around for a while without any hand fatigue. I am impressed by how the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 performs with respect to vignetting. Even when shooting wide open, there is not a lot of vignette and in many real-world situations, it would not be noticeable. What little vignette there is can be dealt with by stopping down a few stops, but exposure falloff is not a concern with this APS-C lens. Speaking of protecting the lens, the petal-shaped lens hood is massive (as I mentioned earlier) and also does its job quite well at protecting the front element against both bumps and flaring. Weather Sealing? From Sigma lens literature) The SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the development of a new high-performance, large-diameter wide-angle lens, SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary.Optical Quality – Through the lens GX85, 1/400, f/5.6, ISO 200 – Sigma 16mm f/1.4 Pen F, 1/1250, f/2.5, ISO 200 – M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 Sharpness like the idea of having a traditional focal length (the 17mm is the closest you’ll find to a 35mm equivalent lens in the AF range) Like the 30mm version of this lens I reviewed recently, it is not weather- or dust-sealed. That may or may not be a consideration for you when buying this lens, and it will depend upon the conditions in which you photograph. As I said in my review of the 30mm, it is a deal-breaker for me. After all, I am often shooting in harsh environments. However, most photographers are not, and generally, cameras aren’t used on a wind-swept beach being sprayed with seawater, as I tend to use them. At their respective maximum apertures (1.4 on the Sigma and 1.8 on the Olympus), the 17mm looks ever so slightly sharper but the difference is barely worth mentioning.

Both lenses feature a filter thread (67mm on the 16mm / 46mm on the 17mm) but neither has a physical aperture ring, so the only way to change the aperture value is via the camera dials. The lens looks very nice and has a sleek, smooth design and finish. It pairs quite well with a Sony camera and doesn't look dissimilar from some of Sony's own lenses. The large focus ring has a rubberized finish and feels very nice to use, plus it's wide at just under a couple inches (around 50 millimeters). The lens looks good and balances well with the A6500. The rear cap is the twisty plastic kind, and the front is a pinch-style cap. Nothing special there, but they do their job to protect the lens.On a slightly unrelated note, the Sigma 16mm F1.4 has also gotten some love from the astrophotography community.