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LENS

Inside the Box REVIEW

✓ Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN | C
lens
✓ Petal-shaped lens hood
✓ Lens literature
✓ Warranty card

ver since Sigma launched their
Global Vision Lenses (Art, Sport
Eand Contemporary), they have
propelled the company to the next
level in mechanical precision and
optical finesse. The Sigma 16mm
f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4
widest lens in the DN-series (made for DC DN | C ` 36,500 Sujith Gopinath
Mirrorless cameras) to date.
lens has a compact design along Fit for the Price
Design and Build Quality
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary

with sturdy construction. The lens is
predominantly built with engineering
plastic, reinforced with metal. The The 16mm Contemporary lens is camera. The camera automatically
lens mount is metal. Sigma provides a constructed with 16 elements in 13 crops the frame to match APS-C
petal-shaped lens hood. The hood has groups and has a rounded aperture format. Autofocus was almost instant
a rubber ring at the base, providing with nine diaphragm blades. Aperture and near-silent.
the required grip to unmount easily. ranges from f/1.4 to 16. the lens
focusses as close as 25cm. It provides The lens did not show any distortion.
Sigma declares that all Sigma Global a maximum magnification ratio Images were quite sharp across
Vision lenses are hand-crafted in of 1:9.9. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is the aperture range. Sweet spot was
a single factory in Aizu, Japan and threaded to fit 67mm filters. The around f/2.8, though it was not
individually inspected before shipping. lens weighs approximately 405g and possible to pinpoint exactly. You
measures 72.2mm (Dia.) ×92.3mm. would do well to keep the aperture
Key Features between f/1.8 and f/8 for best
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Ergonomics sharpness.
Contemporary lens is designed for The Sigma 16mm lens is lightweight,
APS-C mirrorless cameras. The lens and is extremely compact for a fast We observed heavy flare in strong
that we received was for Sony E mount wide-angle lens. The focus ring has against-the-light shots, though
and it provides a 35mm-equivalent the right amount of damping and the chromatic aberration was minimal.
focal length of 24mm on a Sony textured rubber covering on the ring In fact, we observed a trace of purple
cropped sensor body. The lens uses a provides a great grip. fringing, but detectable only if you
stepping motor for smooth autofocus, deliberately look for it. The lens
making it ideal for video capture. It Performance produced prominent darkening of Smart Photography
also features Fast Hybrid AF of Sony We tested the lens on a Sony Alpha corners throughout the aperture February 2018
E-mount cameras, making it still faster. 9 body for want of an APS-C format range.

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