Sigma has simply introduced their all-new 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN wide-angle lens for L and E mounts, and I’m pleased to introduce it to you. After utilizing it for lower than every week, I’m already attempting to determine how I’m going to purchase this lens. And it gained’t be too tough as a result of it’s comparatively cheap.
Quick wide-angle zooms have been dominated by the 14-24mm and the 16-35mm, each accessible in f/2.8. Actually, I actually have a 7-14mm f/2.8 for my Micro 4 Thirds cameras, which is equal to the 14-24mm. These lenses have been nice, however they’re universally massive and heavy — and dear. And utilizing filters with the 14-24mms will price you one other arm and a leg to get adapters over their bulbous entrance components.
Nonetheless, these lenses provide a novel view of the world. The highly effective foreshortening achieved at 14mm or 16mm impacts the way in which viewers work together with photos. It’s like grabbing somebody and shoving them into the body and saying, “Examine this out!” It will possibly’t be ignored. Plus, if you truly have to get all of it within the body, an ultra-wide-angle is the one approach to go.
Execs
- Tremendous mild and compact, coming in at below a pound
- Nice sharpness and lovely bokeh
- Accepts entrance filters
- Climate resistant building
Cons
- No picture stabilization (however no different ultra-wide does, both)
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN — Technical specs
Tech specs for the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 have been taken from the B&H product web page:
- Aperture vary: f/2.8–f/22
- Angle of view: 107° to 75.4°
- Minimal focus distance: 9.8″ / 25 cm
- Macro replica ratio: 1:5.6
- Optical design: 16 Parts in 11 Teams
- Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded
- Picture stabilization: No
- Filter dimension: 72 mm (Entrance)
- Dimensions: 3 x 4″ / 77.2 x 100.6 mm
- Weight: 15.9 oz / 450 g
- Climate resistance: Sure
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN — A brand new commonplace in lenses
Sigma has addressed all the ache factors of the ultra-wide-angle zooms. I like the 14-24mm and have owned three totally different variations, however I’m not lacking these two millimeters of width on this lens as a result of all the things else about it’s so overwhelmingly good.
It’s not as large because the 14mm and it’s not so long as the 35mm, however the 16-28 goes to take the market by storm. It’s tremendous mild, compact, sharp, fast-focusing and ultra-handy.
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN — Ergonomics and construct high quality
Sigma’s spec sheet says this lens weighs in at 15.9oz — and I guess they did backflips to verify it got here in below one pound (16oz). This can be a big saving in weight in comparison with different lenses and can make it simpler to make use of with a gimble for video work. Sigma’s personal 14-24mm for L-mount weighs 28.4oz, and Canon’s venerable 16-35mm weighs 27.8oz.
Amazingly, you would take the 16-28mm with the fp L, Sigma’s glorious full-frame digicam, and it could solely weigh 29.1oz. You’d have a fantastic digicam with a fantastic lens and little burden. Its physique is crafted (in Japan) from a thermally-stable composite that expands and contracts at charges much like the metals contained in the lens. Which means even in excessive temperatures you’ll get constant efficiency. I’ve seen this know-how utilized in military-grade rifle scopes and it’s fairly cool — and makes issues very mild.
What’s extra, at simply 4 inches lengthy, it’s shorter than a can of soda. And it’s at all times that size as a result of all of the zoom and focus motion occurs internally. It’s stunning to get such a variety of zoom and such a shiny aperture (fixed f/2.8) with none motion on the skin in a package deal lower than 3 inches in diameter.
Plus, when you spill your pop, it is probably not an issue because the lens is climate and mud sealed.
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN — Autofocus efficiency
I’m not a lot for pixel-peeping, however I can spot a smooth or off-focus image from a mile away. The 16-28mm is remarkably sharp and contrasty with glorious coloration. I’ve no complaints about sharpness, and the bokeh is sweet. I’ve no complaints within the high quality division and it makes footage sharper than I do. All the photographs right here have been made with the 16-28mm on a Lumix S1 (24 megapixels), nevertheless it’s rated to carry out properly with the fp L, which boasts 61 megapixels.
Its stepping motor additionally makes it focus shortly and quietly. I’ve been impressed with how properly it tracks on autofocus and the way correct it has been. The 16-28mm saved up with Zoomer, a Labrador pup who works as a bomb-sniffing K9. I saved the lens very near his face as he adopted a tennis ball round and out and in. The stepping motor zipped forwards and backwards as quick as Zoomer did and saved his eyes in focus.
Additionally, I’m stunned at how little distortion there’s — I don’t see any, however my digicam perhaps correcting for it. Strains are straight prime and backside and on either side. Try the traces on this picture of a storage unit filled with Native American artwork.
Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN — Within the area
I’ve discovered plenty of the explanation why I don’t have to carry my 14-24mm on shoots, they usually all finish in “ounces.” It’s only a heavy lens and may turn into burdensome in your bag, and even on the physique. The large entrance aspect can be troublesome as a result of it doesn’t match within the slots in digicam baggage in addition to narrower lenses.
However the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN is a thin factor for a quick ultrawide. The specs say it’s 3 inches throughout, however that have to be together with the lens hood as a result of it feels small in your palms. It’s bought a brief throw for the zoom and you may simply observe its full vary with a thumb and finger.
And did I point out that it’s light-weight? It matches in my bag simply, and it’s a pleasure to hold in hand on the digicam.
The filter thread is simply 72mm. In the event you purchase a devoted polarizer or impartial density filters, they may price lower than the bigger 77mm and even 86mm required by different lenses. And I’ve by no means sprung for a 14mm filter package, so this has been a pleasure to polarize.
Tip for filters
My largest diameter lens is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 at a whopping 86mm. So, I purchase filters that match that after which stack step-up rings to suit the filters to my 82mm and 77mm lenses. Properly, with the 16-28mm, you should purchase a single step-up ring and don’t stack rings. In my case, I ought to get a 72-86mm ring as an alternative of utilizing a 72-77mm, a 77-82mm and an 82-86mm. The difficulty is that if you stack rings, you improve the probabilities of seeing the perimeters of the filter within the footage since you’ve added a lot thickness.
The primary picture is as shot whereas the second has remodel changes utilized in Lightroom to counter the vanishing factors created by tilting the lens upward.
Who’s the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN for?
I believe his lens could be good in your bag. I’ve used it for portraits, landscapes, and structure. The standard is second to none and it’s so compact that I’ll at all times have it alongside. It picks up the place the 28-70mm or 24-105mm zooms go away you wanting extra. It focuses precisely, quietly, and shortly. I’m having a tough time discovering something I don’t love about this lens. It’s two millimeters tighter than 14mm and 7 millimeters shy of 35mm. Sure, it’s totally different, however era so Canon customers will let you know they don’t miss the 2 millimeters, and generations of Nikon shooters will let you know they don’t miss the seven millimeters. I are inclined to agree with each of them that 16-28mm is ample on each ends. I don’t suppose this may exchange the 35mm in my bag, nevertheless it may simply sate my designer for the 20mm f/2.
In the event you’re any type of photographer, I feel you’ll have a use for Sigma’s all-new 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Up to date lens. The lens is out there for preorder from B&H, at a retail worth of $899.
