Sigma has lastly introduced their trio of APS-C primes to Fujifilm’s X-mount. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN faces stiff competitors because the widest of the three lenses. Can it compete with Fuji’s 16mm lenses?
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN has been round for some time now on different techniques. It now enters the world of X-mount the place it has to compete with Fuji’s personal 16mm f/1.4 and the smaller 16mm f/2.8 WR lenses. It’s priced barely increased than the f/2.8 lens, and considerably decrease than Fuji’s f/1.4 model. Let’s learn how it stands on efficiency.
Professionals:
- Nice optical efficiency
- Nice worth for a large f/1.4 lens
- Some weather-sealing
- Good autofocus talents
Cons:
- No aperture ring
- Solely weather-sealed at mount
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — Technical Specs
All technical specs had been taken from the B&H product web page:
- Aperture Vary: f/1.4 to f/16
- Two SLD Components, Three FLD Components
- Two Aspherical Components
- Tremendous Multi-Layer Coating
- Stepping Motor AF System
- Climate-Sealed Building
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — Ergonomics and construct high quality
Sigma has constructed a repute for good construct high quality with their tank-like Artwork and Sport sequence lenses. Whereas the Modern line of lenses misses out on among the construct options of these lenses, they nonetheless present good high quality for a lesser worth. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is product of robust composite materials. It incorporates a brass mount with a splash and dirt seal included. Nevertheless, that appears to be the place the climate sealing ends.
The main focus ring on the Sigma is the one level of management for the lens. It’s calmly damped and feels fairly common among the many focus-by-wire lenses round at present. The 16mm can also be the most important of the three Sigma APS-C primes. That stated, it’s nonetheless simply manageable on the Fuji X-T4 and doesn’t really feel overbalanced. Not unhealthy for a wider f/1.4 lens.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — Within the discipline
Pairing this lens with an X-T4 made for a wonderful pictures expertise. Even with the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 being the bulkiest of its siblings, it was nonetheless small and lightweight sufficient to hold round with out situation. Though, this lens is lengthy sufficient it might probably be a difficulty for X-Professional customers who take pleasure in their OVF expertise. This lens was nice to make use of for environmental portraits, some architectural photographs, and panorama work as nicely.
There’s not a lot to this lens. It’s about so simple as a lens can get. The handbook focus ring is the one management on the lens. Switching focus needs to be finished by the digicam physique, which is fortunately fairly straightforward with Fuji cameras.
Equally, there isn’t any lens stabilization. Nevertheless, when paired with a physique with IBIS slower shutter speeds are straightforward to drag off. In case you’re utilizing a physique with out IBIS, the quick f/1.4 max aperture helps to maintain these ISO values down and shutter hurries up.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — Autofocus efficiency
The autofocus efficiency of this lens was nice. Utilizing eye/face detection labored completely. Monitoring labored in addition to any native Fuji lens, making for a enjoyable time getting motion pictures of my good friend’s Vizsla canine. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 was quick and near-silent in its job.
Surprisingly, video autofocus was additionally fairly good. I took this lens on just a few mountain bike rides to movie some motion to be able to make a brief edit for a good friend. I discovered that the lens impressed confidence on the X-T 4 and allowed me to observe the motion whereas it took care of focus. Notice, footage shot with the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN will be discovered between 0:08 and 1:17.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — Picture High quality
Sigma actually delivered the picture high quality with this lens. The optical efficiency of the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN is phenomenal. Sharpness is nice, distortion and aberrations are very nicely managed, and the pictures have nice shade and distinction. Right here’s the way it carried out in finer element.
Distortion management and vignetting
Sigma actually received a deal with on distortion and vignetting with the 16mm. Left is a photograph with distortion and vignetting corrections turned off, to the suitable is with each turned on in DxO Photolab 5. As you may inform, there may be very minimal vignetting and distortion occurring with this lens. From an inexpensive 16mm f/1.4 lens, I used to be fairly impressed to see this degree of efficiency.
Ghosting, flaring, and chromatic aberration
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 handles being pointed into the solar with aplomb. I attempted taking pictures towards the solar over the course of some hours at completely different angles and by no means had points with flaring or ghosting. It additionally looks as if chromatic aberrations are nicely managed. It does have some longitudinal chromatic aberration, the place out-of-focus parts can present purple and/or inexperienced fringing. Nevertheless, that was minor and never usually noticeable.
As an apart, the lens additionally produces a fairly good Sunstar. When stopped right down to f/16, it offers good outlined factors and stays sharp sufficient to be usable. A pleasant and enjoyable trait to have with a wider lens, even when it’s a bit area of interest.
Sharpness
Whereas these small web-optimized photographs aren’t the very best at exhibiting element, hopefully, you may inform that sharpness isn’t an issue. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN is not any slouch right here. This lens has loads of resolving energy for the Fuji X-T4’s 26-megapixel sensor. From wonderful particulars in panorama pictures to crisp and clear architectural photographs, this Sigma gained’t allow you to down.
Bokeh
Whereas 16mm isn’t the primary focal size you’ll go to for good bokeh, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 holds out quite nicely. With its quick f/1.4 max aperture, it’s in a position to get some good out-of-focus backgrounds.
I discovered it to be perhaps a contact busy, however not abnormally so for a lens this large. As normal, bokeh is quite subjective, however I fairly loved this lens for environmental portraits and large close-ups of my good friend’s pup.
Shade rendition
Shade isn’t an issue with this lens. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN renders a pleasant, impartial picture. I discovered no points with white steadiness in any respect when utilizing it. It additionally produces that pretty distinction that I’ve come to take pleasure in a lot from Sigma’s Artwork sequence lenses.
Now that this lens is on X-mount, it pairs splendidly with Fuji’s wonderful movie simulations. All the pictures on this evaluation are RAWs edited with Fuji’s “Traditional Chrome” profile. Aside from making use of that profile, no shade adjustments had been made.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN — A worthwhile addition to Fujifilm X-mount
It’s nice seeing Sigma lastly get entangled with the largest APS-C devoted lens mount round. Whereas these lenses have been round for different cameras for some time, they nonetheless maintain up fairly nicely. The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 does supply a pleasant compromise between the 2 Fuji 16mm fashions.
Fuji’s f/2.8 mannequin is cheaper and absolutely weather-sealed. Their 16mm f/1.4 can also be absolutely sealed, however prices almost twice as a lot because the Sigma. With the Sigma sitting at $449 at present, it’s a pleasant center floor. Not fairly as rugged because the Fuji choices, however providing the quicker f/1.4 aperture at a worth nearer to the f/2.8. It’s efficiency isn’t one to shake a stick at, both.
In case you can overlook the lens not being absolutely weather-resistant and never having an aperture ring, it’s actually value making an allowance for. Hopefully, we’ll see Sigma convey extra of their lenses to X-mount quickly. Can we get these f/1.8 zooms to Fuji, Sigma?
