Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Fuji X:
Fujifilm makes some fantastic lenses but it never hurts to have more variety, and well, there are plenty of other options out there these days. For instance, Sigma has been introducing some lenses in Fuji X mount, and one of these that may appeal to a lot of photographers is the 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary. With the cropped sensor factored in, this lens equates to a 24mm, which is ideal for a a variety of subjects ranging from landscape, candid to photojournalism. With its large f1.4 aperture, the 16mm is also extremely versatile. Thanks to Sigma, I was able to get one to test. Here’s what I think of it.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review! If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this post, which in turn, helps support this site. I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you!
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Build Quality Fuji X:
Build wise, the 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is made of TSC (Thermally Stable Composite), which makes it feel very solid in the hands. As you can see in the photos below, there’s also a large textured rubberized focus ring for easy grip along with a brass bayonet mount for precision and durability. Furthermore, there is rubber sealing on the mount making this lens dust and splash resistant. Overall, the design is very clean and understated, and to me, it matches the bodies of the Fujifilm X Series system quite well. Bottom line is in terms of overall construction, 16mm f1.4 is impressive, and every bit up to the quality one would expect from Fujifilm’s own branded lenses.
↑ Here’s a photo of the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens.
As for weight and size, the 16mm f1.4 balances nicely with the Fuji bodies. It weighs just 14.3 oz/406 g, so it’s really not that heavy. In terms of dimensions, the 16mm f1.4 measures 2.8 x 3.6”/72.2 x 92.6 mm, and uses a 67mm filter. So, while the 16mm f1.4 is definitely larger than say Sigma’s 56mm f1.4 and 30mm f1.4, which also come in X mount, it’s still very similar to the Fujifilm XF 16mm f1.4 R WR lens in terms of size and weight.
↑ Here’s a top view of the combo.
This is all good because as I mentioned earlier, when you factor in the cropped sensor, this lens is a 24mm equivalent, which means it’s a focal length that will probably see a lot of use, especially with the increased versatility thanks to the large f1.4 aperture. The 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is great for a variety of subjects ranging from travel, landscape to even street photography. All of these types of photography often require the photographer to walk a lot, so a lens that is easy to live with, and won’t tire someone out at the end of the day is a must.
So in addition to great build and decent ergonomics, a lens hood is included. It’s petal shaped, and for the most part, fits the overall ergonomics of the lens. The lens hood is also reversible for easy storage.
↑ This is the included petal shaped lens hood.
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Autofocus Fuji X:
Let’s take a look at the autofocus now: the 16mm f1.4 uses a stepping motor that delivers fast and near silent autofocus. I found it to be essentially drama free when used with my X-T3. It was also very accurate with missed shots rarely happening. This is a wide angle lens, so even with the f1.4 aperture, there is still a larger depth of field. However, when you start shooting closer, the depth of field does thin out, and this lens was always on point.
It’s worth noting that face detection also worked quite well. I did review the 16mm f1.4 in L mount before (review here), and during that time, I used it with a lot of my photo shoots. I didn’t get a chance to use the Fuji one in a photo shoot but I tried face detection out during my regular test runs, and I’m happy to report it did a great job with this lens.
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Image Quality Fuji X:
I’m also happy to report that like pretty much all the Sigma lenses I’ve tested, the 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is quite impressive in terms of image quality. The 16mm f1.4 sells for $449 (currently $374 with rebate), which is significantly cheaper than the Fujifilm version; however, I don’t think it suffers at all in terms of image quality when compared to the XF 16mm f1.4. (If you want more photos, especially of people, you can check out my Sigma 16mm f1.4 L mount review as well).
↑ This was taken with f8 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s another photo taken with f8 and 160 ISO.
↑ The settings here were f8 and 160 ISO.
For one, the 16mm f1.4 Contemporary produces photos that incredibly sharp. Photos are so crisp, and clean with such beautiful depth to them. At f1.4, center sharpness is excellent with even edges holding up quite well. Of course, as you stop down just a bit, sharpness improves. If you’re a pixel peeper, I think the sweet spot for sharpness is around f5.6 to f8 but with that said, don’t be afraid to use it throughout the aperture range because the end results are always impressive.
↑ This was taken using f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the image above.
↑ I took this with f8 and 200 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
↑ The settings here were f8 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s a 100% crop of the photo above.
Other great features include nice color and contrast rendering. The 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is also highly resistant to flare. There’s some vignetting at f1.4 but it’s not out of the ordinary. Stopping down helps, and by f2.8, it’s mostly gone. There is slight barrel distortion but not something that is an issue. It’s not uncommon to see a little in a wide angle lens.
↑ This was taken with 160 ISO and f5.6.
↑ Here’s a photo taken at f8 and 160 ISO.
↑ This was taken with f8 and 160 ISO.
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Bokeh Fuji X:
When you’re able to achieve it, bokeh is ultra smooth and inviting, a characteristic that seems to be a constant with Sigma lenses, at least with the ones I’ve tested. I say, “when you’re able to achieve it” because even with an f1.4 aperture, this is still a wide angle lens, and therefore, depth of field isn’t always going to be ultra thin. As you can see below, I had to get pretty close to a subject to really see a noticeable thinness to the depth of field. But if you do get close enough, the out of focus areas are buttery smooth. There’s nothing distracting, at least to me.
↑ Here’s a photo taken with f1.4 and 160 ISO.
↑ Here’s another taken with wide open aperture.
↑ Here’s an example of me standing farther away from the subject and using f1.4.
Pros And Cons:
Pros:
- The Sigma 16mm f1.4 is well-made.
- Compact and light considering it’s focal length and maximum aperture.
- Feels very balanced on a Fuji body.
- Fast and accurate autofocus.
- Excellent image quality.
- Very sharp.
- Smooth and rich bokeh.
- Lens sells for a great price.
Cons:
- For some maybe a concern that there’s a lack of image stabilization but I don’t think this is important with a wide angle lens. Plus, most of its competition doesn’t have IS either, and many Fujifilm bodies already have IS.
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review Verdict Fuji X:
If you’re in the market for a 24mm equivalent lens, and you want something with a large maximum aperture, the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a fantastic option. You have something here that is built well, has excellent autofocus, and can deliver the goods when it comes to image quality.
↑ This was taken using f8 and 160 ISO.
As many of us know, Fujifilm has their own 24mm equivalent: the 16mm f1.4. I reviewed it when it first was released (review here), and I can tell you it is an excellent lens as well. The optics are superb, and it’s built to last. Bottom line is I am a huge fan of it.
↑ Here’s a photo I took using f5.6 and 400 ISO.
↑ Here’s one more photo of the Fuji X-T3 and Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens combo.
With that said, I can tell you the Sigma version compares quite favorably to the Fujifilm version. I don’t know which one is “the best” because I didn’t have both here to do a comparison but looking at all the images that I’ve taken with both lenses, I can tell you that I would be completely happy with anyone of these. They are both phenomenal options if you want a 24mm equivalent with an f1.4 aperture. What sweetens the pot of the Sigma version though is the priced, which is $449 (currently $374 with rebate). That’s a lot cheaper than the $999 asking price of the Fuji.
Bottom line is the 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a great lens for the Fujifilm X Series system. It’s something that I highly recommend, if you’re in the market for a fast wide angle optic.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review! If it helped, please consider purchasing from any of the links mentioned in this post, which in turn, helps support this site. I get a small commission but it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you!
