A new solution for mirrorless camera users. Combining F1.4 brightness and a compact body. Introducing a new high-performance, large-diameter wide-angle lens
The 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is a high-performance and exceptionally portable crop-sensor prime that combines a wide angle-of-view with an ultra-wide maximum aperture. This makes it ideal for street photography, weddings, events, wide-angle portraits and landscapes, and thanks to its fast AF it’s also extremely well suited to video, including vlogging. The wide F1.4 aperture delivers a shallow depth-of-field for blurry backgrounds, and it also makes it easier to achieve blur-free shots when working hand-held in low light. Weighing just over 400g, the 16mm F1.4 is exceptionally lightweight for an F1.4 lens, so is ideal for photographers who need performance and portability from their kit.
The lens is available in a range of mirrorless mounts including L-Mount, Sony E-mount, Canon EF-M, Micro Four Thirds and Nikon Z Mount. When used on an APS-C sensor camera, the lens offers an equivalent focal length of 24mm, and when used on Micro Four Thirds, 32mm. The SIGMA 16mm F1.4 is part of a series of portable crop-sensor primes with an F1.4 maximum aperture.
Offering an opportunity to experience the fun of shooting wide open, with F1.4 brightness
Developed to feature a lightweight, compact package for everyday use, SIGMA DN lenses for mirrorless cameras deliver superior performance covering the key focal lengths. The new lens builds on the success of the 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, which SIGMA released in 2016 as the first in a new series of prime lenses for mirrorless cameras. The 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary also combines F1.4 brightness with top-level optical performance.
Sharing its development concept with the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, the 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary features a lens structure with 16 elements in 13 groups and includes the finest materials. This lens effectively minimizes optical aberrations and offers superb resolution at wide-open aperture and throughout the aperture range. The optical design and stepping motor deliver smooth autofocus during video shooting, while the mount features a special sealing for a dust- and splash-proof design.
* About the lens name
SIGMA lenses with “DC” in the name are designed for optimal performance on cameras with APS-C image sensors. When a DC lens is used with a camera with a full-frame image sensor, vignetting will occur. Photographers are advised to adjust image area settings for optimal image results. SIGMA lenses with “DN” in the name are designed for optimal performance on cameras with a short flange back distance.
A new system for mirrorless cameras
Following the 30mm F1.4, the next in the series: the 16mm F1.4
Over the years, SIGMA has built an extensive lineup of bright prime lenses ranging from wide-angle to telephoto. Now, for mirrorless cameras, SIGMA is developing a range of interchangeable lenses that feature a lightweight, compact package for convenient daily shooting while delivering superior performance and covering the key focal lengths.
Released in 2016 as the first of a new series of prime lenses for mirrorless cameras, the 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary combined F1.4 brightness with top-level optical performance. In order to achieve this low f-number in a large-diameter Contemporary lens, SIGMA took on a wide variety of challenges, leveraging its latest optical design technologies, incorporating updated video capabilities, and utilizing in-camera digital correction to further improve the lens’s optical quality. While prioritizing optical performance, SIGMA developed a lightweight, compact package with steady AF that is truly easy to operate.
Like the 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, the 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary features SIGMA’s latest design technologies to offer F1.4 brightness while minimizing optical aberrations.
The first in this SIGMA series of prime lenses for mirrorless cameras was the standard prime 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, now followed by the wide-angle prime 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary. Going forward, SIGMA will add a telephoto lens to the series, making it a new and complete system for mirrorless camera users.
In addition, the SIGMA Art line includes three lenses for mirrorless cameras that cover a range of photographic needs: 19mm F2.8 DN | Art, 30mm F2.8 DN | Art, and 60mm F2.8 DN | Art. These lenses require no digital processing to correct for optical aberrations, instead using the optical system to minimize them.
A member of the high-performance Contemporary line, featuring SIGMA’s latest technologies
For optimal balance with light, compact camera bodies with a short flange back distance, SIGMA designed the new SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary lens to be extremely compact. Moreover, the special design of the focus lens group allows fast and smooth AF performance for videography and more. This lens combines a compact design and comfortable operation while prioritizing outstanding image quality. Featuring SIGMA’s latest technologies, this lens digitally corrects optical distortion.
The stepping motor delivers excellent autofocus with quiet performance.
The optical design and stepping motor deliver smooth autofocus during video shooting. The lens design fully accommodates the Fast Hybrid AF of Sony E-mount cameras for super-fast autofocus functionality. Using face recognition AF results in consistent autofocusing on faces, even as the subjects move.
Combining compactness with outstanding optical performance
The SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary features SIGMA’s inner focus technologies, while lighter lens elements in the focus lens group make possible a more compact actuator. Moreover, this lens offers outstanding stability whether the photographer is shooting handheld or has the camera placed on a surface. Structurally, the lens features materials and parts that contribute to its compact, lightweight structure. In summary, this is an unprecedented lens that combines outstanding optical performance with exceptional portability and usability.
Large lens hood (supplied) to keep out harmful rays
The lens hood cuts harmful rays that can negatively affect photographs while also minimizing reflectivity within the hood itself. The hood also features a rubber construction and a non-slip groove to make it easy to hold in a variety of shooting situations
High-precision, rugged brass bayonet mount
The brass mount combines high precision with rugged construction. Its treated surfaces and enhanced strength contribute to the exceptional durability of the lens.
Mount with dust- and splash-proof construction
The mount features a special sealing to make the lens an excellent choice in a wide variety of conditions.
Image quality rivaling that of our Art line lenses
Minimizing sagittal coma flare
With 16 elements in 13 groups, the optical system features a multitude of high-tech and high-end components, including three FLD glass elements, two SLD glass elements, and two molded glass aspherical elements. This optical system minimizes optical aberrations and ensures outstanding resolution at wide-open aperture and throughout the aperture range. In particular, the two aspherical lens elements have ultra-high-precision surfaces polished to tolerances under 10 nanometers, minimizing the onion ring bokeh effect that some aspherical elements produce and ensuring clear image quality throughout the frame. In addition, the structure of the optical system gently bends light to minimize sagittal coma flare and deliver optimal optical performance from the center of the frame to the edges. The result is a smooth, round bokeh effect with ample light volume throughout the frame.
Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
From an early stage in the lens design process, flare and ghosting have been measured to establish an optical design resistant to strong incident light sources such as backlighting. SIGMA’s Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting to help photographers produce sharp and high contrast images even in backlit conditions. The included lens hood can be attached to block out extraneous light, which can have a negative effect on rendering performance.
Bright prime functionality to experience photography at its best
A bright prime lens is the ideal way to experience the essence of the art of photography. Simply select a focal length that matches the image and enjoy complete control of the depth of field.
The 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is the world’s first interchangeable lens for mirrorless Sony E-mount cameras in the APS-C format to offer a 24mm focal length (35mm equivalent) and F1.4 brightness. The lens for Micro Four Thirds offers a 32mm focal length (35mm equivalent) with the same bright F1.4 aperture. This is the large-diameter wide-angle lens for which mirrorless camera users have been waiting.
Incorporating Rounded diaphragm
The 9-blade rounded diaphragm creates an attractive blur in the out-of-focus areas of the image.
| Lens Construction | 16 elements in 13 groups | |
| Angle of View (for SD1) | 83.2° | |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 9 (Rounded diaphragm) | |
| Minimum Aperture | F16 | |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 25cm / 9.8in. | |
| Maximum Magnification | 1:9.9 | |
| Filter Size | Diameter 67mm | |
| Dimensions | Diameter 72.2mm x Length 92.3mm / 2.8in. x 3.6in. | |
| Weight | 405 / 14.3oz. | |
