SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN

Review and Photo example of the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN with Leica CL

Gallery

The example photo was taken using a LEICA CL typ7323 camera.

Review

Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN is a lens for APS-C size sensor mirrorless cameras.

Sigma lenses only list specs, and the notation is confusing and easy to understand, so it’s easy to get confused when minor changes or lenses with similar specs are released.
The official name of this lens is SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary. The meaning is made by Sigma, focal length 16mm, aperture F value 1.4, DC = APS-C, DN = short flange back for mirrorless cameras, Contemporary = inexpensive line lens.

It is an easy-to-use wide-angle single focal length lens for APS-C, so when converted to 35mm, the focal length is about 24mm. Sigma has released four types of single focus lenses for APS-C sensors: 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm, with 16mm being the widest angle.

Even mobile phones come standard with a 24mm wide-angle lens, so it doesn’t feel that wide, but it depicts all four corners clearly without distortion, and the AF speed seems to be faster than the 35mm Summilux-TL.
Despite having 16 lenses, it weighs only 400g, and the minimum shooting distance is 25cm, making it suitable for tabletop photography. I think it’s a great lens to carry around as a sub camera.

I bought it at around 30,000 yen, but it’s a lens of sufficient quality, including the appearance.It has a Leica Summilux brightness of F1.4, and a complex lens configuration of 13 elements in 10 groups. The price and quality are amazing, and I think this is one of the lenses that is worthy of the coined phrase “Sigma’s scientific capabilities are the best in the world.”

Other than Sigma, Leica is the only company that releases an APS-C size lens for the Leica L. I am truly grateful that they are releasing an APS-C sensor lens for the L mount, which is a low market share (almost extinct) mount.

I fully understand that this is a benefit of APS-C sensor cameras such as Isamu, Fuji X, and Sony E, and I can only express my gratitude to X and E users. Personally, I am very grateful for Sigma’s product strategy that takes full advantage of its position in being able to release products with multiple mounts. Eventually, it will probably be released for Canon RF and Nikon Z as well. However, the resale value of L mount lenses is more than 10% lower than that of X and E mount lenses.

Specification

Items	Value	Note
Focal length(mm)	16	Image circle is APS-C size
35mm equivalent focal length	24
Max aperture	1.4
Min aperture	16
Leaf blade	9
Lens Construction	16elements in 13groups
Min distance(m)	0.25
Lens length(mm)	90.3
Max diameter(mm)	72.2
Filter Size(mm)	67
Weight(g)	415	Lens only
Release date	2020/7/10
Price(Yen/Non tax)	¥57,000	Sigma will move to an open price notation starting July 2023.

SIGMA DC DN Lens Variations

レンズ名	C017	C023	C016	C018
Focal length(mm)	16	23	30	56
35mm equivalent focal length	24	34	45	84
Max aperture	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
Min aperture	16	16	16	16
Leaf blade	9	9	9	9
Lens Construction	16elements in 13groups	13elements in 10groups	9elements in 7groups	10elements in 6groups
Min distance(m)	0.25	0.25	0.3	0.5
Lens length(mm)(L-Mount)	90.3	76.9	71.3	57.5
Max diameter(mm)(L-Mount)	72.2	65.8	65.4	66.5
Filter Size(mm)	67	52	52	55
Weight(g)(L-Mount)	415	340	280	285
Release date	2017/11/22	2023/04/21	2016/03/18	2018/11/22
Price(Yen/Non tax)	¥57,000	¥65,000	¥48,000	¥57,000