The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Artwork lens is a uncommon form of zoom. It covers in style focal lengths like 24mm and 35mm, each staples in on a regular basis taking pictures, whereas providing a large most aperture that replaces a number of primes without delay. Having this sort of flexibility in a single compact lens can change the way you carry your equipment and the way you strategy several types of work.
Coming to you from Jason Vong, this detailed video highlights why the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Artwork lens is value severe consideration. As a substitute of packing a 16mm, 23mm, and 30mm prime, you may journey lighter with this one lens whereas retaining that quick f/1.8 aperture. For APS-C shooters, the 1.5x crop means the sphere of view is equal to 25.5 to 60mm, placing it near the workhorse 24-70mm zoom many full body customers depend on. What makes this completely different is the fixed f/1.8 aperture, one thing you gained’t discover in different zooms. For low mild or shallow depth of area, that opens inventive choices you usually hand over when utilizing a zoom.
The lens additionally steps up its dealing with. You’ll discover bodily controls like an aperture ring, autofocus/guide focus toggle, and a spotlight maintain button. Vong factors out that this makes a giant distinction when taking pictures with Fujifilm, the place bodily aperture rings are commonplace, but it surely’s additionally sensible on different programs. Autofocus makes use of a high-response linear actuator, supplying you with smoother, extra dependable transitions than older Sigma primes, which is particularly helpful for video. On high of that, the lens is weather-sealed, weighs solely 535 g, and balances effectively for gimbal use because it makes use of an inner zoom.
Key Specs
Focal Size: 17 to 40mm (35mm Equal: 25.5 to 60mm)
Aperture: Most f/1.8, Minimal f/16
Lens Mounts: Canon RF, Leica L, Sony E, Fujifilm X
Lens Format Protection: APS-C
Minimal Focus Distance: 11″ / 28 cm
Magnification: 0.21x
Optical Design: 17 Components in 11 Teams
Aperture Blades: 11, Rounded
Focus Kind: Autofocus
Picture Stabilization: No
Filter Measurement: 67 mm
Dimensions: 2.9 x 4.6″ / 72.9 x 115.9 mm
Weight: 18.9 oz / 535 g
Huge open, sharpness within the middle is powerful, with some softness and vignetting at 17mm within the corners, which improves as you progress towards 40mm. In comparison with primes just like the Sigma 16mm and 30mm f/1.4, you hand over solely about 2/3 of a cease of sunshine, which is normally well worth the commerce for the flexibility of zooming.
Video shooters stand to achieve much more. On APS-C cameras just like the Sony a6700 or FX30, the lens retains up with 4K 60p and 4K 120p because of its quick focusing. As a result of it doesn’t lengthen when zooming, stability on gimbals is steady. Full body customers aren’t disregarded both, since Sony our bodies can change into Tremendous 35 mode for APS-C crops, letting you utilize the lens with out vignetting and nonetheless make the most of the f/1.8 aperture for sluggish movement and low mild.
There are trade-offs. At just a little underneath $1,000, it isn’t low cost, although nonetheless lower than shopping for three comparable primes. It lacks optical stabilization, so pairing it with a physique that has in-body stabilization issues. The zoom vary ends at 40mm, which can really feel limiting, however historical past suggests Sigma might launch an identical 50-100mm f/1.8, simply as they did with their DSLR lineup. Take a look at the video above for the total rundown from Vong.
