You’ve seen the Sigma 16mm in all places, however the discipline isn’t a one-lens present anymore. In case you shoot on a crop digicam and desire a large angle prime that handles low mild and tight areas, the brand new contenders demand consideration.
Coming to you from Mark Wiemels, this thorough video sizes up three APS-C primes that hit comparable use circumstances with very totally different tradeoffs. The veteran is the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Up to date, lengthy handled because the protected decide for reliability and autofocus. The recent price range play is the Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 Air, a smaller, lighter 22.5mm-equivalent that undercuts on value and measurement. The curveball is the Sirui Sniper 16mm f/1.2, which presents an unusually quick f/1.2 on APS-C with out turning right into a brick. You get side-by-side sharpness, distortion, flare, vignetting, and a number of autofocus trials, so you may choose greater than chart photographs.
Construct and dealing with cut up the trio. The Sigma feels dense and premium with a deep hood and a grippy focus ring. Viltrox goes within the different route with a compact plastic shell, a refined steel mount, and USB-C firmware updates, which makes it essentially the most packable choice in a small sling or on a gimbal that’s near max payload. Sirui sits between them on weight however stands out on fashion with the blue accent ring and the white or carbon-look finishes, plus a clean, long-throw focus ring that makes guide pulls look clear in managed setups. None of that adjustments your picture, nevertheless it adjustments the way you carry and use the lens on a each day shoot.
Optics carry the attention-grabbing tradeoffs. Viltrox exhibits the strongest mustache distortion and the heaviest vignette large open, although it cleans up with correction and nonetheless seems crisp within the heart. Sigma has average barrel distortion that’s simple to repair and stays constant throughout the body as you cease down. Sirui lands with minor mustache distortion and aggressive sharpness even at f/1.2, which is the shock, because you’d anticipate softness. For colour fringing, Sigma and Sirui can present purple edges in backlit branches at most aperture; cease down and it fades. Flare management favors Sigma and Viltrox in a straight-on torture take a look at, however choice guidelines right here since many individuals like a little bit of glow round level sources. Bokeh seems clear throughout the board, with Sirui separating topics extra at typical desk-to-background distances due to that additional cease.
Autofocus is the place expectations and actuality half methods. Strolling assessments and face swaps look strong on all three, although Sigma snaps the quickest and may present a little bit of seen pulsing on abrupt adjustments. Viltrox tracks easily and feels cinematic because it rolls between planes, which flatters on-camera motion and informal interviews. Sirui retains tempo for single-subject stroll and discuss however falls behind when somebody sprints towards the lens; that’s the place the motors run out of steam and also you’ll miss a run of frames. For on a regular basis clips, household video, journey, and vlogging, the variations fade, and also you’ll be restricted extra by digicam AF modes and settings than glass. If you wish to see how they appear in actual scenes, try the video above for the total rundown from Wiemels.
