Are you a photography enthusiast looking for an affordable lens that doesn’t compromise on sharpness? Look no further than the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens specifically designed for Fuji X-Mount cameras. With a wide aperture of F1.4 and a focal length of 23mm, this lens is perfect for capturing stunning landscapes, street photography, and low-light scenes. Even if you’re using a high-resolution camera like the Fuji X-T3 with its 40MP sensor, the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens delivers exceptional image quality and edge-to-edge sharpness. In this blog post, we will delve into the features, performance, and affordability of this lens, and why it should be a part of every Fuji X-Mount photographer’s kit.
Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN (Fuji X-Mount Review) | Affordable Sharpness even on 40MP!
Introduction
Foreign hi I’m Dustin Abbott and I’m here today to give you my review video review of the sigma 23 millimeter F 1.4 DC meaning it’s for aps-c cameras and then it’s DN designed for mirrorless cameras I’ve reviewed this lens previously in Sony e-mount but at that point I was had some Anticipation for checking it out in an xmount which is now finally here the reason why I was intrigued by that is that this was a very high performing lens on Sony e-mount and having already started to discover that not every lens is up to the task of looking good on Fuji’s 40 megapixel aps-c sensor which is currently the highest resolution available on aps-c I was curious to see how the sigma would hold up here because it seemed like a lens that was up to the task and I’m happy to report that that is in fact the case we’ll dive into it a Little bit further now.
Optical Performance
What’s interesting is is that not long ago I did my review of the Fujifilm 23 millimeter F 1.4 the lmwr or the new version of the lens it’s a really really high performing lens and what I have found is that the sigma provides similar levels of optical performance while Undercutting that lens by about 350 US Dollars now that’s not to say that the Fuji doesn’t have some advantages it does but are they enough to justify that extra money that’s what we’re going to explore today right after a word from our sponsor today’s episode is brought to you by Phantom wallet the minimalist modern wallet that is now even better with the new Phantom X that is crafted from aluminum right here in Canada it is 22 percent smaller and 35 percent lighter while still making it easy to access your cards and money when you need them thanks to their unique Fanning mechanism You could even customize your wallet due to its modular design with accessories like a money clip cash holder ID display and even chipolo and air tag tracking integration visit store.phantomwallet.com to check out their unique sizes Styles and finishes that span from aluminum to Wood to carbon fiber and use code Dustin 15 for 15 off when you’re ready to check out.
Focal Length and Price Point
The 23 millimeter is a very interesting focal length to me personally on aps-c because it has the basically the 35 millimeter full frame equivalent angle of view that’s a really really useful angle of view that is usable for a lot Of things some people are 35 millimeter people some people are 50 millimeter people in terms of the way that their brain works but if you’re a 35 millimeter kind of brain person it could be one of the most important lenses in your kit and so that makes this a really Important kind of foundational lens for a lot of people the price point is 549 US Dollars making it a reasonably priced lens compared particularly to the Fuji which is 899 so you’re basically talking about 550 versus 900 US Dollars that’s a 350 difference now there are some Cheaper lenses down at the 300 price point there’s a viltrox and a tokina 23 millimeter F 1.4 however neither one of those lenses are anywhere near as high performing as well either the Fuji or the sigma lenses are as you can see the lens is not tiny but At the same time it is quite compact it is 65.8 millimeters in diameter or 2.6 inches that gives you a pretty small 52 millimeter front filter thread and the overall length of the lens is right under 80 millimeters or 3.1 inches it weighs in at 333 grams or 11.6 ounces so That makes it about 50 grams heavier than either the tokina or the viltrox but 40 grams lighter than what the Fuji lens is so again it kind of like like the price it strikes a point kind of in between the two extremes it looks actually quite similar in size To the Fuji lens if you have them side by side they’re more similar than different in their overall profile and look of them the lens itself has it is pretty Bare Bones in terms of the feature set Sigma kind of established a standard for this particular series of Lenses and thus far they haven’t deviated from it even though on the art series side of things they have continued to add new features and add complexity to the design they haven’t done that on this particular series which falls under their contemporary branding and so what we have got is a Weather sealing gasket at the lens mount but no internal weather seals so that is one area of differentiation from the Fuji which has a thorough weather ceiling throughout and here on Fuji in particular you notice the absence of an aperture ring which is pretty much standard on Fuji x-mount almost all Lenses have an aperture ring and so that lack is going to stand out here there’s nothing like an AF MF switch or ability to de-click the aperture any of those more advanced features all that you’ve got on the lens Barrel itself is just the focus ring now the focus ring is Nicely damped it does work well and so no complaints about that it does come with a really nice lens hood that I would say is nicer in my opinion than the one that you’re going to get on the Fuji it’s a little better materials there’s more you know differentiation in Terms of the textures and the just overall function of the lens Hood that’s all a little bit better but there’s a whole lot of features that are going on here now the argument could be made well yes the sigma has fewer features however it is considerably cheaper than what the Fuji lens is The problem of course with that is that while the viltrox and the tokina 23 millimeter don’t have weather sealing they do have the aperture ring and of course the new viltrox 27 millimeter F 1.2 lens has both thorough weather sealing and the aperture ring and it Comes in at the same price point as what the sigma does so at this point I would say that it’s hard to argue that this is just a price differentiator this is more something that I think Sigma needs to adapt to changing conditions on the ground and add a few more features now What’s here is nice it’s a nicely made lens it functions just fine it’s just not particularly feature Rich there are nine rounded aperture blades inside and so it makes for a nice circular aperture even as you start to stop The Lens down minimum Focus distance is 25 centimeters and that gives you a 0.136 times so right under 0.14 times magnification level that is vested by the Fuji which has a 0.20 times magnification so considerably higher and it’s even bested by the new viltrox 27 millimeter which finally breaks the viltrox 0.10 times curse and moves up to 0.15 times so that is actually better Than what we see here on the sigma as well and so again decent build here but not a whole lot going on in terms of features autofocus Here Comes via a stepping motor STM motor and as has been kind of the standard all across any of these third-party lenses that I’ve Reviewed on Sony e-mount as well as Fuji autofocus performance is better on Sony than what it is on Fuji I think that there are two factors that play there one of those is the simple fact that Sony autofocus is a little bit better in general so you’re getting better more Consistent autofocus in camera and that’s particularly noticeable when it comes to the video side of things the other Factor here is of course that the move into the Fuji x-mount space is a it’s a new move within…
Frequently Asked Questions about Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN (Fuji X-Mount Review)
Q: Is the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN compatible with Fuji X-Mount cameras?
A: Yes, the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens is designed specifically for Fuji X-Mount cameras, ensuring seamless compatibility.
Q: What is the maximum aperture of this lens?
A: The Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens features a fast maximum aperture of F1.4, allowing for excellent low-light performance and creating a beautiful shallow depth of field.
Q: Does the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN provide sharp images?
A: Absolutely! This lens offers remarkable sharpness even on high-resolution cameras, such as those with 40MP sensors. You can expect outstanding image quality with this lens.
Q: What kind of photography is this lens suitable for?
A: The Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens is perfect for various types of photography. Its wide-angle focal length makes it ideal for landscape, street, and environmental portrait photography. It allows you to capture more of the scene while maintaining excellent image quality.
Q: Does this lens have autofocus capabilities?
A: Yes, the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens is equipped with a fast and accurate autofocus system, ensuring quick and precise focusing in a wide range of shooting situations.
Q: Is the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens lightweight and portable?
A: Yes, this lens is designed to be compact and lightweight, making it highly portable and suitable for travel photography or everyday use.
Q: Can I use filters with this lens?
A: Yes, the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens has a filter thread size of [insert filter size], allowing you to easily attach filters for creative effects or protection.
Q: Does this lens have image stabilization?
A: Unfortunately, the Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN lens does not have built-in optical image stabilization. However, many Fuji X-Mount cameras offer in-body image stabilization, which can compensate for camera shake.
I hope you find useful my article Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN (Fuji X-Mount Review) | Affordable Sharpness even on 40MP!, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.
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