Description

Sigma 17mm F4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

For Sony & L-Mount

One of Sigma‘s Premium compact prime I series lenses, the new 17mm f/4 shares the Contemporary concept of compact, light and affordable lenses. In many respects, it also seems to aspire to the high standards of the Art range, with its all-metal construction and pursuit of the highest possible optical quality. It is a full frame design, intended from the start for use on mirrorless cameras and available in L and FE mount. The designers claim to have gone one step beyond what they needed to do, so let’s find out how that actually works out in practice, using the FE mount version on the 42MP Sony A7R III body

Starting our tour of the lens at the front, there is a supplied bayonet fit lens hood that clicks very smoothly into place and is totally secure without any need for a locking catch. Within the bayonet fit for the hood is a conventional 55mm filter thread. This thread size is also shared by other I series lenses, so far comprising this 17mm, plus focal lengths of 24mm, 45mm and 90mm. Unusually, the lens cap itself needs a mention as not one but two are provided, one plastic clip-on in the usual way, and one metal magnetic one. This is pitched at being supplied for “better integration” and also seems to be there because it’s a super cool idea, but in practice, it has a downside of being a very powerful magnet that could be a hazard to credit cards if for example stored in a pocket along with a wallet. The credit card hazard is now duly noted in the instruction leaflet, but this still begs the question why do it at all?

The lens is well made, using Aluminium and even having a brass bayonet mount. It is light and compact, weighing in at just 225g (L mount) or 220g (FE mount) and measuring 64.0mm x 48.8mm (L mount) or 64.0mm x 50.8mm (FE mount). The lens is also dust and splashproof, but of course, this does not mean waterproof.

The well-gripped focusing ring is compatible with all the usual Sony focus settings, such as AF, MF and DMF (Direct Manual Focusing, where MF tweaks can be made during active AF) and these are set in the camera menu as usual. The L mount version, which is compatible with Sigma USB Dock UD-11, gives a choice of linear or non-linear focus ring settings.

AF is driven by a fast and virtually silent stepping motor. Focusing is down to 12cm, or 4.8”, for a maximum magnification of 1:3.6. This is excellent for a 17mm lens and opens many possibilities for powerful ultra-wide foregrounds.

There is an aperture ring, which operates beautifully, being smooth and almost silent. The click stops are at one-third of a stop intervals, with an additional A setting should we wish to control the aperture setting from the camera. Gorgeous though the engineering is, there is a chance that the ring can be knocked off A and a locking catch would be a good idea. The only other control is an AF/MF selector switch.

Optical construction is 9 elements in 8 groups, including 2 SLD (Super Low Distortion) and 3 Aspherical. The diaphragm comprises 7 blades, designed to produce a rounded aperture. The coating is Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating.

This is a very appealing lens, being small, light and unobtrusive. One of the suggested applications is street photography, and it will certainly let the photographer become immersed in the action, rather than being a distant observer. This could be great in really crowded situations, such as the Whitby Goth Weekend. It also has potential as a vlogging lens. Equally well, the more traditional uses such as landscape, travel and architecture all fall within its purview.