Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review

While f/1.4 lenses are readily available for SLR systems, they're not as plentiful for mirrorless cameras, especially those that use smaller than full-frame sensors.

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary ($339) is a compact, bright, standard-angle lens, available for both Sony APS-C and Micro Four Thirds camera systems.

It's a strong performer, capturing crisp photos and delivering strong control over depth of field.

Design

The 30mm F1.4 ($309.00 at Amazon) is fairly compact for an f/1.4 design.

It measures 2.9 by 2.6 inches (HD), weighs just 9.4 ounces, and supports 52mm front filters.

The barrel is a mix of metal and polycarbonate, but unlike the wider, pricier Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary, the lens is not sealed to protect entry of dust and moisture.

You can buy the lens in an E-mount version for Sony cameras with APS-C sensors, or for Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.

The APS-C sensor is larger, so the lens acts like a 45mm full-fame lens when paired with a Sony camera.

It has a slightly tighter, 60mm angle of view on a Micro Four Thirds body.

I received the lens for review in E-mount and tested it using the Sony a6500.

The a6500 includes in-body stabilization—it's the only APS-C Sony camera with that feature at this time—so if you use it with another model you won't benefit from stabilization.

If you're shooting with a different model, consider the Sony 35mm F1.8 OSS, which doesn't gather quite as much light, but is optically stabilized.

Micro Four Thirds shooters have more bodies with in-camera stabilization available—Olympus has included the feature for years, and Panasonic has jumped on board as well, adding in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to more recent models.

Competing lenses for Micro Four Thirds include the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4, Olympus 25mm f/1.8, Panasonic 25mm f/1.7, and Olympus 25mm f/1.2.

Close focus is available to 11.8 inches, fairly typical for a standard-angle lens.

It's not a macro—maximum magnification is 1:7 life-size.

You can work fairly close to subjects, just don't expect true macro results.

Image Quality

I tested the 30mm Contemporary with the 24MP Sony a6500.

At f/1.4 the lens is sharp, notching 2,302 lines on a center-weighted Imatest evaluation.

The lens delivers clarity that's just as sharp as the average, right up to the edge of the frame.

That's better than the 1,800 lines we want to see at a bare minimum, but not quite what a 24MP sensor can deliver at its very best.

Resolution improves at f/2, to an excellent 2,851 lines.

It hits 3,080 lines at f/2.8, 3,032 lines at f/4, and 3,094 lines at f/5.6—just about as much as you can expect from a 24MP sensor.

Image quality is maintained at f/8 (2,991 lines) and f/11 (2,878 lines), but there is a slight drop at the minimum f/16 setting (2,680 lines).

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There is some visible barrel distortion, about 2.8 percent, which is something we expect from a wide-angle lens, but not so much one with a more standard angle of view, which the 30mm provides.

The distortion means that straight lines are drawn with an outward bulge, and because it's a third-party lens, automatic correction isn't an option.

You can remove it easily using software—Adobe Lightroom Classic CC is our favorite, and the most popular option.

Images show a modest vignette at f/1.4, with corners that are about -1.3EV dimmer than the center.

It's gone at f/2, with corners lagging behind the center by a negligible -0.5EV.

You can certainly correct it using software if needed when shooting wide open, but it's a modest effect that won't detract from most images.

Conclusions

Photographers using mirrorless systems who crave an f/1.4 standard lens should take a close look at the Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary, as it makes available light photography a true reality, even when shooting on city streets at night, and delivers strong results.

Images are crisp, especially at f/2 and narrower settings, right up to the edge of the frame, and the lens itself is affordable, light, and compact.

If you use a Sony camera that's not the a6500, the lack of in-lens stabilization may be a concern, especially if you enjoy capturing handheld video.

If that's the case, think about the pricier Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS instead.

Micro Four Thirds owners have a wealth of options, including the less expensive Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 ($250) and the $400 Olympus 25mm f/1.8, both of which are smaller, but also gather a little bit less light.

Matching or bettering the 30mm Contemporary in aperture are the Olympus 25mm f/1.2 ($1,300) and Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 ($600).

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a strong performer with a few optical drawbacks.

If you've got a compatible mirrorless camera and are shopping for a fast, standard-angle prime, it's a good way to go.

Thanks to Lensrentals for providing the Sony a6500 for this review.