The Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary takes over from the long-running 16mm f/1.4 and tightens the formula in ways that affect how you shoot. If you use an APS-C body and want a bright wide angle that balances well and handles video, this one shifts the conversation.
Coming to you from Gordon Laing, this thorough video looks closely at the Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary and what it changes compared to the older 16mm. The new lens keeps the fast f/1.4 aperture but trims the barrel, shaving about 25 mm in length and cutting the weight nearly in half. That difference shows up the moment you mount it on a smaller body like the Sony a6400. You also get an aperture ring on E, X, and L mounts, while the RF version swaps it for a control ring. The field of view is slightly wider than 16mm, roughly 22.5 mm equivalent on most APS-C bodies and about 24 mm equivalent on Canon’s 1.6x crop.
Laing puts it side by side with options you may already be considering, including the pricier Sony E 15mm f/1.4 G. Wide open at f/1.4, the Sigma is sharp in the center and improves slightly at f/2, with little change beyond that in the middle of the frame. Corners are softer at f/1.4 but sharpen up by f/5.6 and f/8, especially for landscape work. Compared to the older 16mm, the 15mm shows better corner detail and handles vignetting more cleanly once stopped down. Against Sony’s 15mm G, the Sigma holds its ground overall, though the Sony can look crisper in the extreme corners at f/1.4.
Autofocus performance is solid for both stills and video. On a body like the a6400, continuous AF is quick and quiet, with no obvious motor noise. Focus breathing is present but controlled, and Laing demonstrates how it compares to both the Sony 15mm and the older Sigma 16mm. At the minimum focusing distance of 17 cm, you can get surprisingly shallow depth of field for a wide angle. Background blur looks smooth for the price, though not perfect in the corners where shapes stretch and show some geometric edges as you stop down. Nine aperture blades keep highlights reasonably rounded before more defined shapes appear at smaller apertures.
For video, the slightly wider view helps when holding the camera at arm’s length. On stabilized bodies, it works well for walk-and-talk clips, and the lighter weight feels better over longer takes. If you use a Canon APS-C body, the tighter crop trims that advantage a bit, and those who rely heavily on digital stabilization may still want something wider. The lens includes dust and splash resistance and a 58mm filter thread, which keeps accessories affordable and easy to find.
Laing also shows how the lens behaves on full frame bodies, revealing a visible image circle unless you crop, and points out where stopping down improves edge definition. There are more comparisons, more sample images at f/1.4, and deeper looks at distortion and chromatic aberration that will help you judge whether this replaces your current wide prime. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Laing.
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