Sigma Art Lenses Explained – 7 of the Best to Get in 2023
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Sigma lenses are known to stand out on the market and have become rightful competitors to the lenses of major brands like Canon and Sony.
If you like Sigma lenses as much as we do or just thinking of trying shooting with something new, this article is for you!
We've collected a list of the seven best Sigma Art lenses in 2023 – read on to check out their key features, camera compatibilities, and main perks!
A properly compiled photographer's kit is an essential part of the job. Discover what else you'll need to bring to a photo shoot in this complete camera equipment guide.
7 of the best Sigma Art lenses
1. Sigma 10-20mm F/3.5 EX DC HSM
This wide-angle zoom lens has a sophisticated internal optics control that works well for barrel distortion and color fringing.
The Sigma 10-20mm can produce a clean and sharp image and is suitable with the major camera mounts.
Key features:
- Equiv. focal length: 15-30 mm (full format equivalent)
- Equiv. Aperture: f/5.3 (full format equivalent, in terms of depth-of-field)
- Optical construction: 13 elements in 10 groups inc. 2 ELD, 1 SLD, and 4 aspherical elements
- Number of aperture blades: 7 (rounded)
- Min. focus distance: 0.24 m (max. magnification ratio 1:6.6)
- Dimensions: 87.3 x 88.2 mm
- Weight: 520 g
- Filter size: 82 mm (non-rotating)
- Hood: petal-shaped, bayonet mount (supplied)
- Other features: silent wave AF motor, padded pouch included
Purpose: For cropped sensor cameras (APS-C, DX) targeted for those who need a wide-angle landscape lens or when a borderline super wide-angle perspective is necessary.
Camera compatibility: Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony
Pros:
- Good distortion correction
- Reasonable vignetting at maximum aperture
- Excellent resolution for this type of lens
Cons:
- Significant chromatic aberrations
- No image stabilization
Price: $379 for Canon DSLRs, $449 for Nikon DSLRs, $349 for Sony DSLRs
2. Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens
The Sigma 18-35mm is the first zoom lens to feature a constant wide aperture - ƒ/1.8.
This feature allows creators to take images in much darker environments and produce a shallower depth of field compared to other zoom lenses with an aperture of 2.8 or smaller.
Key features:
- Focal length: 18-35mm
- Maximum aperture: f/1.8
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Lens construction: 17 elements in 12 groups
- The angle of view: 76.5° – 44.2°
- Closest focusing distance: 28cm/11.0in.
- Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:4.3
- No. of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded)
- Filter/attachment size: 72mm
- Diameter x length: 78mm x 121mm / 3.1in. x 4.8.
- Weight: 810g/28.6 oz.
Purpose: Designed for APS-C "crop"-sensor cameras
Camera compatibility: Sigma, Sony, Nikon, Pentax, Canon
Pros:
- Super fast constant F1.8 maximum aperture
- Excellent optics, even wide open
- Fast, silent autofocus
- Solid build quality without being over-heavy
Cons:
- Restricted zoom range
- Needs detailed AF micro adjustment for best results
- Inconsistent autofocus in difficult conditions even after micro adjustment
Price: $632 for Canon, $591 for Nikon, $609 for Sigma, $1399 for Pentax
3. Sigma 19mm F/2.8 EX DN A Art
This Sigma Art lens is a prime wide-angle lens made to fit Micro ¾ and Sony NEX cameras. It has a bright 2.8 aperture and a newly developed linear focus motor.
Key features:
- Equiv. focal length: 28.5 mm (full format equivalent)
- Equiv. Aperture: f/4.2 (full format equivalent, in terms of depth-of-field)
- Optical construction: 8 elements in 6 groups, inc. 3x aspherical elements
- Number of aperture blades: 7 (circular)
- Min. focus distance: 0.20 m (1:7.4)
- Dimensions: 60.6 x 45.7 mm
- Weight: 140 g
- Filter size: 46 mm
- Hood: barrel-shaped, bayonet-mount, supplied
Camera compatibility: for Sony E-mount cameras and Micro 4/3 cameras
Pros:
- Compact and solid build
- Decent image quality on the edge of the Micro 4/3 sensor
- Well-corrected chromatic aberration
- Moderate vignetting on the Micro 4/3 sensor
Cons:
- Significant vignetting on the APS-C sensor
- Noticeable coma,
- Spherical aberration not corrected properly
Price: $189 for Micro ¾, $146 for Sony E-mount, $139 for Sony SE
4. Sigma 24-70mm F/2.8 DG HSM Art
The Sigma 24-70mm is a standard zoom lens made for full-frame DSLR cameras and APS-C sensors with an increased focal length.
The lens has four aspherical elements, optical image stabilization, nine rounded aperture blades, and an HSM focus motor.
Key features:
- Optical construction: 19 elements in 14 groups including 2xSLD, 4x aspherical elements
- Number of aperture blades: 9 (rounded)
- Min. focus distance: 0.37m (max. magnification ratio 1:4.8)
- Dimensions: 88×107.6㎜
- Weight: 1020g
- Filter size: 82mm
- Hood: petal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)
- Other features: image stabilizer 4 f-stops
Purpose: DSLR cameras
Camera compatibility: Canon, Nikon, Sigma
Pros:
- Sublime image quality
- Excellent build quality
- Great handling
Cons:
- Large 82mm filter thread
- Typically heavy for an f/2.8 zoom
- Not fully weather-sealed
Price: $1259 for Canon, $1041 for Nikon, $909 for Sigma
5. Sigma 24-105mm F4.0 Art DG OS HSM
The Sigma 24-105mm is a great lens capable of producing excellent images, solid build quality, and optical stabilization.
In addition, it delivers a perfect walkaround range from wide-angle to short telephoto and works equally well on cropped cameras, where its coverage equals 36-158mm.
Key features:
- Picture angle: 84.1 to 23.3 degrees
- Minimum aperture: f/22.
- Lens construction: 19 elements in 14 groups (including aspherical lens element)
- Diaphragm Blades: 9 (circular aperture)
- Focus drive: Hyper-Sonic Motor
- Max aperture: F4
- Min aperture: F22
- Min focus: 0.45 m (17.72″)
- Weight: 885 g (1.95 lb)
Purpose: full-frame cameras
Camera compatibility: Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony
Pros:
- Excellent sharpness throughout the zoom range
- Good build quality
- Constant f/4 maximum aperture
- Effective optical stabilization
Cons:
- 82mm filter size
- No weather sealing
Price: $889 for Canon, $638 for Nikon, $540 for Sigma, $527 for Sony Alpha
6. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
This Sigma lens combines the perks of traditional and modern technologies to create innovative camera equipment for crisp-quality photos.
Being a high-speed, full-frame lens for DSLRs, it offers good low-light performance and shallow depth of field.
Key features:
- Optical construction: 13 elements in 8 groups, inc. 3xSLD & 1x aspherical elements
- Number of aperture blades: 9 (circular)
- min. focus distance: 0.40m (max. magnification ratio 1:5.6)
- Dimensions: 85.4x99.9mm
- Weight: 815g
- Filter size: 77mm (non-rotating)
- Hood: petal-shaped, snap-on, supplied
Purpose: DSLR cameras
Camera compatibility: Canon, Nikon, Leica L-mount, Sony full-frame, Sigma SA mount
Pros:
- Near-faultless image quality
- Speedy, reliable autofocus
- Sharp
Cons:
- Slight Vignetting at F/1.4
- No weather sealing
- Slight CA/Color Fringing
Price: $899 for Canon, $673 for Nikon, $511 for Sigma, $879 for Sony
7. Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens
The bright aperture and telephoto zoom of Sigma 135mm make this lens perfect for many photography niches, including portraiture.
In addition, it prides itself on excellent build quality, incredible image sharpness, slight chromatic aberration, and almost zero distortion.
Key features:
- Optical construction: 13 elements in 10 groups including 2xSLD and 2x FLD elements
- Number of aperture blades: 9 (rounded)
- Min. focus distance: 0.875m (max. magnification ratio 1:5)
- Max aperture: F1.8
- Min aperture: F16
- Min focus: 0.88 m (34.65″)
- Dimensions: 91.4×114.9mm
- Weight: 1130g
- Filter size: 82mm
- Hood: barrel-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)
- Other features: weather sealing
Purpose: full-frame and APS-C cameras
Camera compatibility: Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony
Pros:
- Very sharp, even at f/1.8
- Beautiful bokeh
- Fast, accurate autofocus
- Weather-sealed mount
- Three-position focus limiter
Cons:
- Quite heavy
- No image stabilization
Price: $1199 for Nikon, $1399 for Sigma, $1128 for Sony, $1124 for Canon
What are Sigma Art lenses?
Sigma Art lenses are fast-aperture lenses that produce incredibly sharp images and deliver beautiful colors.
Their aperture ranges from 1.4 to 2.8 – this wide, rounded aperture brings excellent bokeh to all photos.
Sigma applies low-dispersion elements to its lenses and special coatings to minimize aberration.
As a result, these Art lenses are ideal for many photography areas, from portraits, macro, and landscape, to underwater, urban, commercial, and studio photography.
How Art lenses differ from other lenses
- Feature a good build quality with great design
- Great throw distance and flawless focus ring
- Come with a rubber gasket across the mount of the lens
- Perform well with MP high sensors
- Equipped with the latest AF motor
Rent Sigma lenses on Wedio
Sigma Art Lens range offers many lenses of exceptional quality that are ready to bring high-level results.
Rent or subscribe to a Sigma lens through Wedio, and try their incredible power of bokeh and colors yourself!
What are Sigma Art lenses?
Sigma Art lenses are fast-aperture lenses that produce incredibly sharp images and deliver beautiful colors. Their aperture ranges from 1.4 to 2.8 – this wide, rounded aperture brings amazing bokeh to all images.
What is the sharpest Sigma Art lens?
All Sigma Art lenses are very capable of producing sharp images, but you might want to take a special look at Sigma 10-20mm, Sigma 50mm, and Sigma 135mm.
Are Sigma Art lenses good?
Sigma applies low-dispersion elements to their lenses and special coatings to minimize the aberration. These lenses are ideal for many photography areas, from portraits and landscapes to underwater, urban, and commercial photography.
