If you are a Sony E mount user, you may be wondering what are the best Sigma lenses for your camera. Sigma is a well-known and reputable brand that offers a wide range of high-quality lenses for various camera systems, including Sony E mount.
Sigma lenses are known for their sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh, as well as their affordable prices compared to some other brands.
However, with so many Sigma lenses available for Sony E mount, it can be hard to choose the right one for your needs and preferences. That's why we have created this guide to help you find the best Sigma lens for Sony E mount based on your shooting style, budget, and expectations.
What is Sony E Mount?
Sony E mount is a lens mount system developed by Sony for its mirrorless cameras. It has a short flange focal distance of 18 mm, which means that the distance between the lens mount and the sensor is very short.
This allows for more compact and lightweight lenses and cameras, as well as better compatibility with third-party lenses via adapters.
Sony E mount cameras can be divided into two categories: full-frame and APS-C. Full-frame cameras have a larger sensor size of 36 x 24 mm, which offers better image quality, low-light performance, dynamic range, and depth of field control.
APS-C cameras have a smaller sensor size of 23.5 x 15.6 mm, which offers more reach, faster frame rates, and lower cost.
Sony E mount lenses can also be divided into two categories: FE and E. FE lenses are designed for full-frame cameras and cover the entire sensor area. E lenses are designed for APS-C cameras and cover only a smaller portion of the sensor area.
However, both FE and E lenses can be used on any Sony E mount camera, with some limitations. FE lenses can be used on APS-C cameras with a 1.5x crop factor, which means that the effective focal length and field of view will be multiplied by 1.5x. For example, a 50mm FE lens will act like a 75mm lens on an APS-C camera.
E lenses can be used on full-frame cameras with either a crop mode or a full-frame mode. In crop mode, the camera will use only the center part of the sensor that matches the APS-C size, which will result in lower resolution and narrower field of view. In full-frame mode, the camera will use the entire sensor area, but the image will have severe vignetting or dark corners.
What are Sigma Lenses?
Sigma is a Japanese company that produces lenses, cameras, flashes, and other accessories for various camera systems. Sigma is one of the leading third-party lens manufacturers in the world, along with Tamron and Tokina.
Sigma lenses are categorized into three lines: Contemporary, Art, and Sports.
- Contemporary lenses are designed to balance performance, size, weight, and price. They are suitable for everyday photography and travel.
- Art lenses are designed to deliver high-level artistic quality and expression. They are suitable for portraits, landscapes, architecture, and other creative genres.
- Sports lenses are designed to offer fast autofocus, optical stabilization, and weather resistance. They are suitable for wildlife, action, and sports photography.
Sigma also offers a unique service called Mount Conversion Service, which allows users to change the mount of their Sigma lenses to another camera system.
For example, if you have a Sigma lens with Canon EF mount and you want to switch to Sony E mount, you can send your lens to Sigma and they will convert it for you for a fee.
How to Choose the Best Sigma Lens for Sony E Mount?
To choose the best Sigma lens for Sony E mount, you need to consider several factors such as:
Focal Length
The focal length of a lens determines how much of the scene you can capture and how large your subject appears in the frame. The focal length is measured in millimeters (mm) and it can range from ultra-wide-angle (less than 24mm) to super-telephoto (more than 300mm).
Generally speaking, wide-angle lenses are good for landscapes, architecture, interiors, and group shots. Normal lenses (around 50mm) are good for general-purpose photography and street photography. Telephoto lenses are good for portraits, wildlife, sports, and distant subjects.
Aperture
The aperture of a lens determines how much light it can let in and how much control you have over the depth of field.
Aperture is measured in f-numbers (f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4 etc.) and it can range from very large (f/1.4) to very small (f/22). Larger apertures are good for low-light situations and creating shallow depth of field effects. Smaller apertures are good for bright situations and creating deep depth of field effects.
Zoom or Prime
A zoom lens is a lens that can change its focal length by zooming in or out. A prime lens is a lens that has a fixed focal length and cannot zoom.
Zoom lenses are more versatile and convenient, but they are also larger, heavier, more expensive, and less sharp than prime lenses. While prime lenses are more compact and lightweight, cheaper, and sharper than zoom lenses, but they are also less flexible and require more lens changes.
Image Quality
The image quality of a lens depends on many factors such as sharpness, contrast, color rendition, distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, flare, and coma.
Higher-end lenses have better image quality than lower-end lenses, but they are also more expensive and heavier. You can also check online reviews and sample images to compare the image quality of different lenses.
Autofocus
The autofocus of a lens determines how fast and accurate it can focus on your subject. The autofocus of a lens depends on many factors such as the lens design, the camera body, the shooting mode, the lighting condition, and the subject movement.
Newer lenses have better autofocus than older lenses, but they may also have compatibility issues with some camera bodies. You can also check online reviews and videos to compare the autofocus performance of different lenses.
Stabilization
The stabilization of a lens determines how well it can compensate for camera shake and prevent blurry images. The stabilization of a lens can be either optical or digital.
Optical stabilization (OS) is built into the lens and it works by shifting the lens elements to counteract the camera movement. Digital stabilization (IS) is built into the camera body and it works by cropping the image sensor to create a virtual shift.
OS is more effective and reliable than IS, but it is also more expensive and heavier. Some lenses and cameras have both optical and digital stabilization, which can work together to provide even better results.
Build Quality
The build quality of a lens determines how durable and resistant it is to physical damage and environmental factors. It depends on many factors such as the materials, the construction, the weather sealing, and the design.
Higher-end lenses have better build quality than lower-end lenses, but they are also more expensive and heavier. You can also check online reviews and videos to compare the build quality of different lenses.
Best Sigma Lenses for Sony E Mount
Based on the factors above, here are some of the best Sigma lenses for Sony E mount that we recommend:
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is one of the best standard zoom lenses for Sony E mount. It covers a versatile focal range from wide-angle to portrait-length and has a constant f/2.8 aperture that provides excellent low-light performance and depth of field control.
It delivers superb image quality with high sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh. It also has fast and accurate autofocus with eye-tracking support and optical stabilization with up to four stops of compensation.
This lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony E mount cameras. It has a sleek and sturdy design with weather sealing and a brass bayonet mount. It also has a customizable AFL button and a zoom lock switch for convenience.
The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a high-performance and versatile zoom lens for their Sony E mount camera.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is one of the best prime lenses for Sony E mount. It has a popular focal length that is suitable for various genres such as street photography, landscapes, portraits, weddings, and events.
It has a large f/1.4 aperture that provides outstanding low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects. It delivers exceptional image quality with high sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh. It also has fast and accurate autofocus with eye-tracking support.
It is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony E mount cameras. It has a sleek and sturdy design with weather sealing and a brass bayonet mount. It also has an aperture ring with click or de-click options and a customizable AFL button.
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a high-quality and fast prime lens for their Sony E mount camera.
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is one of the best wide-angle prime lenses for Sony E mount APS-C cameras. It has a popular focal length that is suitable for various genres such as landscapes, architecture, interiors, and astrophotography.
It has a large f/1.4 aperture that provides outstanding low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects. It delivers exceptional image quality with high sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh. It also has fast and accurate autofocus with eye-tracking support.
This lens is compatible with APS-C Sony E mount cameras. It has a sleek and sturdy design with a metal bayonet mount. It also has an aperture ring with click or de-click options and a customizable AFL button.
The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a high-quality and fast wide-angle prime lens for their Sony E mount APS-C camera.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is one of the best portrait lenses for Sony E mount. It has a classic focal length that is suitable for various genres such as portraits, weddings, events, and fashion. It has a large f/1.4 aperture that provides outstanding low-light performance and shallow depth of field effects.
It delivers exceptional image quality with high sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh. It also has fast and accurate autofocus with eye-tracking support and optical stabilization with up to four stops of compensation.
It is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony E mount cameras. It has a sleek and sturdy design with weather sealing and a brass bayonet mount. It also has an aperture ring with click or de-click options and a customizable AFL button.
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a great choice for anyone who wants a high-quality and fast portrait lens for their Sony E mount camera.
Conclusion
A good Sigma lens can make a big difference in your Sony E mount camera’s performance and image quality. By choosing a lens that suits your needs and expectations, you can enhance your shooting experience and creativity.
Depending on your budget, preferences, and needs, you can choose from the three lenses we recommended above: the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, or the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. All of them are compatible with the Sony E mount system and can deliver excellent results.
If you want to learn more about how to choose the best Sigma lenses for your Sony E mount camera or other cameras, you can check out these resources:
Sony E-mount lenses – SIGMA Corporation
Sony E-Mount & A-Mount Lenses | SIGMA Photo – SIGMA Corporation of America
Sigma FE Fullframe E-mount Lenses – Portrait Photographers Miami l …
Remember, the best Sigma lens for your Sony E mount camera is the one that meets your needs and expectations. We hope this article has helped you make an informed decision and improve your photography skills.