Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Summary
The Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC DN C is a solid optical performer — a ultra-wide prime (18mm equivalent) with f/1.4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Street, Travel, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Landscape, Portrait
- Avoid for: Architecture, Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Good flare resistance
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Low macro capability (0.119x magnification)
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 14 elements in 12 groups (3 aspherical, 2 SLD) |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Focal length | 12mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.119x |
| Min focus distance | 172mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Clickless aperture | No |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 250g |
| Diameter | 69mm |
| Length | 67.4mm |
| Filter thread | 62mm |
| Year | 2024 |
MTF Charts
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.89 | 0.89 |
| 1.4mm | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| 2.8mm | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.88 | 0.87 |
| 4.2mm | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.88 | 0.86 |
| 5.6mm | 0.98 | 0.97 | 0.87 | 0.84 |
| 7mm | 0.98 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.83 |
| 8.4mm | 0.98 | 0.97 | 0.85 | 0.81 |
| 9.8mm | 0.97 | 0.96 | 0.81 | 0.79 |
| 11.2mm | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.75 | 0.78 |
| 12.6mm | 0.94 | 0.95 | 0.68 | 0.74 |
| 14mm | 0.93 | 0.91 | 0.67 | 0.62 |
Optical Quality 12/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.5 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
| Flare resistance | 2.0 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled astigmatism
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
Distortion
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
~ Landscape Photography 3/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
- Well-controlled astigmatism
✗ Architecture Photography 2/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
✓ Street Photography 4/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 250g
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.119x)
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Acceptable bokeh rendering