Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Summary
The Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC DN C is a solid optical performer — a ultra-wide prime (23mm 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: Nightscape, 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
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Heavy distortion requiring software correction
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Low macro capability (0.13x magnification)
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 13 elements in 11 groups (3 aspherical, 1 FLD, 3 SLD) |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Focal length | 15mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.13x |
| Min focus distance | 177mm |
| 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 | 240g |
| Diameter | 69mm |
| Length | 62.8mm |
| Filter thread | 58mm |
| Year | 2024 |
MTF Charts
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| 1.4mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| 2.8mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| 4.2mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.85 |
| 5.6mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.86 | 0.84 |
| 7mm | 0.97 | 0.96 | 0.84 | 0.82 |
| 8.4mm | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.82 | 0.80 |
| 9.8mm | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.78 | 0.77 |
| 11.2mm | 0.95 | 0.96 | 0.74 | 0.72 |
| 12.6mm | 0.93 | 0.95 | 0.69 | 0.68 |
| 14mm | 0.93 | 0.92 | 0.68 | 0.59 |
Optical Quality 13/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Coma | 1.5 |
| Astigmatism | 2.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 0.5 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 0.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
| Flare resistance | 1.5 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled coma
- Negligible astigmatism
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
Distortion
- Heavy distortion requiring software correction
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
✓ Nightscape Photography 4/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Well-controlled coma
- Negligible astigmatism
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
~ 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
- Heavy distortion requiring software correction
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
- Negligible astigmatism
- Well-controlled coma
✗ Architecture Photography 1/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Heavy distortion requiring software correction
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
✓ 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
- Good flare resistance
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Well-controlled coma
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 240g
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Good flare resistance
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
~ 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
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
✓ 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
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- 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
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- 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 (0.13x)
- Heavy distortion requiring software correction
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
- Acceptable bokeh rendering