Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art
Summary
The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art is a strong optical performer — a wide-angle zoom (26mm equivalent) with f/1.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1000 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Landscape, Street, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Architecture, Travel, Portrait
- Avoid for: Macro
Strengths
- Good overall sharpness
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Good flare resistance
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
Specifications 20/20
| Optical construction | 17 elements in 11 groups (4 aspherical, 4 SLD) |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Focal length | 17-40mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/5.6 |
| Aperture blades | 11 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 22 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.208x |
| Min focus distance | 280mm |
| 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 | 535g |
| Diameter | 72.9mm |
| Length | 115.9mm |
| Filter thread | 67mm |
| Year | 2025 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 2.0 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 2.0 |
| Spherical aberration | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 1.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
| Flare resistance | 1.5 |
Sharpness
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Negligible astigmatism
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
Distortion
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
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 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Negligible astigmatism
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
✓ Landscape Photography 4/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Good flare resistance
- Negligible astigmatism
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- 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.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Good flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
~ Travel Photography 3/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Heavy at 535g
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Good flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
~ Portrait Photography 3/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4.5/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✓ Wildlife Photography 4.5/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Excellent center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✗ Macro Photography 2/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.208x)
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Acceptable bokeh rendering