Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN C

Summary

The Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN C is a strong optical performer — a wide-angle prime (35mm equivalent) with f/1.4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Landscape, Street, Travel, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Nightscape
  • Avoid for: Architecture, Macro

Strengths

  • Good overall sharpness
  • Negligible optical aberrations
  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh
  • Good flare resistance
  • Weather-sealed construction
  • Fast linear motor autofocus

Weaknesses

  • Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Low macro capability (0.137x magnification)

Specifications 19/20

Optical construction 13 elements in 10 groups (2 aspherical, 3 SLD)
Coating Super Multi-Layer Coating
Focal length23mm
Max aperturef/1.4
Sweet spot f/2.8
Aperture blades 9 (circular)
Sunstar points 18 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification 0.137x
Min focus distance250mm
AF motorLM
OISNo
Weather sealedYes
Aperture ringNo
Clickless aperture—
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireYes
Distance scaleNo
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight340g
Diameter65.8mm
Length76.9mm
Filter thread52mm
Year2022

MTF Charts

f/1.4 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.6 7 8.4 9.8 11.2 12.6 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center 0.97 0.97 0.85 0.85
1.4mm 0.97 0.97 0.84 0.83
2.8mm 0.97 0.97 0.83 0.82
4.2mm 0.97 0.97 0.81 0.80
5.6mm 0.97 0.97 0.78 0.80
7mm 0.96 0.97 0.76 0.80
8.4mm 0.96 0.97 0.76 0.81
9.8mm 0.96 0.97 0.78 0.81
11.2mm 0.95 0.96 0.75 0.79
12.6mm 0.91 0.95 0.62 0.77
14mm 0.82 0.92 0.43 0.68

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 14/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
1.0
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
1.5
Coma
1.0
Astigmatism
2.0
Spherical aberration
2.0
Longitudinal CA
2.0
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
0.5
Vignetting (wide open)
0.5
Vignetting (stopped)
1.5
Bokeh
1.5
Flare resistance
2.0

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction

Rendering

  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh
  • 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

~ Nightscape Adequate ✓ Landscape Good ✗ Architecture Avoid ✓ Street Excellent ✓ Travel Good ✓ Portrait Good ✓ Sport Good ✓ Wildlife Good ✗ Macro Avoid

~ Nightscape Photography 3/5

Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.

Primary
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction

✓ Landscape Photography 4/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners

✗ Architecture Photography 2/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently

✓ Street Photography 4.5/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Moderate coma at the extreme corners

✓ Travel Photography 4/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Lightweight at 340g
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Excellent flare resistance — backlit scenes handled confidently
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration

✓ Portrait Photography 4/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

✓ Sport Photography 4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✗ Macro Photography 1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.137x)
Secondary
  • Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction
  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh

Reviews

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