Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Summary
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN C is a solid optical performer — a short telephoto prime (84mm 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: Street, Travel, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Portrait
- Avoid for: Landscape, Architecture, Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Low macro capability (0.135x magnification)
- No built-in optical stabilization
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 10 elements in 6 groups (2 aspherical, 1 SLD) |
| Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Focal length | 56mm |
| Max aperture | f/1.4 |
| Sweet spot | f/2.8 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.135x |
| Min focus distance | 500mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 280g |
| Diameter | 66.5mm |
| Length | 57.5mm |
| Filter thread | 55mm |
| Year | 2018 |
MTF Charts
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| 2.5mm | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.87 | 0.87 |
| 5mm | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| 7.5mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.81 | 0.85 |
| 10mm | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.80 | 0.86 |
| 12.5mm | 0.91 | 0.95 | 0.61 | 0.74 |
| 14mm | 0.72 | 0.93 | 0.36 | 0.61 |
Optical Quality 13/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 0.5 |
| Coma | 1.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 2.0 |
| Longitudinal CA | 2.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.5 |
| Distortion | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.5 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Bokeh | 1.0 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
Rendering
- Acceptable bokeh rendering
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
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 Photography 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Noticeably soft corners wide open
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Noticeable vignetting wide open
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
✗ Landscape Photography 2/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Moderate coma at the extreme corners
✗ Architecture Photography 2/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Vignetting clears well when stopped down
✓ Street Photography 4.5/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- 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.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 280g
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
~ 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
- 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.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled lateral CA
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.135x)
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Well-controlled lateral CA
- Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
- Excellent spherical aberration correction
- Acceptable bokeh rendering