It works beautifully for environmental portraits or large landscapes with people in them, but when shot at a close distance, portraits with this lens will distort faces and exaggerate features in unflattering ways.Īll that’s to say, this lens is great in low light but not intended as a bokeh-producing portrait lens. It’s my belief that wide angle lenses aren’t meant for portraits and I think the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is no exception. I wouldn’t expect to see much bokeh unless you’re shooting subjects at a very close range. When it comes to bokeh, this lens has great potential at f/1.4 – however, the wide focal length of 16mm counteracts most of these effects. Once you stop down, the sharpness in the edges of the frame improves and I was very happy with the quality. Overall, the image quality of the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 is great! Even wide open, the images this lens produces are quite sharp. Many people opt for prime lenses because they typically have better sharpness, bokeh, and aberration than zoom lenses. One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a prime lens is the image quality. It would be nice if Sigma could shave a little weight but at this price point, I have nothing to complain about when it comes to build and ergonomics. I like how easy it is to grab and how it feels sturdy. It would have been nice if Sigma at least included an auto/manual focus switch for video shooters but this can always be achieved by turning focus on/off on the camera body. There are no switches or functions on the lens, keeping the design super simple. I find it to be near the limit of what I am comfortable pairing with my very compact Sony a6600 camera body. The lens does have a bit of weight to it (some people like this because it feels tougher and more steady). The large rubber focus ring provides a firm place to grip the lens. In terms of ergonomics, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 has a nice feel to it. It gives me peace of mind to know that despite the inexpensive price tag, this lens is built to the high-quality standards of many higher-end sigma lenses.Īlthough I haven’t used the lens for an extended period, I suspect it will take a lot of abuse. The inclusion of a rubber gasket around the rear mount for weather/dust sealing is excellent. It feels very tough and comparable to much more expensive lenses I own. The barrel of the lens is a metal design with a large rubber focus ring. While I’m usually skeptical of the build quality and functionality of a sub-$400 lens, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 immediately stands out as feeling quite durable.
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