Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z)
Sigma

16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z)

$449~
MSRP (prices vary)
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Released: September 7, 2023
16mm
Focal Length
f/1.4
Max Aperture
APS-C
Coverage
Stabilized
405g
Weight
67mm
Filter

Who the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z) is for

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z) is an APS-C 16mm f/1.4 wide-angle prime for Nikon Z.

Best for

  • Low light and subject separation — a fast f/1.4 aperture.
  • Landscapes, interiors and architecture — a wide 16mm field of view.

How the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z) compares to other Nikon Z APS-C wide-angle lenses

Every figure below is measured against the 7 Nikon Z APS-C wide-angle lenses in the catalogue, so you can see where this lens actually sits rather than reading its spec sheet in isolation.

SpecThis lensWhere it lands
Weight405g (14.3 oz)the heaviest of 7
Price (MSRP)$4493rd most expensive of 7
Maximum aperturef/1.4the widest of 7

Being both among the fastest and among the heaviest here is physics rather than coincidence: an f/1.4 maximum aperture needs a larger front element and more glass behind it, which is where the 405g (14.3 oz) comes from.

What 16mm at f/1.4 actually gives you

16mm is wide enough to take in interiors, landscapes and architecture without the pronounced edge stretching of an ultra-wide. On the APS-C bodies it covers, it frames like 24mm would on full-frame.

The f/1.4 maximum aperture is about as fast as production lenses get: it gathers a lot of light and throws backgrounds well out of focus, at the cost of a depth of field thin enough that focus accuracy starts to matter on close subjects.

Size, close focus and filters

At 405g (14.3 oz) it sits in the middle for handling: substantial enough to feel planted, light enough not to dominate the kit.

It focuses to 25cm, which is close enough to fill the frame with small subjects.

Filters are 67mm — worth checking against what you already own, since polarisers and ND filters at this size are reusable across any other lens sharing the thread. A dedicated aperture ring gives direct control without going through a camera dial, which mostly matters for video work.

Autofocus and stabilisation

Autofocus is driven by an HLA motor.

There is no optical stabilisation in the lens, so handheld steadiness depends on the body having IBIS, or on keeping the shutter speed up.

Full Specifications

Optical Design

Focal Length16mm
Lens TypePrime
Optical Elements13
Optical Groups11

Aperture & Iris

Maximum Aperturef/1.4
Minimum Aperturef/16
Aperture Blades9
Rounded ApertureYes

Coverage & Angle

Format CoverageAPS-C
Lens MountNikon Z
Angle of View83°
35mm Equivalent24-24mm

Focus

AutofocusYes
Focus MotorHLA
Focus LimiterNo
AF/MF SwitchYes
Min Focus Distance25 cm
Max Magnification0.13x

Stabilization & Video

Optical StabilizationNo
Aperture RingYes
Declickable ApertureYes
ParfocalNo
Internal ZoomNo

General

Price (MSRP)$449
Filter Size67mm
Diameter72.2mm
Length92.3mm
Weight405g (14.3 oz)
Weather SealedNo
Tripod CollarNo

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