Wide, Compact, and Fast: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Lens

Building on the popularity of last year’s 28-70mm f/2.8, Sigma has just announced the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary. Portable, versatile, and all about wide angle, this sleek little zoom balances two of the most desirable assets in lens design: compactness and speed. And with those two attributes, this lens is positioned as a go-to choice for architecture, landscape, and travel shooting—instances where you value an ultra-wide field of view, bright-enough design for working in available light, and a compact build for all-day carry. As a DG DN lens, it’s purpose built for full-frame mirrorless cameras and is initially being released in L-mount and Sony E-mount varieties.

As mentioned earlier, this lens is the perfect complement to the 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens, released last year, and adds even wider reach to that standard zoom’s wide-to-portrait-length range. Together, the two lenses give a seamless 16mm to 70mm range and have a total combined weight of about 2 lb. This new lens also maintains the f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, which is a great asset for depth-of-field control and for working in difficult lighting conditions. It’s worth pointing out that both lenses are from Sigma’s Contemporary series, which prioritizes compactness and usability compared to the speed-obsessed Art lenses or the extreme telephotos of the Sports series.

While a Contemporary lens, this 16-28mm still features an advanced optical design, which includes a series of F Low Dispersion (FLD) elements and aspherical elements to reduce distortion throughout the zoom range and maintain high sharpness from edge to edge. This also tames chromatic aberrations, color fringing, and field curvature for overall, well-controlled image quality with accurate rendering. There’s also the Super Multi-Layer Coating, which has been applied to individual elements to deliver high contrast and vibrant colors when working in strong lighting conditions.

Regarding handling and design, this lens is, of course, distinguished by its sleekness and low weight, measuring 3 x 4" and weighing slightly less than 1 lb—pretty impressive for an ultra-wide f/2.8 zoom. A unique element is the inclusion of a front threaded filter ring (72mm) for convenient use of screw-in filter designs, rather than a separate square filter holder. Other standouts include internal focusing and internal zooming, meaning the overall lens length and balance point remain the same during use, making this is a great choice when used in conjunction with a gimbal. Also, speaking of focusing, this lens uses a stepping motor for smooth, silent, and precise AF performance that suits photo and video applications. Some final details to mention: there is weather sealing by the mount, an AF/MF switch on the barrel, support for linear and non-linear focus ring settings, a rounded 9-blade diaphragm, and the L-mount version of the lens is compatible with the optional UD-11 USB Dock for fine-tuning lens settings.

Sigma has come up with a well-rounded wide-angle zoom that fits perfectly in its lineup and is a standout lens for vlogging and content creation. The broad focal length range and speed make it the natural partner to the popular 28-70mm f/2.8 and it hits the sweet spot for a portable wide lens for travel and walkaround shooting.

What are your thoughts on Sigma’s latest lens? Do you have room in your camera bag for a compact, fast, and versatile wide-angle zoom? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section, below.