Earlier this week, Sigma announced that three lenses will soon be available for Nikon Z-mount cameras: The 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, the 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, and the 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary.
While the lenses have not been specifically designed for the Nikon lineup – you can already grab EF-M mount, X mount, Micro Four Thirds mount, L-mount, and E-mount versions – they are the first Sigma lenses available for Z-mount cameras, and the three units will undoubtedly provide Sigma’s usual optical excellence at a very reasonable price. Note the “DC” designation, which indicates that the lenses will be optimized for Nikon’s APS-C cameras, not Nikon’s full-frame models.
The 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary caters to hobbyist portrait shooters; with Nikon’s 1.5x crop factor, the lens offers a handy 84mm focal length equivalent, perfect for headshots, half-body photos, and even full-body shots (in scenarios with plenty of space). Thanks to the f/1.4 maximum aperture, you can expect gorgeous background bokeh, not to mention outstanding low-light performance that’ll ensure you can shoot indoors and at night without issue. In fact, thanks to its wide aperture, the 56mm f/1.4 is also a great option for casual event photography or even night street shooting, and when paired with the right camera, you’ll get very impressive AF.
Then there’s the 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, which boasts a 45mm focal length equivalent on Nikon crop-sensor cameras – perfect for wider portraits, events, travel, and everyday walkaround photography. While the new Z-mount lens won’t quite reach that Nifty-Fifty sweet spot, it’s ideal for beginner and intermediate shooters looking to upgrade from a basic kit lens setup. I’ve used the 30mm f/1.4 myself (the Sony E-mount version), and I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight and compact it was; it can easily slip into a pocket, a purse, or a camera bag, and you’ll hardly even notice it’s there. The optics are very nice, too, and with the f/1.4 maximum aperture, it’s an easy model to recommend to hobbyists of all stripes.
Finally, Sigma unveiled the 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Nikon Z-mount models, a slightly more specialized model that should find plenty of interest among astrophotographers, landscape photographers, and architectural photographers. Crop-sensor astrophotography shooters will love the ultra-wide maximum aperture, while the 16mm focal length (which matches a 24mm focal length on crop-sensor cameras) is ideal for scenic shooting. If you’re a Z-mount photographer just delving into the world of wide-angle photography, it’s an outstanding pick.
Unfortunately, we don’t have expected ship dates for the three lenses listed above. The press release does claim the three lenses “will be simultaneously released in Z mount,” though when that will be is anyone’s guess.
On the other hand, we do have expected prices (based on Sigma’s already-released non-Nikon versions of the lenses). The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 will likely cost $479, the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 will likely cost $339, and the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 will likely cost $449; you may also have the option to purchase the three models together for $1267. All in all, the prices are exceptionally reasonable, making the lenses top choices for anyone seeking a blend of image quality, low-light performance, and portability.
Now over to you:
What do you think of these lenses from Sigma? Will you be interested in purchasing any of them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
