Sigma AF 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens for Sony FE 

The full-frame SIGMA 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary combines exceptional optical quality, a bright F2.8 constant aperture and a robust and lightweight body, opening up new possibilities for L-Mount and Sony E-mount shooters who need professional results in a compact package.  

With its excellent field curvature correction, the 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary is able to achieve exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness, which is essential for most wide-angle applications. It boasts five FLD elements and four aspherical lens elements to ensure optimal image quality with minimal aberrations. 

The lens has an inner zoom mechanism that keeps overall length consistent throughout the entire zoom range, helping it feel balanced in the hand. The inner zoom also means the lens’ centre of gravity stays fairly constant, so it’s perfect for gimbal use. A front filter thread allows filters to be attached more easily. 

With an exceptionally compact form-factor, weighing in at just 450g and measuring just 100.6mm in length*, this is a highly practical optic that is portable enough for everyday shooting. It’s especially appealing for landscape, wedding and travel photographers who need to carry their kit over long distances or for long periods of time.

The 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | C brilliantly combines the portability of a compact zoom with the high-definition optical performance of a large-aperture lens, making it a game-changer in the mirrorless ultrawide-angle zoom category.

* Figures are for L-Mount

Key features

Uncompromising optical performance in a compact body

Optimised with the latest optical design technology, the 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary is a high-performance optic that delivers exceptional image quality despite its compact size. The two large-diameter aspherical lens elements and five perfectly arranged FLD glass elements (whose characteristics mirror that of fluorite) keep the lens light and compact while effectively suppressing the lateral and vertical chromatic aberrations that often diminish the image quality of other ultra-wide lens designs. The lens also utilises the advanced digital correction capabilities of modern cameras to enable it to achieve such impressive image quality in such a small body.

An F2.8 constant aperture gives a shallow depth-of-field for blurry out-of-focus areas, which is especially useful when shooting close-ups. The bokeh is smooth and circular thanks to the nine rounded diaphragm blades, which means the background never distracts from the in-focus subject. Sigma has also taken extensive measures to counter ghosting and lens flare, which are caused by reflections inside the lens barrel. The Super Multi-Layer Coating ensures that the 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary delivers punchy, high contrast

results even in the most difficult of backlit conditions.

Convenient form-factor allowing more freedom and better usability

The new 16-28mm has a front filter thread built in, which allows neutral density and polarising filters to be attached more easily. This is especially useful for landscape photographers and film-makers.

The inner zoom mechanism allows the lens to maintain the same length throughout the entire zoom range and with almost no shift to its balance point. The resulting stability will be appreciated by anyone looking to use the lens with a gimbal, or for hand-held or vlog-style film-making. The inner zoom also greatly contributes to the lens’ favourable physical dimensions: at a length of 100.6mm, a diameter of 77.2mm and a weight of only 450g*, its portability is comparable with wide-angle zooms with slower maximum apertures.

By using a stepping motor to control the AF actuator, the autofocus of the 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary is both fast and silent, making it ideal for shooting in quiet environments, such as weddings, and also for video when using an on-camera mic.

Paired with the SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary, photographers are able to cover ultra-wide to medium telephoto focal lengths with only two lenses. Their combined weight of only 920g makes for an extremely versatile, compact lens system with uniform F2.8 brightness.

* Figures are for L-Mount

Exceptional build quality with intuitive ergonomics

The lens is constructed using specially selected lightweight materials including Thermally Stable Composite (TSC), a polycarbonate with a thermal contraction rate similar to that of aluminium. This enables the lens to function at peak performance even in environments with harsh temperature differences, as the metal and plastic parts contract and expand to similar degrees.

The precision of each individual component and the simple beauty of the finished product are made possible thanks to the craftsmanship and expertise of Sigma’s lens design and production teams, the company’s unparalleled manufacturing technology, and the rigorous quality control at its sole production base in Aizu, Japan.

Compact and lightweight, the 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary lens is a sophisticated but versatile photographic tool that offers photographers and film-makers the perfect blend of portability and performance.