Sigma has announced the release of its new 20mm F2 DG DN lens for Sony E-mount and L-Mount camera systems. The lens is the seventh – and widest – in the company’s premium all-metal ‘I series’ lens lineup designed specifically for mirrorless camera systems.
The lens is constructed of 13 elements in 11 groups, including one ‘F’ low dispersion element, one Special low dispersion element and three aspherical elements. Sigma has also used its Super Multi-Layer Coating and Nano Porous Coating (NPC) to reduce flaring and ghosting when shooting into bright light sources.
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It features an internal focusing mechanism driven by a stepping motor that Sigma says is capable of keeping up with high-speed autofocus systems on compatible camera bodies. In addition to a focus ring, which can be set to work as either linearly or non-linearly for L-Mount cameras, the lens has a physical aperture ring that controls the rounded nine-blade aperture diaphragm onboard. There’s also a focus mode switch and support for applying Lens Aberration Correction on compatible camera bodies.
Below is a sample gallery of images captured with the lens, provided by Sigma:
Other features include a minimum focusing distance of 22cm (8.7″, an aperture range of F2 through F22, a 62mm front filter thread and a 94.5-degree angle of view. The lens measures 70mm (2.8″) in diameter, 72.4mm (2.9″) long, weighs 370g (13.1oz) and is manufactured in Japan.
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Sigma says the lens will be available to purchase for Sony E-mount and L-mount cameras starting February 25, 2022 for a suggested retail price of $699.
Press release:
SIGMA Announces 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary, the 7th and Widest Lens in the All-Metal I series of Premium Compact Primes
Exceptional optical performance and superb build quality give photographers the joy of creating images – introducing the new ultra-wide SIGMA 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary
Ronkonkoma, NY – February 9, 2021 – SIGMA Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki. Headquarters: Asao-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) is pleased to announce the upcoming release of the SIGMA 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary lens, part of SIGMA’s I series.
This new lens is the widest in the I series released to date. Equipped with a metal, knurled, petal-type lens hood, this ultra-wide prime is compatible with 62mm threaded front filters. It is also an addition to the fast F2 aperture group of I series lenses alongside the 24mm F2 DG DN | C, 35mm F2 DG DN | C, and 65mm F2 DG DN | C. All F2 I series lenses feature a distinctive arc-type AF/MF switch and stylized barrel design near the “Made in Japan” marking.
The fast F2 maximum aperture and total optical performance makes this a natural choice for astrophotography, along with landscapes, cityscapes, street photography, low-light interiors, and other nighttime situations. Due to its wide focal length and compact size, this 20mm lens is also an ideal choice for handheld vlogging and video streaming. And the ability to mount front filters, such as neutral density filters, for video and long-exposure landscapes on such a fast-aperture ultra-wide will be appreciated by many content creators.
The SIGMA 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary lens will be available in the U.S. at SIGMA Authorized Dealers for a retail price of $699 on February 25, 2022.
This all-new full-frame premium compact prime for mirrorless systems is the latest addition to SIGMA’s I series lineup, combining a bright maximum aperture of F2, an ultra-wide 20mm focal length and stunning optical performance. The lens boasts an exceptionally small form factor, weighing in at just 370g and measuring just 72.4cm in length*, which makes it a highly practical optic that is portable enough for everyday shooting. It’s ideal for landscapes, wide-angle portraits, weddings and interiors, and is particularly well-suited to astrophotography owing to its very well-controlled sagittal coma flare. It is the fourth I series lens with an F2 aperture, joining a 24mm, 35mm and 65mm, which together make a well-matched lens set for L-Mount and Sony E-mount users. *Figures are for L-Mount
Remarkably, the 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary is almost identical in size and weight to the very compact SIGMA 24mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary. A sleek, all-metal design, with a signature I series magnetic lens cap, a manual aperture ring and exceptional production quality means using this lens is a highly intuitive and satisfying experience, making the photo-taking process even more enjoyable. This sharp and beautifully built I series prime, the SIGMA 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary captures the essence of the I series, bringing a new level of user experience―the pleasure of owning and using a lens.
1. I series | “Premium Compact Primes” for mirrorless users
The SIGMA I series features full-frame compatible lenses that offer new value to mirrorless systems. The combination of superb optical performance with a level of compactness that is perfectly suited to smaller and lighter modern mirrorless cameras will bring you new opportunities for a perfect shot.
SIGMA is aware that in today’s world we have a wide range of camera choices, especially with the increase in mobile phone ownership. But with many photographers looking for something more than something that simply captures images when they choose to own a camera and lens, I series lenses offer the ultimate combination of superb optical performance, outstanding usability and compact form- factor.
SIGMA’s excellence in development and production technologies has been built up since our founding in 1961 and became increasingly sophisticated with the introduction of the SIGMA Global Vision brand in 2012. With this as a base, SIGMA has given careful thought to the quality of the products, the feeling of using it and the pleasure of owning it. This is how the I series was born.
2. New standards of optical performance for the Contemporary line
The 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary achieves the highest level of optical performance even at the widest aperture setting of F2 from the center of the image to the periphery. Based on the latest optical design technology, the lens construction includes three high-precision glass-molded aspherical lens elements, one SLD element, and one FLD element to suppress a range of optical aberrations. The result is clear and sharp images even in the extreme corners of the frame. By focusing on the suppression of sagittal coma flare, which is difficult to correct in post-processing, accurate reproduction of very bright points of light has been achieved. This also provides extremely detailed results across the entire image, especially important for night sky photography.
The lens’ optical design, as well as its Super Multi-Layer Coating and Nano Porous Coating (NPC), ensures very minimal flare and ghosting even when shooting into bright light sources. This makes it much easier to photograph backlit subjects and still achieve punchy, high contrast results.
3. Exceptional I series build quality with a compact form-factor
All I series lenses have an all-metal construction. The precision-cut aluminum parts not only give the barrel a sleek, stylish finish, but provide superb durability that improves the quality of the entire product. Metal materials are also used in internal structures that slide with the operation ring for added robustness.
These high-precision components crafted with SIGMA’s cutting-edge metalworking technology are also used in SIGMA’s CINE LENS lineup for professional cinematographers and provide a tactile, ergonomic feel that make the lens a pleasure to use. The cover ring between the focus ring and the aperture ring has hairline processing that is also used for the rear cylinder of the Art line. This covering functions as a finger hold when attaching or detaching the lens.
Additional Features
- Lens construction: 13 elements in 11 groups, with 1 FLD, 1 SLD and 3 aspherical lens elements
- Inner focus system
- Compatible with high-speed autofocus
- Stepping motor
- Compatible with Lens Aberration Correction
*Function available on supported cameras only. Available corrections may vary depending on the camera model. - Supports DMF and AF+MF
- Nano Porous Coating
- Super Multi-Layer Coating
- Aperture ring
- Focus mode switch
- Petal-type lens hood (LH656-03)
- Magnetic metal lens cap (LCF62-01M)
- Mount with dust and splash resistant structure
- Support for switching between linear and non-linear focus ring settings (for L-Mount only)
- Compatible with SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (sold separately / for L-Mount only)
- Designed to minimize flare and ghosting
- Every single lens undergoes SIGMA’s proprietary MTF measuring system
- 9-blade rounded diaphragm
- High-precision, durable brass bayonet mount
- “Made in Japan” craftsmanship
Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 20 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | L-Mount, Sony FE |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F2 |
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Aperture notes | Rounded blades |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 13 |
| Groups | 11 |
| Special elements / coatings | 1 FLD, 1 SLD, 2 Aspherical |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.22 m (8.66″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.15× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Full time manual | No |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 370 g (0.82 lb) |
| Diameter | 70 mm (2.76″) |
| Length | 72 mm (2.83″) |
| Materials | Metal body |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 62 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Hood product code | LH656-03 |
| Tripod collar | No |
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