Sigma is a third-party company known for lenses that tend to be a bit more budget-friendly than larger names. But, that’s not exactly the case with the I series: a set of metal prime lenses designed to be more high-end than budget. The Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN Contemporary is one of those lenses.

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Pulling this lens out of the box, I was immediately impressed. Metal lenses, particularly those with a dedicated aperture ring, are my favorite optics to use. But, luxury builds don’t always translate to luxury photos. I spent two weeks with the Sigma 24mm f2. I’m drawn to the metal build and the almost non-existent barrel distortion, but there are a few quirks to contend with.

Table of Contents

Too Long, Didn’t Read

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Gear Used

Innovations

Tech Specs

Ergonomics

Build Quality

Autofocus

Ease of Use

Image Quality

Bokeh

Sharpness

Lens Character

Color Rendering

Extra Image Samples

Edited

Unedited

Conclusions

Likes

Dislikes

Too Long, Didn’t Read

If barrel distortion bothers you, the Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN is a good choice. It has softer, dream-like images at f2, but sharpens up quickly. The metal build feels great, but it isn’t completely weather-sealed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Beautiful metal build

Dedicated aperture ring

Excellent reduction of barrel distortion

Dreamlike character at f2

Well-controlled flare and aberration

Fun to shoot with

Cons

Weather-sealing is only at the mount

Not super sharp wide open

Not as competitively priced as I’d like

Gear Used

The lens with the DN in the name is Sigma’s mirrorless version. I tested the L-Mount lens on the Panasonic S5 body.

This review unit was provided by LensRentals.

Innovations

The Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN is part of Sigma’s I series, which offers an all-metal barrel construction. While metal autofocus lenses aren’t hard to find, it’s a bit more unusual to find them from third-party companies. It’s going to be a welcome option for L-Mount shooters as it offers a metal design without the high price of Leica glass.

Tech Specs

LensRentals provides the following specifications for the 24mm f2 DG DN Contemporary:

“F” Low-Dispersion Elements1Angle of View84.1°Aperture Blades9, RoundedAspherical Elements2AutofocusAutofocusBrandSigmaCompatibilityFull FrameDiameter2.8″Filter Size62.0mmFocal Length24.0-24.0Groups/Elements11/13Hood IncludedYesImage StabilizationNoItem TypeLensLength2.8″Lens TypeWide Angle and Wide AngleMax Aperture22.0Maximum Magnification7.7xMfr. Model Number403969Minimum Aperture22.0Minimum Focusing Distance0.8’MountL MountSpecial Low-Dispersion Elements2Weight0.8 lb.

Ergonomics

The Sigma 24mm f2 DG DN is a metal barrel lens with a dedicated aperture ring. While the lens is metal and a relatively bright wide-angle, it’s not terribly heavy. It weighs under 13 ounces and feels well balanced on the Panasonic S5. The lens will take up about a 2.8-inch slot in the camera bag.

Starting at the lens mount, the first control that you will see is an auto to manual focus switch. The switch has a white patch when in autofocus mode, which made it a little bit easier to see where the switch was in the dark when I photographed the stars.

Moving towards the front of the lens, the barrel next houses a clicky aperture ring. It’s nicely labeled from f2 to f22, with an A spot to shoot in aperture priority. The areas of the aperture ring that don’t house a label have a nice deep textured groove that’s easy to grab and turn.

The focus ring sits towards the front of the lens. The ring turns smoothly and at an ideal pace — not too fast, not too slow. I found it easy to find the sweet spot to shoot astrophotography in manual focus.

The front of the lens, which takes 62mm filters, isn’t all glass like some of the wider aperture and wider angle lenses. There’s an edge around the front glass. The lens includes a petal-shaped h...