Digital Camera World - UK (2019-10)

DIGITAL CAMERA^113

Verdict

Boasting great image quality and a robust build, the

Sigma 45mm f/2.8 proves that good things truly do

come in small packages. While we may be used to

seeing wider maximum apertures from Sigma, this

understated 45mm f/2.8 more than holds its own.

4.5 Outstanding

4.0

Features

4.5

Image

quality

4.5

Value

mall, light and relatively fast, the Sigma 45mm
f/2.8 is an all-round solid lens that could easily
be overshadowed by its more overtly impressive
counterparts – but this would be a mistake. Sitting
within Sigma’s Contemporary lens lineup, the
45mm f/2.8 is available for both the Sony E-mount and the L-mount
(for Panasonic, Sigma and Leica full-frame mirrorless cameras).
There have been no announcements on whether the Sigma 45mm
f/2.8 will also be made available in Canon R or Nikon Z mounts.
This lens is priced very similarly to the Sigma Art 50mm
f/1.4 (£548) and it seems impossible not to compare the two.
Sigma’s Art lens lineup is so iconic that it could be easy to
feel disappointed with a Sigma offering that fails to go
wider than f/2.8. However, to be tempted into comparisons
like this is to miss the point of what this lens excels at.
While the 45mm clearly ‘loses out’ on maximum aperture,
it trounces the 50mm f/1.4 on weight. At 816g, the 50mm is just
over 600g heavier than the 45mm! Light camera kit can often
unfortunately go hand in hand with poor build quality or cheap
materials. That couldn’t be further from the case here, though.
To keep the lens this small and light, Sigma had to make some
concessions. The most conspicuous absence is a more impressive
maximum aperture, but there is also no stabilisation included in
the lens (although most mirrorless cameras that are compatible
with this lens will offer in-body stabilisation).

Performance
Vignetting and distortion are a slight issue with the Sigma 45mm
f/2.8, but otherwise the lens performs very well indeed optically.
Even when shooting at its maximum aperture, the Sigma 45mm
f/2.8 is good and sharp. Louise Carey

S

(^1)
Sigma’s Super
Multi-Layer Coating
reduces lens flare
and helps the colour
balance of your shots.
2
On the side of the
lens there’s a switch
to adjust your
focus mode from
automatic to manual.
3
The physical aperture
ring can be set from
f/2.8 to f/22 in third-
stop increments.
Sigma 45mm
f/2.8 DG DN | C
£549/$549
Excellent image quality at an affordable price
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com
4.5
Build &
handling
2
3
1
Sharpness
Centre-frame sharpness is average with
the lens aperture wide open at f/2.8.
Fringing 0.12
We’ve got no issues with the amount of chromatic
aberration, which is very low throughout the range.
Distortion +2.01
Strangely for a wide-angle lens, the Sigma 45mm
produces moderate pincushion distortion.
Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN | C Prime lens
Mount: Sony E-mount, L-mount
Lens construction:
8 elements in 7 groups
Angle of view (35mm): 51.3°
Number of diaphragm blades:
7 (Rounded diaphragm)
Minimum aperture: f/22
Minimum focusing distance: 24cm
Maximum magnification ratio: 1:4
Filter size: 55mm
Dimensions: 64 x 46mm
Weight: 215g
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com OCTOBER 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^113