The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) is primarily a photography lens, though it will be used for video.
In this article let’s take a comprehensive look at the important features and specifications of the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) and see how good it will perform specifically for video, cinematography and filmmaking.
I think it is important to mention that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer and its performance cannot be justly compared to the native lenses.
The aim of this article is to provide you with enough information and perspective so you can decide for yourself whether this lens is right for your film or video.
Important: This article is a comprehensive overview of the lens with available information; and an analysis based on our experience shooting for almost two decades. It is not a hands-on review. If and when we get hold of the lens we’ll be sure to publish a detailed review. If this is not your cup of tea you can stop reading.
Click to what you want quickly:
- TLDR;
- What does DG HSM mean?
- Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM vs Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
- Features:
- Control:
- Basics:
- Alternatives to the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
TLDR;
What you need to know for video work about the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H):
- The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary is a great third party ultra-wide focal length lens.
- The f/2 aperture is amazing for low light work.
- It’s lighter and compact compared to its competitors.
- Internally focusing motors.
- Aluminium built body.
- 9 blade aperture for smoother bokeh.
- Has a 24cm minimum close focusing distance.
- The lens doesn’t have OS, but you will get some stabilization with a camera that has in built stabilization.
- It exhibits breathing.
Can be great for most following types of filmmaking:
- Travel filmmaking
- Wide shots
- Vlogging
- Documentary filmmaking
What does DG DN mean?
According to Sigma, DG refers to the lenses that are designed specifically for full frame DSLR cameras. Sigma claims that their DG DN lenses are designed specifically and exclusively for full frame mirrorless cameras.
So while the DG HSM will work with a full frame mirrorless camera, but, according to Sigma, a DG DN lens will communicate better with the camera than the DG HSM lens.
HSM refers to their ring-type hypersonic autofocus motor in that lens.
Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM vs Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art vs Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
| Lens | Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM | Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art | Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary |
| Filter Thread | 67mm | 77mm | 62mm |
| Size | 75.4mm x 92.4mm | E-mount: 85.4mm × 116.2mm EF-mount: 85mm x 90.2 mm | 70mm × 74mm |
| Weight | 445g | E-mount: 760g EF-mount: 665g | 360g |
| Closest focusing distance | 0.24m / 0.79ft | 0.25m / 0.82ft | 0.24m / 0.78ft |
| Max. Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.4 | f/2 |
| Min. Aperture | f/16 | f/16 | f/22 |
| Aperture Blades | 11 blades | 9 blades | 9 blades |
| Angle of View (Diagonal) | 84 | 84 | 84 |
| Price | $1,298 | $849 | $639 |
Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, so this is not an apples to apple comparison. Native lenses will always have an edge over third party lens manufacturers when it comes to communication with the camera system. While being a third party lens manufacturer, Sigma has become a tough competitor to many major lens manufacturers.
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) is the lightest and smallest lens in this roster. This makes it the preferred lens for handheld or gimbal use out of them all. And it is the cheapest lens on this roster too. The one disadvantage this lens has is its narrower aperture. But that one-third of a stop of light is easily manageable on set. Exposure aids such as an aperture control ring on the lens itself will make your life much easier on the field.
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (Amazon, B&H), being a GM lens, has major advantages over the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art (Amazon, B&H). It is lighter and smaller.
The FE 24mm f/1.4 GM has aids on the lens body such as the aperture ring and a customizable button. It makes it more versatile and handy than the Sigma Art 24mm f/1.4. More aperture blades and fly by wire manual focus are icing on the cake.
However, the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is much cheaper than the Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM.
If you are not planning on doing a deep focus shot, I think Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art gives you a better bang for your buck.
Here’s a resolution comparison at maximum aperture:
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM seems to be much sharper and has better corner to corner performance than the Sigma Art 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM. The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN is better at corner to corner performance than the Sigma Art 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM.
Features
Coverage
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) is a full frame lens. It is designed to completely cover a sensor the size of 36mm x 24mm.
If you are considering this lens for an APS-C sensor or other cinema camera, check out this article:
Focal Length
The focal length is 24mm. This is considered ultra wide on a full frame 35mm sensor.
This focal range is very useful for wide angle shots and drone work.
Aperture
The maximum aperture is f/2 and the minimum aperture is f/22.
Having f/2 is great for low light. Most people will use it at f/2.8 or f/3.5 for the purpose of getting optimum sharpness, and to get soft out of focus backgrounds.
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) has 9 diaphragm blades. One expects a smooth bokeh, considering the number of blades, but it’s not always a given. To know more about bokeh:
Resolution
From Sigma’s official MTF charts:
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) is sharp in the center and falls off pretty steeply at the edges. As we have seen before, the Sony 24mm beats it by a long shot.
With the variance in the Sagittal and Tangential lines, you can infer (somewhat) that the bokeh should be smooth enough.
If you really want this lens at its sharpest you’re better off stopping down to f/2.8 or even f/3.5 for best results.
If you are curious and want to read the MTF chart for yourself. Here’s a guide on how to read them easily.
Close Focus
The closest focusing distance of this lens is 24.5cm or 0.78 feet. That’s great for this focal length because you can also use it for close ups.
Image Stabilization
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) lens doesn’t have OS. This is not a huge disappointment for a wide lens. Not having image stabilization makes this lens a second choice for run and gun shoots. Using it cameras that have IBIS can provide it with some image stabilization.
Control
Manual focus system
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) has an infinite turn ring for its focus ring and can turn infinitely one way or the other. Unfortunately for videographers and cinematographers, the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) is set to focus by wire by default and has no option to switch it to fly by wire.
What is the meaning of focus by wire and fly by wire?
Focus by wire: Let’s say you turn the focus ring to change focus from point A to B. You’d expect the focus to shift accordingly. When you stop point B will be in focus. Now bring the focus point back to A and try again, but at a different speed. Slower or faster, doesn’t matter. Now, even if you precisely rotate to the exact same degree, the focus will not be on point B! The speed of rotation determines which point it is focused on. That’s just completely useless for follow focus work. If an actor or person moves at a different speed, even slightly, you’ll never get the same focus. Avoid focus by wire lenses like the plague (for video work).
Fly by wire: The distance of focus shifted is directly proportional to the speed at which the ring is turned. This is how a manual focus ring is supposed to operate for video and cinematography.
This decision to exclude fly by wire or linear MF by Sigma will make this lens unsuitable for professional cinematographers and videographers.
Autofocus system
Sigma’s autofocus is improving day by day, but it is nowhere near the precision and reliability of Canon or Sony’s autofocus system. Keep in mind, that Sigma is a third party lens manufacturer, i.e. they do not make native lenses. Native lenses, such as Sony’s FE series and Canon’s EF and RF series, have always been better than third party lenses at communicating with their respective cameras.
I do not think anyone will purchase a Sigma lens for its autofocus performance.
Basics
Filter Thread
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) has a filter thread of 62mm. This is a slightly common filter size. You may face some trouble trying to find the right filters.
Build Quality
The majority of the lens exterior is plastic, though the lens doesn’t feel cheap.
The optical design consists of 13 elements in 11 groups, including aspherical lens, FLD glass and SLD glass.
Size and Weight
The Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) has a diameter of 70mm and a length of 74mm for the E-mount. It weighs around 360 grams for the E-mount. The E-mount variant of this lens is the biggest and heaviest of all mount variants.
Weather resistance
Sigma claims that all their Contemporary lenses are weather resistant. But again this only holds true if the camera body you will be using is also weather sealed. No camera is truly and officially weather sealed, so the best you can hope for is reliable weather resistance.
This is an Contemporary series lens and we can expect it to perform as such.
What’s in the box
This is what you get in the box (other than the lens):
- Case
- Petal type lens hood (LH830-03)
While they have omitted the mention of the lens cap and rear cap on their website, I doubt that they will exclude such basic necessities.
The hood might be useful for photography, but the shape and design makes it mostly vestigial for video work. Some people like to put it on to protect the front element in case of a fall. The hood takes the impact and shatters, but saves the lens. I’d keep it on unless you have good reason not to.
Alternatives to the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens
For the E-mount, if we are being absolutely candid, the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (Amazon, B&H) is the better lens through and through. You will have to pay for that better autofocus and sharpness.
A cheaper substitute will be the Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G (Amazon, B&H). This lens has linear MF or fly by wire, but also has smaller maximum aperture with lesser amount of blades.
I hope you found this overview of the Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (Amazon, B&H) useful. If we have missed out on something, please let us know in the comments below.
