Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Sony E-mount

The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art is a fast zoom lens for APS-C cameras. It has a soft bokeh throughout the entire zoom range, which is why I like using it for portraits. I just find the design a bit too large for travel.

Large Aperture I tested this lens on my Sony A7 III in APS-C mode. This gives my full-frame camera a 1.5x crop, and it works just like an APS-C camera. The lens has a zoom range of 17-40mm, which on an APS-C camera is equivalent to 25.5mm to 60mm. I use this lens for various types of photography, from street to portrait. It has an aperture of f/1.8 throughout the entire zoom range. This is great, because it allows me to take bright photos even at 40mm. I find this especially useful when shooting portraits at night, for example.

Sharp images Throughout the entire zoom range, the lens produces sharp images with little distortion. Even at 17mm, the edges are sharp, while distortion is normally easily seen with wide-angle lenses. I also find the lens focuses quickly and accurately. I test this with a low aperture: I focus on my cat's eye, and when I zoom in afterward, I can see every individual hair around its eyes. When zoomed out, I use a higher aperture and bring the entire surroundings into focus.

Sturdy design The lens feels sturdy. At 535 grams, it's not very light, and especially when used with my A7 III, the whole setup feels heavy. If I shoot with it all day, my hands get tired quickly. If you use the lens with a smaller APS-C camera, you'll shoot for longer, but the lens tilts forward easily. The lens has three dials: a focus ring, a zoom ring, and an aperture ring. I find the aperture ring very useful. This allows me to immediately see the aperture I'm shooting at and adjust it quickly.

Silent, smooth zoom For videography, I also find the 17-40mm zoom range useful. I capture overview shots, but also zoom in on details. The lens has internal zoom, so it doesn't extend as I zoom in. This reduces vibration during zooming, resulting in smooth transitions. The lens also makes no noise when focusing, so I don't hear unwanted background noise in my videos.

Need I add anything to my five-star rating? After 35 years of photographic experience, testing numerous cameras (30+) and lenses (60+), I can confidently say I'm most impressed with this Sigma 17-40 1.8. And then I compare it to lenses like the GF 32-64 f/4 (medium format), RF 24-70 2.8 (FF), GM 24-70 2.8 (FF), XF 16-55 2.8 (APS-C), etc. Nowhere else does a lens offer the same features in a single package as this Sigma. The combination of compactness, low weight, internal zoom, build quality, weather sealing, the 1.8, and image quality is unparalleled. No other lens (standard zoom) ticks off so many positive attributes. Exceptionally light and compact for what it offers. Excellent sharpness in the center and very good sharpness at the edges. The bokeh is very beautiful, despite some less-than-positive reviews.

A worthy successor to the older, excellent 18-35 1.8. This is an "ART" lens from Sigma, and that name is more than ever lived up to here. A unique lens. Even the price is a real bonus. Congratulations, Sigma. Well done!

I can safely say I'm seriously impressed with this Sigma 17-40 1.8. And that's comparing it to lenses like the GF 32-64 f/4 (medium format), RF 24-70 2.8 (FF), GM 24-70 2.8 (FF), XF 16-55 2.8 (APS-C), etc. Nowhere else does a lens offer the same features in a single package as this Sigma. The combination of compactness, low weight, internal zoom, build quality, weather sealing, the 1.8, and image quality is unparalleled. No other lens (standard zoom) ticks off so many positive attributes. Exceptionally light and compact for what it offers. Excellent sharpness in the center and very good sharpness at the edges. In my opinion, the bokeh quality is very good. A worthy successor to the older, excellent 18-35 1.8. This is an "ART" lens from Sigma, and that name is more than ever lived up to here. A unique lens roughly comparable to a 24-70 2.8 in full frame, which is often much heavier, much larger, and more than twice the price. Well done, Sigma! A truly fascinating lens!