SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary lens by Paul Monaghan

SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary lens by Paul Monaghan

Photographers love getting new kit so I know I’m not alone with the feeling of excitement with opening a box for the first time. We all love receiving something new that will inspire a new level of creativity. As a SIGMA UK ambassador, I’ve been fortunate to have these experiences frequently by testing their Foveon X3 systems. However this time I’ve received something different; the new SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary lens in L-Mount along with a Panasonic S1 camera to test.

Image captured with SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO | Art
Image captured with SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO | Art

The first thing to notice about this lens is its compact size. It is different than the current DN lens in the Sigma Global Vision in the Contemporary series. It features a full metal body including the lens hood with the return of the aperture ring and the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary lens in this picture appears like a mini Art lens in comparison.

Image captured with the SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art
Image captured with the SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art

The new premium look for the DG DN lens also makes a retro impression while the modest aperture of F2.8 helps keep the size and weight down making it a great walk-around lens.

SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art E-Mount next to SIGMA 45mm DG DN | Contemporary L-Mount
SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art E-Mount next to SIGMA 45mm DG DN | Contemporary L-Mount

Comparing it in size to the SIGMA 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art E-Mount lens there is a sharp contrast and there is also an apparent difference in the styling. The lack of focus scale is consistent with being a Contemporary lens but the new lens has focus and aperture rings which are both fully electronic and require power from the camera to work.

The focus ring feels nice and moving it slowly allows for fine adjustments while a quick turn will shift focus a lot more even with the same amount of physical movement.

The aperture ring feels just like any other and clicks every third of a stop to give you some physical feedback. It will overwrite the cameras setting you unless in the A position.

Captured with the SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art
Captured with the SIGMA sd Quattro H and SIGMA 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art

A common misconception is that slower aperture lenses are inferior offering less image quality at a value price over fast lenses. However, aperture values have never been a real measure of image quality but instead should only be considered for the light gathering ability. This lens is a great example of this misconception as it renders wonderfully.

Jump Loki - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Jump Loki - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

It’s sharp with smooth out of focus transitions producing nice bokeh particularly at the minimum focus distance of 0.24 meters as you can in the daisy image.

A Daisy - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

At normal focus distance, it has a very clean look even with all the reflective chrome on the cars which some lenses often reproduce with purple fringing.

Classic cars in Kirky - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Classic cars in Kirky - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

Autofocus is very fast from minimum to infinity; it almost seems instant which helps with tracking subjects when using continuous auto-focus as done with this image of the dancers at the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival.

Dancing at the festival - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Dancing at the festival - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

Even in lower light like this Karate demonstration inside the Library the lens was quick to grab the subject on the Panasonic S1. The strong backlight on the window is clean, showing off the nice optical quality of the lens.

Karate - SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Karate - SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

While I love my ultra-fast lens like the bokeh master SIGMA 105mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art, all that speed with a demand for high image quality comes at a cost mostly in weight and size. So it’s refreshing to see SIGMA start a new line of high-quality full-frame prime lens for mirrorless cameras particularly with image quality this nice.

Clydesdale horse - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Clydesdale horse - SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

This lens to me feels like a modern take on classic lens designs and I can’t wait to see it on the new SIGMA fp but until then please enjoy this lovely corvette I seen at the Kirkintilloch canal festival.

Corvette -SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Corvette -SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Corvette - SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1
Corvette - SIGMA 45mm f2.8 DG DN | Contemporary with Panasonic S1

 You can see more images created by SCA Paul Monaghan on one of the following links:

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