Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Ultra-Wide Prime Lens for Full-Frame Mirrorless

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens is a masterstroke in optical engineering that delivers ultra-wide-angle performance in a compact, travel-friendly design—ideal for landscape enthusiasts, urban explorers, architecture lovers, and street photographers alike. Crafted for full-frame mirrorless systems and available in both Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount, this lens is part of Sigma’s acclaimed I Series, which merges superior optical quality with a refined all-metal construction. Despite its small footprint, this 17mm prime lens captures expansive scenes with astonishing clarity, thanks to its advanced optical formula of 9 elements in 8 groups, including 2 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) and 3 high-precision aspherical elements. These elements work in harmony to suppress chromatic aberrations and distortions while preserving edge-to-edge sharpness—resulting in imagery that's crisp, clean, and true to life.

What truly distinguishes the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN from other ultra-wide primes is its premium build quality and intelligently engineered features. Measuring just 64mm in diameter and 48.8mm in length, and weighing a mere 225 grams, it’s featherlight yet rugged—making it the perfect companion for creatives on the move. Its sleek, all-metal exterior isn’t just for show; it offers tangible durability and houses a tactile knurled aperture ring and focus ring for intuitive manual control. The lens is sealed against dust and splashes, empowering you to shoot confidently in unpredictable environments. Additionally, the minimum focusing distance of just 12 cm allows for immersive close-ups, enabling compositions that blend exaggerated foregrounds with sweeping backgrounds—a creative feature rarely found in lenses of this class.

Sigma equips this lens with a fast, accurate, and virtually silent stepping motor (STM), making autofocus smooth and discreet—ideal not only for still photography but also for cinematic video capture. Whether you're shooting a sunrise over coastal cliffs, navigating narrow alleyways in a historic city, or filming a vlog on the go, this lens excels in both visual fidelity and handling performance. The 7-blade rounded diaphragm creates smooth, pleasing bokeh for artistic depth, while its 55mm filter thread—shared across multiple Sigma I Series lenses—adds convenience for ND filters, polarizers, or creative glass.

Another standout feature is the inclusion of both a traditional plastic lens cap and a magnetic metal cap, showcasing Sigma’s thoughtful approach to usability and protection. This lens is more than a tool—it’s an experience tailored for creators who demand both mobility and uncompromising image quality. At f/4, it strikes a practical balance for those who prioritize sharpness and portability over extremely shallow depth of field, and it thrives in daylight and controlled lighting scenarios. With no built-in stabilization, it relies on the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) found in most modern mirrorless cameras, further enhancing sharp handheld shots without increasing lens bulk.

For photographers and videographers seeking an ultra-wide lens that doesn’t weigh them down yet refuses to compromise on image performance, the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens emerges as a top-tier choice. It fuses optical precision, tactile control, and aesthetic minimalism into a lens that’s as reliable in the field as it is stunning in design. Whether you're building a lightweight travel kit or enhancing your mirrorless setup with specialized glass, this lens delivers the professional results you need with the convenience you crave. Don’t just widen your frame—elevate your entire visual storytelling arsenal with the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN.

Features:

Ultra-Wide 17mm Focal Length for Expansive Perspectives

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN is engineered with an ultra-wide 17mm focal length, ideal for capturing sweeping landscapes, vast cityscapes, and dynamic architectural compositions. This focal length offers a 103.7° angle of view on full-frame cameras, allowing users to frame more within tight spaces and create compelling wide-angle shots that convey scale and context. It’s an essential tool for creators looking to exaggerate spatial relationships and immerse viewers in the scene.

Compact and Lightweight Design for Maximum Portability

Weighing just 225 grams and measuring only 48.8mm in length, the lens is incredibly compact without sacrificing performance. Its slim profile makes it a perfect companion for travel photographers, vloggers, and street shooters who need to keep their gear light without compromising on quality. This portability is unmatched in its class, offering professional results in a form factor that fits easily into any camera bag or jacket pocket.

All-Metal Build with Premium Craftsmanship

As part of Sigma’s I Series, this lens features a full metal construction crafted from precision-cut aluminum for enhanced durability and a premium tactile experience. The build quality reflects the mechanical excellence expected from high-end lenses—smoothly operating rings, robust feel, and aesthetic minimalism make it not only a joy to use but also a long-lasting investment in your gear.

Advanced Optical Design for High-Resolution Imagery

The optical architecture includes 9 elements in 8 groups, with 2 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements and 3 precision-molded aspherical elements. These advanced optics reduce chromatic aberration, sagittal coma flare, and distortion while maintaining high corner-to-corner sharpness and contrast. This ensures the lens produces consistently crisp, detailed images—ideal for high-resolution sensors and large-format printing.

12cm Minimum Focus Distance for Creative Close-Ups

The lens allows you to focus as close as 12 cm (4.72 inches), giving it a unique edge in wide-angle close-up photography. This enables powerful foreground-background separation and artistic compositions that draw the viewer in. The close focusing capability is perfect for environmental portraits, product detail work, or shooting textures and patterns up close within a broader scene.

Fast, Quiet Autofocus via Stepping Motor

Equipped with a stepping motor (STM), the autofocus system delivers smooth, fast, and nearly silent performance, essential for both still shooting and video production. The internal focusing mechanism means the lens maintains its compact profile during use, and the quiet operation ensures your audio remains clean in video work.

Dust and Splash-Resistant Design for Real-World Reliability

The lens mount is fitted with a rubber gasket to resist dust and splashes, giving photographers the confidence to shoot in unpredictable conditions like rain, snow, or wind-blown environments. This added weather resistance expands its usability in outdoor and travel situations where environmental protection is crucial.

Magnetic Metal Lens Cap for Quick, Secure Protection

Included with the lens is a custom magnetic metal lens cap, which attaches effortlessly for quick access and secure coverage. This innovation not only protects the front element but also enhances workflow efficiency by reducing time spent fumbling with traditional snap-on caps. It’s a thoughtful feature that improves both user experience and lens longevity.

55mm Filter Thread for System Compatibility

With a 55mm front filter thread, this lens shares compatibility with several other Sigma I Series lenses, allowing users to easily swap filters without investing in duplicates. Whether using ND filters for long exposures or polarizers for glare reduction, this common sizing enhances workflow efficiency and minimizes the need for step-up rings or additional accessories.

Manual Control with Aperture Ring and Focus Ring

The tactile knurled aperture ring provides direct control over your exposure settings with 1/3-stop click detents and an “A” position for auto aperture use via the camera body. This hands-on design is complemented by a textured focus ring that allows for precise manual focusing—ideal for video shooters and those who prefer full creative control.

Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm for Soft, Natural Bokeh

The lens features a 7-blade rounded diaphragm that contributes to pleasing background blur, or bokeh, especially in close-focus shots. While ultra-wide lenses are not typically known for bokeh, the Sigma 17mm f/4 delivers a soft, aesthetic rendering of out-of-focus elements when the subject is isolated in the frame.

Ideal for Street, Travel, Landscape, and Vlogging

Versatility is one of the lens’s standout features. From shooting expansive outdoor vistas and architectural interiors to capturing spontaneous street scenes or filming handheld vlogs, the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN adapts to a wide range of photographic needs. Its small size, lightweight build, and superior optics make it a go-to lens for content creators on the move.

• Landscape Photography – Capture sweeping vistas, dramatic skies, and vast natural scenes with sharpness across the frame.
• Architecture & Interior Photography – Ideal for tight indoor spaces or architectural exteriors requiring wide coverage with minimal distortion.
• Street Photography – Discreet, lightweight, and wide enough to include environmental context while staying close to the subject.
• Travel Photography – Compact and portable design makes it perfect for on-the-go shooting without adding bulk to your travel gear.
• Vlogging & Video Content Creation – Wide field of view, lightweight build, and quiet autofocus make it excellent for handheld shooting and dynamic filming.
• Environmental Portraits – Combine close focus with ultra-wide framing to capture subjects in context-rich settings.
• Product and Lifestyle Photography – Take creative close-up wide-angle shots of products or flat lays with background storytelling.
• Cityscape & Urban Exploration – Highlight dramatic city environments, leading lines, and wide urban compositions.
• Astrophotography (with tripod) – Use the ultra-wide focal length to frame the night sky, starscapes, or the Milky Way (though aperture is f/4).
• Creative Perspective Photography – Experiment with exaggerated perspectives, foreground-background interaction, and artistic depth.

Pros:

• Ultra-wide 17mm focal length – Ideal for landscapes, architecture, and vlogging
• Extremely compact and lightweight – Perfect for travel and street photography
• High-quality all-metal build – From Sigma's premium I Series
• Close focusing distance of just 12 cm – Enables creative wide-angle close-ups
• Fast and quiet autofocus – Uses stepping motor (STM) for smooth performance
• Excellent edge-to-edge sharpness – Delivers minimal distortion and high image clarity
• Includes magnetic metal lens cap – For quick and secure lens protection
• Dust and splash-resistant design – Increases durability in real-world shooting conditions
• Shared 55mm filter thread – Compatible with other Sigma I Series lenses
• Smooth manual control – Features knurled aperture and focus rings

Cons:

• Maximum aperture of f/4 – May limit low-light performance compared to faster primes
• No built-in image stabilization – Relies on IBIS from the camera body
• Not ideal for shallow depth-of-field – Limited background blur (bokeh) capabilities
• No optical zoom – Fixed 17mm focal length may reduce flexibility
• Basic weather-sealing – Not fully waterproof for extreme environments

• Focal Length: 17mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/4
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Lens Mount: Sony E-mount, Leica L-mount
• Format Compatibility: Full-Frame (also compatible with APS-C)
• Lens Construction: 9 elements in 8 groups
• Special Elements: 2 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements, 3 aspherical elements
• Angle of View: 103.7°
• Minimum Focus Distance: 12 cm (4.72 inches)
• Maximum Magnification Ratio: 0.28x (1:3.6)
• Diaphragm Blades: 7, rounded
• Autofocus Type: Stepping Motor (STM)
• Focus Type: Internal focusing
• Image Stabilization: None
• Filter Size: 55mm
• Dimensions: 64mm diameter × 48.8mm length
• Weight: 225g (7.9 oz)
• Build Material: All-metal aluminum construction
• Aperture Ring: Knurled, with 1/3-stop clicks and 'A' (auto) position
• Focus Ring: Knurled manual control
• Weather Sealing: Dust and splash-resistant structure
• Lens Cap: Magnetic metal cap (LCF5501M) and standard plastic cap (LCF-55 III)
• Rear Cap: LCR II
• Lens Hood: LH576-03
• Warranty: Limited 4-year manufacturer warranty (U.S. only)
• Product Series: Sigma I Series (Contemporary Line)
• Release Date: April 2023

• Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens
• Magnetic Metal Lens Cap (LCF5501M)
• Standard Plastic Front Lens Cap (LCF-55 III)
• Rear Lens Cap (LCR II)
• Lens Hood (LH576-03)
• Limited 4-Year Manufacturer Warranty (U.S. Only)

Is the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN lens compatible with full-frame cameras?

Yes, the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens is designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras and is available in Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount options.

Does this lens have image stabilization?

No, the lens does not have built-in image stabilization. It is recommended to use it with camera bodies that feature in-body image stabilization (IBIS) for best handheld performance.

Can I use filters with this lens?

Yes, the lens has a 55mm front filter thread, allowing you to use common circular filters like ND, polarizers, or UV filters.

What is the minimum focusing distance of the lens?

The lens can focus as close as 12 cm (4.72 inches), making it excellent for close-up wide-angle photography with immersive foreground-background separation.

Is the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN weather-sealed?

Yes, the lens features a dust and splash-resistant construction, suitable for light outdoor use in adverse conditions, though it is not fully waterproof.

How quiet is the autofocus for video use?

The lens uses a stepping motor (STM) for autofocus, which provides fast and nearly silent focusing—ideal for both still photography and video recording.

What’s included in the box?

The lens comes with a magnetic metal lens cap, a standard plastic front cap, a rear cap, a lens hood, and a 4-year limited warranty (U.S. only).

Is this lens good for vlogging?

Yes, its compact size, wide field of view, and silent autofocus make it a strong choice for vlogging, especially when paired with a full-frame mirrorless camera.

What makes this lens different from other ultra-wide primes?

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN stands out due to its ultra-compact design, premium all-metal build, magnetic cap system, and close focusing ability—all while delivering sharp optical performance at an affordable price.

When was the lens released?

The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens was released in April 2023.