SIGMA 8-16MM F4.5-5.6 DC HSM

You can take your viewing angles to the extreme with this super-wide Sigma offering

A few millimetres makes a big difference in viewing angle when it comes to wide-angle lenses. With a class-leading 8mm minimum focal length, this Sigma delivers an incredible 121 degrees maximum viewing angle, compared with the more usual 108 degrees of a lens that shrinks to 10mm at the short end.

One thing the Sigma isn’t short on is build quality. It’s a lot sturdier and more robust than the latest wide-angle zooms from Canon and Nikon, with a high-quality feel throughout. Even so, the construction doesn’t feature any weather seals. The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system is quick and very quiet, and comes with the usual full-time manual override and a focus distance scale mounted beneath a viewing panel.

Due to the extra-wide viewing angle, the lens has a permanently fixed petal-shaped hood, more commonly found in full-frame ultra-wide lenses. This offers physical protection to the bulbous, protruding front element, but makes it impossible to attach screw-in filters or filter holders. That said, the two-part slip-over lens cap with its clip-in cover enables you to use 72mm filters at the long end of the zoom range. At shorter zoom settings, you’ll get severe vignetting.

The optical layout includes four topquality FLD (Fluorite-grade Low Dispersion) elements which do a good job of minimising chromatic aberrations, while Sigma’s usual Super Multi-Layer Coatings help to keep ghosting and flare at bay. Given the astonishing maximum viewing angle, sharpness remains very impressive right into the corners of the image frame, even when using the widest available aperture at the shortest zoom setting.