Upgrading lenses can dramatically change your experience, and the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art is Sigma's newest ambitious effort to redefine what's possible for APS-C mirrorless systems.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this informative video digs into Sigma's latest release, the 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art, intended as a substantial upgrade from their beloved 18-35mm predecessor. Beyond the slight expansion in focal length range, you'll find a design refined in ways that significantly affect daily shooting. Frost details how at 535 grams, about 30% lighter than before, the lens now feels substantially more balanced. Weather-sealing, smoother zoom and aperture rings, several programmable controls, and broad mount compatibility—including Canon RF—are thoughtful practical improvements Frost discusses in depth.
As Frost demonstrates, Sigma made sure image quality didn't just match their previous lens—it's better. At its maximum aperture of f/1.8, this lens delivers exceptional center sharpness even zoomed to 40mm, an impressive upgrade considering the older version's struggle at its telephoto end. Frost shows careful side-by-side examples revealing consistently superior clarity and fine detail rendering, even wide open. Frost also illustrates how corner sharpness is considerably improved, notably at mid to longer focal lengths. For indoor shooting, events, or low-light filming, this performance jump is vital.
Key Specs
- Focal Length: 17 to 40mm (APS-C) (25.5 to 60mm full-frame equivalent)
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
- Mount Compatibility: Canon RF, Sony E, Leica L, Fujifilm X
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 11 inches (28cm)
- Macro Reproduction Ratio: 1:4.8 (0.21x magnification)
- Optical Design: 17 Elements in 11 Groups
- Aperture Blades: 11, rounded
- Filter Size: 67mm
- Weight: 18.9 oz (535 grams)
Frost also points directly to some practical shortcomings. There's notable barrel distortion when shooting ultra-wide at 17mm and pincushion distortion at 40mm. This lens won't stabilize your footage without camera in-body stabilization, something to consider if your camera lacks that feature. When shooting extreme close-ups, sharpness dramatically falls off at the telephoto end until significantly stopped down; Frost clearly demonstrates this limitation, offering you guidance on working around it. Additionally, noticeable color fringing in high-contrast situations at wide apertures is another consideration, prompting you to be mindful when shooting brightly lit subjects.
Still, this model's appealing strengths can't be ignored. The zoom's internal action maintains physical balance and compactness. Its quiet autofocus, remarkably smooth focusing ring, and minimal focus breathing offer superior video capabilities. Frost also appreciates the lens's thoughtfully designed aperture ring—which clicks or runs smoothly based on your preference—highlighting practicality in video-heavy workflow.
The bigger-picture discussion about whether investing in premium APS-C lenses makes sense over shifting to full frame is one photographers inevitably face. Frost briefly acknowledges this dilemma without detracting from giving the lens its fair due. So while the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art isn't perfect, Frost convincingly demonstrates that its sharp optics, appealing focal range, and practical refinements truly elevate the APS-C shooting experience. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
