Years ago, if you would have asked my reason for picking up my camera everyday, my answer would have simply been my children. Now I feel that my “why” is deeper than that. My photography work is rooted in parenting humor, in the mundane moments we often take for granted, in the everyday home life I count my blessings for. Sure, my reason why is heavily influenced by my children and family, but it’s also centered around simple, nostalgic moments that bring me so much joy.
As a children’s portrait photographer, I love to turn the mundane into something magical. The 35mm focal length is key to helping me do that. For years, the SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art lens has been my go-to lens for so many reasons. For starters, it’s an ideal storytelling lens with its ability to capture a lot of the environment and details. Additionally, it works amazingly well in tight spaces. But that 35mm is a full-frame lens, and as much as I love it, a full-frame camera and super-fast prime can be a little bit cumbersome to carry around when I’m traveling or just going about my daily routine.
What I love about crop sensor cameras is that they are compact and lightweight, so when I was asked to shoot with the new SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary on the Fujifilm X-S10, I couldn’t wait to try it out. The 23mm focal length acts as a 35mm on an APS-C size sensor, like the Fujifilm camera I was shooting with. These two paired beautifully together for so many reasons.
Benefits of the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
There’s a lot to love about the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary for X Mount cameras. Straight out of the box, I was immediately drawn to how compact and lightweight the lens was. Out of all the lenses I own, it’s by far the smallest, which is appealing especially when I’m out and about with my children. Having something I can carry and pack effortlessly, while being lightweight, is huge.
Because this is an ideal lens for travel, but also portraiture and lifestyle photography, I felt like I could use the 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary for anything and everything. From environmental portraits and landscapes, to lifestyle, to detailed, close-up nature shots, I truly photographed it all with this lens. Since this is my favorite lens length to shoot with, especially in tight spaces at home, I was easily able to capture the nostalgic, mundane moments that have transformed me into the photographer I am today.
While traveling away from home, I could take on a minimalistic approach with my photography gear since the 23mm is so versatile. I only needed this one lens, and I was able to cover a lot of ground.
Sharpness, bokeh, autofocus, and overall performance
I’m often working with low light in my home, which happens to also be my favorite light to shoot in. I found that the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary was incredibly sharp not only in low-light situations when I had to raise my ISO, but also while photographing moving little ones in low light. Even at times when I needed to open my aperture completely to F1.4, the lens was quick to focus and consistently sharp. The SIGMA 23mm also performed beautifully in every kind of light and environment I threw at it. From low light at home to shooting in a brighter, windy sunflower field, I was continually impressed with the sharpness and quality of my images.
One of the most desirable attributes of the 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is the creamy, round bokeh it captures. I often shot with this lens wide open and it continually created such a dreamy atmosphere. Whether my subject matter was a flower on a windy day, or my children running and playing through a field, I could easily open my aperture for that dreamy effect I’m drawn to without sacrificing subject sharpness.
Since my subjects are often young children who tend to move around a lot, having gear that focuses quickly and accurately is crucial. The 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary performed beautifully in this area. Of course, it helps that the lens is so compact and lightweight. It took little effort to quickly compose, focus and shoot with the 23mm. There are times where I need to shoot throughout a moment in order to capture the ideal shot. The SIGMA 23mm was extremely fast and effective for this.
Why choose the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary for Fujifilm X Mount?
Overall I really love the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary. If you are a Fujifilm X Mount user and are looking for a versatile lens that is compact and lightweight, this is it. The lens aesthetic is simple and smooth, and I was continually impressed with its performance, especially in low light and with fast moving subjects. Even in situations where I shot wide open, the lens quickly and accurately focused, along with creating the most beautiful bokeh.
If you are looking for a versatile, lightweight prime lens with outstanding performance on an APS-C system (this lens is available for Fujifilm X Mount, Sony E-mount and L-Mount cameras), I highly recommend the SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary.
Sounds awesome! I currently have 2 Sigma Art Lens in my bag. 135mm and 50mm. I have been considering going mirrorless, as we are traveling more and I would love a more compact kit!!