23mm f1.4 – Alwin Kok

23mm focal length (35mm in full frame equivalent) is one of my favorite prime lenses. If I can only bring one lens out, this is the focal length I will bring. No second thought. And now, Sigma has this amazing lens ready for the X-mount, L-mount, and E-mount.

Intro

Sigma 23mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary was released officially in September 2023, but it was announced way back in April 2023.

If I remember correctly, this is Sigma’s 4th prime lens. It may not sound a lot, but Sigma did cover basically the most commonly used focal lengths for street photographers.

Before I proceed further, I would like to thank Mr Lawson from Sigma Marketing (Singapore) for loaning me this lens for review and Kai for making the arrangements. I appreciate their support in making this review a reality.

Design and Build Quality

From the first look, this lens shares many similarities with the other Contemporary series like the Sigma 18-55mm, Sigma 56mm, etc. The lens gives a very minimalistic look, nothing fancy, just a low-profile lens design. The lens is made of “Thermally Stable Composite” (TSC) polycarbonate material, which gives a very high quality, well-built lens body.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/125″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/13000″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

At 335 grams, this lens is very comfortable to hold, and it comes with a 52mm filter size (For your information, it is the same filter size as the Sigma 30mm f1.4). It also comes with a plastic lens hood.

In the same manner, this lens is also equipped with dust and splash-resistant sealing that helps to protect the lens from certain weather/environmental conditions. Last but not least, it does not come with an aperture ring.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/450″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/250″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negative*

Oh yes, it is made in Japan.

Image Quality

I think this is probably the better image quality as compared to the other Sigma prime lenses. At wide open, the image is great, sharp, and contrasting. If I set XF23mm f1.4 WR as the benchmark, this Sigma lens is just one tier lower. This is very impressive in my opinion.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/15000″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/320″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f7.1* . 1/850″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

The blur transition between the focused and non-focused object is not the best I have since but it is decent too. Not harsh or distracting.

Vignetting is there at wide-open. But again, not a critical concern to me. Chromatic aberration is nowhere to be found or at least I did not spot one during my course of testing.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/120″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f16 . 1/180″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

If anyone is concerned about the sun star result, it is okay, not the best but also the worst.

Focusing

With the help of the stepping motor, the lens performs very well. In most situations, the focus is quick (not the fastest) and accurate. So far, I have not experienced any miss-focused shots which I think is another great experience to have.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/2200″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 1000 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4* . 1″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/400″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

But under challenging situations like a dim environment, it does pose a bit of a challenge to focus. This is pretty much the same behavior as most lenses in the market.

The focus ring is smooth as expected. Nothing to complain about. Also, Sigma did a good job at controlling the lens breathing. Not too much of a concern for photographers, but if you intend to use this lens for videography, I think it might be a good option.

Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)

While 25cm MFD is not the shortest for this focal length, it is pretty usable. It is still allowing photographers to take close-up subject if he/she wants to. The image quality might seem to be a little softer at wide-open. Unless you do pixel peeping, it is barely noticeable.

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/250″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/80″ . ISO 640 . Nostalgic Negative*

Price Point

It is priced at 549 USD. For comparison, XF23mm f.14 WR is priced at 899 USD, Viltrox 23mm f1.4 is priced at 325 USD, Voigtlander Nokton 23mm f1.2 is priced at 599 USD (not quite a fair one but I just throw it in for price sensing purpose).

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 250 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 1250 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6* . 1/240″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

What do you think? Is it a fair price?

Others

The “metallic” surface of the lens is prone to fingerprint smudge but this is the same across all contemporary prime lenses thus far. But not too much of a worry as it can be removed easily with a cloth.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/26000″ . ISO 125 . Classic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/240″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/480″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

Who is this for?

If you are new to photography or want to own the first decent-quality prime lens but are on a budget, I will always recommend a 23mm prime lens as a start. Because as a prime lens, it is versatile for the street, cityscape/landscape, documentary, environmental portrait, astrophotography, editorial, and the list goes on.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/60″ . ISO 2000 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/320″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8* . 1/80″ . ISO 200 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/680″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*

Hence, this Sigma 23mm f1.4 can be one of your considerations. There is not much of a 23mm focal length competition just yet. I know there is a brand or 2 that have the intention to enter this 23mm segment but I am totally not sure how good their lens and the image quality will be. But Sigma has been around since 1961 and has been accompanying many photographers in their photography lives. So the image quality is at a certain standard.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negativ*e

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/340″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2* . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Nostalgic Negative*

Conclusion

As a third-party lens, Sigma 23mm f1.4 set a benchmark for many others to follow. Fantastic image quality, decent focus speed, and comfortable lens handling. As for the lens build, it may not be as good as what metal built quality is but it is definitely a premium polycarbonate build quality. Trust me, I experienced the not-so-good one.

Sigma may not seem to release lenses aggressively for Fujifilm. But if we look back, it is otherwise. In fact, Sigma had released lenses for Fujifilm at a good momentum throughout the years. Today, Sigma has released a good range of prime lenses for street photographers.

*Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/80″ . ISO 250 . Nostalgic Negative*

*Left: Fuji X-T5 . Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/7500″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative*
*Right: Fuji X-T5 . *Sigma 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4* . 1/80″ . ISO 160 . Nostalgic Negative*

Finally, I have to say this is by far one of my favorite Sigma lenses and I hope Sigma will continue to support the Fujifilm X-mount and also probably the G-mount soon?

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here are shot by me.
2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Capture One.
3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.

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Reviews

TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 – The affordable wide-angle lens

December 6, 2021August 13, 2022 Alwin Kok

First of all, I would like to thank TTArtisan for inviting me to review this lens and it is my privilege to do so. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that this review will be based on the lens I received and it is purely on my own opinion.

Special thanks to Den Poh for lending me the X-T20 for being the model to the lens.

Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here are shot by me.
2. Some of the shots are slightly edited in Lightroom Classic to my preferences. Otherwise, the shots are straight out of the camera.
3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.

Intro

While I am eagerly waiting for TTArtisan to release their first autofocus lens for Fujifilm, instead, they release this tiny lens in the market. I am not surprised by its arrival as TTArtisan had shared the news via Fujirumors as early as August 2021. But at that point in time, no one knows how does the lens look like.

At 23mm (35mm in full-frame equivalent), this is one of my most commonly used focal lengths. My first prime lens is a 23mm lens and my most used camera is an X100V. Thanks to the versatility of this focal length, it is easily one of the favorites among street, documentary and journalist photographers. But can this lens become part of their photography tool? Only times will tell.

Design and Build Quality

The first thing that strikes me is the lens design. Unlike its peers, this lens has this sweet concave front element with a zebra-like pattern. I actually quite like this new design language and it is also distinguishable from the other players in the market. If you do not like this silver zebra-like version or you love your lens to be low profile, you can opt for the full black version.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/450 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/160 . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

Similar to the other TTArtisan lenses, the build quality of this lens is remarkable. The metal build is fantastic and it still comes with a rear metal bayonet. And also, this 43mm filter size lens does not include a lens hood.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/340 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/58 . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome

In my opinion, this is presumably one of the good changes and it’s the lens cap. The metal lens cap is no longer a screw-in type, but rather, it is replaced by the cap-on type. This changes really saves my time from screwing and unscrewing the lens cap. Not only that, it also gives a satisfying cushion feedback whenever I cap it onto the lens. Personally, I welcome this change.

When you change the aperture, the aperture ring provides gentle and comfortable clicky feedback. The rotation of the manual focus ring from one end to the other is about 160°. It gives a buttery smooth experience when you rotate it.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/2700 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/160 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/750 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

At 224 grams (and 240 grams with the lens cap – according to my kitchen weighting scale), the weight is well distributed and I do not experience any front element heavier than the other and vice versa. Overall, I have zero complaints in this department.

Image Quality

In my fair use of TTArtisan lenses, I habitually increase 1-stop of aperture instead of using the widest aperture. Not anymore with this lens. For the first time ever, I am happy with the image quality produced with the shots taken at f1.4 wide open. The result is sharp and has good contrast. Of course, the image quality improved further from f2 onwards, especially on the corners.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f5.6 . 1/1700 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 1/550 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2.8 . 1/160 . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome

Unless you love to pixel-peep, otherwise, the chromatic aberration is mild and it is hardly noticeable for day-to-day shoots. For a budget-friendly lens like this, I could say this lens does a good job of managing chromatic aberration.

Like most of the TTArtisan lenses, it comes with 10 diaphragm blades too. This means that this lens is also capable of producing bokehlicious results. I will share my opinion about achieving the best bokehlicious result with this lens.

Minimum Focus Distance

While Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) might not matter to some photographers, but this is one of the key things when I am looking for a lens. Understanding a lens’ MFD allows me to know what kind of shots I can achieve with it.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/420 . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/160 . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/160 . ISO 1600 . Classic Chrome

It has a MFD of 0.2m and I am impressed with the TTArtisan design team again. It has the shortest MFD as compared to the XF23mm f1.4 (@0.28m) and XF23mm f2 (@0.22m). This also means that I can take a slightly closer shot of the subject and give a slightly different perspective of the shot.

In my opinion, in order to achieve the best bokehlicious result with this lens is to shoot at its MFD wide open and with a good amount of depth background. That is because I notice that the bokeh is not that beautiful in other focusing distances.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f8 . 15″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f2 . 1/20 . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f4 . 1/160 . ISO 640 . Classic Chrome

Something to take note of

If you want to shoot at infinity, the result is not sharp at the infinity marking. you have to rotate the focus slightly backward to get the right infinity shot. I think this is quite a common issue as the manufacturer is designed for various mounts and different mounts have different flange focus distances.

Another observation is that I notice there is some barrel distortion and this is within my expectation for a wide-angle like this one. But it can be fixed easily in post.

Who is this for?

In this day and age, one might ask who actually wants a manual lens where an autofocus lens is much superior in every aspect? I think there is no right or wrong answer. But rather why does the photographer wants to use a manual lens? The photographer himself/herself should have the best answer. It could be the price factor for such a fast prime lens. It could also be the compact form factor of the lens and the list of possible answers go on.

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/5400 . ISO 160 . Post-edit

Fuji X-T3 . TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 @ 23mm . f1.4 . 1/850 . ISO 160 . Post Edit

But in my opinion, if you are a new photographer who wishes to experience a fully manual focus lens; or you want to give your old camera a reason to bring it out and shoot again; or does not wish to spend a fortune for a fast prime lens, then this lens is the one to start with. It is easy to pick up and use for everyday shoots.

However, if you are a commercial photographer or commissioning a project, you know the answer.

Conclusion

I have used this lens for about 2 weeks and what TTArtisan does impress me with is its image and build quality. Its usable f1.4 gives me a taste of what it is like to have it on 23mm. This lens is totally enjoyable and easy to use. And also, this lens makes me look forward to the autofocus lens.