Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Canon RF

The Sigma 23mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary for Canon RF is a fast wide-standard prime for APS-C cameras. It gives about a 37mm equivalent view, which many photographers treat as the one lens that does almost everything, and the F1.4 aperture lets you keep shooting when the light drops. At 345g it balances well on an EOS R7, R10 or R50.

Image quality The optical design has 13 elements in 10 groups, including three SLD and two aspherical elements. They keep colour fringing and distortion under control, and Super Multi-Layer Coating helps hold contrast when you shoot into the light.

Bokeh and low light At F1.4 you can blur a busy background behind a person or a plate of food, and the nine-blade rounded aperture keeps out-of-focus highlights soft and round. The same aperture gives you around two stops more light than an F2.8 zoom.

Autofocus and video A stepping motor drives the focus group quickly and quietly, and it works with the camera's face and eye detection. Focus is internal, so the lens does not change length as it focuses, which helps on a gimbal.

Size, handling and close focus

It weighs 345g and measures 69.0 x 76.9mm, with a 52mm filter thread. It focuses down to 25cm, for a maximum magnification of 1:7.3, and the mount is sealed against dust and splashes.

Who it's for

This is for photographers who want one small, bright lens for everyday pictures, from street and travel to food, interiors and environmental portraits. Of these, only the R7 has in-body stabilisation. If you prefer a slightly tighter, more classic standard view, the Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN is lighter still. If you would rather have a zoom, the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN covers this focal length at F2.8.

Also available for Sony E and L-Mount.