Description
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Nikon Z): A Sharp and Bright Portrait Prime for Nikon Z APS-C
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is a high-performance, short telephoto prime lens specifically designed for APS-C format Nikon Z mount mirrorless cameras. Offering an 85mm equivalent focal length, this lens boasts an exceptionally bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, making it an ideal choice for portraiture, selective focus photography, and achieving beautiful background bokeh. Its compact and lightweight design, coupled with Sigma’s renowned optical quality, makes it a must-have for Nikon Z series shooters seeking stunning image quality and versatility for capturing compelling portraits and more.
Ideal 85mm Equivalent Focal Length for Portraiture:
On an APS-C sensor, the 56mm focal length provides a classic 85mm equivalent field of view, widely considered the sweet spot for portrait photography. This perspective offers flattering subject rendering with minimal distortion, allowing you to capture natural and expressive portraits with beautiful separation from the background.
Ultra-Bright f/1.4 Maximum Aperture for Stunning Bokeh and Low Light:
The exceptionally fast f/1.4 maximum aperture is a key feature of this lens. It allows for incredible light-gathering capabilities, enabling you to shoot in challenging low-light conditions with ease and maintain faster shutter speeds. More importantly for portraiture, the wide aperture creates a remarkably shallow depth of field, producing a smooth, creamy, and highly desirable background bokeh that beautifully isolates your subject and adds a professional, cinematic quality to your images.
Outstanding Optical Performance for Sharp and Detailed Images:
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is meticulously constructed with 10 elements in 6 groups, incorporating one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element and two aspherical lens elements. These advanced optical elements effectively minimize chromatic aberrations, spherical aberrations, and distortion, resulting in exceptionally sharp, clear, and well-corrected images across the entire frame, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4.
Fast and Quiet Autofocus with Stepping Motor:
Equipped with a stepping motor, the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens delivers fast, smooth, and near-silent autofocus performance. This responsive AF system ensures accurate and reliable subject acquisition and tracking, crucial for capturing sharp portraits, even with moving subjects. The quiet operation is also highly beneficial for video recording, minimizing unwanted noise in your audio.
Compact and Lightweight Design for Enhanced Portability:
Adhering to Sigma’s Contemporary line philosophy, this lens achieves an excellent balance between high optical performance and everyday portability. Its compact and lightweight design makes it comfortable to carry for extended shooting sessions, whether you’re in the studio or on location. The lens also features a durable brass bayonet mount for secure and reliable attachment to your Nikon Z camera.
Dust and Splash Resistant Construction for Versatile Shooting:
Designed to handle various shooting environments, the lens features a dust and splash resistant structure at the mount, providing added protection against the elements and allowing you to shoot with greater confidence in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
Super Multi-Layer Coating for Reduced Flare and Ghosting:
Each lens element features Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating, which effectively reduces flare and ghosting, ensuring high contrast and color accuracy even when shooting in challenging lighting situations, such as when strong light sources are present in or near the frame.
Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm for Beautiful Bokeh:
The lens incorporates a rounded 9-blade diaphragm, which contributes to the creation of exceptionally smooth and circular bokeh, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the out-of-focus areas in your images, particularly important for achieving beautiful background blur in portraits.
Key Features:
- 56mm Focal Length (85mm Equivalent on APS-C): Ideal for flattering portraiture.
- Ultra-Bright f/1.4 Maximum Aperture: Creates stunning bokeh and excels in low light.
- Exceptional Optical Performance: Includes SLD and aspherical elements for sharpness and aberration control.
- Fast and Quiet Stepping Motor AF: Ensures accurate and silent autofocus.
- Compact and Lightweight Design: Enhances portability and handling.
- Dust and Splash Resistant Construction: Provides added durability.
- Super Multi-Layer Coating: Minimizes flare and ghosting.
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm: Creates beautiful and smooth bokeh.
- Designed for Nikon Z APS-C Mount: Ensures optimal performance and integration.
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Nikon Z is a remarkable portrait prime lens that delivers exceptional image quality, a super-bright aperture, and a portable design, making it an indispensable tool for Nikon Z APS-C shooters looking to capture stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh and excellent sharpness.

