It’s the first constant aperture f/1.8 zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras, and as if that wasn’t enough, it’s also affordable! Sigma’s new zoom is available in L-mount, E-mount and X-mount versions from July 10th, and in Canon RF mount some time in August 2025.
Sigma describes the 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art as ‘building on’ its ground-breaking 18-35mm f/1.8 DSLR zoom from 13 years ago (yes, it really is that long), but the new version is both physically and optically updated.
For a start, it’s 30% lighter than the old lens, which is welcome given that the 18-35mm f/1.8 DSLR was a beautiful lens but a bit of a lump. I owned one for some time and used it with a Nikon D7200. The new 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art also has an extended focal range, equivalent to 25.5-60mm in full frame camera terms. (The Canon RF version will be slightly longer in effective focal length terms because Canon’s ‘APS-C’ is slightly smaller than everybody else’s).
Sigma 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art: specifications
Lens construction: 17 elements in 11 groups (4 SLD, 4 aspherical elements)
Angle of View: 79.7-39.1°
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 11 (Rounded Diaphragm)
Minimum Aperture: F16
Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.28m
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 0.21x
Filter Size: 67mm
Dimensions: 72.9 x 115.9mm
Weight: 535g
Sigma 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art: key features
It looks like Sigma’s pulled out all the stops with the physical and optical construction, both for stills and video. The 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art uses Sigma’s HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) AF for fast and silent AF, and the new lens has an internal zoom so that the barrel doesn’t extend while zooming – which will be handy for gimbal use, for example.
Video features include a de-clickable aperture ring with an aperture lock (though the RF version will feature a control ring instead) and optics designed to suppress focus breathing. The new lens is also designed to suppress axial chromatic aberration (bokeh fringing) which is exactly what you need in a lens designed for background blur and subject separation.
The Sigma 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art is also splash and dust resistant and features a water and oil repellent coating on the front lens element, so it’s clearly built to handle outdoor use in all sorts of conditions.
The Sigma 17–40mm F1.8 DC | Art will be available from July 10th and will cost $919 (you can pre-order the L-mount, E-mount, X-mount and RF mount versions at B&H) / £779.