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SIGMA has announced the 12mm F1.4 DC Contemporary, claiming it as the world’s widest autofocus F1.4 lens designed for APS-C cameras. The lens will be available for Sony E, FUJIFILM X, and Canon RF mounts starting September 4, 2025. Let’s take a closer look.
SIGMA’s pace of releasing new lenses seems to have accelerated, and this time, the company is announcing a very wide and fast lens for APS-C cameras. Alongside this lens, a 200mm F2 DG OS Sport lens was also announced. More about the new SIGMA 200mm F2 lens, here.
The lens features a stepping motor for autofocus, which SIGMA claims provides fast and precise focusing for both still images and video. Focus breathing has been minimized to maintain consistent framing during focus pulls – a key consideration for video work.
All three mount versions include an aperture ring; the Canon RF mount version features a control ring that can be customized according to user preferences.
Weather sealing includes dust and moisture resistance, plus a water and oil-repellent coating on the front element. However, SIGMA notes this is not a waterproof design.
The 12mm focal length provides an equivalent field of view of 18mm in full-frame terms (19mm for Canon RF mount due to the 1.6x crop factor). At 99.6°, this delivers an ultra-wide angle of view suitable for landscape, architecture, and astrophotography applications.
Optical Design:
Physical Specifications:
SIGMA states the lens delivers high resolution from a wide open aperture across the entire frame. The company specifically mentions correction for sagittal coma flare, which is critical for astrophotography applications where point light sources need to remain sharp to the frame edges. The aspherical elements are positioned to control distortion and aberrations typical in ultra-wide-angle designs, while the SLD glass elements target chromatic aberration correction.
This 12mm lens joins SIGMA’s existing Contemporary series F1.4 primes for APS-C: 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm. All share the design philosophy of balancing optical performance with compact, lightweight construction.
The SIGMA 12mm F1.4 DC Contemporary will be available September 4, 2025, for Sony E, FUJIFILM X, and Canon RF mounts. Expect to pay $629 per lens regardless of the mount you choose.
Included accessories are lens hood (LH652-01), front cap (LCF-62 IV), rear cap (LCR III), and carrying pouch. The lens is manufactured in Aizu, Japan, as part of SIGMA’s quality control program, where each lens undergoes MTF testing.
What do you think about this new wide APS-C lens? Does it have a place in your lens bag? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
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Johnnie Behiri is a documentary filmmaker with more than three decades behind the camera: he learned the craft in daily television news gathering, filmed for Japan's public broadcaster NHK, and spent eight years shooting and editing for BBC News. He joined cinema5D in 2011 and has co-owned and co-run CineD and MZed ever since. Johnnie writes many of CineD's camera reviews, co-hosts our weekly Focus Check podcast, and heads CineD's manufacturer relationships and product development.