The Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC Contemporary Lens Brings Astrophotography on APS-C to the Next Level

Each night I spend under the stars I return still filled with this desire to encourage anyone that will listen to start making plans to head to dark skies. That feeling of being under a dark sky is something incredibly special. You experience these waves of peacefulness and a welling of emotion as you try your best to consider the vastness and our place, somewhere in it all.

It’s an incredible feeling that I find myself traveling all over to experience and capture in new places.

And with enough travel, you start making decisions based on the question, “Is this something I will use enough for the space it will take up in my bag?”

Introducing the Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary

So, when the word of the 12mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary first came my way, I was excited. I’ve used a number of the lenses in the Sigma Contemporary line and with their long list of qualities, they tend to come in a very compact form-factor.

But my first thoughts weren’t about the compact size of the lens. Instead, I instantly had a vision of a huge, sweeping view of the night sky. That wide 12mm focal length (equivalent to 18mm on full frame) and fast F1.4 aperture had astrophotography written all over it. My hope was that this lens would live up to my expectations and be a go-to for APS-C astrophotography when I needed to pack light. Thankfully, I had a few trips lined up – Big Sur in California, then Mount St. Helens and North Cascades National Park in Washington.

First images and early impressions

When I finally made it into the field, I put this lens through the same exact test that I would for any other lens. Starting with the aperture wide open and dialing in a sharp focus on the stars. The fast F1.4 aperture provided a beautiful, bright and even view across the screen while using the live view in my camera. This made slowly adjusting the focus ring to nail that tack sharp focus on the stars incredibly easy. Once the stars look sharp in the live view, it’s just a matter of waiting for that first exposure to inspect the image. Although the sky wasn’t quite full of stars yet, the corners were looking pinpoint sharp all the way to the edge.

After the test shots, I started capturing my first images just as twilight was ending. This time of night always has a magical feel to it as our eyes adjust to the darkness and the stars appear one by one. As I took the time to take a closer look at those first few test images, I began having the feeling that this lens would be exactly what I was hoping it to be.

On that first night in the field while I was reviewing my first few images, I couldn’t help but reflect on how surprising the size of the 12mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary was. Paired with the right camera, it practically fits in the space I typically reserve for a single lens. Despite its small size, this lens feels solid when holding it and has every bit of the craftsmanship I’ve come to expect from a Sigma lens.

Past blue hour, my first images of the Milky Way would be up next. The wide field of view was perfect for setting up low to the ground and capturing the galactic core glowing in the sky and reflecting off water left behind by the receding tide. Finding the conditions to capture an image like that feels like a dream.

Before making my way home, I had a few hours at Shark Fin Cove a bit further north. The lens really began to shine in this area, showing just how sharp it was while picking up detail in every part of the image. A short trek down to the beach meant you were surrounded by large cliffs that would amplify the roar of the crashing waves. I explored the cove as I waited for the Milky Way to drift further south and for the eventual low tide. Unfortunately, a thick layer of clouds would end my night earlier than expected. Nature’s way of always keeping you coming back for more, I guess.

Epic wide shots made simple

Next on my schedule was Washington. I’d be heading out near the next New Moon and couldn’t wait bring the 12mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary with me. I was enjoying both the small form factor and the possibilities this lens represented.

My next trip would start with a quick stop near Mount Saint Helens. This can be a really difficult area to photograph the night sky. The sky and foreground are both incredibly dark, but depending on your location, there can be a bright glow near the horizon. It takes a bit of work to balance everything in this type of scenario, but the lens kept everything sharp and distortion free. The exact qualities you want when looking for a wide-angle astro lens.

Once again, I found myself traveling north. This time I’d be making my way to Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. While I often joke about the graveyard of unedited sunset photos on my hard drives, I couldn’t resist taking the camera out while I was here. The beautiful glacial water with the towering mountains were being met with a soft light and wispy clouds. These spur-of-the-moment photos allowed me to test out the autofocus as it quickly snapped on my subject even as the light continued to fade.

By the time it was dark, I knew exactly what to expect from the night… an astro shoot where I didn’t have to worry about the gear I was using. I wasn’t worried about distortion, letting enough light in, or how sharp an image would be if I was shooting wide open. I was able to dial in my focus and be completely in the moment in this beautiful location. It’s hard to ask for more from your gear and while it’s something that has become expected for Sigma to deliver, it doesn’t go unnoticed or appreciated.

Final thoughts on the Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary

Without compromising quality, this lens opens a new level of astrophotography to APS-C users. Whether you’re looking to lighten your bag on long hikes or flights or you’re hoping to take the next step in your astrophotography journey, this lens won’t disappoint.

That feeling of wonder isn’t something we experience once and it goes away. It’s something that stays with us. Being able to capture even a small fraction of how we feel in those moments can be difficult to put into words, but it’s something that drives and keeps us exploring.

The gear we choose shouldn’t get in the way of those things and those moments shouldn’t feel out of reach. I have no doubts this lens is going to connect people to those moments we spend so much time chasing after.