I got a request to see how the crop factor APS-C E-Mount Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens will work on the full frame E-mount cameras. So I did a very quick test in the lab using my A7r to show you what this looks like. I then used Clear Image http://sexhatti.link Zoom to zoom in until the vignette went away so you can see the results.
At the end of the day, I had to zoom into 1.4x using Clear Image Zoom, in order get rid of the vignette completely, so the effective focal length was not really as wide as I would have hoped, although wider than the effective 24mm crop factor mode yields.
So, the advantage to shooting in this way vs just using crop factor mode on the full frame A7R, is I get the full 36mp image files vs the much lower resolution crop factor files. Also, it’s approximately a 22mm effective view when compared to using the crop factor mode which works out to 24mm effective.
The downside is, you have to shoot Jpeg quality in order for clear image zoom to work, but if you need the extra resolution and additional ~2mm of wide angle view, this is a great trick to have in your back pocket 😉
Quick Lab Test Photos
Here is the full frame view when using the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens on my A7r.
Here is the same shot with 1.2x Clear Image Zoom
Now here is where it starts to get usable at 1.3x clear image zoom. You can still see some vignette though in the corners. Sorry about the exposure shift in this quick test, I clearly pressed something but did not feel like re-doing the shots again 😉 The point here was not color or exposure, but how the crop was effected…
And here is 1.4x clear image zoom and there is almost no vignette visible. I would estimate this to be around 22mm effective on the full frame A7r.
And here is what you get when using crop factor mode on the full frame camera, which is what the full frame e-mount cameras are set to by default. Note how the resolution cuts down to 4800×3200, vs the 7360×4907 when using full frame mode w/ clear image zoom…
Conclusions…
So, as you can see when using the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens on the A7r, you can get a few more mm of wide angle view and a lot more resolution to work with when using full frame mode and clear image zoom, vs crop factor mode.
Is it worth it? Well that is subjective, but in certain situations I would say totally yes! ~22mm vs 24mm on a full frame camera does make a significant difference, and the extra resolution is awesome for large prints and the fine details. The only real negative is the fact that you must use jpeg quality, and must use the clear image zoom feature as opposed to just pointing and shooting. It also takes an extra second to enable the clear image zoom and all, but at the end of the day this is a great trick I think.
That is about it for this quick article, and if you would like to check out the review of this lens, it’s on my youtube channel here: Sigma 16mm and 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens Review – Real World and Video!
Thanks for checking in and be sure to check out the Community area on my youtube channel, where I have been sharing sample photos as I review the latest gear I have!! I just added a few Macro sample photos using the Zeiss Touit 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens 😉
Also, be sure to check out My E-Mount Lens Guide for all the available lens options and links to reviews!!
Have a great day and I will catch up with you guys later,
Jay
