Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART)
Reviewed by Editor AL

Image: Yick Cheong Building aka Monster Building at Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

06th October 2024, Singapore-Hong Kong – When the editorial team received the notice from Sigma Singapore about the new Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (Art), I got really excited. This is the world’s first F1.4 Diagonal Fisheye for a full frame format (35mm). A quick check on the internet, this lens is a little monster on its own – having embodied almost all of Sigma’s top-line features, it stands as a wonder lens on its own. Let’s check out the lens first.

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART) mounted on a Sony A7.

First impression when I received the lens was – this lens is huge – then I reminded myself that this is a large aperture F1.4 lens to much laughter. Measuring at φ104.0mm x 157.9mm, this is a sizable lens and it is weighty at 1,360gm. Due to its weight, this is why probably the lens came with a tripod collar (I didn’t get to mount it).

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Now look beyond the physical aspects, the optics are arranged as 21 elements in 15 groups – including 04 x FLD elements, 03 x SLD elements & 02 x aspherical elements – now tell me which other Fisheye in the market comes close to this Sigma Fisheye? This optics set up was specially designed to remove all the optical mambo jumbo that usually comes with fisheye lenses. The intended distortions are smoothly curved and the sharpness are incredible at the center to the mid-outer circumference and it gradually blurs out at the edges. While the blur are not visible unless you magnify the image up to 250%, so this is very much negligible.

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Focusing was incredibly accurate. The Sigma HLA – High Response Linear Actuator – manages the internal focusing well and works silently. Throughout my review in Hong Kong, I barely heard or feel the focusing during my shooting.

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Due to the lens’ optics design, the minimum focusing distance is set at 38.5cm which bothers me a little. I am used to the super close focusing distance of fisheye lenses (I have a few) usually around a few centimeters, so at 38.5cm, I was not able to do a few crazy things that I used to do with other fisheyes.

At least the magnification ratio of this 15mm Fisheye is 1:16 which is great!

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).


The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART) comes with 11 aperture blades and it focuses from F1.4 to F16. The 2 sweet spots that I discovered while reviewing the lens are at F1.4 – wide open at night and F10 when I was shooting during the day on the streets.

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

As I mentioned earlier, this Sigma 15mm Fisheye is a little monster with all of Sigma’s top line features – the lens barrel made from TSC (Thermal Stable Composite) which is tough & durable at different (or extreme) operating conditions, the buttons are well layout ergonomically as expected from an Art series lens. Another new feature (already in 2 other Sigma lenses) that has also found its way into this Fisheye lens is the Lens Heat Retainer – preventing internal condensation when temperatures dipped suddenly.


In additional, there are 12 weather sealings across the whole lens barrel making this Fisheye lenses the real all-weather monster.

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).


The huge lens cap holds another interesting feature.
Take a look at the back of the lens cap and you will notice there are 2 secret compartments.
(See image below)

The 02 compartments can be independently open/close and it is for you to store Gel Filters! Almost all Fisheye lenses has a gel filter holder at the lens mount area and Sigma went another step further by incorporating 2 Gel Filter storage right behind the lens cap! Genius!

Image: The Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).


As “massive” as the lens goes, the Sigma 15mm Fisheye when mounted to my Sony, it is not as “huge” as you might imagined. In fact, I was hand-carrying this lens mounted on my Sony throughout my review and my walks through different part of Hong Kong during the review.

Let’s check some of the photos that I had took in Hong Kong using the Sigma 15m F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART) below!

Image: At Tung Choi Street aka Ladies Street – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Everywhere flags are flying as 1st Oct is the National Day – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).


I handheld the Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (A) throughout the review. As this Fisheye is a diagonal fisheye, I gained the advantage of ultra wide perspective as well as making the diagonal distortion to creative use. As an owner of several fisheyes including Circular Fisheyes and Diagonal Fisheyes, the use is very different from from circular Fisheye. For diagonal Fisheyes, you basically have the best of both worlds and your framing possibilities doubled.

Image: Street vendor selling localized toys – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Owner of Fuk Wa Cameras, he was kind to allow me to shoot him and his store – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: A Typical weekday on the street of Hong Kong – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Simply love the fast and quiet focusing of the Sigma 15mm Fisheye. Capturing the right moment on the streets can be challenging, having an ultra wide fisheye ups the ante and my chances of capturing what I wanted to was a breeze.

Like any country that I had been to, people are usually sensitive when a photographer held up a camera, but the folks are Hong Kong seems “immune” to cameras, no one really care even when I am pointing my camera at them.

Image: At Avenue of Stars Waterfront – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Waiting for National Day Fireworks – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Waiting for National Day Fireworks – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Moving into the nights, the Sigma 15mm F1.4 again takes the advantage of the wide aperture and behaves confidently after the sun goes down. It’s National Day week at at Hong Kong and I was thrilled to meet up other Sigma Users from Hong Kong to shoot the celebration fireworks.

While the crowd was crazy, I noticed photographers here are very considerate to other visitors, they do not set up tripods to “reserve” spots, but quietly sat at various viewpoints for hours and they do not set up their tripods until 10 mins before the fireworks.

Image: National Day Fireworks – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: National Day Fireworks – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: National Day Fireworks – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).



I did not shoot a lot as I rather enjoy the fireworks than to crazily click away and ended up with hundreds of photos and deleting hundreds after that. The fireworks lasted 30 mins and again, I noticed the HK photographers took their shots within the first 10 mins and then kept their tripods and gear, making space for others.

I was shooting at wide open at F1.4 and at an constant speed of 1/60 backed by ISO1600. The Sony’s in built stabilizer helped, and the Sigma 15mm Fisheye is definitely working very well with Sony’s system. (This lens is available in Sony mount and Leica mount by the way).

Image: Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

And so there is this place that are frequented by influencers and a hot spot for Instagrammers. Built in the 1960s, Yick Cheong building (also known as the Monster building) is joined by 5 blocks with a mix of residential and small businesses. Yick Cheong is one of the last few heritage buildings that reminds people of the old Hong Kong.

Given the tight spaces here, the Sigma 15mm Fisheye is probably the best lens here. While thousands had shot Yick Cheong Building with Ultra Wide angle lenses, or had done stitching, a quick check on Google shows not many had shot this building with a Fisheye lens. And I am definitely the first photographer here with the Sigma 15mm Fisheye.

Image: Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).


I felt that I had “won” when I took the above shot.

Image: Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Traditonal Businesses thrives at Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Yick Cheong Building from King’s Road – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

If I had a regular 14mm lens, this shot will not be possible due to the slope, or even if I had a 24mm wide angle, the distance from across the road is still too tight to capture this massive building. I am so lucky to have the Sigma 15mm Fisheye with me. The diagonal characteristics simply made this shot possible and easy to capture.

Image: Street view around Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

Image: Street view around Yick Cheong Building – Shot using Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART).

To summarize, the Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN Fisheye (ART) is a crazy-good lens. Sigma should have added the word “Diagonal” to the lens name. It’s a big lens but compact, weighty but very manageable. While many may react strongly to the retail price, it is a Made-in-Japan-Top-line-lens made by Sigma. You are getting a lot of value for the money. From the superb construction and design to the optics and usability, no other fisheye lens comes this close to this Fisheye.
Try it for yourself and you will understand why I love this Fisheye!

Thank You Sigma Singapore for making this review possible!


Here’s me (below) at Yick Cheong Building.

Buying this Lens
OK people, Buy your Sigma 15mm F1.4 DG DN (ART) from our Accredited Merchants to experience this great lens for yourself!

Renting this Lens
For those of you who wish to try out the lens before purchase, we are pleased to share that this camera (may) be available for rental (do call them to check) at our appointed rental merchant:

Camera Rental Centre is Conveniently Located at:
50 South Bridge Road, CMO Building,  (very near to Clarke Quay MRT)
#02-18. Singapore 058682
Website: http://sg.camerarental.biz/

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Reviewer: Chief Editor AL Lee

Chief Editor & Founder of Ourshutterjourney.com Worldwide and Principal Trainer at Ourshutterjourney Photography Academy. AL is a commercial photographer as well as an educator who believes in the art of digital memories. An ambassador of several photography brands, AL is well versed in many camera systems. Someone once told us AL’s man cave looks more like a camera store than a bedroom.

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