Lens ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogFebruary 02, 2026Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Review, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Sample images, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art sample photos, Sigma 17-40mm review, Sigma 17-40mm f1.8 review, Sigma 17-40mm sample images, Sigma 17-40mm sample photosComment

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Review

The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art shown on the Fujifilm X-E5

An Excellent Standard Zoom Lens!

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art vs. Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II

Admittedly, the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art was not on my radar or on the list of lenses I expected to test and review in 2026. That was until my photographer friend, Julian Fok, mentioned he had this lens now and preferred it over the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II.

Julian was also kind enough to let me know I could take it for a spin if I so desired. That desire flared up on one of the first sunny days in January. We met in downtown Vancouver, and even though I had limited time with the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8, I still came away with a good impression. Let’s see how it went.

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art for Fujifilm X-Mount shown on the Fujifilm X-E5 — The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art shown on the Fujifilm X-E5

Introduction

The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art was released in August 2025 and is available for Sony E Mount, Canon RF Mount, L-Mount, and last but not least, the Fujifilm X-Mount, which we are looking at in this review.

Sigma used to make an 18-35mm f/1.8 and has now expanded the zoom range with this 17-40mm version, keeping the aperture fast at f/1.8. It offers an interesting alternative to the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II at 66% of the cost, with a faster f/stop but a slight weight increase.

At the time this review was posted, the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art was priced at $919.00 and the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR at $1,399.00.

A man is having smoke on Granville Street in Vancouver — Granville Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-E5, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art @ f/2.8, 40mm

Handling and Specs

At 18.5 oz (525 g) and measuring 3.1 x 3.7" (78.3 x 95 mm) the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 was surprisingly okay to handle with my Fujifilm X-E5.

In normal use, capturing images, the size and weight were fine. It was only when I made adjustments to the camera that the lens felt a tad too big and things became slightly unbalanced.

Adding a grip to the X-E5, I believe, would make a world of difference. Julian uses the Sigma 17-40mm with his Fujifilm X-H2s, and finds that this combo has an excellent balance.

RBC Bank on Granville Street in Vancouver. Sample image from a Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art and Fujifilm X-E5. — Granville Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-E5, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art @ f/1.8, 17mm

The overall finish and build quality feel premium, but perhaps not fully up to the same standard as the full-frame Art lenses I have tried from Sigma. The zoom ring is super smooth, and the aperture clicks nicely.

Compared to Fujifilm lenses, I think the Sigma may have an edge in overall feel. Also consider that the Sigma has internal zoom, so the lens will not protrude as you zoom. I am a big fan of this. This is not the case for the Fuji lens.

The Sigma 17-40mm and Fujifilm XF 16-55 both have 11 rounded aperture blades. The Sigma takes 67mm filters, and the Fuji lens takes 72mm. Minimum focusing distance is also similar, with 11" (28 cm) for the Sigma lens and 1' (30 cm) for the Fuji.

Fujifilm X-E5 and Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art for Fujifilm X-Mount — The Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art shown on the Fujifilm X-E5

In Action

Without a doubt, the biggest improvement over the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 is the extra stop and a third you get with the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8.

This will come in handy in many scenarios, let you blur the background/foreground of your images more, and enable you to shoot at lower ISO values in low light. For a standard zoom lens, this is a big deal.

The full-frame equivalent focal length or field of view on the Sigma 17-40mm (APS-C) is 25.5-60mm, whereas the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm offers an extended range of 24-84mm. It would be amiss not to mention it, as I did feel the difference when using the Sigma lens.

Between the two lenses, you basically have to decide what is more important for your style of photography. Do you prefer a wider zoom range or a faster aperture?

Julian Fok, Fujifilm X-H2s, Voigtländer APO-Ultron 90mm f/2 VM — Granville Street, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-E5, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art @ f/1.8, 38mm
Thanks to Julian for letting me use his Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 for this review, pictured here with his Fujifilm X-H2s and my Voigtländer APO-Ultron 90mm f/2 VM (links to my reviews)

Image Quality

It’s hard to point fingers at the image quality from the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art, and also hard to see monumental differences from the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8.

The biggest difference, again, comes down to the fast f/1.8 f-stop on the Sigma, enabling shallow depth of field and, at times, photos with a certain character.

I may prefer the colors straight from the Fujifilm lens, but it is really hard to say from limited use with both lenses, and a bit of post-processing may level the playing field. Keep in mind also, I tested the Fuji lens in August and the Sigma in January.

For an in-depth look at the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm, check here:

Fujfilm XF 16-55m f/2.8 R LM WR Review

Please click the sample images to view sizes up to 2500 pixels, depending on your monitor size.

People enjoy the January sun in Vancouver. Sample image from a Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art and Fujifilm X-E5. — Robson Square, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-E5, Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art @ f/5.6, 21mm

Conclusion

The choice between the two contenders mentioned in this review, the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 and Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8, is not straightforward.

Much will depend on the other lenses you may have, your budget, and the tool you need for a job, leisure, or travel.

You may already have one or two fast primes in the standard focal length range and the extended zoom range of the Fujifilm lens will therefore be appealing.

But if you start afresh, and need to cover a versatile zoom range, the Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art is very appealing, and althought this was a very short test, I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Thanks again to Julian for helping out with this review. You can check out his YouTube channel here:

4th Dimension Picture

Pros

Premium build quality
Fast f-stop
Internal zoom

Cons

Limited zoom range

Please see more sample images below

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art - B&H Photo

Thank you for being supportive.

Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Sample Images (Fujifilm X-Mount)

Please see the sample photos below. Editing was done in Lightroom, and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some photos are slightly cropped.

Please click to view larger images.