16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens

Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary — The Compact Ultra-Wide Travel Zoom

The gist: A lightweight constant f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom that covers 16–28mm on full-frame at under 450g — sharp wide-open, filter-thread friendly, and built for travel photographers who need a fast wide angle without the weight or cost of the Sony GM alternative.

• 450g at constant f/2.8: Weighs less than many f/4 wide zooms — the inner zoom design keeps the barrel length fixed through the zoom range, balancing easily on a gimbal or compact body.
• Front filter thread (no petal shade required): Unlike curved-element ultra-wides, this lens accepts standard circular filters — useful for ND or polarizer use without a square filter kit.
• Excellent sharpness from f/2.8: Central sharpness is excellent at f/2.8 with very good edges — no need to stop down for landscapes or architecture shots.
• Minimal chromatic aberration: Five FLD elements and four aspherical lenses control color fringing across the entire zoom range — verifiable in high-contrast travel scenes.

ePHOTOzine awarded four stars and called it “terrific value for money” — compact, light, and delivering “very attractive images” that make it an ideal choice for travel photographers seeking a wide-angle zoom without the weight or budget of Sony’s GM alternative.

Best for: Full-frame Sony E or L-mount travel photographers who want a fast, light ultra-wide zoom for landscapes, architecture, and astro without breaking the bank. Skip it if: You need 35mm+ coverage in the same lens — this tops out at 28mm. Runs ~$898 — check the current price before buying.