Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary vs Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E

Both are Sony E mount primes for wide-angle and landscape — here's how the specs differ and which to pick. Every spec is from the manufacturer's own catalog.

Last verified 2026-09-01 · Sony E mount · prices change — check the retailer

Spec	Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary	Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E
Focal length	17mm	12mm
Max aperture	f/4	f/2
Type	prime	prime
Coverage	full-frame	APS-C
Mount	Sony E	Sony E

Which should you buy?

the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E opens wider (f/2) — brighter in low light and more background blur
the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E (12mm) is wider — more in the frame for street and interiors; the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary (17mm) is tighter — more reach and compression for portraits
the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary covers full-frame (also works on APS-C bodies); the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E is APS-C-only — it won't fill a full-frame sensor

Where to buy

Sigma 17mm f/4 DG ContemporarySee price on Amazon

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Samyang AF 12mm F2.0 Autofocus Lens for Sony E

Samyang AF 12mm f/2 ESee price on Amazon

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FAQ

What's the difference between the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary and the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E?
The Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary is 17mm f/4 prime, full-frame; the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E is 12mm f/2 prime, APS-C. Both fit the Sony E mount.

Which is better in low light, the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary or the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E?
The Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E — its f/2 maximum aperture lets in more light and gives more background blur than the f/4 of the other.

Do the Sigma 17mm f/4 DG Contemporary and Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E fit the same camera?
Yes — both are Sony E mount lenses, so they fit Sony a7/a9/a1 (full-frame) and a6000-series (APS-C). Note the Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E is APS-C-only and won't fill a full-frame sensor.

Citing these specs? Go ahead — manufacturer data, last verified 2026-09-01. Copy a ready-made reference:

More Sony E comparisons: Sony E 11mm f/1.8 vs Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 · Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM vs Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM · Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD vs Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 FE · Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD vs Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 · all Sony E lenses · all comparisons

Sigma 17mm f/4 DG ContemporaryAffiliate linkSee price on Amazon