Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Review – digitalcameras.ie

Introduction

This hands-on assessment covers every thing it is advisable know in regards to the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork, probably the most placing ultra-wide lenses in the present day. This isn’t simply Sigma’s first 14mm f/1.4 lens, but in addition the widest full-frame, rectilinear f/1.4 lens ever made. It’s a mirrorless-only lens, at the moment out there each for Leica L mount and Sony E mount.

Designing a 14mm f/1.4 lens isn’t simple. That turns into obvious the second you have a look at the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork or maintain it in your fingers. It’s an enormous, heavy lens – so giant that Sigma selected to supply this lens with a tripod collar! Usually, tripod collars are unique to supertelephoto lenses. For one to look on an ultra-wide signifies that we’re in very specialised territory.

And certainly, the phrase “specialised” describes the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork completely. It’s not your typical 14mm prime – it’s a Milky Method images lens, pure and easy. Every part from the lens’s development to its optical strengths and weaknesses prioritize photographing the evening sky. That can turn out to be more and more clear all through this assessment.

Optically, this can be a very complicated lens. It options 19 parts in 15 teams, together with three aspherical parts. Sigma has added their most superior coatings and low-dispersion parts to enhance the lens’s optical high quality. The worth is $1600, which is a bit of excessive for Sigma however considerably decrease than the lens would have value if made by Nikon, Canon, or Sony. (By comparability, Sony’s 14mm f/1.8 GM is 2/3 cease slower and in addition prices $1600.)

For this assessment, I examined the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork extensively each within the lab and within the discipline. The model I used was for Sony E Mount, however I additionally examined it on the Nikon Z8 utilizing Megadap’s adapter. Usually, I’d slightly use native lenses as a substitute of tailored glass. Nevertheless, Nikon doesn’t have any lenses like this one but, and I needed to place it to the check for any Nikon Z Milky Method photographers who have been interested by its efficiency.

Does the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork reside as much as its promise as a top-tier Milky Method images lens? Are there any drawbacks to adapting it to the Nikon Z system? This assessment will reply these questions and extra.

Construct High quality

The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork is constructed primarily of high-quality plastics, particularly Sigma’s Thermally Steady Composite. Sigma makes use of this materials in lots of their lenses, however astrophotographers particularly might admire it. In contrast to cheaper plastics, this materials doesn’t develop or contract considerably when the temperature adjustments. That is nice when photographing the Milky Method – you don’t want to fret about your focus level shifting because the evening grows colder.

That stated, the fabric of the lens isn’t what most photographers will discover first. What stands out greater than the rest is the lens’s measurement. It measures 101 x 152 mm in measurement (4.0 x 6.0 inches) and weighs 1160 grams (2.56 kilos). This makes it the most important and heaviest 14mm lens out there in the present day, together with zooms. Solely the earlier era DSLR lens, the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Artwork, offers it a run for its cash; each lenses weigh the identical, though the f/1.4 model is a hair larger.

For those who’re planning to make use of this lens in hostile situations, you needn’t fear. The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork is extensively climate sealed, and it focuses internally. I used it in snowy situations, excessive chilly, and dusty environments. It dealt with every thing completely and nonetheless seemed model new by the tip of all my checks.

I used to be additionally very impressed to see that the (detachable) tripod foot on the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork is Arca-Swiss suitable. No want to purchase an additional Arca-Swiss plate to connect to the underside! And I’m glad that Sigma included a tripod foot within the first place. The 14mm f/1.4 Artwork is kind of front-heavy and could be fairly imbalanced in any other case. Is the tripod foot strictly essential? Most likely not – I don’t assume the lens is so heavy that your lens mount is at risk of warping. But it surely’s nonetheless useful in balancing your setup correctly.

My solely concern with the lens’s construct high quality isn’t actually one thing that could possibly be averted, however the entrance factor is fairly giant and uncovered. You have to be cautious utilizing this lens in very windy situations if there are particles like sand or ice crystals blowing round. The lens didn’t scratch throughout my time with it, however I’d nonetheless be careful fastidiously in tough, windy climate.

The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork doesn’t settle for conventional entrance filters, which signifies that it’s tough to make use of a UV or clear safety filter on this lens – or a polarizer. If it is advisable use such a filter, there are some costly programs like this one from NiSi which might be tailor-made to the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork. Nevertheless, they require large 150x150mm or 150x170mm filters, which aren’t sensible for lots of photographers.

There’s, at the very least, a rear holder on this lens that accepts clip-in filters. That could possibly be sufficient if all you want are ND filters. I additionally discovered a clip-in mild air pollution filter from Haida that’s suitable with this lens (in addition to the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Artwork and Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Artwork, which share a rear filter design). Gentle air pollution filters aren’t the one filters that Milky Method photographers use, however they’re the preferred, so it’s good to have the choice in order for you it.

Apparently, the cumbersome lens cap that accompanies the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork has a pair of slots the place you may retailer small gel filters. It isn’t very roomy, nonetheless, and a few rear filters gained’t match. Sigma additionally doesn’t advocate it for long-term filter storage. Personally, I’d have most well-liked an easier slip-on lens cap as a substitute of Sigma’s heavier, extra complicated design. But it surely’s not such as you’re selecting this lens within the first place in case your aim is to avoid wasting weight.

Lastly, some Milky Method photographers – particularly timelapse shooters – like to make use of lens heating rings to stop condensation from build up on the entrance factor of a lens in a single day. Sigma advertises the 14mm f/1.4 Artwork as having a “lens heater retainer” for such heaters. Particularly, the barrel of the lens is sharply tapered on the finish, and it has a textured grip to stop the heater from slipping misplaced.

Nevertheless, don’t get the improper thought from Sigma’s promoting; the “retainer” that they point out is just the form of the lens barrel. For those who have been anticipating some clips to carry a lens heater in place, you gained’t discover any right here. Even so, it’s significantly better than most Milky Method lenses that don’t take lens heaters into consideration in any respect. So long as you strap the heater firmly, you don’t want to fret about it interfering together with your focusing ring or showing in your picture accidentally.

All informed, the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork is a really well-built lens that was thoughtfully designed for Milky Method images. Even aside from the picture high quality (which I’ll cowl on the following web page of this assessment), I might see devoted evening sky photographers selecting this lens only for the quality-of-life options. The one concern is its bulk – this isn’t a lens you’ll carry in your bag on a whim. If you will get by with f/1.8 or f/2.8 as a substitute of f/1.4, there a lot smaller 14mm lenses in the marketplace in the present day.

Dealing with

Sigma threw every thing they may consider on the 14mm f/1.4 Artwork. It has as many controls as an unique supertelephoto. What’s extra, the controls are genuinely helpful. Right here’s the format of the left-hand facet of the lens:

From prime to backside, the controls are as follows:

• AF-MF change
• Autofocus lock button (might be personalized to a wide range of different features)
• Handbook focus locking change
• Aperture ring clicking/de-clicking

The correct-hand facet of the lens additionally has a change:

This unlabeled change is a partial lock of the aperture ring. I say partial as a result of, when engaged, it both locks you to the “A” setting (the place you management aperture through the digicam), or it locks you to the remainder of the aperture settings. Within the latter case, you may nonetheless rotate the ring from f/1.4 to f/16, simply to not “A.”

I give Sigma full marks for the dealing with and controls of the 14mm f/1.4 Artwork. They even added a little bit of white paint beneath every change to point when it’s engaged in a single route or the opposite. It’s a pleasant contact for a lens that will probably be used so usually in low mild.

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork Specs

• Full Identify: Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN | Artwork (see Sigma Lens Abbreviations)
• Mount Kind: Leica L mount (additionally out there for Sony E mount)
• Focal Size: 14mm prime
• Angle of View (Full Body): 114°
• Most Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimal Aperture: f/16
• Aperture Blades: 11, rounded
• Filter Measurement: N/A
• Lens Components: 19
• Lens Teams: 15
• Particular Components: 3 aspherical, 3 low dispersion, 1 particular low dispersion
• Anti-Reflection Coatings: Tremendous multi-coating
• Picture Stabilization: No
• Inside Focusing: Sure
• Management Rings: Focus and aperture
• Perform Button: Sure
• Focus Motor: HLA (high-response linear actuator)
• Minimal Focus Distance: 30 cm (12 inches)
• Most Magnification: 0.08× (1:12)
• Mount Materials: Metallic
• Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
• Sony E Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 152 × 101 mm (6.0 × 4.0 inches)
• Leica L Dimensions (Size × Diameter): 150 × 101 mm (5.9 × 4.0 inches)
• Sony E Weight: 1160 g (2.56 kilos)
• Leica L Weight: 1170 g (2.58 kilos)
• MSRP: $1599 (verify present value)

The subsequent web page of this assessment covers the optical traits of the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Artwork, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness checks within the lab. Click on the menu beneath to go to “Optical Options”: