Like other Art lenses and the Sony, this is de-clickable for smooth and silent adjustments. This reveals some mounting holes, but in the first of several small but considerate moves, Sigma supplies a rubber ring to cover them up and present a tidier-looking barrel.Ĭlosest to the lens mount is an aperture ring from 1.4 to 16 in one third increments with a lockable A position for body-based control. But in some consolation, the foot has an Arca-Swiss dovetail, allowing you to slide it right into a compatible clamp, and if you are handholding the lens, you can remove the collar to reduce the load a little. The collar allows you to rotate the barrel, albeit sadly lacking any tactile feedback at 90 degree intervals. Indeed it’s supplied with a collar and tripod foot, sensibly taking the strain rather than your camera’s lens mount. Sigma realises this and pitches the 14 as being optimised for astro-photography where you’ll be shooting from a tripod. Sure it’s not quite as bright at f1.8, but it sure is considerably more compact and usable handheld. More dramatic though is the weight: at 1.17kg, the Sigma is more than double the weight of the Sony, making it much less practical for handheld or gimbal work, so you really have to want that slightly brighter aperture. Measuring just over 100mm in diameter and 150mm long, it makes Sony’s 14 1.8 look quite compact. In my review I’ll show you what it can do and how it compares.įirst things first: in a World when many new lenses are touted as being smaller or lighter, the Sigma 14 1.4 is unapologetically substantial. I reviewed Sony’s 14 1.8 back then and even two years later it represents tough competition, an excellent performer at a similar price. Sigma also have their older 14 1.8 prime and 14-24 2.8 zoom, adapted from earlier DSLR versions and available in multiple mounts.īut if you’re in the e-mount system, by far the biggest rival will be Sony’s own FE 14mm f1.8 G Master which arrived two years previously and costs roughly the same at around $1400-1500 or pounds. If you’re an L-mount owner, the Sigma 14 1.4 is pretty unique, with only Panasonic’s own 14-28 extending as wide in a true native mount, albeit as a zoom with a much dimmer f4-5.6 aperture. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book, an official Cameralabs T-shirt or mug, or treat me to a coffee! Thanks! Buy it now! Check prices on the Sigma 14mm f1.4 DG DN Art at B&H, Adorama, WEX UK or. But exacting astrophotographers will be happy to accommodate the Sigma’s heft for its larger aperture, useful tripod mount and those extra astro features. But the Sony lens is less than half the weight, making it more flexible handheld or mounted on a modest gimbal or a small star tracker. In my tests the Sigma matched its optical quality, plus it’s two thirds of a stop faster and has those considerate features for astro photographers. It’s mostly unchallenged in the L-mount, but Sony owners should compare it to the 14 1.8 G Master at much the same price. On the downside it’s a hefty lens, weighing over a kilogram and the focus breathing reveals some interesting distortions. On top of this you’re getting a substantial weather-sealed lens with a tripod foot and a bunch of considerate features for astrophotographers. Approach the minimum focusing distance and you’ll enjoy some nice shallow depth of field effects, while closing the aperture down delivers sharp diffraction spikes. Point it at distant stars and you’ll enjoy pin-sharp images right into the corners even at f1.4, which means it’s also ideal for big landscape and architectural views. Summary The Sigma 14mm f1.4 is not just the fastest non-fisheye 14 to date, but delivers excellent performance wide-open, across the frame and near to far.
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