Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Sharpness Tests from Lensrentals.com

[SecureGSM]

nubu,

would you be able to test the lens for the potential focus shift issue, please?

all you need to do is at a distance of approx. 1m to target and using the live view or manual focus and apperture stopped down to F8:

focus on the target, take photo. inspect the photo for any possible front or back focusing. Thank you in advance.

Got the lens yesterday (normal shop in Vienna) and did some basic functional tests. Looks great so far. Next week I leave for the austrian mountains and will do some astrophotography with it (and also my ef 14/2.8 for comparison). Will keep you updated! nubu

 

[NorbR]

The GAS is strong with this one ...

This is a lens that I will probably end up buying, the only question is when. Great news to hear that it so sharp, and the idea of combining 14mm, 1.8 and autofocus opens up a lot of creative possibilities.

Like others I'm interested in the coma results, but it won't be a deal breaker. I don't think people should expect flawless results at 1.8 anyway. Sigma is breaking new ground here, there will be imperfections for sure. Hopefully it's OK wide open and improved at 2.8, that will be enough for me already.

 

[SecureGSM]

if you have seen the actual LensRentals produced MTF chart at F1.8 and F2.8, you likely noticed that the lens is very very good at F1.8 already and according to uncle Roger gets "scary sharp in the centre" at F2.8.

The GAS is strong with this one ...

This is a lens that I will probably end up buying, the only question is when. Great news to hear that it so sharp, and the idea of combining 14mm, 1.8 and autofocus opens up a lot of creative possibilities.

Like others I'm interested in the coma results, but it won't be a deal breaker. I don't think people should expect flawless results at 1.8 anyway. Sigma is breaking new ground here, there will be imperfections for sure. Hopefully it's OK wide open and improved at 2.8, that will be enough for me already.

 

[basketballfreak6]

hey guys reposting from my thread at POTN just a real quick and dirty test (literally only spent like 10 mins taking shot and editing) because it's late and i just came home and i am super tired...but here is some preliminary astro sample shots from our suburban backyard

-------------------------------

ok guys...came home from work and it's clear skies, this more or less just a preliminary test as i rushed this coz it's late and i am tired and moon is rising, just a quick and dirty test and edit in lightroom

shot in our suburban backyard

to me coma is very well controlled...it's there but it's minimal, perfectly acceptable to me, YMMV of course, the slight elongated stars is probably just star trailing but also noticing possibly just the smallest amount of field curvature, when i have time over the weekend i'll set up my tracker to test it again (hopefully clear sky and before moon rises), but this should give you some idea

added +40 to vignetting slider in lightroom and it looks good already, i made no CA correction

this lens is looking super promising to me now

full frame:
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 quick coma test by Tony, on Flickr

top right corner crop:
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 quick coma test top right corner crop by Tony, on Flickr

top left corner crop:
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 quick coma test top left corner crop by Tony, on Flickr

centre crop:
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 art astro coma test centre crop by Tony, on Flickr

 

[lkunl]

Wow! Thank you basketballfreak6 for realworld milkyway shot.
It's look very good to me. I'm surprised that coma better than Sigma 20mm/1.4.
Could you please repost the picture without vignette correction?

 

[BeenThere]

Slight coma, but that was expected at this focal length and aperture. Also some purple CA that will probably clean up. Overall, pretty amazing.

 

[basketballfreak6]

Wow! Thank you basketballfreak6 for realworld milkyway shot.
It's look very good to me. I'm surprised that coma better than Sigma 20mm/1.4.
Could you please repost the picture without vignette correction?

no worries mate i might do it later as i mentioned it's been a big massive day and i am pretty wrecked right now lol

Slight coma, but that was expected at this focal length and aperture. Also some purple CA that will probably clean up. Overall, pretty amazing.

haha forgot to mention i did zero CA correction so it's actually pretty negligible but yea to me coma is there but not enough to cause any real concern imho

 

[basketballfreak6]

nubu,

would you be able to test the lens for the potential focus shift issue, please?

all you need to do is at a distance of approx. 1m to target and using the live view or manual focus and apperture stopped down to F8:

focus on the target, take photo. inspect the photo for any possible front or back focusing. Thank you in advance.

Got the lens yesterday (normal shop in Vienna) and did some basic functional tests. Looks great so far. Next week I leave for the austrian mountains and will do some astrophotography with it (and also my ef 14/2.8 for comparison). Will keep you updated! nubu

hey Secure just saw your Q i don't think there is focus shift i did testing against brick wall just under 1m away and as i stopped down all i notice was corner get progressively better hope that helps

 

[SecureGSM]

thank you very much. it certainly helps. cheers!

hey Secure just saw your Q i don't think there is focus shift i did testing against brick wall just under 1m away and as i stopped down all i notice was corner get progressively better hope that helps

 

[BeenThere]

Basketball, what was your exposure time? Not seeing much star trailing.

 

[basketballfreak6]

Basketball, what was your exposure time? Not seeing much star trailing.

only 10 seconds...but i am noticing slightest elongation towards corners of the frame

 

[basketballfreak6]

side note...have to say some of the sigma art primes that are getting released are really becoming great astro options, like their 50 art is damn amazing for MW as well:

Milky Way Core, Rho Ophiuchi & Antares - Sigma 50mm ART by Tony, on Flickr

i shot that at a dark site tho not my backyard lol

i picked up their 135mm art too hopefully be out doing some stuff on a tracker soon too

 

[Antono Refa]

Wouldn't be giving this lens a second thought if Canon had made a practical 14-24 f/2.8 instead of the novelty monster 11-24 f/4.

The 11-24mm f/4 is 180 grams heavier than the 14-24mm f/2.8, and both are likely to seat on a tripod.

 

[Maximilian]

side note...have to say some of the sigma art primes that are getting released are really becoming great astro options, like their 50 art is damn amazing for MW as well:
...
i shot that at a dark site tho not my backyard lol
...

Beautiful colors!

How long was the exposure time? And what else did you do to this pic in post?

 

[basketballfreak6]

side note...have to say some of the sigma art primes that are getting released are really becoming great astro options, like their 50 art is damn amazing for MW as well:
...
i shot that at a dark site tho not my backyard lol
...

Beautiful colors!

How long was the exposure time? And what else did you do to this pic in post?

hi Max, it was 2 min exposure done on a tracker, tho i reckon i can get it pretty close even without using one

key is pushing your histogram towards the middle/right to maximise SNR, it will look like you've over exposed it on the lcd of your camera but you really haven't, in terms of editing nothing special, single sub and all done in lightroom, you want to be pulling your tone curve to effectively S curve (high contrast) then just the usual raw editing stuff to taste

 

[SecureGSM]

you will be pleasantly surprised with your 135 Art performance at infinity

here is 7-images large pano I took with the 135 Art. really just a very qucik one as I had only a few minutes available on site.
no mirror lock up used, very strong wind and fairly hazy atmosphere. 2km+ dostance to buildings accross the bay. anyway, here it is:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XWGWzlEJ7AHj2Cb83

i picked up their 135mm art too hopefully be out doing some stuff on a tracker soon too

 

[basketballfreak6]

you will be pleasantly surprised with your 135 Art performance at infinity

here is 7-images large pano I took with the 135 Art. really just a very qucik one as I had only a few minutes available on site.
no mirror lock up used, very strong wind and fairly hazy atmosphere. 2km+ dostance to buildings accross the bay. anyway, here it is:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XWGWzlEJ7AHj2Cb83

i picked up their 135mm art too hopefully be out doing some stuff on a tracker soon too

nice~

i gave it a whirl helping a mate shoot a wedding a fortnight ago and the lens' nothing short of outstanding

 

[NorbR]

hey guys reposting from my thread at POTN just a real quick and dirty test (literally only spent like 10 mins taking shot and editing) because it's late and i just came home and i am super tired...but here is some preliminary astro sample shots from our suburban backyard

Many thanks for sharing this !
I have to say, this is much better than I expected at 1.8. Really good performance imho.
Time to start saving ...

 

[basketballfreak6]

hey guys reposting from my thread at POTN just a real quick and dirty test (literally only spent like 10 mins taking shot and editing) because it's late and i just came home and i am super tired...but here is some preliminary astro sample shots from our suburban backyard

Many thanks for sharing this !
I have to say, this is much better than I expected at 1.8. Really good performance imho.
Time to start saving ...

no worries! tbh i was the same didn't expect this lens to handle coma as well as it did

 

[applecider]

Here: http://www.jackfusco.com/Blog/Sigma-14mm-Night-Photography/n-N9Kt2Z/i-ZsZZcc6/A

Are some night sky images taken with the sigma 14mm.

The stars in the periphery look odd to me in these shots, but I can't say anything definitively about coma based on them. I wish the author had had some commentary on the lens, though I like his shots very much.