Sigma formally announces the Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DN DC

[blackcoffee17]

Nice to see Sigma chugging along with some excellent ASP-C options for the R mount. I just wish Canon would open up the full frame mount so we could see reworks of Sigma lenses that Canon never seemed to care about. Specifically, fast UWA for astrophotography and landscape. One can always dream.

I just wish Canon would be half as proactive as Sigma. Don't understand why they cannot make an RF-S 12 1.4 and sell it for a little more than Sigma. They would make the profit instead of Sigma.

 

[Bob Howland]

I just wish Canon would be half as proactive as Sigma. Don't understand why they cannot make an RF-S 12 1.4 and sell it for a little more than Sigma. They would make the profit instead of Sigma.

In business and economics, two important questions are: "At what cost?" and "What are the alternatives?" I suspect that, in this case, the second question is the more important.

 

[mimbu]

I am tired of APS-C lenses from third parties... when is it time for FF?

Never coming. Canon has always hated 3rd parties, which is why they have worked hard to block them from RF. If you want 3rd party glass, RF is the wrong mount to be using.

 

[chrysoberyl]

Where should I look, if I want to know the size is the image circle?

 

[mimbu]

Where should I look, if I want to know the size is the image circle?

The image circle size is not an officially published spec, at least not as far as I have seen. Some YouTube reviews will talk about it, generally in terms of how usable (or not) a given APS-C lens might be on a FF camera. Sometimes some zooms have FF or near-FF coverage for some fraction of their range, for example.

 

[P-visie]

Where should I look, if I want to know the size is the image circle?

If you can match the lens to the accompanying patent application, you can get the image circle diameter from the patent application.

 

[chrysoberyl]

What I want is a 16mm or 17mm f/1.4 lens for Milky Way Core images. Options:

Canon 14mm 1.4. It seems overly compromised. It is also too wide, but cropping is not an issue. It does not take light pollution filters. I have the Canon 20mm 1.4 and I like it, BTW.

Sigma 14mm 1.4 plus a Sony or Sigma camera. It is too wide, but cropping is not an issue. It does not take light pollution filters.

Sigma 12mm 1.4. Clearly, I would have to crop. Someone kindly pointed out Dustin Abbott’s review and images. Lenstip also reviewed this lens. It appears I could crop to ~15mm FOV, using a 4:3 aspect ratio. It takes light pollution filters.

Please critique the above.

 

[neuroanatomist]

What I want is a 16mm or 17mm f/1.4 lens for Milky Way Core images. Options:

Canon 14mm 1.4. It seems overly compromised. It is also too wide, but cropping is not an issue. It does not take light pollution filters. I have the Canon 20mm 1.4 and I like it, BTW.

Sigma 14mm 1.4 plus a Sony or Sigma camera. It is too wide, but cropping is not an issue. It does not take light pollution filters.

Sigma 12mm 1.4. Clearly, I would have to crop. Someone kindly pointed out Dustin Abbott’s review and images. Lenstip also reviewed this lens. It appears I could crop to ~15mm FOV, using a 4:3 aspect ratio. It takes light pollution filters.

Please critique the above.

I have limited experience with Milky Way shooting, but I will mention that regarding light pollution filters, several manufacturers (Kolari, Kase, Astronomik, perhaps others) make light pollution filters that 'clip in' (or magnetically attach) inside the camera body and thus will work with any lens including those without front filter threads. I have a set of Kolari magnetic in-body ND filters (3-, 6- and 10-stop) and they work very well.

I'd also suggest reserving judgement on the 14/1.4. From the available reviews its performance overall seems similar to the 20/1.4 (which I also have and like), and looking at Canon's MTFs it appears that the 14mm lens has better resolution (blue lines) and a bit more contrast (black lines) than the 20mm lens, especially away from the center of the frame.

 

[chrysoberyl]

I have limited experience with Milky Way shooting, but I will mention that regarding light pollution filters, several manufacturers (Kolari, Kase, Astronomik, perhaps others) make light pollution filters that 'clip in' (or magnetically attach) inside the camera body and thus will work with any lens including those without front filter threads. I have a set of Kolari magnetic in-body ND filters (3-, 6- and 10-stop) and they work very well.

I'd also suggest reserving judgement on the 14/1.4. From the available reviews its performance overall seems similar to the 20/1.4 (which I also have and like), and looking at Canon's MTFs it appears that the 14mm lens has better resolution (blue lines) and a bit more contrast (black lines) than the 20mm lens, especially away from the center of the frame.

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You make a strong case. And thanks for the filter tip, very much!