Sigma Launches 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

[ahsanford]

Anybody have a clue as to the filter size? I figure 77mm isn't totally out of the question however the design could lead to softer/darker corners wide open I assume it's the new 82mm standard?

I am thinking that there is no filter thread. The fact that it is a highly-corrected (hopefully) f/1.4...I think that we have a round, bulbous front end. That looks like a fixed hood and B&H usually has all specs when listing an item, but their site says: "Filter Size- Specs not listed by manufacturer". So I am betting it will need an over-the-hood filter holder....which is REALLY unusual for a 20mm lens..but this is an unusual 20mm that is pushing the limits.
Right?

Hood is permanent + front element is bulbous = no filter threads possible. Hand hold your filters, wait for Lee / Wonderpana bulbous lens outrigger support, or find another lens.

IMHO, daylight landscapers should avoid this lens for now. If it turns out to a be a beast optically, if a front-filtering option eventually appears, etc. then it might be a fine choice.

But let's face it, with no front filtering, this 20mm prime I believe is aimed squarely at astro people. Perhaps also at events where flash is prohibited (like a concert).

- A

 

[epsiloneri]

Apparently, Dual Aspherical front element can and should improve situation with coma. There is a hope!

Nice! But..:

the recent Canon's super fast EF 50mm f1.0 L use an aspherical element

...it was introduced in 1989 and discontinued 15 years ago

 

[Chaitanya]

Where are the Art Macro lenses?

The Sigma 150mm and 180mm macro lenses were updated just before sigma switched to its Global Vision nomenclature. They are both excellent lenses.

I know Sigma updated their 105/150/180mm lenses just before the launch of global visions lineup. Although I would have liked to Sigma update those lenses with Art nomenclature to how Sigma had updated their 120-300mm f/2.8 to Sport lens via an electronic circuit update. Just few months back I use the Sigma 180mm macro for snakes and I really like the lens. Having ability to upgrade the firmware to improve compatibility of lens at home is much better than having to send it service centre or having no update at all and keep getting Err99.

 

[Jesse]

Doesn't Sigma want more of MY money? Gimme a damn 85 already!

 

[NancyP]

Yes, I would (and do) use a 180mm lens for close-ups of pit vipers. ;D With 1.4x teleconverter on, just for a little more distance from a temperamental cottonmouth (grumpiest regional pit viper). When one displays (gapes, showing white mouth lining), I back up! Speaking of which, there may be a shortage of anti-venin soon, the small company that inoculates the large animals (horses, I believe) may be going out of business due to retirement. Some molecular biologists are working on developing a recombinant "humanized" anti-venin antibody , which would be good - probably less expensive in the long run, fewer side effects.

 

[ahsanford]

Doesn't Sigma want more of MY money? Gimme a damn 85 already!

If I had to rank the priority of need for primes (for all photographers, not just for my needs), I would guess:

1) 50*
2) 85
3) 35*
4) 100/Macro
5) 135
6) 24*
7) A prime in the 14 - 20 range*
8 ) 200

* = Art prime released/announced

So Sigma's March of the Art Primes seems an interesting battle plan to say the least. It's possible that they've just cherry picked weaker Canon lenses to outperform (the 35L and 50L are spectacularly low hanging fruit from a resolution perspective) or wanted to nail gaps that no one offers (like this 20mm Art), but eventually they need to go toe-to-toe with Canon and Nikon's best primes.

We shall see what's next, but we'd be foolish to not expect an 85mm Art before much longer.

- A

 

[sleepnever]

I love my Sigma 50 f/1.4 A (event though I had to get a 2nd copy), but man I wish it was weather sealed. Ok, maybe not the 50, but I can't believe they made a wide-angle 20 f/1.4 that sky/astrophotogs will love, but didn't weather seal it. Come on Sigma!!!

 

[ahsanford]

I love my Sigma 50 f/1.4 A (event though I had to get a 2nd copy), but man I wish it was weather sealed. Ok, maybe not the 50, but I can't believe they made a wide-angle 20 f/1.4 that sky/astrophotogs will love, but didn't weather seal it. Come on Sigma!!!

It's like Sigma is saying:

"Many have noted that this lens is not weather-sealed. This is not a problem because -- as we all know -- astrophotography should not be performed in the rain."

- A

 

[epsiloneri]

It's like Sigma is saying:
"Many have noted that this lens is not weather-sealed. This is not a problem because -- as we all know -- astrophotography should not be performed in the rain."

But then AF would be superfluous as well! Perhaps that's why they go 20 rather than 85 - temperamental AF not as much of an issue.

 

[sleepnever]

I love my Sigma 50 f/1.4 A (event though I had to get a 2nd copy), but man I wish it was weather sealed. Ok, maybe not the 50, but I can't believe they made a wide-angle 20 f/1.4 that sky/astrophotogs will love, but didn't weather seal it. Come on Sigma!!!

It's like Sigma is saying:

"Many have noted that this lens is not weather-sealed. This is not a problem because -- as we all know -- astrophotography should not be performed in the rain."

- A

Well even for me as a Landscape photographer... being out at night, in the cold, or somewhere where it is wet (PacNW for example), weather sealed lenses are handy. That was my point.

 

[ahsanford]

I love my Sigma 50 f/1.4 A (event though I had to get a 2nd copy), but man I wish it was weather sealed. Ok, maybe not the 50, but I can't believe they made a wide-angle 20 f/1.4 that sky/astrophotogs will love, but didn't weather seal it. Come on Sigma!!!

It's like Sigma is saying:

"Many have noted that this lens is not weather-sealed. This is not a problem because -- as we all know -- astrophotography should not be performed in the rain."

- A

Well even for me as a Landscape photographer... being out at night, in the cold, or somewhere where it is wet (PacNW for example), weather sealed lenses are handy. That was my point.

I hear you. Just wisecracking on my part.

Unlike a black/white feature like IS -- where you simply have it or you don't -- sealing isn't so binary. There are a thousand shades of weather protection, and in absence of an industry standard, I don't trust any manufacturer's statements on it.

I'd use a Sigma Art in the rain, but I wouldn't leave it out in a downpour. Same is true of my sealed L lenses.

- A

 

[erjlphoto]

What a great surprise this lens is....Let's see some sample images and a good review !!! I can't wait.
WOW! it can be preordered at B&H and is $120 cheaper than I expected.....: Oh MY!

Thanks for the heads up! I checked out the price and am floored at how reasonable it is. Makes more sense As an addition to my Canon 24-70 than a wide angle f/4 zoom....

 

[ahsanford]

What a great surprise this lens is....Let's see some sample images and a good review !!! I can't wait.
WOW! it can be preordered at B&H and is $120 cheaper than I expected.....: Oh MY!

Thanks for the heads up! I checked out the price and am floored at how reasonable it is. Makes more sense As an addition to my Canon 24-70 than a wide angle f/4 zoom....

...unless you are principally shooting landscapes. Even at $150 more, I'd get the 16-35 f/4L IS ten times out of ten over this Art lens if so. Consider, the 16-35 F/4L IS has a number of huge upsides:

• Front filter ring, at the ubiquitous 77mm to boot (jillions of options there)
• If you need ND grads, 4x6 filters, etc, you can do it with the Lee 100mm system (again, jillions of filter options) instead of some complicated expensive options like Lee SW150 or the Wonderpana system
• Far lighter
• Weather sealed
• Shoots down to 16mm FOV -- sometimes you can't move your feet with landscape work...

I'll leave sharpness out (we don't know yet) and IS as in low light handheld work it's likely a wash with a three stop faster lens.

I don't want to talk you out of what might be a great new lens with this Sigma, but I'd consider the above before you make a buying decision. Again, it all depends on what you shoot.

- A

 

[Chaitanya]

Yes, I would (and do) use a 180mm lens for close-ups of pit vipers. ;D With 1.4x teleconverter on, just for a little more distance from a temperamental cottonmouth (grumpiest regional pit viper). When one displays (gapes, showing white mouth lining), I back up! Speaking of which, there may be a shortage of anti-venin soon, the small company that inoculates the large animals (horses, I believe) may be going out of business due to retirement. Some molecular biologists are working on developing a recombinant "humanized" anti-venin antibody , which would be good - probably less expensive in the long run, fewer side effects.

I usually use the 100mm f/2.8 L for photographing snakes(both venomous and non venomous), on this occasion my 100mm failed so I had to borrow the 180mm lens from a friend of mine. If you ever visit western part of India, please do let me know I will show you the Russell's viper these guys have worse temperament than any other vipers I have seem to this day. Even I help with research projects related to snake venom and producing better Anti venom. India is already facing a shortage of quality Anti venom, the reasons here are lack of political will power and animal rights activists shutting down couple of antivenom production units.

 

[Berowne]

The only comparable lens is the Leica Summilux-M 21/1.4 Asph. Price is slightly higher. It comes with less elements and the front group is similar. Does anyone has a legend für the MTF Charts of the Sigma (how many lines per mm is the red and green graph? I guess 5 and 10.)

http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/SUMMILUX-M-21mm-f-1.4-ASPH/Downloads

 

[Talley]

The only comparable lens is the Leica Summilux-M 21/1.4 Asph. Price is slightly higher. It comes with less elements and the front group is similar. Does anyone has a legend für the MTF Charts of the Sigma (how many lines per mm is the red and green graph? I guess 5 and 10.)

http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/SUMMILUX-M-21mm-f-1.4-ASPH/Downloads

Still it's 21mm... which I know it means not alot but it's still not 20. And I have suspicions that this Sigma will be ART quality.

 

[hiepphotog]

The only comparable lens is the Leica Summilux-M 21/1.4 Asph. Price is slightly higher. It comes with less elements and the front group is similar. Does anyone has a legend für the MTF Charts of the Sigma (how many lines per mm is the red and green graph? I guess 5 and 10.)

http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/SUMMILUX-M-21mm-f-1.4-ASPH/Downloads

I don't think anyone would publish a 5 and 10 only MTF chart. Sigma's chart is 10 and 30. The Lux 21's price is not slightly higher; it's $7k. It's also abysmal at coma control. Of course, its redeeming quality is being smaller and lighter.

 

[DLD]

Anybody have a clue as to the filter size? I figure 77mm isn't totally out of the question however the design could lead to softer/darker corners wide open I assume it's the new 82mm standard?

No filters with bulbous front element.

At 20mm. That's kind of disappointing. However I do shoot astro stuff, using a 14mm Samyang for that right now. Which isn't easy to get good filters for... I've had my eye on the 15-30mm Tamron but the filter issue is still there... This Sigma may be good but I feel somewhat limited without any viable filter option... however 1.4 at 20mm...

 

[freezehead]

Anybody have a clue as to the filter size? I figure 77mm isn't totally out of the question however the design could lead to softer/darker corners wide open I assume it's the new 82mm standard?

No filters with bulbous front element.

At 20mm. That's kind of disappointing. However I do shoot astro stuff, using a 14mm Samyang for that right now. Which isn't easy to get good filters for... I've had my eye on the 15-30mm Tamron but the filter issue is still there... This Sigma may be good but I feel somewhat limited without any viable filter option... however 1.4 at 20mm...

For Tamron 15-30 or Sam 14mm, you can use the fotodiox filter system, look for dustin abbot review, they are ~500$

 

[infared]

Has anyone found any images posted on the web that were shot with this lens?????
Surprisingly, not even Sigma has posted any images yet on their own product page.