MINI TESTS
SIGMA 14MM F/1.4 DG DN £1399/$1599 sigma-global.com If you are shooting for the stars, then this is the lens you need to fit your Sony E-mount or Leica L-Mount camera. It’s the new Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN ultra wide-angle from the flagship Art collection, and one of its primary uses is for astrophotography. It actually has a lens heater retainer, rear filter holder and rear filter slots aimed towards astrophotographers. Its internal build employs one SLD (special low distortion) element, three FLD (ultra-low dispersion) and four aspherical elements for sharpness while eliminating sagittal coma flare, which distorts the shapes of stars. The optical design and super multi- coating minimise ghosting and flare when shooting starry skies and long- exposure night scenes. If that sounds a bit limited to star- gazers, what makes it a stunning lens for shooting the night sky also makes it ideal for interiors and architecture. And as it’s so wide and fast, you can use it to get a truly unique perspective with a wafer-thin, shallow depth-of-field that the speedy aperture gives you. Simply put, no other lenses are as wide and fast as this one for modern mirrorless cameras, which opens up a host of creative possibilities. Sigma
does sell a 14mm f/1.8 lens, but this was designed for DSLRs and modified to fit mirrorless mounts. Sony also sells its own 14mm G Master, which has a maximum f/1.8 aperture. To go from f/1.8 to f/1.4 is only two-thirds of a stop, but it means the new Sigma is far longer, wider and heavier than any of the f/1.8 versions. That’s the penalty you pay for something so bright. The new lens has an aperture ring, which can be set to A and controlled by the camera if you prefer. The ring can also be de-clicked or locked into place so it can’t get accidentally knocked. There’s an AF/MF switch. We approve, as it saves delving into menus. Plus an AFL button is included, which can be customised depending on the camera and system. Because the front is so bulbous, you can’t fit conventional filters, but there is a rear filter holder that allows sheet- type filters to be attached. A new front lens cap has been specially designed with two rear filter slots hidden inside. And since the lens will make a camera front-heavy, the optic comes with a removable tripod foot. Inside, the lens is only the third in the Sigma family to use the new high-response linear actuator (HLA) motor, which delivers fast, smooth, quiet and accurate focusing compared to a conventional stepping motor. It’s hardly essential in a lens as wide as this, but it is useful – as we found trying to lock focus at f/1.4 using our regular test dog subject. At the widest aperture, the look is unique and can make for creative
SPECIFICATIONS Mount: Sony E, Leica L Image coverage: Full-frame Aperture: F/1.4-16 Aperture blades: 11 Construction: 19 elements in 15 groups, 1 SLD, 3 FLD and 4 aspherical Image stabilisation: None Minimum focusing: 30cm/11.9in Filter size: No front filter ring Dimension (dxl): 101.4x149.9mm/4x5.9in Weight: 1170g/2.58lb shots. The lens is surprisingly sharp wide open; close it down a stop or two and it’s spectacular. That’s where it’s most likely to be used for low-light situations – and it excels. We did spot some purple fringing wide open, but it was impossible to detect when closed down by even a stop. You may not be interested in shooting the stars, but this 14mm f/1.4 is great for cramming lots into frame, doesn’t show massive bending like a GoPro can, and is both sharp yet can be soft when shot wide open. There’s nothing like it at any price. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 Top-quality Art glass you can’t get anywhere else Pros: Unique lens, image quality Cons: Size and weight
WIDE BOY The lens is so large it has its own tripod foot (above). Control buttons are useful (below)
“As it’s so wide and fast, you can use it to get a truly unique perspective with a wafer-thin depth-of-field”
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