GEAR MINI TESTS
SIGMA 15MM F/1.4 DG DN ART LENS £1859/$1999 sigmauk.com
If your primary creative outlet is astrophotography, hugely expansive landscapes or massive interiors – and you don’t mind significant bending of the lines at the edges – Sigma has just launched your dream lens. The Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DG DN Art – the first fisheye of this kind – gives a full 180° angle of view and fits Sony E-mount and Leica L-Mount cameras. It’s an impressive bit of kit that gives a unique look, so rush out right now, buy one and revel at the results. The super-wide f/1.4 and 11-bladed aperture even lets you set a shallow depth-of-field for creative effect, especially at close distances. For the rest of us, it won’t be the most-used optic in your bag. Despite the great build quality and impressive optical effects, it is quite a beast to lug around. It’s also not light on the wallet at £1859/$1999. What you end up doing is looking for things to shoot creatively with this lens. If you’re shooting narrative drama and want a dream sequence, it’s ideal for these one-of-a-kind shots. Or perhaps you want to fake the look of a GoPro or other POV action camera, but in high quality on a full-frame sensor. If you yearn for something different, this lens could give you an unusual look – and you won’t be disappointed in the quality. As it is part of Sigma’s Art lenses, it’s an AF optic built to the highest optical quality. Of course, there are no other 15mm f/1.4 diagonal fisheye lenses to directly compare it to but it’s sharp across the frame and resistant
SPECIFICATIONS Focal length: 15mm Mount: Sony E (Leica L also available) Image coverage: Full-frame Aperture: F/1.4-16 Aperture blades: 11, rounded Construction: 21 elements in 15 groups. 4 FLD, 3 SLD, 2 aspherical elements Image stabilisation: None Minimum focusing:
38.5cm/15.2in Filter size: N/A Dimensions (wxl): 104x159.9mm/4.1x6.3in Weight: 1.4kg/3lb
to all sorts of aberrations that astrophotographers pixel-peep for, such as sagittal coma flare from point light sources. It even has a special retaining ring to accept a lens heating element for long nights at the Arctic Circle shooting the northern lights. The lens comes with a tripod collar with an Arca-Swiss tripod fitting that can be removed. The bulbous front element is too wide to accept photo- style screw-in filters and it would be tricky to fit a matte box to it, too. But there is a real filter holder which accepts gel sheets, making it ideal for ND filters. The lens cap has two slots that can store two of these filters, so you always have them with you.
EXTREME GLASS Get a unique fisheye look (right) from this large lens (above)
The lens has a focus mode switch for speedy changes from AF to MF, which we much prefer to having to dig into menus. There’s also an AF lock button and MFL switch; when this is engaged, the focus ring is disabled. There’s a dedicated aperture ring which can be de-clicked with a separate switch and also locked in place. The lens is resistant to splashes and dust and the large front element is coated against water and oil damage. This is a high-quality, superfast lens that is built to last. For occasional use, it can offer a very different look to your shots. If you can afford it for that purpose and don’t mind the weight, it’s a great buy. AD PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 A uniquely fast super-wide optic Pros: A very distinctive look, wide aperture Cons: Not an everyday optic, heavy
HOLDS UP WELL The tripod collar ensures it is a well-balanced overall package
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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