p.1 #1 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
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(added August 2020): Fred now has posted a great review of the Sony 12-24 2.8 GM in which there are lots of direct comparisons with the Sigma 14-24 DG DN.
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EDIT: After the initial tests I show in the earlier pages in this thread, I discovered that while the lens was well centered at 14mm, that was not the case at the longer end of the lens.
By chance, the results in the early pages here show performance with what turns out to be the best corner of that lens at the long end. See the centering results here for relative performance of all four corners at F2.8 and 24mm. Even when focusing for best sharpness in the worst-performing (LR) corner, it remains noticeably softer than the best corner at F2.8.
The rain has stopped for a bit so I've been able to take a few preliminary shots with the new Sigma 14-24 zoom. Corner sharpness is important for me, and also often a good indication of across the frame sharpness, so that was the first thing I looked at. First up wide open F2.8 corner performance at 14mm and 24mm, always focused for best corner sharpness.
These are 100% corner crops at the most extreme corner location in the frame that still allows magnified view focus on an an A7rII (42mp), and include minimal (CR default) sharpening. The 24mm end of the lens is actually better than I thought it would be.
p.1 #4 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
TravelinBriNY wrote:
Thanks, how did you get a copy of this lens already?
By staying in touch with the distributor directly. It's a lens I've been particularly keen to get hold of. But I see it listed as "in stock" at BH now too.
p.1 #5 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Here is an illustration of the lens' field curvature (at infinity) for 14mm at F2.8. Top is corner sharpness resulting from center-focusing, and bottom the improved result when focusing for the corner. A7rII / minimal CR default sharpening.
** edit ** actually this was at 14.6mm rather than 14mm according to the exif, but close enough
p.1 #6 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
It seems the somewhat poorer corner performance at 24mm is only relative to the remarkable result at 14mm. Here is a reality check of the performance at 24mm wide open at F2.8 against my Loxia 25/2.4 also at F2.8 (i.e. stopped down very slightly). As above, 100% crops from the far corner, minimal sharpening, A7RII.
p.1 #8 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Is this lens so uninteresting, or why don't we see ANY YouTube reviews of it yet, although apperently even normal users are getting theirs delivered already?
p.1 #9 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Finally (for today) here's the zoom at 21mm against the new "king of the heep" Nokton 21/1.4, stopped down to 2.8. I'll retest to confirm these quick tests another day as I'm out of daylight, but at this stage it looks like nothing short of remarkable performance from the zoom.
p.1 #12 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Coma wide open (F2.8) at 14mm looks great to me. This is the worst performance I could produce (brightest sky object I could find). Far corner 100% crop, iso 640, 4 sec. I had to use uncompressed raw to avoid weird Sony-ness around the brightest star when using compressed raw
Some flare tests yet to do tomorrow when the sun is out, but this lens is looking great all round so far.
p.1 #13 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
johnahill wrote:
Looks promising, what's the deal with rear filters on this lens?
There's a drop-in space for a small rectangular filter. I'll be using a front mounted filter system instead as the rear system doesn't accommodate polarizers, and I already have a round 150mm Nisi CPL+ND64 filter. Just need to wait for Nisi to bring out the adapter (which I'm pretty sure will happen quickly), or in the meantime may adapt my Sony 12-24 adapter as that lens is only a millimeter or so larger in diameter.
p.1 #15 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
rvh23 wrote:
Coma wide open (F2.8) at 14mm looks great to me. This is the worst performance I could produce (brightest sky object I could find). Far corner 100% crop, iso 640, 4 sec. I had to use uncompressed raw to avoid weird Sony-ness around the brightest star when using compressed raw
Some flare tests yet to do tomorrow when the sun is out, but this lens is looking great all round so far.
Was this focused in the center? If so, it looks quite good.
I am seriously considering replacing my Sigma 14 1.8 with this lens for backpacking astrophotography... the 1.8 weighs approximately two bricks and has an annoying amount of coma.
p.1 #16 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Sean Goebel wrote:
I am seriously considering replacing my Sigma 14 1.8 with this lens for backpacking astrophotography... the 1.8 weighs approximately two bricks and has an annoying amount of coma.
I still hope they'll make a ML version of that lens, maybe even 1.4...
p.1 #18 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Very promising. Crossing my fingers and ordering one. Tired of dragging a bag full of wide primes on hikes, and all the lens switching that sometimes entails here in the dusty Southwest.
Then, I noticed that it has 11 rounded aperture blades. Concerned about what the quality of sunstars is going to be, and 22 points is a bunch. Guess we'll see. Should be nice for bokeh though on the longer end of the range.
p.1 #20 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Mine arrived this morning, here are some quick thoughts:
1. Auto focus performance is slow as compared native Sony lenses. This is my first Sigma lens, and the only non-Sony FE lenses I've had are Zeiss primes. Auto-focus performance probably won't affect my usage much, as this is a landscape lens.
2. I was somewhat hoping this could be used for the rare occasion I want to vlog or shoot wide video on a Ronin SC, but it might be too heavy. I haven't tried it yet. Autofocus performance is also something to test for video.
3. Close focus sharpness is very very good, in my quick test. I need to test sharpness at infinity yet.
4. The rear filter system as described in the booklet is achieved by cutting filter sheets using an included filter guide, a fine marker, and scissors. I'm quietly hoping someone will make well performing filters for this so I don't have to cut them myself.
