p.12 #1 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
So I had some time to test my Sigma 14-24 against my 24mm GM and 24-105 G lenses. I'm actually a little shocked at the results as they are far better than I had imagined they would be at the weakest focal length of Sigma 14-24mm. I'm posting some Extreme corner, Mid-Frame and Center crops of the series of the Sigma vs the 24 GM. The 24 -105 is not as good overall at all apertures compared with the 24 GM and the Sigma 14-24 at 24mm.
p.12 #5 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
I did lighten the extreme corners on both lenses using the manual vignette slider in LR's Lens Correction Tab and maybe a bit more so on the Sigma to help view the extreme corner sharpness easier. Other than that these are straight out of the camera in LR with no profile applied to either lens (the Sigma doesn't have one yet). The overall lighting was pretty good for this type of testing as it remained fairly steady with light overcast skies. Default sharpening Amount=40, Radius=1.0, Detail=25, Masking=0.
Overall the Sigma is not as sharp in the extreme corners at f/2.8 and f/4, but by f/5.6 it catches up to nearly as sharp as the 24mm GM and at f/8 and f/11 it is as good. In fact, at f/11 the Sigma looks a tad sharper as diffraction seems to present itself in the 24mm GM and not as noticeable in the Sigma.
I would have no problem using the Sigma for serious landscape work at apertures in the f5.6 through f/11 range in all the focal lengths from 14 to 24mm. The 24mm GM however is still the low light and astro king at f/1.4 - f/5.6.
I ran another series of infinity tests on the Sigma for 14mm, 15mm, 16mm and 18mm. The results of the 14mm and 15mm are really amazing from f/2.8 through f/11. I confirmed again the Sigma's results vs my Batis 18. The Batis 18 and Sigma are on par in the Center and Mid frame from f/2.8 through f/11, but the Batis 18 has a slight edge in the extreme corners at f/2.8 through f/5.6.
p.12 #6 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
ftllens wrote:
is the sigma letting in more light than the GM
No it is from adjusting the manual vignette adjustment slider in the Lens Correction Tab of LR. Since the Sigma has no profile I choose to lighten both lenses extreme corners so the apparent sharpness is easier to observe. I made the corners of the Sigma a tab bit lighter than I did with the 24 GM but it does make it much easier to judge the sharpness of the fine details in the corners for both lenses. The Sigma vignetting is actually not too bad at all compared with the 24 GM even with no profile.
p.12 #8 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Chuck Coyne wrote:
Extreme corner
If this is 42mp@100%, and your other three corners are just as good, this looks like a great copy given that corner performance at 24mm. As you say though, it's at the wide end where this lens is truly remarkable, and seemingly fairly consistently so across samples.
p.12 #9 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
rvh23 wrote:
If this is 42mp@100%, and your other three corners are just as good, this looks like a great copy given that corner performance at 24mm. As you say though, it's at the wide end where this lens is truly remarkable, and seemingly fairly consistently so across samples.
Yes it is at 42 mp @ 100%. And yes all 3 other corners are the same. I knew once I tested it for centering it was a special copy. 😁
Anyway, it is field curvature I think. If I focus on the top left and top right corners, the lens is equally sharp at both corners
For the things I shoot, I don't need edge to edge sharpness at f2.8 as my subject is always closer and the background is invariably out of focus at 24mm f2.8
p.12 #17 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Jman13 wrote:
There is a distinct lack of real-world photos in this thread. Anyone actually go out on a shoot with this yet?
The folks in the US just received the first batch of pre-orders this past week so hopefully we will see more real world photos soon. I'm heading to a favorite little spot in upstate New York for a couple of days and will certainly be testing my new Sigma 14-24 out with some lake and mountain views. So far I'm super impressed with this lens and can't wait to get some real life shots with it.
There's also an okay gallery of examples here. Scroll down to the bottom to download high-rez samples.
I don't really see why real world samples will help in evaluating a lens....
I tested it a lot more today and I think for my copy 20-24mm is soft on the right side at f2.8. At f5.6 it is sharp across the frame.
The AF at f2.8 seems slow indoors from 20-24mm. I miss a LOT of shots under AFC on my a7riii.
Honestly, I don't think the 14-24mm is better than my 12-24mm... I am not sure which one to give up. It is not like the sigma 35mm f1.2 where the decision is very clear cut, the sigma 35mm f1.2 was a keeper for me.
12-24mm AF seems to be much better and pretty well centered from 12-24mm. IT is also lighter and wider by 2mm.
The f2.8 adv in the 14-24mm is let down by its poor AF in poor light... does not help if I can't AF consistently.
Maybe the 14mm f2.8 range is more useful.
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Update. I took a series of A/B pics with my sony 12-24mm and sigma 14-24mm at 14mm, 20mm and 24mm. It seems I was wrong. the sigma 14-24mm corner sharpness is significantly better than the sony at both f4 and f5.6 at all focal lengths.
I guess that's the adv of being f2.8. At f4, the sigma is pretty sharp across the entire frame and by f5.6 it is pretty much perfect. The sony at f/4 has soft corners.
I think I will keep the sigma used it for a trip and then see if I should sell the sony 12-24mm
p.12 #19 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Sounds strange to me as my copy is much better than 12-24.
I was never able to take picture like this I attached some posts ago.
Specially in the 20-24 range.
Also af is very efficient in low light at least as good as 12-24.
Possibly you may have a bad copy?
p.12 #20 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
scalanc2 wrote:
Sounds strange to me as my copy is much better than 12-24.
I was never able to take picture like this I attached some posts ago.
Specially in the 20-24 range.
Also af is very efficient in low light at least as good as 12-24.
Possibly you may have a bad copy?
yes you are right. I took a closer look and updated my previous posts.
AF is hard to say as the sony 12-24mm is only f/4. I was testing the sigma using the right side AF points at 24mm f2.8 indoor lighting. It missed a lot of shots. Maybe the sony is just as bad as I did not do a A/B comparison.
