My biggest worry was dealing with the large setup, but given we both found ways to make it more than just reasonable means that others who are on the fence should be able to find something that works for them as well.
-Tim
Jman13 wrote:
Yeah, I don't keep it mounted, but it attaches so quickly, it basically is as fast as any other filter. I just pull it out of my bag, pop off the rear cap I bought for it on Amazon, secure it to the lens, and pop off the Nisi filter cap. Done. No slower than pulling out my regular filters, unscrewing the stack cap, unscrewing the filter from the other filters in the stack, and screwing it on to the lens, then screwing the stack cap back on my other filters. In fact, it may be a little faster.
My biggest worry was dealing with the large setup, but given we both found ways to make it more than just reasonable means that others who are on the fence should be able to find something that works for them as well.
It is large, but provided you have a pocket in your bag to fit it, it really is quite easy to use in the field. It fits in one of my front pockets on my shoulder bag, and I put it in the outer pocket of my backpack when using that too...no issues.
p.66 #9 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
MAubrey wrote:
I guess it'll be 4, 8, 12 then!
I can work with that.
I've asked the developer if there is any desire to produce a linear polarizer as well. We won't be able to rotate the filter but we can always rotate the camera. It won't be perfect but could be useful.
p.66 #12 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Looks like Nisi is running another sale, this one until May 26 - 15% off the normal price of the entire NiSi range. Only on the Offical NiSi USA Store at nisiopticsusa.com.
p.66 #13 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Hey guys, what the consensus about the Sigma for astro work. Apologies if it's been asked already, haven't trawled through the entire thread yet.
p.66 #14 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Just did both a kickstarter pledge for 3x filters, and ordered a NiSi S5 kit with CPL, 3 stop medium, 3 stop reverse grad and 5-stop ND. Didn't want to pass up the 15% sale, plus the 5-stop ND was on clearance already so I got that crazy cheap.
I couldn't get a warm fuzzy that the 82mm adapter listed on the NiSi website for the 14-24 Sigma applied to the DG DN version, it just says the 14-24 DG HSM....so I didn't order one yet. I'm hoping there is an adapter soon so I can use the S5 with my other lenses as well.
I'll probably do a 4, 8 and light pollution for the auroras.
p.66 #16 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
So I've finally decided to try this lens after contemplating getting it since its release, as it seems to be the "ultimate" ultra wide angle, at least for now . I just got it so didn't have too much time to use it, but since there was some discussion here about copy variance I tried Fred's decentering test (af-s using magnification in center first, then photos with the main object in the corners). It seems to me that my copy lags a bit, at least compared to the results posted in this thread, e.g. this good vs weak corner comparison at 14mm and 16mm (200% zoom from 24 mp - A7iii):
or all four corners at 14mm at 100%:
I know it's pretty crazy to compare corner sharpness in an ultra wide angle at 100% or even more, but since this lens is touted as the best we can get now and I can see the difference between the "good" and "bad" corner in my copy, I'm wondering now if I should try my luck and exchange it for a new copy.
I want to do more structured tests (stopped down, etc.) during the weekend, but for now a couple more photos can be seen here:
p.66 #18 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Thanks Jordan! Ping me if you want some company on that trip..... Hopefully we're out of the woods sooner rather than later.
-Tim
Jman13 wrote:
Beautiful shot, Tim! I've got to make it out to Rickett's Glen sometime....probably not until we're out of the woods on the coronavirus thing, but still.
p.66 #19 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Third time is finally a charm with this lens: my new copy is well-centered at 14mm and almost as good at 24mm. I would have given up after three lemons in a row. So relieved.
j4nu wrote:
Do you think I can get better than this if I try my luck again ?
Thanks!
24mm is the weakest focal length of this lens and the results there look acceptable to me, but you can definitely do better at 14mm on 24 megapixels. Though there's always the smaller chance you will get worse! (The copy you have here is better than the first two I tried, though I seem to be an outlier.) I think the key is whether you think this is good enough for you. Maybe the difference goes away at smaller apertures and that's where you normally shoot.
If I were you I'd also try again using manual focus, then another round with manual focus in one of the weak corners. It's a tricky lens to test because the field of view is so wide: you have to make sure you tilt the camera in the same way to get to each corner or your plane of focus will be off.
p.66 #20 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Sarpedon wrote:
Third time is finally a charm with this lens: my new copy is well-centered at 14mm and almost as good at 24mm. I would have given up after three lemons in a row. So relieved.
24mm is the weakest focal length of this lens and the results there look acceptable to me, but you can definitely do better at 14mm on 24 megapixels. Though there's always the smaller chance you will get worse! (The copy you have here is better than the first two I tried, though I seem to be an outlier.) I think the key is whether you think this is good enough for you. Maybe the difference goes away at smaller apertures and that's where you normally shoot.
If I were you I'd also try again using manual focus, then another round with manual focus in one of the weak corners. It's a tricky lens to test because the field of view is so wide: you have to make sure you tilt the camera in the same way to get to each corner or your plane of focus will be off. ...Show more →
Thanks for your opinion! Yes, I agree that in the end it's a personal decision . The funny thing is that if all corners were that "bad" it would probably be easier for me to accept as now I see this good corner and I keep thinking how cool it would be to have all corners like that .
Anyways, I'll do some better testing (MF on the corner is a good idea indeed) throughout the weekend and see what I come up with...
