p.67 #1 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
j4nu wrote:
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.
Thanks!
This Sigma zoom changes the old adage that ultrawides don't do well in the corners. It's corner performance at 14mm is better than at 24mm, but even at the long end it can match the best primes available. The implication therefore is that at 14mm the Sigma is better than the best 21-25mm primes. I'm hoping lensrentals will put up some MTFs for the Sigma in the not too distant future to verify this.
On a 24MP camera, a good copy of this lens should give you very near perfect corners at 14mm, even wide open. I tried multiple copies, and was not happy with the corner symmetry until my 4th one. But that's on a 60MP camera at 100% with a large high resolution monitor. I still see some very slight assymetry for my 4th copy at 100%, but it's no worse than what I see in good copies of high quality primes.
After my first copy of the Sigma, I too had seen how good the corners can be, and was determined to persist until I had a good copy. For me that effort was well worthwhile. Having shot with the lens for nearly 9 months now, I continue to be amazed at how good its IQ is. The days of perpetually looking for better IQ in this focal range are well and truly over for me.
It got very windy towards sunset, making exposure stacking for dynamic range, or even the use of low ISO a challenge, but I also felt like the grassy old-growth trails around Gyeongju felt very impressionistic so I decided to just embrace the blowing foliage in this last one.
[Benefit of the update]
・It has helped improve the camera’s Peripheral shading functionality to reduce vignetting.
・It has improved a rarely-occurring ‘blinking’ phenomenon during movie shooting.
p.67 #5 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
I updated the lens this morning via a7R iii (firmware 3.1) utilizing a Macbook Air with Mojave without any issue.
While on the subject, I have to criticize Sigma's lack of support for customers. I have contacted them numerous times - via email, Twitter, Instagram - that they need to provide 64-bit versions of firmware updates on Mac as people have moved on from 32-bit Mac OS's (like Mojvae) to 64-bit Catalina. ZERO response anywhere. The person who manages their Instagtam account did respond as follows: "I'm afraid I don't have the answer. That is entirely up to Sigma Japan to develop both the firmware and software." I asked for a contact that I can reach out to but no response to that.
I've had to revert back to Mojave on my MacBook Air just to be able to update Sigma lens firmware fort the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the aforementioned 14-24mm f/2.8. That Sigma refuses to even acknowledge this issue, let alone respond to a simple request for more information is TERRIBLE customer service. At this rate, it's debatable if I will ever again consider Sigma lenses for future purchases.
p.67 #6 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Bobu wrote:
Was anybody successful with the update on a Mac computer? I tried two different computers (with different Mac OS versions) and no success so far.
Since all my Macs run Catalina (10.5), I've updated my 14-24/2.8's firmware using the Windows version through "Virtual Box VM".
I beg to differ. As mentioned in a previous post, I am able to update Sigma firmware without issue running Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6. Sigma needs to get their game together.
Since all my Macs run Catalina (10.5), I've updated my 14-24/2.8's firmware using the Windows version through "Virtual Box VM".
I beg to differ. As mentioned in a previous post, I am able to update Sigma firmware without issue running Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6. Sigma needs to get their game together.
p.67 #17 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Got it to work on Mac OS 10.15.4 (haven't tried the new 10.15.5 update yet) with the following approach:
Run the Sony A7R III firmware update. Hit the system update tool and go through the process. After it tells you to connect the camera on usb and it launches the actual sony camera firmware update tool. The Sony updater said I already had the latest firmware but I did not hit finish. I then switched to the sigma update tool and ran that and it updated without issue.
I think Sony's firmware update tool has some sort of hack that overrides Mac OS X's security features that allows the update.
Note I am not responsible if this bricks your camera or lens but it worked for me on OS X10.15.4. I did not try any other approaches so YMMV.
p.67 #18 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
tzhang4284 wrote:
Got it to work on Mac OS 10.15.4 (haven't tried the new 10.15.5 update yet) with the following approach:
Run the Sony A7R III firmware update. Hit the system update tool and go through the process. After it tells you to connect the camera on usb and it launches the actual sony camera firmware update tool. The Sony updater said I already had the latest firmware but I did not hit finish. I then switched to the sigma update tool and ran that and it updated without issue.
I think Sony's firmware update tool has some sort of hack that overrides Mac OS X's security features that allows the update. ...Show more →
it is working even with latest 10.15.5, after enable the security settings for Sony Corporation. thx !!!!
i hadn't installed any memory cards in the body. maybe important cause Sony Updater is sometimes tricky. and battery was full loaded
p.67 #19 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
The Sigma updater is actually Sony software (do Get Info on the program and you'll see.) I had no trouble updating my lens on my a7R III with 10.14.6. But at one point when I updated my camera firmware, I followed the directions here, to allow Sony special access (in the Security & Privacy panel.)
p.67 #20 · Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN first impressions
Well got through all the stuff as we always have to do . Now where my issue is is actually seeing the camera. Fresh battery and all on USB. Ive seen this a hundred times up to this point but not actually connecting not really. Clues
