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Archive 2019 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

rvh23
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

After some time with the new Sigma 14-24 / 2.8 zoom, I remain very impressed with its performance. It is the first high IQ zoom that covers my ideal landscape range and can do astro at the same time. Stopped down to my typical landscape aperture of F8 it is as good as the very sharpest primes available across its whole range, and without any significant field curvature. Wide open, stars look excellent across the whole range on my copy too, despite some decentering at the long end (wide open).

From anecdotal reports, it seems perfectly centered copies (wide open) may be very rare, as seems common for most zooms. At the same time, reports of truly bad copies (even stopped down) also seem rare. So far, it looks more typical to have some decentering that cleans up nicely by about F5.6.

I thought this poll might be of interest to see if we can get a better picture of what to expect with this lens. I realize there may not be that many copies out there yet, but that may change soon.

** p.s. Although I use the term "centered" here, I really mean to include the combined effects of anything that disrupts corner symmetry (e.g. tilt).

Edited on Feb 02, 2020 at 05:43 PM · View previous versions

Aug 29, 2019 at 05:48 PM

mwalrod
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

I returned a copy this week that was poor on the right side, even stopped down to f8. I only tested it at 14mm and knew I was not keeping it after viewing those results, so didn't bother testing beyond that.

I have a second copy arriving tomorrow and am hoping for much better performance.

Aug 29, 2019 at 06:03 PM

mcbroomf
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Mine is good WO at both 14 and 24 in 3 corners. It's not really bad lower left (24 is worse than 14) and I've not decided if I'm going to exchange it yet, as you point out perfect zooms are a bit of a unicorn.

Stars do look good on all corners WO at 14mm

Aug 29, 2019 at 06:09 PM

TakenWild
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Just received mine. Well centred at 2.8 @14-18mm. Requires f8 @24mm weak in one corner at f2.8.

I’ll keep mine as I have my Loxia 25 or Canon TSE 24 at that range which I will prefer. I mostly shoot Astro at 14-18mm. It is still very good at 24mm just need to stop down to f8.

My Samyang 14mm 2.8 and Sony 12-24/4 are going up for sale.

Aug 30, 2019 at 04:01 AM

CampK
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Just got email that mine shipped today. Now I have to learn how to test for centering, something I've never done before!

Aug 30, 2019 at 09:55 AM

Tristan.W
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

no dude vote it anymore?

Feb 02, 2020 at 03:18 AM

rvh23
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Perhaps the post initially went out too soon after release, when there weren't very many lenses in circulation. Maybe we can get some more input now.

FWIW, I tried 4 copies in total. At 14mm three of them were very sharp in all four corners even wide open, but the fourth one was a bit asymmetric Most were less symmetric (wide open) at the longer end, but one was very good across the whole range.

Stopped down to about f5.6 - 6.3 all four were excellent across the whole range.

I don't know if there is a way for me to vote 4 times

Edited on Feb 07, 2020 at 06:49 AM · View previous versions

Feb 02, 2020 at 03:30 AM

pwpub
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

I got lucky with the first copy. Excellently centered. Thank god, usually no free buyer returns here in Swizz.

In terms of landscape photography:

- from 14mm to 16mm it's already on par with top primes @ F2.8 - with very good extreme borders, which reach peak performance @ F4 to F5.6

- at 18mm again extremely sharp in the center and midfield, but corners require at least F4, and for optimal performance F5.6

- 20mm is the "weakest" focal range @ F2.8 with my copy, pretty decent but a little glowy. From F4 onward center/midfield sharpness is again top class, and borders excellent @ F5.6 and F8

- 24mm wide-open is quite sharper than 20mm, and @ F4 center/midfield is excellent again. However, border sharpness does not reach the level of the other focal ranges and remains at very good from F5.6 to F8. But to give a context of how good this zoom is even at its weaker range - center/midfield sharpness is very close to the 24/1.4 GM @ F5.6, with just a little less contrast, and borders just about 1 stop behind.

The Sigma 14-24/2.8 is what Sony should have delivered with the 16-35/2.8 GM, of which I tried 4 copies and then gave up.

Feb 02, 2020 at 03:44 PM

zhangyue
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

pwpub wrote:
I got lucky with the first copy. Excellently centered. Thank god, usually no free buyer returns here in Swizz.

In terms of landscape photography:

- from 14mm to 16mm it's already on par with top primes @ F2.8 - with very good extreme borders, which reach peak performance @ F4 to F5.6

- at 18mm again extremely sharp in the center and midfield, but corners require at least F4, and for optimal performance F5.6

- 20mm is the "weakest" focal range @ F2.8 with my copy, pretty decent but a little glowy. From F4 onward center/midfield sharpness is again top class, and borders...Show more →

Yes, mine is also having the weakest at 20mm but still very respectful results. It is absolutely the best SWA lens I ever touched. Your results (match mine) also tell me they manage to get consistent results per their design.

I also ordered 24-70 dg dn, again, no decenter cross zoom range, and also the sharpest f2.8 zoom I tested. almost no weakness and again extreme corner at wider aperture from 50~70 can be improved per review, again match my copy. This is very respectful consistence.

For modern digital sensor density, it become harder and harder for me to consider 2nd hand zoom glasses.

Sigma truly gain my respect now.

P.S, Mine are L mount.

Feb 02, 2020 at 05:00 PM

rvh23
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Excellent, the updated results currently suggest a better than 50% chance of getting a copy that is well bahaved across the whole range.

Feb 02, 2020 at 05:45 PM

GMPhotography
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

I have one coming. Fingers crossed I get a good one

Feb 02, 2020 at 06:21 PM

RayinNY
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

rvh23 wrote:
Excellent, the updated results currently suggest a better than 50% chance of getting a copy that is well bahaved across the whole range.

Yep, that's Sigma. I don't even bother anymore.

Feb 02, 2020 at 06:33 PM

rvh23
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

RayinNY wrote:
Yep, that's Sigma. I don't even bother anymore.

If you're saying you don't bother with Sigma, you're missing out on some of the best optics on the market these days. And quality control of the Sigma Art lenses is substantially better than most other manufacturers according to Lensrentals.

This particular Sigma zoom currently offers the highest IQ you can get in an UWA lens. At it's wide end, nothing can match it. To see so many copies well centered across the whole zoom range at f2.8 is really impressive. Noticeably better than the Sony UWA zooms by the looks of it.

Feb 02, 2020 at 09:15 PM

rvh23
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

GMPhotography wrote:
I have one coming. Fingers crossed I get a good one

Feb 02, 2020 at 09:16 PM

RayinNY
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

rvh23 wrote:
If you're saying you don't bother with Sigma, you're missing out on some of the best optics on the market these days. And quality control of the Sigma Art lenses is substantially better than most other manufacturers according to Lensrentals.

This particular Sigma zoom currently offers the highest IQ you can get in an UWA lens. At it's wide end, nothing can match it. To see so many copies well centered across the whole zoom range at f2.8 is really impressive. Noticeably better than the Sony UWA zooms by the looks of it.

I don't miss decentering, sending back lenses, retesting at all.

Feb 02, 2020 at 09:51 PM

rvh23
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

RayinNY wrote:
I don't miss decentering, sending back lenses, retesting at all.

I suspect your impression comes from old Sigma lenses. The newer Sigma Art lenses undergo some one of the most rigorous quality control in the market. Read this from Roger at lensrentals.com. Scroll down to the section "Addendum: Sigma’s Response". Note the review is for the older DSLR 14-24 design, but the DG DN is even better, and I'm very much looking forward to his MTF curves for it.

9 of the 14 Sigma DG DN zooms are now showing as 'good across the whole range (wide open)' in the poll. That's remarkable for an ultrawide zoom. Trying to find a Sony 12-24 (or 16-35 GM) that does the same is much harder, and I know of several FM members (including Fred) who gave up trying to do so after multiple attempts.

Feb 02, 2020 at 11:54 PM

Aztatlan
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

I'm too paranoid to buy one since returning it here is such a minefield if it is a dud.

Feb 03, 2020 at 04:47 AM

JeyB
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Mine is good across all range, slightly decentered from 20 mm to 24 mm. Stopped down to f8 or f11 gets everything in sharp focus corner to corner. I usually use center focus, but I still have to play for focusing at half center to check if FC is an issue or not. But when I take out this lens I am at work so no much time to fiddle around with it.

All in all I am very happy with it. Nevertheless I am learning now about tilt&shift lenses for straight out of camera corrected perspective of buildings and a somewhat higher point of view in interiors with no distortion. Maybe a Canon TSE 24 f 3,5 L II and also a TSE 90 f2,8 L for close up jewelry photography.

By the way, the less I like about this Sigma 14-24 is the geometric distortion. LR doesn't correct it automatically regardless the lens profile is embeded when I import the raw files.

Feb 03, 2020 at 05:47 AM

rvh23
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

Aztatlan wrote:
I'm too paranoid to buy one since returning it here is such a minefield if it is a dud.

Yes, in Australia your best bet is to find a shop that is happy for you to test the lens in-store, tripod mounted on your own camera. I know of at least two stores in Melbourne where you can do that, and it's how I bought my good copy.

Feb 03, 2020 at 06:13 AM

Aztatlan
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sigma 14-24 DG DN centering

rvh23 wrote:
Yes, in Australia your best bet is to find a shop that is happy for you to test the lens in-store, tripod mounted on your own camera. I know of at least two stores in Melbourne where you can do that, and it's how I bought my good copy.

I just need to organise another trip to NYC. It was a lens-buying spree at B&H last time. So good being able to swap them without hassles on the spot!

Feb 04, 2020 at 03:46 AM

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