Sigma 14mm DG DN review — the lens for astrophotography
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The SIGMA 14mm DG DN f/1.4 lens caused shockwaves upon its initial release. Never before has a lens been paired with apertures like f/1.4 and 14mm. As the latest cutting-edge technology, it would be a game-changer in astrophotography, allowing more light into our cameras and revolutionizing complex image compositions of the night sky, coupling landscapes with the starry sky above.
With astrophotography, we need to let as much light into our cameras as possible, in order to resolve the finer details in our nightscape images. With lenses previously at the threshold of f/2.8 to f/1.4, light gathering was acceptable, but resulted in adjustment of other camera settings, including shutter speed and ISO values, to generate a dimly lit image. Now, with f/1.4, it’s possible to capture sharper, more defined images than ever before, and it’s certainly proven to be a lens worthy of a place in any photographer’s camera bag.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Review
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: Design
- Heavier lens
- Excellent lens construction
- Weather-sealed design
At 41.3 ounces (1,170 grams), this lens is much heavier than many of its competitors. Therefore, it is best to use it on a static tripod. It can be used by hand, but its weight may limit the duration of use.
Sigma goes further to produce professional quality optics. From the machining to the choice of materials and the representation of the brand, each glass is like a form of art in its own right and attests to a choice of quality glass.
There are a series of buttons and switches on the 14mm DG DN, including focus mode (to switch between manual and auto focus), manual focus lock (to disable the focus ring), AFL (a button that can be customized depending on how the camera body works), and aperture click (to disable the aperture click when setting this number on the lens barrel),
Features
Focal length: 14mm
Maximum opening: f/1.4
Weight: 2.58 pounds / 1,170 g
Minimum focusing distance: 11.81 inches (30cm)
Dimensions (in): ø3.99 x 5.9
Dimensions (mm): ø 101.4 x 149.9
To go up: SonyE
The filters can be used in a variety of ways, from an adapter attached to the front of the lens (for using glass filters directly in front of the lens) to the integrated rear filter holder. Filters (which are approximately the size of an SD card) can be positioned between the camera and lens, and the supplied lens cap has compartments for up to two filters.
This 14mm lens was designed with weather resistance in mind. Featuring a dust and splash resistant construction, it is suitable for use in harsh environments and bad weather. However, the lens is not completely waterproof and direct contact with water is not recommended.
The lens comes with a one-size detachable L-mount that can be used to house the lens if attached to a static tripod. The mount comes with a universal 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) screw thread to accept the majority of universal tripod mounts.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: performance
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- Excellent light gathering ability
- Clear results at the corner of the frame
- Chromatic aberration corrected compared to previous model
This test image captures a field of sunflowers beneath the arms of the Milky Way, taken at various apertures from f/1.4 to f/4. Shot at a hyperfocal distance of 4.67 meters, the majority of the scene is in focus, except for a few subjects less than half the hyperfocal distance, where focus stacking was necessary when shooting at this aperture. Sharpness is excellent because enough light can enter the camera to focus precisely on the stars in the frame. We used the LCD monitor to digitally zoom in on a star and fine-tune the focus.
At f/1.4, vignetting is more obvious; however, that is the nature of shooting with such a wide aperture. This can be corrected in photo editing software such as Lightroom, where the lens profile can be applied, or you can make manual adjustments. As you decrease the aperture, vignetting becomes less apparent; however, adjustments must be made to your camera’s other settings, resulting in the introduction of artifacts, such as noise.
Compared to its predecessor, the Sigma 14mm F/1.8 DG HSM, chromatic aberration has been significantly improved. The stars are rounder and sharper in the corners and edges of the frame, and there’s no loss of detail thanks to the different apertures.
The color rendering is very good. Not only do the lens’ pristine light-gathering capabilities reveal fainter structure and detail within the Milky Way, but other atmospheric phenomena such as airglow can sometimes be apparent in images, even if the effect was not visible to the naked eye when shooting at night.
In the context of landscape photography, flaring is not so apparent. Only when you directly center the sun (in the context of sunset photography) is flaring somewhat introduced, depending on how you frame and tilt the lens relative to a bright light source.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN: Feature
- Good autofocus capability for daytime subjects
- Improved signal-to-noise ratio
- f/1.4 at 14mm is a game changer for astrophotography
The excellent light-gathering capability at f/1.4 at 14mm is a game-changer for astrophotography. Not only does this extra stop let even more light into your camera, exposures can also be used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of images. Using much higher ISOs it is even possible to acquire images from the Milky Way handheld, although standard practice is to use a static tripod (or star tracker for longer exposures).
The lens can also identify deep sky objects in images at this scale. Images of the moon are identified at a smaller imaging scale and composite images can be deployed to acquire the full visual effect of the lens, for example as the moon moves throughout the night.
Since this lens captures much more light, a digital magnifier built into your camera’s LCD screen can be used to zoom in on a bright star and achieve subtle focus. Rocking the focus wheel back and forth will identify specific light sources.
Autofocus accuracy is good. Working within the camera’s focus area (we used the Sony A7S II), images are in sharp focus across the entire frame, with limited chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame.
One notable (and understandable) scenario is that the lens struggles in more light-oriented environments. In an example of sunset photography, the lens does not respond well when trying to identify the subject. For this reason, manual focusing is strongly recommended. Overall, autofocus is good in well-lit environments, but it struggles more in low-light conditions, with subjects harder to detect.
Even with f/1.4 capability, manual focus is still recommended for dimly lit environments. Even when using a boosted ISO, the subject may be much harder to detect or the focus may be somewhat blurry. Manual focus, taking advantage of greater light-gathering capacity, will provide greater control.
The focus wheel rotates very smoothly to achieve critical focus, especially if focus stacking is used. This smooth operation allows for sharp images in low-light environments, especially for landscape astrophotography.
Should you buy the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN?
If you are looking for a quality lens at the top of its range, with superior light gathering and revolutionary technology, then this is the lens for you. Yes, it’s a more expensive choice, but it’s worth the investment.
The 14mm is a suitable lens choice for versatility in a number of photographic genres. The incredible light-gathering capability at f/1.4 adds an element of artistic flair, and so we guarantee that this lens is a must-have in any photographer’s camera bag.
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