Sigma 14mm f1.4 Art REVIEW vs Sony 14 1.8 : Astro heaven!

[@cameralabs]

My Sigma 14mm f1.4 DG DN Art review - a superb lens for astro, landscape and urban. Corrected version! Check prices on the Sigma 14mm f1.4 at B&H: bhpho.to/3qwZoI6 // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3WZQY8u Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Gordon’s retro gear channel: kzbin.info Check MPB to buy and sell used gear: bit.ly/3ULU9yL Check eBay to find vintage gear: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=1&pub=5574908462&toolid=10001&campid=5338329149&customid=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg Lost photos? I recover mine with: www.dpbolvw.net/click-100568658-13808570?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stellarinfo.com%2Fphoto-recovery-software.php Equipment used for producing my videos Panasonic Lumix S5 II: amzn.to/3Hf5IcI Sony A6400: prf.hn/l/pRO0wp5 Sony e 24mm f1.8: amzn.to/2TqWNzk Rode NT USB mic: amzn.to/3AdHcUp Rode Wireless Go II mic: amzn.to/3xkCvGo Rode Lavalier Go mic: amzn.to/3ygzzKY Godox UL150 light: amzn.to/2VpVbXE Godox QR-P70 softbox: amzn.to/3yQfGdF MacBook Pro 14in (16GB / 1TB): amzn.to/3PrKbPV 00:00 - Introduction and pricing 00:58 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 rivals 01:46 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 design, controls, tripod collar 05:15 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 focusing 05:48 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 focus breathing 06:27 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 optical correction lens profile 07:14 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 landscape quality 08:24 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 astro photography quality 09:01 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 vs Sony 14mm 1.8 for astro 09:41 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 portrait quality 10:00 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 vlogging 10:56 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 macro quality 11:14 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 bokeh blobs 11:45 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 vs Sony 14mm f1.8 bokeh quality 12:07 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 vs Sony 14mm f1.8 diffraction spikes sunstars 12:26 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 for video 13:19 - Sigma 14mm f1.4 sample images and verdict Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[@waveland]

Thank you for the Vlog test Gordon. The subject separation is outstanding and certainly offers a unique visual styling for narrative filming. Sigma keeps coming up with technically excellent and very useful glass. This 14mm is definitely on my future purchases list.

[@cameralabs]

Glad you enjoyed it! I wasn't going mad was I? The vlog section really did have a special look to it!

[@waveland]

@@cameralabs Not your imagination Gordon. Very stylized obviously but in a way reminds me of the pop you get from the Nikon 85mm f1.2. We’re used to losing contrast at these wide apertures which with these modern designs and coatings doesn’t happen in the middle of the frame these days. It’s a very special lens.

[@cameralabs]

@@waveland phew, glad you can see it too!

[@DaveEtchells]

The “3D” look immediately popped out at me, even before you mentioned it. It was just an instant “oh wow, what’s going on here?” reaction. It was very surprising, it feels like there’s something more going on than just the wide aperture. (Maybe it’s the combo of such good DOF separation, together with the forced perspective of an ultra wide?) Really excellent review BTW. You were the OG of video reviews, and have only gotten better with the years 👍😁

[@ro3843]

I sold my canon RF mount bodies a while ago - i like sony but was also annoyed by the third party ban. As time goes on and more lenses like these are released i find myself feeling even better about my choice to switch systems.

[@marcusricciphotographyllc]

There's been a few really nice lenses that have come out, like the 35-150mm f2 Tamron.

[@NetvoTV]

What ban?

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

Thank you for all the time and efforts as always!

[@cameralabs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@S-LAB]

If I had some extra money left over I would buy it. But also the more affordable aps-c lenses are delivering great results at f1.4

[@kenneth6102]

You would want to hold this lens with three arms for vlogging 😂 Great video! Many thx!

[@cameralabs]

Yeah, I couldn;t vlog for long but the results looked so good, I kept trying again!

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

I can't wait for the DC DN 18-35 & 50-100!

[@cameralabs]

I'd love for there to be a new 18-35!

[@Dartheomus]

While I like my R5, I sometimes regret going with Canon when cool options like this come out.

[@cameralabs]

Just keep repeating - I can get a cheap 16!

[@unclefart5527]

Re: mounts. When I realized the Nikon's "Z roadmap" only had a few lenses I was remotely interested in (under $5,000) I dumped them and went E mount. What's amusing is the long awaited 200-600 when it ever shows up isn't even a S class lense. Loving my E mount Sigmas.

[@paololarocca7684]

I like the colours in the vlogging clips, may I ask which colour profile did you use?

[@cameralabs]

I only every use standard profiles - this was the standard Sony profile. The lens design helps make the image pop, but so do other wide fast lenses.

[@kidnamedtervel]

Sigma 14mm f1.4 - 1.27KG / Sony 14mm f1.8 - 0.42KG. So does a 2/3 stop difference really worth it? No

[@cameralabs]

Not to you for sure, but for some astrophotographers, absolutely.

[@NetvoTV]

I think Tamron lens has a golden warm look, is this true and if I get the Tamron 50-400, will getting the Sony 14mm F1.8 will make pictures between them doesn't match? Even lens between Tamron lenses going to match? Does it make sense if I get the 14mm F1.8 to use as a low light 2X crop to reach 28mm everyday and ultrawide angle lens to pair with the 50-400? I think it make more sense than to get the Tamron 17-50 F4 because you can crop with the A7RV and you won't get low light with the 17-50? Or am I not completely right and there are better options? Should I get Panasonic G9 II system because their 9mm F1.7 can get low light too and F3.4 of DOF is good for that focal length anyway but I can't crop, at least not much and there isn't a 50-400 equivalent of lens in MFT and the G9 II screen is flip to the side which is not ideal for photography? Fuji XT5 dedicated dials are tempting but will I use them much and the colors seem emo and nostalgia driven instead of realistic and modern futuristic that I wanted. Lumix and Nikon have my favorite yellow color as the menu theme which is nice but both MFT and FF Lumix doesn't have the 50-400 eq. and Nikon Z8 is heavier and unsure about the lens selection too Sony A7RV then is for me, right?

[@cameralabs]

Yep

[@LukeMaximoBell1]

At more than double the weight of the Sony I would always rather choose the Sony.

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

Hi Gordon, Another good review of yours , Thanks. I have a question, Do you have Sony RMT-P1BT bluetooth remote controller? If yes, Could you pls. try if this remote controller is working with this Sigma lens in term of focus control ( + - button on the remote controller) ? Thanks

[@cameralabs]

Good question, but I'm afraid I don't have that controller. But since the lens is natively driven by the AF system of the camera, I would expect it to be controllable by the camera in the same way as other lenses.

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

@@cameralabs Nice then. Thanks Gordon.

[@Dan-yy7lk]

Just bought my first Nikon Mirrorless, z8. Ive heard really positive things about the ETZ21 lens adapter i think you even reviewed. im guessing with this Sony E adapter, i should be able to use this Astro monster lens on my Z8?

[@cameralabs]

I honestly wouldn't know, I've not reviewed that adapter myself so can't say. TBH, adapters are always going to be a compromised solution as they introduce another join where things can go slightly askew and reduce your potential quality. Yes, they do amazing things, but you may not be getting the best from a lens and body combo with them, and if you're shooting astro wide open, you'll notice first. Always best to go native, so I'd wait for Nikon to do something like it, or hope a third party goes native. Or better still, try a test before you buy.

[@MHarvey-tp5km]

Weight is less of an issue wheh youre mounting on a tripod. An extra KG or two or weight is virtually insignificant when it comes to all the gear youll need to carry. Just get a lighter backpack! The cap is really cool

[@ro3843]

True that.

[@robertsaca3512]

An extra kilo or two? That's HUGE. My entire lens and body combination often doesn't break a kilo.

[@jeffrydemeyer5433]

Would be great if vloggers were to start wearing harnasses to do their vlogging. would be pretty cool as that would mean they had their hands free. Come to think about it there probably are vloggers doing that that already. Anyway looks like a very interesting lens, I hope sigma returns to making big no nonsense glass like this and starts adding RF and Z

[@DaveEtchells]

Wow, what a lens! A fantastic review as always, too👍 FWIW, I did see more comatic aberration in the star field with the Sony. It’s still pretty darn good, but if I were an astrophotographer, the Sigma would be my immediate first choice.

[@cameralabs]

Nice to hear from you Dave, and thanks for the kind comment! I'd say you're spot-on. Get the Sigma is you NEED or VALUE the f1.4 aperture (eg Astro), but for everyone else, the Sony makes more sense for its size, weight, full support for Sony's electronics etc. Still, isn't great that we have choices like these to make?

[@vicentvanmole]

Wish these lens has no to less distortion & not over weight,which all manufacture should pay more attention instead of additing many unless button

[@gilknutson1938]

They need to bring this lens out in Pentax mount!!! The lens is a perfect match with Pentax’s Astrotracer capability!

[@cameralabs]

This is designed for short flange mirrorless cameras, so the optical design is wrong for DSLRs - sadly for Pentax!

[@focuspulling]

Really, really freaky wobbly warped shot at 12:56 in the guitar shop - what happened?

[@cameralabs]

That's the Sony stabilisation

[@focuspulling]

@@cameralabs Quite compelling proof that digital stabilization -- so often touted as a substitute for genuine optical stabilization, used as an excuse for Sony to cut corners and forego push-pull integration with lenses combined with IBIS -- is simply awful!

[@cameralabs]

@@focuspulling it really depends on who's holding the camera and what they're doing. Sometimes it can work really well, and if you're handholding more static compositions, it can work well too - YMMV - I do shake quite a lot.

[@lqr824]

15:32 OK, I'm really impressed by the perfectly round out-of-focus highlight circles, no visible onion ring (which I think is a side effect of cheap aspherical elements, no?) It's a beautiful effect, but sadly only available if your subject is within like 60cm/2feet or so? I think you'd have trouble finding shots where you could not only get bokeh for the subject to pop slightly, but actually enough bokeh to see those nice circles. Canon's rumored to be working to license two Sigma lenses to the RF mount and I'm hoping for the 14/1.4 and 50/1.4. (28/1.4 and 85/1.4 would also be attractive additions to Canon's lineup too. Canon NEVER made a 28/1.4 for EF, and took about 20 years to make the 85/1.4, and even took 6 years for the 50/1.4, leaving users to choose between the 50/1 and 50/1.8 that were available almost from the beginning of EF. Canon also never made anything wider than 2.8 below 24mm that I recall.)

[@DaveEtchells]

Wow, that’d be *fantastic* if Canon would actually let Sigma into their platform, here’s hoping that’s true! (It’s actually a matter of Canon licensing Sigma to use their mount, rather than the other way around.) Onion-ring bokeh comes from how the tungsten-alloy molds are made for pressing aspheric lenses. They’re made on ultra-precision lathes with single-point diamond cutting tools. The diamond tool basically leaves a surface with a single long but microscopically wide groove spiraling from the center to the edge. Onion ring bokeh is basically the lens imaging that groove. Panasonic was actually the first company to overcome this, by *hand-polishing* the molds to get rid of the grooves without altering the overall curvature of the lens surface. Other companies eventually figured it out too, and it’s now pretty routine.

[@lqr824]

@@DaveEtchells I have a hard time believing that this solution wasn't found even when making the very first molded aspherical. But you sound like you know the subject well so I'm happy to believe you.

[@DaveEtchells]

@@lqr824 Yeah, everyone knew that the grooves were the problem, or at least they figured that out very early on. That was part of the reason why ground/polished aspherics continued to be relevant in the market for a good while after molding technology appeared. (Another reason is that it’s very challenging to use molding to make large-diameter aspheric elements due to issues with thermal contraction of the glass as it cools, leading to internal stresses.) The problems were the nanometer scale of the grooves, and the required precision of the lens curvature. How could you get rid of the grooves without changing the optical shape, which had to be meaintained to just 10s of nanometers? I first saw the manual-polishing solution on a personal tour of Panasonic’s lens factory in Tendo, Japan (near Yamagata). The first breakthrough was just thinking that it might actually be *possible* to manually polish them out. The next trick was to have a profile-measuring instrument with nanometer-level accuracy and a fine enough tip to be able to register the grooves right next to the worker doing the polishing. Then it was “just” a matter of workers developing the skill and “touch” to be able to controllably remove just the right amounts of material from the right parts of the mold, literally working with a cloth wrapped around their fingertip dabbed with diamond polishing paste. They’d look at the profile the measuring machine showed, identify an area they wanted to work on, then gently rub that portion of the mold surface for what they thought from experience would be the required amount. Then they’d scrupulously clean the mold and re-measure the profile. It was unbelievable, they were taking off just 10-20 *nanometers* of material at a time 😮 It was really remarkable watching it done, and I wrote it a whole article for my website (Imaging-Resource.com) describing it, it would have been a huge news story at the time, but alas, Panasonic decided at the last minute that it might give away too much proprietary info to their competitors, so asked me not to publish it. Within a couple of years it became common practice, but I never got to “break” what would have been an amazing story 😢

[@XDR2201]

Judging from your review. I’m gonna stick with my Sony 14 1.8. I can use it for both astro work and with gimbal plus square filters for video work.

[@cameralabs]

The Sony 14 1.8 is still an amazing lens - you'd really have to want or need the extra aperture and astro-related features to consider swapping.

[@XDR2201]

@@cameralabs I shoot tons of astro with Sony 14 1.8. I would say 2/3 of a stop from the Sigma isn’t worth it. And swapping would be useless for my video work. Most gimbal (except the pro level gimbal which is very heavy) can’t handle 1+ kg lens. Not to mention the need for tons of square filter for video work that would add more weight to the Sigma. The Sigma is really a dedicated astro lens.

[@AR-vf7vg]

"..heading to the darkest place in Brighton..." lol

[@PavSZ]

Only 15min? Where is the rest of your video Gordon? 😉 Just kidding. Very good and very thorough review. I've really enjoyed it #whenigrowupiwannabeasgoodasyou

[@cameralabs]

Hah, thanks Pav! I try to keep them reasonably concise these days, but still want to get my comparisons in there. Lovely lens, but tough competition with the Sony. Loved your review too, great sample images, and as always your very shallow DOF pieces to camera!

[@dannyli9424]

This is the very first " comparison" between the new Sigma 14 1.4 and Sony 14GM in terms of Coma, well, not exactly a scientific comparison but at least two image shot in same spot, even the time is different but it does give us some pretty good idea how the coma compare, and it's a good news to my eyes, anything that is as good as the 14GM is good. the old Sigma 14 1.8 Art I have is pretty horrible in this area, so definitely a lens I wan to own.

[@cameralabs]

Glad to help, I was surprised so few of the other reviews have made any comparisons. And yet I seem to have the least views.

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

Nebula Photos compared coma

[@dannyli9424]

@@rockmusicvideoreviewer896 saw that already, thanks

[@cameralabs]

@@rockmusicvideoreviewer896 but did they also do vlogging?

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

@@cameralabs Danny Li didn't mention anything about V logging. Your reply seems a little defensive. I didn't mean anything by mine, other than just to help him out with directing him to additional info on coma.

[@scottfineshriber5051]

Amen! I’m enjoying seeing the innovations coming out of the L-mount alliance. A Q3 with PDAF and tilt screen? World-class lenses from Sigma at Sigma prices? I’m guessing there is a lot of collaboration between Sigma, Leica and Panasonic, beyond what they make public. Thanks for another great review.

[@cameralabs]

You're very welcome! ANd yes, Sigma's really knocking it out the park and making L mount more attractive with every release!

[@skakdosmer]

An equivalent lens for my Canon APS-C cameras would have to be an 8.75 mm F/0.875. Somehow I don't see that on the horizon.

[@cameralabs]

You can wish!

[@skakdosmer]

@@cameralabs my father would have said, "you can wish in one hand and spit in the other and look to see in which hand you get the most".

[@SonnyJacobLee]

really wish this comes to EFM mount

[@cameralabs]

I don't think there will be any new EFM lenses anymore

[@AjaySingh-228]

Nice Sir

[@ajvan011]

Can this go on nikon z6 ii?

[@cameralabs]

Sadly not in Z mount

[@---us7qf]

Not sure if its just on my side Gordon, but I am not hearing any sound from this video.

[@cameralabs]

Hmmm, not sure why that would be, there's sound on mine! But it's just uploaded so may be reprocessing? Could you try refreshing or in a different browser?

[@---us7qf]

@@cameralabs I can hear it now. I was watching on my phone before, and when you had just uploaded it. Now that I have restarted, it seem this wretched KZbin is allowing the audio through. Thanks Gordon.

[@cameralabs]

@@---us7qf probably a rendering thing, glad it's resolved now!

[@MarcelVolker]

All well and good that there are now *three* premium 14mm prime options for the Sony system... but I do wish a manufacturer would make a decent affordable wider-than-16mm prime lens at a moderate aperture (say 2.8) and weight. Right now there's an absolute chasm between these Sony & Sigma primes (and equally premium or heavy zoom options) on the one hand, and as far as I know only Samyang's wildly outdated & overweight 14mm f2.8 (which is also still a bit overpriced IMO). Come on people, you can do it!

[@cameralabs]

On the other hand, look at Canon's EOS R system - they do have a 16 2.8, but so far, no 14 primes.

[@MarcelVolker]

@@cameralabs It's a mad world! ;)

[@Sushi-hs1cs]

Your title is misleading. I was expecting a Sony vs Sigma direct comparison. Where this was just a review of the sigma now and again mentioning the Sony.

[@ajlbeer]

AMEN!

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

10:00 waiting to see what Camera Conspiracies has to say about this lens.

[@cameralabs]

Well it's clearly the PERFECT lens for vlogging! I'm a little disappointed no-one else tried it for this in the other reviews I've seen.

[@JoaquimGonsalves]

@@cameralabs hahaha

[@jan-martinulvag1953]

Yes that was very 3D

[@LukasZ92.]

for me this is not a practicable lens... way too big and heavy, and only a tiny bit better as the Sony (if it es even better) - yes f0,4 extra light, but how important is that really... if you really looking for that extra bit of light, track your images and you are fine, probably more benefit and you dont have to carry that heavy lense when using it for daylight photography

[@mikelyon5595]

Amen!