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Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art Lens Review

Sigma lenses have garnered an excellent reputation with photographers for providing impressive attributes, including an ability to render high sharpness and beautiful details. Having recently enjoyed a hands-on Sigma 24mm F/1.4 DG DN Art Lens review, I was super excited when Sigma agreed to send another popular model for this Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art Lens review.

Although the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens for Sony launched back in 2020, the redesigned ‘DN’ version is the current widest zoom lens, which Sigma makes for Sony mirrorless cameras. With spring around the corner this was the perfect time to review an ultra wide angle lens and discover whether this could be the perfect choice for wide angle landscape photography.

What is the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art lens good for?

With an ultra wide 114.2 - 84.1° angle of view, the 14-24mm zoom range is designed for subjects such as landscapes, interiors, city and architecture, as well as astro photography. The bright constant aperture also supports handheld shooting, although a tripod is often preferable to get sharp results for these sorts of subjects.

Ultra wide lenses are not for the faint of heart and you generally have to get very close to your subject in order to fill the frame with interest. We photographed rivers, streams, wide landscapes and seascapes, and were impressed by the amount of a subject you can fit into the frame.

You can see an example of the same scene shot at four popular focus widths, with 14, 18, 20 and 24mm to appreciate just what a great range you can get from this zoom.

How much is the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art lens for Sony?

The full-frame (FE) Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art lens for Sony costs £1,299.00 new, and while not cheap, is competitive for what it offers. You can save money with an excellent condition 14-24mm used Sigma lens for around £1000.00, although these are extremely popular and get snapped up quickly.

Sample landscape with a misty backlit stream @20mm. 1/8 sec. f/9. ISO 100

Is the Sigma 14 24 worth it?

Just like other Art series lenses, the Sigma 14 24 is definitely worth it, and you can expect Sigma’s highest-quality optics, most durable build quality and widest aperture for the focus range. These features combine to create a versatile high-performing zoom with impressive build and equally impressive results.

How much does Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 weigh?

Despite including 18 glass elements, which are required to achieve high image quality, a wide field of view and bright aperture, the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 weighs a very reasonable 795g. It’s also relatively compact at 85x133mm, so you can bring it anywhere from epic landscapes to city walkabouts.

Sample wave motion seascape @17mm. 1/8 sec. f/8. ISO 100

What is the minimum focus distance of the Sigma 14-24?

The minimum focus distance of the Sigma 14-24mm lens is 28cm, which helps you to achieve dynamic compositions and exaggerated perspectives when shooting close to your subject. This matches comparable lenses for Sony cameras and caters for virtually any type of ultra wide composition.

Sample landscape @14mm. 1/8 sec. f/8. ISO 100

How does the Sigma 14-24mm lens perform for landscape photography?

Spoiler alert, if you’re looking for a lens to capture wide scenes, this is a great choice, which performed really well for landscape photography. The Sigma 14-24mm lens is well built and easy to use, with familiar ergonomics, and other pros include:

• Excellent centre sharpness, even when shooting at wider apertures, as shown by 100% crops from the 42 megapixel Sony a7R III.
• The focus ring supports smooth and accurate manual focusing, which is ideal for pinpoint accuracy
• Images show excellent contrast and accurate colours straight out of camera
• Flare and ghosting was handled superbly in most situations thanks to a Nano Porous Coating
• Great portability when hiking and biking to destinations
• You can achieve attractive sunstars when stopping the aperture down

All in all this was an enjoyable lens to use in the field, although there were considerations for landscape photography, which are mentioned below.

Sample seascape @15mm. 1/20 sec. f/8. ISO 100

What are the cons to this lens?

Perhaps the biggest consideration to this and most other ultra wide zoom lenses, is the bulbous front element with a built-in hood. This makes it impossible to thread regular lens filters such as a polariser, which is especially useful for landscape photography.

To get around this Sigma has included a rear gel filter holder, although you have to take the lens off the camera to use rear filters, which can be tricky if it’s raining or dusty. You can also get specialist filter systems, but they come at a price, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing between an ultra wide zoom vs a prime lens.

Another note is the AF speed, which is no problem whatsoever for static subjects, but I would definitely recommend a fast prime such as the incredible Sigma 24mm F/1.4 DG DN Art Lens or 20mm F/1.4 DG DN Art for faster moving subjects.

100% crop from image above

Is the Sigma 14-24mm weather sealed?

Yes, there are rubber weather seals around the lens mount, focus and zoom rings as well as the cover connection. When coupled with a weather sealed Sony camera body, you can expect robust performance in light rain and dusty environments.

Example sunstar @14mm. 1/10 sec. f/22. ISO 100

Other useful features

Sigma has included a handy AFL button on the barrel, which is customisable via the camera menu to suit your personal workflow. This can be set to different AF types, subject recognition and any other features that help you capture your style of images more quickly.

Three different special lens elements are included in the updated optical design to reduce chromatic aberrations and maintain contrast and sharpness. These are FLD glass, SLD glass and an aspherical lens, which support even the highest resolution sensors found in Sony cameras such as the 61MP A7R IV and new generation A7R V.

If you shoot landscapes and other suitable ultra wide angle subjects with any Sony E mount camera, the Sigma 14-24mm lens offers a versatile zoom range, excellent image quality and easy portability. There are few competitors who can match the lens’ performance at a comparable price, although if you need a polariser you may want to budget for a dedicated front filter system.

Buy your Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens for Sony today and head out to enjoy landscape photography at a whole new level, wherever it takes you.

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By Nick Dautlich on 24/04/2023