Sigma announce 14mm F1.4 DG DN Art series lens for Sony E- and L-mount cameras

Sigma has announced a new high-grade Art series 14mm F1.4 DG DN lens for Sony E (FE) and Leica L-mount cameras. It is available from the 23rd June at £1399 inc VAT or $1599 in the US.

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WEX (Sony FE mount/ Leica L-Mount)

B&H Photo US

Sigma says the lens has been “optically optimised” for astrophotography and it’s described as the World’s fastest lens for this kind of work and thus should be highly corrected for coma at infinity focus. However, it’s important to stress the lens also is corrected through profiling in-camera as well; through the use of what’s now being euphemistically called “digital or mathematical elements”. In other words, this lens depends on correction profiles. Even so, this lens is very exciting.

I’m not a Sony or Leica SL user but lenses like this add a lot of value to systems; thinking in terms of investment protection statements. While the Sony system is attractive already, the Leica SL system is looking increasingly that way also.

There are some nice features besides the 19-element construction. The rear takes sheet filters and the front cap has storage for two sheets. I’m unsure if Sigma makes these caps or if they get them made for them (which is typically the case) but someone has an eye for design, which is unusual these days.

Nikon, Canon, et al, please take note. I can not understand why the major manufacturers don’t think this way. Perhaps it’s because they don’t make these items themselves and contract them out? I don’t know for sure, but as other components are such as shutters, IS systems, and AF motors, I presume lens caps, hoods and tripod feet are.

I particularly dislike (and avoid) hoods that bayonet onto extending barrels using friction (and usually considerable twisting force) to lock them into place. This action must damage the lens. I much prefer those that are loose to fit and lock with a button.

It also comes with a removable tripod foot with Arca-compatible grooves – note that really only applies to heads with screw-down clamps (lever-type clamps such as the one from RRS are unlikely to work. Arca-made lever clamps should be okay but it is best to check first).

This replaces the F1.8 version and is claimed to be 58% faster at the initial aperture (whether that’s an average figure across the frame to include vignetting or calculated in the central core remains unclear). However, the new lens is also likely to be faster at F1.8 (across the frame) than the F1.8 version through less vignetting, though that’s an informed guess.

Lenses like this would once have been the preserve of Nikon but they seem more interested in high-end zooms lately, which is good. However, the old Nikon, Nippon Kogaku, would have been innovating in every product group and why it was the number one choice with professionals in the 70s and 80s. They’ve either forgotten that or choose to fight the battles they can win.

It was rumoured that Sigma’s OEM dept made the Zeiss-branded Sony AF lenses for the SLT cameras (just as Nittoh made the Zeiss-branded lenses for the Contax G1 and G2 cameras. Nittoh also made the Contax G series camera bodies and was also responsible for the Hasselblad X-Pan and X-Pan II cameras and lenses.).

So perhaps this new 14mm F1.4 lens from Sigma is a fitting response to Sony’s shift from Zeiss to G-Master lenses, as presumably they’re made in-house. Either way, Sigma, as a relatively small player, is becoming very influential as a high-end lens manufacturer.

From the press release: