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The new SIGMA 14-24mm wide angle lens could be a worthy addition to any professional still photographers bag of tricks
For those who are after the ultimate in stills optics, Sigma has just announced a new 14-24mm addition to the Art lens lineup that makes claim to have almost zero distortion.
Making claim to have made some major advances at its factory, Sigma is now taking advantages of these developments to produce new lenses that produce the cutting edge of optical quality for professional use.
The latest addition to its Art range of glass is the 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM | Art. Designed for full frame sensors Sigma is claiming it to be the ultimate ultra-wide-angle zoom. Certainly on paper it would seem that the new lens has some impressive statistics. In addition to the usual claims of minimal chroma aberration, Sigma is claiming that the new lens has 1% or lower distortion throughout the zoom range at infinity focus.
In addition to this it is compatible with Canon Lens Aberration Correction functionality, further enhancing performance. Tight weather proofing features throughout, not just at the interface with the camera, but within the zoom and focus rings too. A water and oil repellant coating to the front lens element showing clearly that this is a piece of glass designed to be used in all conditions, and by people who will really test it.
An additional “Front Conversion Service” will also be available enabling owners to have the front petal hood converted to a purely round component. Something that Sigmal claims will minimise the chances of the lens appearing in multi-camera VR shoots, given the extremely wide field of view that it is capable of.
No doubt the new lens will make for good repurposing for video uses as well, and from the specifications that we have seen it looks to be an impressive addition to the SIGMA line of lenses. Truly good wide angle lenses are thin on the ground, so it is good to see this area being taken care of, particuarly with a short zoom such as this one, which will allow some creative variation in just how wide you want to go.
No price or specific launch date has been announced yet, but we can be sure that you might need to save some pennies if you want one. More information can be found on the SIGMA website.
Press release follows on the next page.
Welcoming a new ultra-wide-angle lens to the Art line
Leveraging major manufacturing advances at the Aizu factory, SIGMA is now producing
ultra-high-precision molded glass aspherical lens elements as large as
φ80mm and incorporating them in new products. This premier optical technology promises to set a new standard for excellence in ultra-wide-angle lenses.
For the Art line, SIGMA began development simultaneously of two ultra-wide-angle lenses offering the key focal length of 14mm: one prime, and one zoom. In 2017, the company launched the SIGMA 14mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art as the ultimate ultra-wide-angle prime lens. This lens offers outstanding image quality in combination with F1.8 brightness.
Now SIGMA is introducing the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | Art as the ultimate ultra-wide-angle zoom. While minimizing distortion, this lens offers outstanding F2.8 brightness throughout the zoom range and delivers top-level image quality at every focal length and every shooting distance. For these reasons, it is the definitive wide-aperture ultra-wide-angle zoom lens.
Key features
1. Outstanding Art line image quality
Designed to team up with 50-megapixel-plus cameras and offer top-level optical performance throughout the zoom range, the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | Art incorporates three FLD glass elements, three SLD glass elements, and three aspherical lens elements, including one large-diameter aspherical element. Effective distribution of these high-refractive-index glass elements further enhances the corrective effect of the FLD and SLD glass. This optical system minimizes transverse chromatic aberration and other optical aberrations, resulting in outstanding high-resolution image quality.
The first element in the optical system is a large-diameter aspherical lens. Optimizing the power distribution of this and the other lens elements minimizes distortion to 1% or lower.* As a result, points of light appear as points without streaking from the center of the image to the edge, and the light volume is also abundant throughout the frame. In addition, simulations performed from the design stage onward have helped minimize flare and ghosting. In combination, these technologies ensure excellent ultra-wide-angle performance.
*At infinity focus
2. Compatible with Canon Lens Aberration Correction
The Canon mount lens is compatible with the Canon Lens Aberration Correction function.* Matching the optical characteristics of the lens, this function performs in-camera corrections of peripheral illumination, chromatic aberrations, distortion, and more, further enhancing image quality.
*Function not available on all Canon cameras. Further, available corrections may vary by Canon camera model.
3. Professional specifications
Like SIGMA’s Sports line lenses, the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | Art features a highly effective dust- and splash-proof structure with special sealing at the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring, and cover connection, allowing photographers to work in all types of weather. In addition, the front of the lens is protected by a water- and oil-repellent coating that makes cleaning easy. The high-speed, high-accuracy autofocus helps photographers react in an instant to get those special shots.
4. Introducing the new Front Conversion Service
Today’s virtual reality creators favor multi-camera videography that leverages the capability of ultra-wide-angle lenses. Addressing this trend, SIGMA is offering the new Front Conversion Service, in which SIGMA converts the petal-type hood of the 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | Art lens to an exclusive round component. This altered front structure allows the lens to be deployed with greater freedom in multi-camera VR videography. The new front also helps prevent the lens from interfering with other lenses or from casting a visible shadow. The use of this service has no impact on the validity of the product warranty.
Start of service: TBD
Other features
- Rounded diaphragm
- Fast AF with full-time manual override
- Compatible with Mount Converter MC-11
- Available SIGMA USB DOCK makes customization and flexible adjustment possible
- Available Mount Conversion Service
- Brass bayonet mount
- Evaluation with SIGMA’s own MTF measuring system: A1
- “Made in Japan” with outstanding craftsmanship
For more information about the SIGMA GLOBAL VISION lineup of fine products, please visit the official SIGMA global website: SIGMA GLOBAL VISION: http://www.sigma-global.com
Specifications (All figures calculated for SIGMA)
Lens Construction: 17 elements in 11 groups | Angle of view (35mm): 114.2°-84.1° | Number of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm) | Minimum aperture: F22 | Minimum focusing distance: 26-28cm/10.2-11.0in. | Maximum magnification ratio: 1:5.4 | Dimensions (diameter x length): ø96.4mm x 135.1mm/3.8in. x 5.3in. | Weight: 1,150g/40.6oz.
Tags: Production
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