Guy Mancuso
Administrator, Instructor
The Zeiss 21mm is a classic and very good but it does have a mustache distortion that your going to have to deal with in post. The Zeiss 25 F2 is also killer wide.
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Sigma 24mm, I was kind of hoping for this
- Thread starter Jorgen Udvang
- Start date
Good point - no free lunch when it comes to lenses (especially for the D810). That's a good point re the 25mm Zeiss, Last trip I ended up with quite a few shots at 24, might work for me.
bensonga
Well-known member
For what it's worth, Lloyd Chambers' review is very positive re the Sigma 24/1.4 Art, just as it was for the 35 & 50.
As tested on a D810, his conclusion posted today was:
"This is a first class performance, with little to criticize. There can be no doubt that this is the finest autofocus 24mm lens for Nikon or Canon available as of mid 2015. That it is an f/1.4 design is even more impressive."
"Will Zeiss deliver an Otus in this range? That is likely the requirement to clearly beat the results seen here."
Just received my copy yesterday, so perhaps I'll have some samples to share soon (with the D800e).
Gary
As tested on a D810, his conclusion posted today was:
"This is a first class performance, with little to criticize. There can be no doubt that this is the finest autofocus 24mm lens for Nikon or Canon available as of mid 2015. That it is an f/1.4 design is even more impressive."
"Will Zeiss deliver an Otus in this range? That is likely the requirement to clearly beat the results seen here."
Just received my copy yesterday, so perhaps I'll have some samples to share soon (with the D800e).
Gary
NotXorc
New member
I REALLY like the 25 F2 as well. It is a chunky/stout lens and if you don't need AF or fast 1.4 light-gathering, then it might just do the job. Here's a screengrab from LR of an image taken this morning. f/8 on D810. The diagonal line at lower right is flare from the sun, which was just out of frame. It probably could have been eliminated by shielding with my hand. Be aware of field curvature at wider apertures.
NotXorc
New member
I'd wish for something from Zeiss that keeps the same speed (or even slower!) and form factor, but improves flatness of field and has better correction of the outer 1/3. Otus = large.
Enjoy your new Sigma; it looks very competent!
Jorgen Udvang
Subscriber Member
Depending on ones needs, a Zeiss 18/25 combo is obviously an alternative to the 21. I'd managed to forget that. I'll see if I can forget it again, to avoid stressing my wallet more than necessary
bensonga
Well-known member
Just a few quick shots on my way to the office this morning. Gray and overcast here, but at least the inch of snow we got overnight had already melted away. I apologize for the subject matter, nothing very photogenic in this area of Anchorage. Maybe I can get a shot of the rock sculptures in front of the office building where I work later today.
Gary
D800e and the Sigma 24/1.4 Art lens. ISO 200 and f8
Gary
D800e and the Sigma 24/1.4 Art lens. ISO 200 and f8
bensonga
Well-known member
I took a break from work and met a friend for coffee a short while ago. He also shoots with a D800e and has the Sigma 35/1.4 Art lens, so of course he wanted to check out the 24. He likes to shoot close and wide open. The lens was just inches away from this cup. ISO 200, f1.4 at 1/1250th second. Bright sun streaming in from the window on the left.
Gary
Gary
bensonga
Well-known member
Will do Jack. From which image would you like to see the crops? These were all hand held, but for now at least, these are the only examples I have.
Gary
bensonga
Well-known member
I took a gamble and went with the shot of the mural. This image was converted from the Raw file with ACR and very minimal processing in PS6. No sharpening was applied to these 100% crops. Photo was shot hand held, ISO 200, 1/200th at f8 with a D800e. Autofocus indicator/confirmation was on the "Customer Parking Only" sign.
Center 100% crop
Left Upper 100% crop
Left Lower 100% crop
Right Upper 100% crop
Right Lower 100% crop
Center 100% crop
Left Upper 100% crop
Left Lower 100% crop
Right Upper 100% crop
Right Lower 100% crop
Thanks Gary, these are great, and do show what I wanted to see. Lens is back on my acquire list -- at least to test it for a few months for my self :thumbs:
One way to visualize curvature, would be to look at the lower LH or RH corner of the shot you took of the corner of the building -- assuming you focused at the corner or slightly into the frame. In those, the foreground is closer enough to the camera to see if/how field curvature may present in the pavement detail. My guess is this lens will have a pretty significant amount in those last 3 or 4 mm of image frame corner where it started to look soft in the "flat" wall shot...
The coffee cup shot is also telling -- excellent bokeh with really nice transition into the oof areas!
One way to visualize curvature, would be to look at the lower LH or RH corner of the shot you took of the corner of the building -- assuming you focused at the corner or slightly into the frame. In those, the foreground is closer enough to the camera to see if/how field curvature may present in the pavement detail. My guess is this lens will have a pretty significant amount in those last 3 or 4 mm of image frame corner where it started to look soft in the "flat" wall shot...
The coffee cup shot is also telling -- excellent bokeh with really nice transition into the oof areas!
Joe, no need to have deleted, your web jpeg looked great! Once you said "LR jpeg" I was already suspicious that could be the -- or part of the -- cause of what I was seeing, and why I asked how it was generated. (Not sure why, but my experience is LR does not do a very good job with high frequency detail. It may be part of an automated sharpening they apply or ??? What's ironic is that Photoshop does a great job -- you'd think it would be the same conversion engine in LR...)
Please put the image back up, I think folks will appreciate seeing it!
D
Deleted member 7792
Guest
Gary did a far better job than I did in showing what the lens is capable of. From my point of view, it's on par with the other two Art lenses. It will stay in my kit.
Joe
Joe
Another view, a bit less positive, but still rates the Sigma very high. This is from Lensrentals no fee to read. Nice comparison.
LensRentals.com - Just the Lenses: Sigma 24 f/1.4 Art Comparison
Paul
LensRentals.com - Just the Lenses: Sigma 24 f/1.4 Art Comparison
Paul
D
Deleted member 7792
Guest
LOL! No worries. If you've ever been to NC, you know that we're a "high frequency detail" paradise. Even our mountains are full of high frequency detail. It's hard to get away from it and some people get claustrophobic, especially if they've moved here from the desert Southwest.
Anyway, here's a shot from today. This time, I turned off the Detail panel in LR, i.e., no sharpening, did the following adjustments in the Basic panel in LR, and had LR generate a full-sized JPEG (with no sharpening applied). No adjustments in the LR Lens Corrections panel because LR doesn't have a profile for this lens (yet). Rain clouds were moving in and there was a slight breeze. This was hand-held. Focus was on the forsythia (yellow shrubs) in the foreground. EXIF is in the border.
Link to full-size JPEG
And a link to a full-size JPEG with my LR "Tim Ashley Recipe" sharpening applied. Probably too "crunchy" for this lens.
As you can see, Spring is showing its colors here in central NC. This is a beautiful time of year, and I look forward to getting a lot of use from the Sigma 24mm Art.
Joe
Last edited by a moderator:
D
Deleted member 7792
Guest
Paul,
Yep, "trioderob" and I posted links to Roger's review earlier in this thread. Thanks.
Joe
bensonga
Well-known member
There was some discussion of the Nikon AF-S 20/1.8G lens earlier in this thread, as an alternative to the Sigma 24/1.4 Art. I happen to have this Nikon lens in my camera bag also. Today, when I passed by that same "Pete's Tobacco Shop" building, I took some pics of the painted mural with the 20/1.8G lens. Similar overcast light as the photos I took on Sunday. If anyone is interested, I could post similar 100% crops from the Nikon lens here.
Gary
Gary