Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens, Sony E/FE

Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art - a star photographer's dream lens

With stargazers in mind, Sigma has designed a completely unprecedented wide-angle lens with an f/1.4 aperture. For stargazing, maximising the amount of light is everything, and never before has such a wide focal length been seen with such a bright lens. In terms of optical quality, this Sigma Art series leaves little to be desired either. The only drawback to lenses of this optical quality is, of course, their large size and weight. However, for many astronomical photographers shooting on a tripod, size is a minor issue compared to image quality and luminosity.

While the focus of the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 is on night skies and birdwatching, it's worth remembering that it's also ideal for landscapes, architecture, interiors and really any situation that requires a wide-angle view. The F/1.4 aperture already gives a nice blurring of the background, even with such a wide focal length.

The optical quality is indicated by the 19 elements of the lens in 15 groups, including one SLD glass element, three FLD glass elements and four aspherical glass elements. In English, the elements of the lens produce a very high quality image and minimise distortion even at the widest apertures. The design emphasises infinite focusing, making it easier to capture the night sky. In addition, sagittal coma reflection, which distorts the shape of stars, is corrected in this lens.

Due to its large size and weight, Sigma has seen fit to include a detachable tripod mount with the lens. The tripod mount is not a superfluous feature at all, as the lens is heavily front-weighted. The collar fits directly on all Arca-Swiss compatible stands.

At night, when photographing stars, the temperature can easily drop very low, which can cause water to condense inside the lens. To prevent this, a heating belt can be placed around the lens, for example. The belt has a small threshold at the front edge of the lens to prevent the belt from slipping in front of the lens and causing vignetting.

When photographing a starry sky, it is important that the focus remains infinite at all times. Sigma's engineers have taken this into account and have fitted a focus ring lock to the lens to prevent accidental focus shifts. When the situation calls for autofocus, you can rely on the lens' HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) focusing motor for fast, accurate and quiet focusing.

If you want to use filters with the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 lens, this is also possible, even if the standard round filters don't fit the lens. The bayonet of the lens has a locking slot for small plate filters. In addition, there is a cover-type slot for rear filters with a locking mechanism, designed exclusively for the 14mm f/1.4, on the front of the lens. It can accommodate up to two filters and, thanks to its special construction, the filters cannot be badly scratched or soiled.

Made from the highest quality materials, the lens body includes a customizable AFL button and an infinitely variable or ”click” adjustable aperture ring. The body is of course also dust and splash proof, and the front element has a water and grease repellent coating. In other words, the lens works reliably even in the harshest conditions.

Key features:

• A lens with unbeatable performance for stargazing
• Stunning f/1.4 aperture at 14mm focal length
• Ideal for landscapes, architecture and interiors in addition to star photography
• 19 glass elements in total, including SLD, FLD and aspherical elements
• Comes with a removable stand
• Focus lock on the body and aperture adjustment ring
• Fast and accurate HLA automatic focusing motor
• Front and rear places for filters
• Weatherproof, splash and dust resistant construction

Technical specifications:

• Burning range: 14mm
• Maximum aperture value: f/1.4
• Minimum aperture value: f/16
• Bayonet: Sony E/FE
• Angle of view: 114.2° (APS-C: 90.8°)
• Closest focusing distance: 30 cm
• Maximum magnification factor: 0,1x
• Optical design: 19 elements in 15 groups
• Dimmer: 11-leaf rounded
• Dimensions (diameter x length): 101.4 x 151.9 mm
• Weight: 1 160 g