Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens real-world review

Sigma 20mm F/1.4

Sigma’s new masterpiece, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art gets a lot of attention. This time I would like to feature a more real-world oriented review by photographer Tyson Robichaud.

He writes:

The real magic that this lens brings to the table is firstly its speed.  As has been said, nowhere else can you find a full frame lens this wide, this fast.  Considering that for something like astro photography, most lenses in this range, at best, are f/2.8 with the rare exception of an f/2 or f/1.8 UWA (that is up to two full stops faster!) until you hit the 24mm f/1.4 variants.  It’s not just fast for speed’s sake either, it’s pretty darn sharp wide open too.  That in and of itself is reason to consider it.  Add in the optical quality, and relatively modest price and Sigma has continued to not only pressure the big boys, but is kicking ass in the lens game.  Good on you, Sigma.  Keep it coming.

Tyson’s review comes with a lot of sample pics, test pics, and aperture comparison, and it evaluates the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 for astrophotography. If you want a review that tells you how this lens performs in the real world and outside a lab, then Tyson’s review is for you.

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM sells at $899: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements and Five SLD Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Built-In Petal-Shaped Lens Hood
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens sample pictures posted

Sigma 20mm f/1.4
Shot with Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM and Canon EOS 5Ds R (image: Sigma/Wataru Nakamura)

Sigma posted a set of 22 sample photos shot with the new Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM “Art” lens. A Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 5Ds R were used for the sample pics. The Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM performance is stellar.

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM key features:

  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements and Five SLD Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Built-In Petal-Shaped Lens Hood
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma 20mm f/1.4

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM DxOMarked (a tempting lens)

Sigma 20mm F/1.4

DxOMark posted the lab results of their Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM tests. Needless to say, the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM performance is stellar, and the lens easily beats the Zeiss Distagon T 21mm f/2.8 ZE as well as the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. Oh, and the Sigma costs much less than the lenses it beats.

From the conclusion:

Sigma continues to raise the bar with this new addition to their Art series primes. The new Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM compares very favorably with the Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/21, even outperforming it when stopped down, and it looks very promising against the relatively new Nikon Nikkor 20mm f1.8G ED.

Canon has yet to upgrade its old EF 20mm f2.8 from the film days, but it offers some excellent zooms that cover 20mm; however, even when stopped down, they lack the edge-to-edge sharpness of the Sigma. Of course, the Sigma is an ultra-high-speed model that’s suited to a variety of subjects, including indoor scenes with low ambient light levels, as well as landscapes, and even architecture […]. At around $899, the Sigma is competitively priced and difficult to ignore. If you’re in the market for a 20mm, this model is definitely worth a closer look.

Sigma 20mm f/1.4

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM  B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via DxOMark]

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens in stock and ready to ship at $899

Sigma 20mm F/1.4

The new Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM “Art” lens is in stock at major retailers at $899: Amazon Adorama B&H Photo

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM key features:

  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements and Five SLD Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Built-In Petal-Shaped Lens Hood
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM “Art” sample pictures

Sigma 20mm F/1.4

Photography Blog posted a set of 36 full-size sample pictures shot with the new Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM “Art” lens (on a EOS 5Ds R). Full-size images available, can be downloaded.

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens is on sale at $899: Amazon | Adorama | B&H Photo

Key features:

  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two FLD Elements and Five SLD Elements
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Built-In Petal-Shaped Lens Hood
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma 20mm f/1.4

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM announced, ships in November at $899

Sigma 20mm F/1.4
  • EF Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • FLD and Special Low Dispersion Elements
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor
  • Full-Time Manual Focus Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Thermally Stable Composite Material
  • Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Sigma announced their new Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens. The Sigma 290mm f/1.4 will ship in November 2015 at $899. Pre-orders are available at B&H Photo and Adorama.

With a focal length of 20mm and F1.4 aperture, this lens delivers outstanding large-aperture brightness and bokeh, delivering unprecedented visual experiences.

SIGMA has extensive experience in leveraging its advanced design capabilities and leading-edge technologies to craft large-aperture prime lenses that bring out the full potential of ultra-high-megapixel DSLRs. As its latest achievement in this category, SIGMA has created an ultra-wide-angle lens with F1.4 brightness. With a focal length of 20mm and F1.4 aperture, this lens delivers outstanding large-aperture brightness and bokeh, delivering unprecedented visual experiences. Allowing the photographer to leverage the perspective provided by the wide -angle and the shallow depth of field provided by the large aperture, this lens is ideal not only for such ultra-wide-angle subjects as landscapes and starry skies, but also for snapshots in low light, indoor photography, portraits with a natural bokeh effect, and much more.

Art line delivers high-level artistic expression

SIGMA is organizing all its interchangeable lenses into three product lines: Contemporary, Art, and Sports, each with a distinctive concept. Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, our Art line lenses deliver high-level artistic expression. Offering astonishing rendering performance that meets the highest standard, they are perfect for landscapes, portraits, still-lifes, close-ups, and casual snaps. They are made for the kind of photography that unleashes the inner artist. A powerful ally in every genre of photography, SIGMA’s Art line lenses excel both in the studio for formal works and outdoors for impressive shots of architecture, starry skies, and many other scenes.

More at Sigma.