Fast lenses are not easy, like the Sigma 20mm f / 1.4 DG HSM ART. And expensive lenses aren’t always good. The paradox of astrophotography is that it can be a lucrative game – it’s not just the computer equipment you need, it’s also astronauts, which means that every penny can be counted in real time. in lenses.
Important details:
so so: The 20mm lens is prime for full-length and APS-C still images.
Example: Available mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F-mount, Sony E-mount, Sigma SA-mount.
Pixel width: The fixed specific length is 20mm.
Dating: f / 2.8-f / 16 mau.
Number of spins: There are no filters.
Sad: 1 kg
The problem is, a cheap lens will tell when it comes to stellar, wide -angle or wide -angle photography. Distortion, comatic aberration, redness – if you wear optics you can set yourself up for long -term injury.
In the fight to release the Sigma 20mm f / 1.4 DG HSM ART lens (opens on new page). At a little under $ 899 (£ 800) it’s not the cheapest of the little ones, but neither is the Sigma 14mm f / 1.8 DG HSM ART. (opens on new page). That’s the exact length for an astrophotophoto, and that tempting, large aperture is the real drinker in the light, giving you a lot of options when setting up your displays. But is it a good thing?
Sigma 20mm f / 1.4 DG HSM ART evaluation lens: Design
- 1kg weight
- ʻAutofocus
- There are no filters
We’re big fans of Sigma’s ART range (see our 14mm f / 1.8 and 12-24mm f / 2.8 reviews to see us in full fanboy streaming), and part of that is building the quality of the lenses. Here, Sigma’s knowledge of building pro-grade lenses is fully explored: the right materials and the right mindset will quickly see where your money is going against the backdrop. low scale astrophotography.
The glass is organized into 11 groups, with 15 items in total. One is FLD (‘F’ Low Dispersion) glass, and the other is SLD (‘Special’ Low Dispersion) in the name of chromatic aberration control, while Sigma says its Super Multi-Layer Coating takes care of flaming and ghosting in the view.
That 20mm focal length is simple, and because it’s not on the wide side of things, that means this lens has more advanced applications than astrophotography; due to its high aperture brightness and autofocus (especially over time) it is suitable for commercial photography applications such as events, Christmas, local photography and more.
There’s no stabilization, most of the camera isn’t cluttered, and helps with the low weight of the lens. It’s a bit too small depending on the type of lens you buy – the Sigma SA -mount weighs 950g; the L-mount power is 1.035kg. That low weight will come at a lower price point, which is the loss of pro-grade weather sealing on some of Sigma’s other ART-series lenses here. Because astrophotography is a practical activity when most readers don’t think about it here, but it’s important to remember if you’re buying this lens for regular competition.
The aperture, in all cases, is a large un. At f / 1.4 it gives you a wide range of options when it comes to displays. Nine doors for bokeh are pleasant to look at, while the defocused areas of the image seem to be a bit of a concern for astro styles. However, it is two times faster than the f / 2.8 lens, so it works backwards, which means that if you shoot 30 seconds at ISO 3200 on an f / 2.8 lens, you can use at 20mm f / 1.4 and reduce the ISO to 800 without. change the overall display of the image. We are not saying that the 20mm ART is designed with precise astrophotography in mind, but it is true in many cases.
It’s a place to cut small boxes – no, of course – for photographers who like to use with filters. This makes great use of ground snappers, although the astro types are well equipped with light pollution filters and so on. Like some of its ultra-wide, ultra-bright lenses, the design here doesn’t allow for a traditional filter ring, so if you want to use a filter, you’ll need to buy a three-sided filter. . The 20mm f / 1.4 is very popular with the cinematic community, so there are a few things to consider – it’s worth making sure there is something that suits your needs.
The final consideration is long – 20mm wide -angle, but wide -angle lenses are there, and fans of the 500 -rule know that it can significantly change the closing speed, with sharp effects for ISO settings. At 20mm, for example, the 500 rule allows a display of up to 25 seconds without stars; at 14mm you get another 10 seconds. Mind you, we tried our review on the MoveShootMove star tracker and got beautiful results.
Makani Sigma 20mm f / 1.4 DG HSM ART: Hana
- Chromatic aberration is well corrected
- Geometric drawings, even at wide angles
- More from corner to corner
Sometimes Sigma brings a smell to its ART lenses, at which point we can stop writing things like, ‘we think big’ but today we don’t in the sun, because the 20mm f / 1.4 is not. it stinks.
Ultra-large aperture lenses often present problems when you use them in their wide range, and while 20mm f / 1.4 isn’t much better when drinking well in light, it’s still very good. It’s very much in the center of the image – compared, let’s say, to the best -selling lenses with some of Canon’s high -end L -series RF -mount lenses – and while there’s a little bit of softness creeping in and out. round the page. in the picture, you have to cut it hard to see it. What a pragmatist would say is, just place your subject in the center of the image and you won’t have to worry about it.
Coma? There is a spot, with the stars starting to look a little elongated near the center of the image. Fortunately, with the large aperture properties available, if you don’t like the lens handling pinpricks of light you can stand down without damaging your image.
You shouldn’t forget that there are some decent, autofocus-free lenses out there, like the Samyang 20mm f / 1.8 ED AS IF UMC (opens on new page), and while there are some differences in terms of quality – areas where Sigma is better – the question of autofocus needs to be raised, even though most wide -angle lenses see themselves to be placed in places where astrophotography is not always present. The lens uses Sigma’s Hyper Sonic, which runs fast and is quiet. There are better lenses out there, but in use they don’t irritate and really fall into the ‘good to find’ part.
Should you buy the Sigma 20mm f / 1.4 DG HSM ART lens?
The goodies will come quickly when you start to list the pros and cons of this nice little piece of astrophotography kit. It can weigh under 1kg, which is great for those occasions when the best view can be seen in the air and you are wearing a tripod, a starboard, a Thermos full of coffee and all the equipment of the night under the stars. . That light lens can produce high -quality images is a testament to the design impresarios at Sigma.
That’s not the only amazing thing about this lens. The construction is good, and while it can be fixed over time, there is nothing about its construction that we think needs to be taken care of with child -friendly machines.
More than anything, he shoots great pictures. Compared to the mass-focus-only on the lower side of the market, it is more efficient and brighter, which means easier astrophotography and lower ISOs, which means of technical drawings. An astrophotography lens is much loved for a reason.
If this product is not for you
Can’t you take it to yourself to spend the money? We have you. Consider lenses like the Rokinon 20mm f / 1.8 AS ED UMC (opens on new page), Have no autofocus idea, but astrophotographers don’t. On the other hand, there are lenses out there that avoid long -range lenses – consider Sigma’s own Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art, (opens on new page) or Nikkor’s Nikon 14-24mm F / 2.8 G (opens on new page). Canon fans can opt for the RF 15-35mm f / 2.8L IS USM (opens on new page) – Best focal length for all photos, even at the cost of an aperture and a lot of money – Canon’s wide -angle lens sets you back around $ 2300 (£ 2,000) .
