NEW 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM |ART
– Featuring Guest Reviewer Serene Ong from Serene Digital Crafts.
– Posted by Lee Shi Qing.
Image: Guest Reviewer Serene Ong (Serene Digital Crafts) with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
04th April 2018, Singapore – Sigma’s latest incarnated ART Lens – the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART is finally released in Singapore. This Ultra Wide Angle Zoom (UWA) lens had been long anticipated by landscape fans as well as professional photographers and it is easy to see why.
Image: The NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Before we proceed, and as usual we would like to disclaim that we are reviewing based on user experience rather than a technical review which you can easily find on Sigma’s website. We are really more interested in what this lens can do and image quality etc. If you are cool, read on.
Image: The NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
As a Sigma DG lens, it is designed for a full frame DSLR with compatibility with APS-C format cameras, Sigma’s USB Dock etc. Targeting at users for creative photography, landscape, weddings & events, the new 14-24mm ART comes weather sealed. What probably amazed photographers around the world is the near-zero distortion even at infinity focus which is a feat in the optical world. (Most Ultra Wide Angle lenses distorts pretty badly)
Image: The NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
The New Sigma 14-24mm ART is sizable to start but Sigma managed to keep its dimensions manageable at 96.4mm x 135.1mm and weights about 1.1kg which is not too bad. If you think this is heavy do check out other Ultra Wide Angle lenses from other brands that starts from 1.4 kg – you get the drift. The lens barrel uses Sigma’s highly successful TSC compound and well put together. Honestly the lens feels really expensive on the hands. Handling wise, the focusing ring and zoom ring functions as it was expected from an ART lens – seamless.
Image: The NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Internally, it came with a 9 blades (rounded) aperture and opens to a wide of F2.8. It focuses from F2.8 to F22 and it starts focusing as close as just 26cm (minimum focus distance). The New 14-24mm also came with Sigma’s new Hypersonic Motor (HSM) that was updated recently giving users an even faster and quieter focusing and importantly, accuracy had been improved greatly too!
Optically, the glass department had been divided into 17 elements in 10 groups which is massive for a lens in this category. Among the glass, Sigma included 03 x FLD, 03 x SLD elements AND 03 x Aspherical elements PLUS an upsized Aspherical element that has reduced almost all chromatic aberration (CA) giving users a super sharp and highly detailed image.
Sigma sent us this lens since 2 weeks ago and weather in Singapore had been erratic and unpredictable thus the delay in this review article. For this review, we decided to pass the lens to Serene Ong from SDC and let her spent an afternoon with the New Sigma 14-24mm ART.
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Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART
(by Serene Ong)
Image: Guest Reviewer Serene Ong (Serene Digital Crafts) with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Thank You Ourshutterjourney.com and Editor AL Lee for the opportunity to review the new Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. Personally I had always wanted to try an ultra wide angle lens and this review assignment is just perfect.
I took the lens and decided to head out to one of the quietest & beautiful park in Singapore – Sengkang Riverside Park. I have always love the serenity of this park and the breezy and green surroundings. Do check out the images below that is taken with the New Sigma 14-24mm ART lens that I had mounted on a Canon EOS 5D.
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Firstly, the lens looks intimidatingly huge, then again, my hands are small and I was holding the camera+lens throughout my walk at the park and honestly, it is not that heavy and very manageable. The exterior of the lens feels like it is built for harsh conditions and it sure can take lots of abuse.
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
I like the super wide open feel when I am composing my shots and it really gives me lots of new perspectives and more creative options for my subjects. From 14mm Ultra Wide to 24mm Wide, this 14-24mm basically combines 04 wide prime lenses into 01 super lens. (14mm F2.8, 18mm F2.8, 20mm F2.8 & 24mm F2.8) and now speaking of weight? Well, it beats having to carry 04 lenses around anytime.
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Combining it with my DSLR, the lens produces nice & rich colors that is cheerfully-sunny which I simply love! And I realized I can do more with shooting wide frames especially when I am at the park and this lens is definitely at home even when used indoors too!
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
The amount of details captured in the shots are amazing too! Do click on all the images in this review and view it at 100% and you will understand what I meant. This is not just the sharpness of the lens that I am talking about, it’s about all the small lines, gradients, patterns that are all captured within an image. The Sigma 14-24mm is a monster!
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. 
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
I personally felt that I can do so much more with the 14-24mm and I am loving the wide-open feel where the widest horizons are within my composition. I must admit that this lens is also great for Ultra Wide Angle Portraitures too.
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. 
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. 
Image shot with the NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Below is 02 shots, 01 taken at 14mm and the other at 24mm. While some may argue that the difference in focal length is so minimal, but looking at the below example, the difference is not so small after all.
Image: Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. Shot at 14mm.
Image: Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens. Shot at 24mm.
As I walking out of Sengkang Riverside Park, I found this nice Cafe in the park. It’s Mushroom Cafe (managed by Old Chang Kee) and they serves lots of great local and fusion food and “foodcourt” prices! And so, I asked for permission to shoot the cafe and that was when I decided to end my session with a Laksa and cold glass of Iced Milo – right at the park!
Image: Shot by Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
Image: Shot by Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART lens.
The Laksa was great! As for the Sigma 14-24mm ART lens, this is definitely a great lens. Suitable for advanced users to professionals, this is a must-have lens if you have not gotten yourself an Ultra Wide Angle lens. Although I am not sure how much this lens is retailing for, I will say get it!
– Serene Ong
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OK Guys, Buy your NEW Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | ART here!
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