Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Announced

Yesterday, just in time for tomorrow’s start of the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2015  in Yokohama, Japan,  Sigma Corporation of America announced the new Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens, the ninth Global Vision lens to join the company’s excellent Art lens line-up.

Sigma 24mm F/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens

The much anticipated 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art wide angle lens is designed for full-frame DSLRs, and when used on digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, it effectively becomes a 38mm. The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens is the ideal wide angle focal length for capturing a variety of photography subjects, including cityscapes, mountain ranges, live events and weddings.  It should also be a great lens for videography work as well. The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM should excel at indoor photography in low light thanks to the combination of a fast f/1.4 aperture, exceptional focal plane sharpness, and gorgeous bokeh rendered by nine rounded aperture blades.

Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

 

 

The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM achieves a maximum magnification of 1:5.3 with a minimum focusing distance of just 9.8 inches. Don’t under rate the need for this minimum focus distance either.  I have owned several other wide angle lenses that needed nearly a meter of distance from the subject.  I find that way too far to be workable, where under ten inches is ideal.  This Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM incorporates both “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass and Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass in a design of 15 elements in 11 groups to minimize chromatic aberration of magnification especially in the edge of the image field. Moreover, the optimized power layout includes aspherical elements that are positioned in the rear of the lens for improved wide open performance. This helps to ensure minimal distortion through the correction of axial chromatic aberration and sagittal coma flare. The new lens element design also delivers excellent peripheral brightness.  How is that for a “mountain of technical” paragraph?

“The Sigma Art lenses are recognized by photographers for world-class performance, and the new 24mm F1.4 DG HSM will be a significant contribution to our selection of fast aperture prime lenses which is quickly becoming a strong force in the industry” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “Sigma is redefining the expectations of fast-aperture full-frame prime lens performance, especially wide-open, and the results the 24mm F1.4 DG HSM will deliver will be up to the exacting standards set by the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and 50mm F1.4 DG HSM .”

Other updates to this 24mm F1.4 DG HSM lens include a new full-time manual focusing mechanism that switches to manual focusing simply by rotating the focus ring, even when AF is being used.  This feature was first introduced on the 50mm Art. This allows the photographer to make focus adjustments quickly and easily. I find it a great feature every camera lens should be designed with.  Sigma promises in their press release that as with all new lenses under the Global Vision categories, every 24mm F1.4 DG HSM will be tested using Sigma’s own MTF measuring system, “A1,” in the company’s factory in Japan.  Nice.  I hate buying a new lens only to have to drive back to the store or to Fedex to return a DOA or badly decentered lens.

Other lenses in the Sigma Art line include 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM, 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, 50mm F1.4 DG HSM, 19mm F2.8 DN, 30mm F2.8 DN and 60mm F2.8 DN.

The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM is compatible with Sigma’s USB dock, allowing photographers to update the lens’ firmware and change focus parameters as well as manual focus over-ride using Sigma’s Optimization Pro software. It is also compatible with Sigma’s Mount Conversion Service. The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts, with further information on timing, pricing and availability to be announced at a later date.  If Sigma holds to historical pricing, the new 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art should land priced somewhere around $1,000 USD.

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