First Looks at Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens Image Quality

What I hoped to share with you today was an accurate representation of the image quality delivered by the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens. While we do have the test results for this lens loaded on the site and will again in the future, the results from this specific lens are only temporarily available. Why only temporarily available? I want to use them for an illustration.

We have apparently received a lens with an improperly-aligned element or group of elements (this is a retail-acquired lens). The image included with this post shows all for corners of a 14mm f/2.8 image. Lenses are round and symmetrical and a properly constructed lens will render all four corners identically. Obviously, this one does not. The top right, the corner that shows in the site's image quality tool, is unfortunately the worst. The corner results are less significantly different at the longer focal lengths, but 14mm is going to be this lens' most important focal length for many.

When unequal corner performance happens, we test another copy of the lens. So, in this case, first looks at the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens image quality mean second looks are needed. Stay tuned for that. If the right side looks as good as the left ... we should be very pleased.

While we are looking at this comparison image, I'll make another point and that is in regards to the linear distortion profile of this lens. At close focusing distances, the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art Lens has very significant barrel distortion at 14mm. Fortunately, this distortion is greatly reduced at longer focus distances. I'll illustrate that in the review.

The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.